Dawes renown 531.
- Thread starter john_b
- Start date
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EltonFrog
Legendary Member
Welcome to the forum. It’s worth what anyone is prepared to pay for it, which in this case will not be a lot. It depends on many factors including condition, and of course no one is going anywhere to buy things at the moment so the arse has dropped right out of the s/h bike market.
My suggestion is (assuming it fits you) is to do up, make it road worthy and ride the bike, it will bring you years of unreasonable joy, which is of course priceless.
My suggestion is (assuming it fits you) is to do up, make it road worthy and ride the bike, it will bring you years of unreasonable joy, which is of course priceless.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
I believe it's from around 1986 and was offered as a frame only which suggests it was for racing.
What equipment does it have on it? Well worth keeping, probably much less prolific than many other popular Dawes models.
There was a thread on here about ten years back but not much info.
Would you please post a picture from the drive side?
BTW welcome to the forum 😊
What equipment does it have on it? Well worth keeping, probably much less prolific than many other popular Dawes models.
There was a thread on here about ten years back but not much info.
Would you please post a picture from the drive side?
BTW welcome to the forum 😊
thanks
thanks
Kempstonian
Has the memory of a goldfish
- Location
- Bedford
Pictures are always useful. We like pictures! 
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
Dawes Renown was quite a good spec frame, being 531 main tubes and forks, one step up from my Jaguar, which is 531 main tubes only but shares the same geometry.
They are fairly sporty, 73 degree parallel with short rake forks. Frame feels faster than my Raleigh Royal 531 frame, weight marginally less.
Secondhand value not that much unless in pristine condition. Quality 531 steel bikes today tend to be looked down on as just winter training hacks by riders who have adopted carbon fibre for summer use, but are frightened they will dissolve if they get them anywhere near road salt!
That's fine by those of us who like good steel bikes, as it means we can get them cheap!
They are fairly sporty, 73 degree parallel with short rake forks. Frame feels faster than my Raleigh Royal 531 frame, weight marginally less.
Secondhand value not that much unless in pristine condition. Quality 531 steel bikes today tend to be looked down on as just winter training hacks by riders who have adopted carbon fibre for summer use, but are frightened they will dissolve if they get them anywhere near road salt!
That's fine by those of us who like good steel bikes, as it means we can get them cheap!
uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
Hello John B. not much help but i have a similar bike to yours and possibly @SkipdiverJohn, mine was in a right old state when i bought it but with a bit of tlc (and not that much money), its been a great bike. its currently running as a single speed but has also had a life as a comfortable geared bike.
i doubt that there is much of a market for the second hand bikes at the moment so best of luck whatever you decide
edited to show the original state of the bike, whoever had it was running it like this
uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
Hello John, do you have any images of said bike? id be interested as i cant identify mine
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
I've got a Dawes Jaguar, not a Renown. Believed approx. c.1987. However it is basically the same frame in dimensions & geometry. The difference is the Renown has a 531 frame & 531 forks whereas the Jaguar has a 531 frame with hi-tensile forks. Mine looks pretty much identical to this picture, although it's not my actual bike and that frame may possibly be 22 1/2", mine is 23 1/2" . The colour scheme is known as Sunburst Red & Black:-
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Kempstonian
Has the memory of a goldfish
- Location
- Bedford
That's very nice 👍
I think I would like to see a black saddle on it personally but each to his own...
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
That one is nice, but it's not actually my own one! I haven't got a current pic of mine on my computer to post! Mine is cosmetically fair, and has a black Dawes-supplied saddle (I believe ALL saddles except Brooks leather ones should be black!), and I've replaced the original factory white brake cables with some red Jagwire ones that blend in with the frame better. I've also got red bar tape, but time will tell whether it will stay clean enough. If it doesn't I will replace it with charcoal grey or black.
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Kempstonian
Has the memory of a goldfish
- Location
- Bedford
Oh yes, I realise that isn't your bike (you said so in your post!). Obviously whoever owned it thought the red/brown saddle looked nice though. For me it just doesn't seem to go with the colour scheme of the bike.
Punkawallah
Über Member
Hi, you could look at the Dawes Cycle Heritage site - they have catalogues from Dawes (including 1986). The catalogue will give the spec for the Dawes models of that year, including the Renown. I paid £205 for mine (1986 model) this year, including shipping, but it is in top nick. For comparison, paid £90 for a Dawes Galaxy ‘project’ in 2019 that cost another £60 to get it road -worthy. Feel free to come back if you need more help :-)
