Re: [CR]The Best Italian Bike in Japan

(Example: Framebuilders)

Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 11:41:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]The Best Italian Bike in Japan
To: David Ross <dlr94306@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <954451.32417.qm@web38108.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
cc: CR discussion list <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

Several members have responded on and off list, saying that in fact the chromed fork with sloping crown and Shimano DO's is original on a Zunow of this era. I was suspicious because of what I thought were rebadged Suntour Superbe rear DO's. But this morning I have looked again at the rear DO's and I find that they are not marked "Zunow Superbe" as I thought, but in fact "Zunow Super" on both sides. There is also a capital "D" and the nondrive side is also stamped "53". Perhaps the 53 is the frane size, except if so it is oddly measured, since I measure it at about 56 ctt and 55, or at least 54, ctc. So perhaps the rear DO's are really rebadged Shimano, or possibly Zunow really did produce the rear DO's or have them made to Zunow's design.

Note that on these older Zunows there are spade cutouts in the lugs, and indeed a spade imbedded in the "O" of the Zunow decal. The hummingbird appears only on the seattube decals, engraved on the seatstay caps (and as I posted yesterday on the BB adjustable cup). What Italian builders used spade cutouts? Confente, I know, but did any realtively large Italian builders use a spade like the heart for Derosa or the club for Colnago?

BTW, forgot to mention yesterday that my Zunow also has a Zunow-branded seatpost binder bolt.

I did also enjoy the posting of the more recent Zunow with the "over the top" paint. Too often, flashy paint conceals indifferent frame finishing, but not so here. I really do like the detailing of the newer Zunows, with the hummingbird cutouts in all the lugs.

We tend to think of Japan in terms of well-made but mass-produced bikes, rather than nicely detailed handmade frames. But we should remember that before about 1970 the US was known for baloon tire cruisers.

Regards,

Jerry Moos Big Spring, Texas, USA

David Ross <dlr94306@yahoo.com> wrote: Jerry,

I agree with your assessment of Zunow. I got hooked on Zunows a few years back, and have picked up a few of them. Three of these are from roughly the same period as yours, and one probably came from the same shop in Okinawa in the same year. It's got the same graphics, and has a pearl white paint job over an all-chrome frame. It's got a complete DA group, including those neat triangular platform pedals that require the unobtanium cleats.

I have tried to find out about Zunow's history without much success. At least one list member was involved in importing them, but hasn't shared much (and may not know much of the history). I do know that the "genius" (Zunow is supposed to be Japanese slang for genius) behind Zunow is a Mr. T. Kageyama. He produced his 25th anniversary edition bike in 1990, so presumably he began in 1965. He seems to have had a number of interesting ideas, some of which have odd translations (e.g. Ditchex for his grooved top tubes, and Pentagla for the pentagram-sectioned chain stays, Horn System for the flared bottom of the seat tube).

The earlier, non-Ditchex, pre-garish-paint Zunows are very elegant indeed. My earliest one is a simple gloss black with yellow graphics, Campy DOs and a very thin semi-sloping chromed fork crown. It has a very short wheelbase, about that of a track bike. I'm guessing 1972 - 1975. I've never been able to decipher Zunow serial numbers, so I don't know if there might be a clue of the year in it.

Now that you've joined the Zunow fold, I would love to share photos, info and observations. In my experience Zunows don't generate much chatter on the CR list, so feel free to email me off-list to continue. Or maybe we should start a rumor that Kageyama apprenticed with Bianchi, and see where that goes!

Regards,
Dave Ross
Portola Valley, California USA