Vintage Falcon road bikes
- Thread starter southcoast
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
andyscherer
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Manhattan and Woodstock NY, USA
I suspect the latter. They came with the bike and match this description from a 1972 magazine review, down to the fender eyelets:
https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=13967
https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=13971
https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=13967
https://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=13971
midlife
Guru
Is that an American publication. ? I don't ever recall a Falcon UK road frame with track forks. It was trendy at the time to have TT frames with round track forks. Not good with heavy front braking though. Thank goodness we never intended on braking and had the Weinmann 500's to prove it lol.
andyscherer
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Manhattan and Woodstock NY, USA
Yes, this is American... "Bicycling" magazine. "Send it to the States, they'll buy anything!"
Falcon had a massive sales drive to the states in 1971 to 1973 and that article, which I have a copy of, was in the middle of that period. Looking at a later USA catalogue ( I don't have one for this period) the specs for USA bound bikes are a little different from the english spec. It was mainly their top and middle quality ranges that were offered in the US.
avecReynolds531
Veteran
- Location
- Small Island
Thanks for posting this interesting review.
andyscherer
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Manhattan and Woodstock NY, USA
I still can’t locate my calipers so I measured the post as 27mm by using an adjustable spanner, and then there’s this. So that points to model 76, or at least 531 butted tubing.
That's a great sign. It definitely, in my opinion, makes it a San Remo. The seat pin being Campagnolo, as is the seat pin tightening bolt, shows it has a real high quality spec.
To further confirm its origin, the hubs look like Campagnolo and the lock nuts for the bearings should have a year date on them. Also, the brakes look like weinmann so on the back of the arms there will also be a date of manufacture. It's probably easier to dismantle the brake rather han the hub cones so I would do that first.
I seriously suggest you do check those dates because you mentioned it may have been resprayed. My theory is that it could be a an even rarer 1960s model 90 San Remo MkII, for which I have evidence that it was in production between 1963 and 1970 and which which did have the round tube wrapover seat cluster detail like yours. It was also sold with clincher wheels, which yours seems to have.
I would be interested to hear how you get on!
To further confirm its origin, the hubs look like Campagnolo and the lock nuts for the bearings should have a year date on them. Also, the brakes look like weinmann so on the back of the arms there will also be a date of manufacture. It's probably easier to dismantle the brake rather han the hub cones so I would do that first.
I seriously suggest you do check those dates because you mentioned it may have been resprayed. My theory is that it could be a an even rarer 1960s model 90 San Remo MkII, for which I have evidence that it was in production between 1963 and 1970 and which which did have the round tube wrapover seat cluster detail like yours. It was also sold with clincher wheels, which yours seems to have.
I would be interested to hear how you get on!
andyscherer
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Manhattan and Woodstock NY, USA
This is exciting news! I'm not familiar with the Mk II/III variants, what else can you share about them? Based on what I've read I also have a sense that the frame is older than 1970's. I have copies of older photos of this bike over the decades that I'll upload. It has different components in some of them so it's uncertain what's original to it right now. The owner also mentioned somewhere that it may have been silver originally.
I'm keeping it along with other bikes at our house in upstate New York, there's little room for it here in Manhattan. That said, once the winter sets in, I expect to bring it here to strip it down for cleaning and tuning so I'll be able to get a close look at date codes then. I feel like the hubs are probably original so that may be helpful when I get to them.
Cheers,
Andy
I'm keeping it along with other bikes at our house in upstate New York, there's little room for it here in Manhattan. That said, once the winter sets in, I expect to bring it here to strip it down for cleaning and tuning so I'll be able to get a close look at date codes then. I feel like the hubs are probably original so that may be helpful when I get to them.
Cheers,
Andy
andyscherer
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Manhattan and Woodstock NY, USA
If these older photos shed any light on which model my Falcon may be...here they are.
This photo is dated 1976 and I believe it shows the original livery and components. Too bad the pump and drilled chainwheels didn't make it through the years.
Too fuzzy for much detail, also dated 1976 atop Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, USA. Same transfers, bigger rear cluster!
Undated. Presumably after a respray with different transfers, sidepull brakes and different wheels. Looks like Nuovo Tipo hubs.
Closer look at the front end and fork.
The seat cluster lug points show careful tapering in this 2016 photo taken when the current transfers were applied. They appear to be closer to the originals.
This photo is dated 1976 and I believe it shows the original livery and components. Too bad the pump and drilled chainwheels didn't make it through the years.
Too fuzzy for much detail, also dated 1976 atop Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, USA. Same transfers, bigger rear cluster!
Undated. Presumably after a respray with different transfers, sidepull brakes and different wheels. Looks like Nuovo Tipo hubs.
Closer look at the front end and fork.
The seat cluster lug points show careful tapering in this 2016 photo taken when the current transfers were applied. They appear to be closer to the originals.
Sticky Green
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Gosport Hants
Here's my Falcon Black Diamond bought for £60. It was in a real state so I decided to restore it in team banana colours. Please don't hate me.
Astore
Well-Known Member
I'm keeping half an eye open for a Falcon Majorca. I had one brand-new when I was at College (1979 - 81) which replaced a new Peugeot Sport that was so badly built I rejected it under guarantee. The Majorca was a brilliant bike in comparison and after College it took me to my first 2 real jobs and was used for a lot of weekend touring. It did get a few upgrades along the way with gearing better suited to my hilly commute, Suntour BL GT derailleurs and a Sanyo Dynapower. I eventually traded it in for a Carlton Super Course.
How it looked when I got it...
How it ended up...
I currently have a "gas pipe" Falcon Eddy Merckx that was given to me recently. Not sure if it will see the road again as it's been subjected to some spectacular bodgery at some time which may make it an uneconomical proposition.
How it looked when I got it...
How it ended up...
I currently have a "gas pipe" Falcon Eddy Merckx that was given to me recently. Not sure if it will see the road again as it's been subjected to some spectacular bodgery at some time which may make it an uneconomical proposition.
Last edited:
I wouldn't be too dismissive of the Falcon Eddy Merckx bikes as some of them were well built and reasonably specc'd. The
Model 102: SUPER COMPETITION Eddy Merckx and the Model 104: GIRO D'ITALIA Eddy Merckx were both built with Reynolds double butted 531 and the Model 106: KERMESSE Eddy Merckx Model 108/109: CLUB SPECIAL Eddy Merckx were both Reynolds 531 plain gauge.
I don't know what model you have but it could be worth doing up. Don't tar all of the Eddy Merckx models withthe same brush!
