re: [CR]Specialized Allez

(Example: Bike Shops)

Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 18:06:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: "randy dugan" <rsdugan@yahoo.com>
Subject: re: [CR]Specialized Allez
To: classicrendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Garth,

Does your 3Rensho look like this?:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Japan/3rensho/SRExport/photos/photo1.html

If so, it's a Katana S. Here's what Andrew Muzi (the 3Rensho importer) had to say about them:

"3RENSHO Katana/S. Built with the same Ishiwata 022 tubes by the same builder (Mr Makino or Makino-san to you) to the same Yoshi Konno geometry wrote for the 3Rensho team bike Katana Pro. These frames have classic simple lugs and a basic finish quality in a distinctive white and blue fade. This is the best value in a new racing frameset we've seen at just $SOLD" - from the yellowjersey.org site: http://www.yellowjersey.org/specials.html

Note that it was built to the same geometry, but not to the same finish standards as other 3Rensho frames, as it was meant to be a "value" product. According to email to me from Andrew Muzi, the Katana/S was produced after Konno's accident, between 1988 and 1992. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison to other 3Rensho bikes, or the 3Rensho Allez. Still a nice bike, i used to have one: http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/Randy+Dugan/3renshokatanas/ But, without paint and decals, one would be hard pressed to ID it as a 3Rensho.

I don't understand your comment about Robert's bike - are you saying it's a 3Rensho Allez, but doesn't have thin lugs or an offset fork crown? If that's the case, then it's probably an SE, which also makes sense given that they came stock with a mix of Suntour Superbe and Specialized parts. As I and others said yesterday, the SE was built by Miyata, not 3Rensho.

Randy Dugan Van Nuys, CA USA


>>>>>

From: Bianca Pratorius <biankita(AT)comcast.net> Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 19:59:52 -0400 Subject: [CR]Specialized Allez

As far as 3Rensho being the house of manufacture for some Allez bikes and not others, I would have to call people's attention to the enormous variations between bikes from 3Rensho during the 80's. My friend, Robert Weiser, (list member) restored a red Allez and the workmanship on this Suntour Superbe and Specialized proprietary bike was exceptional. The ride was stiff, predictable and racy. My personal badged 3Rensho had medium point lugs, workmanship errors and characteristic blue fade paint. The ride is fine but the look is very much of a lesser quality than my friend's Allez. I doubt anyone can say for sure that Mr. Konno was building anything to one exact standard or degree of lug thinning during those 'rush to get them out the door' years. If Robert's Allez ain't a 3Rensho than the evidence is not in offset fork or unthinned lugs. No one doubts my 3Rensho is the real thing but rather than repaint it after self thinning the lugs I just sent it off to NYC so I'll have a bike there whenever I'm in town. It's a tough bike for the mean streets of the big apple.

Garth Libre in Miami Florida USA