Panasonic Bicycles Virtual Museum

Reader’s Rides

Darin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:13:09 +0000

If you are a registered user of this web site and would like to share a photo or two of your own Panasonic bicycle with the world this is where to do it! Simply log in to the site and then click the Add Photo link at the top left corner of the gallery below. Please note that all photos must be approved by a moderator before going live on the web site.
Note: While we tend to prefer Panasonic branded bikes, we wouldn’t mind seeing a few Panasonic built Centurions, Schwinns, etc.

[photosmash id=1]

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If not for bad luck… losing my head”set”

Darin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:53:40 +0000

Building a vintage bike from the ground up takes some time and money. Hunting on eBay only to get sniped at the buzzer is common. I was therefore quite pleased when I received a Dura Ace HP-7410 headset for my PR-6000 as a Christmas gift from my parents. I’ll admit I had shot them the link to the eBay auction back in November of ’09 but it was just one of those suggestions that I had forgotten about.

Lucky me, I got it for a Christmas gift. It was supposedly NOS (new old stock) and came in the Shimano box taped shut with the Shimano tape. Can you guess where I’m going with this one?
Since I wasn’t ready to actually build the bike I set the box with my other parts… that was until a few days ago when I opened it up to discover the following…

Yes, that was literally all that was in the box. It was definitely bring your alcohol to work day in Japan on the day the Shimano crew boxed this headset! I wound up with two upper races, no lower race, no lock nut or washer etc. To add salt on the wound, this was $96 worth of parts I couldn’t even use. I discovered that the headset came from a retailer just up the road in Minnesota called Crosslake Sales. At the time of writing this, I’ve sent them an e-mail explaining my saga but since it took so long to discover I don’t really have a leg to stand on unless they have customer service above and beyond anything I’ve seen before. Fingers crossed?

Stay tuned… to be continued?

*** UPDATE: Feb. 10th, 2010 ***

I think I just found an eBay seller with “ROCK STAR” customer service! Not only did I get a response from them in the evening (after biz hours) but they have offered to give me a refund if I return the headset. Keep in mind, I received this as a gift on Dec. 25th but it was purchased on eBay back on Nov. 21st of 2009. The problem wasn’t discovered until early Feb. 2010. The fact that Crosslake Sales is willing to work with me on this one is nothing short of amazing to me. Two big thumbs up to them!

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1986 Panasonic DX-3000

Darin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:14:05 +0000

While 1986 wasn’t the first year for the DX-3000, it was in my opinion one if not the most desirable year. The black and yellow color scheme was new for ’86 and it really made the bike stand out. The components were by no means high end but they were certainly respectable for a sport rider.

The nice looking specimen below was shared with us by Jeff. Jeff found this bike in need of some care and restoration and the end result is what you see below. Fantastic job!

1986 Panasonic DX-3000 Factory Specifications

List Price: N/A
Frame: Tange 900 Cr-Mo double butted tubes, forged ends and sealed bottom bracket set.
Fork: Tange Mangaloy, AC-2 crown, forged ends and sealed head set.
Handlebar: SR CTB, Maes Alloy
Stem: SR CT Alloy
Saddle: Selle Italia 0419-V Aero with SR CT-P5E micro adjusting seat post.
Crankset: SR SXC-200, Alloy 52/42T
Freewheel: Shimano Z012 6-speed 14-28T
Chain: Shimano UG silver, 1/2?x3/32?x110 links
Hubs: Sansin ET-Q Sealed mechanism, Alloy small flange with Q.R.
Rear Derailleur: Shimano L525SS S.I.S.
Front Derailleur: Shimano Z206
Shifting Lever: Shimano S424 S.I.S., brazed on down tube mounted.
Brakes: Shimano Z570, side pull with Q.R., tire guide and 600AX levers.
Rims: Ukai 20A, 700c, alloy
Tires: Panaracer 700×25c Open Side 100PSI
Spokes: 14G U-C-P finished
Pedals: KKT Pro-Vic II B with reflectors
Color: Midnight Black

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The Sport Model Lineup

Darin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:12:04 +0000

Once upon a time there was a bicycle manufacturer in Japan that prided itself on building quality bicycles. Yes, that manufacturer was (and still is) Panasonic. And just like many other bicycle builders, Panasonic produced bikes ranging from high end competition for the Italians to lower end basic transportation type bikes.

If you’ve spent much time on this web site you’ve likely noticed our attention is generally geared towards the higher end models. This is not to say that some of Panasonic’s basic low-end bikes such as the Sport 500 aren’t good bicycles. They are fine bikes, they just aren’t exactly rare, terribly collectible, or light weight. They are for the most part the bicycling equivalent of a Toyota Corolla. Decent, reliable and basic. Your point A to point B sort of bike. Nice commuters but certainly not racers.

Now with that said, there appears to be a whole lot of false information out there in the minds of many many Craigslist sellers. Many of these seller are likely unsure of what it is they just pulled out of the garage, barn or attic and some quick Googling of Panasonic bicycles turns up stories of how great they are etc. etc. OK, so I’ll have to take blame for some of that hype as there really wasn’t much info available on the web about Panasonic bicycles prior to me creating this web site.

I’m here to set the record straight. For those of you looking to buy or sell a lower end Panasonic bicycle, please read carefully.
The Panasonic Sport 500, Sport LX etc. was literally at the bottom of the Panasonic food chain as far as their ten speed bike like was concerned. Collectors like myself are not scrambling to snap them up for $200 plus as they aren’t exactly hard to find. In fact, I’m not a buyer of ANY Sport series bike for my collection. I see them offered all over the country on Craigslist often for $100 or less, and honestly, that is how it should be. I’d have a hard time paying more than $150 for one unless it was in darn near NOS condition.

Now, I just can’t resist a little Craigslist ad humor from a seller who clearly didn’t do his homework OR hopes to pull a fast one on an unsuspecting buyer. I even emailed this particular seller trying to clarify a few points of misinformation but the ad reappeared a day later slightly revised in price but nothing else.

“26 INCH PANASONIC VINTAGE 10 SPEED 500 SPORT. EXTRA SHARP ROAD BIKE RARE AND NICE, 165.00 OBO CHECK CRAIGS LIST YOU SEE THE ARE MOSTLY 200 and ABOVE FOR THE SAME BIKE AND MINE IS LIKE NEW I KNOW I AM CRAZY BUT I HAVE BEEN OFF WORK WITH A INJURY FOR 3 WEEKS SO I REALLY NEEED THE MONEY THIS WQAS A SPECIAL EDITION ROAD BIKE MADE IN JAPAN FOR A ROAD RACE IN THE LATEE 70′s. YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO MAKE AN OFFER BUT LETS KEEP IT REASONABLE AS THIS IS HARD TO FIND AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION!!”

NOT a special edition. NOT built for a road race in the late 70′s (unless racing your kid brother to the 7-11 counts?), NOT hard to find, and rarely are they $200 and above unless it has the magical “fixie” word thrown in there somewhere.

Now, in an effort for this post to be more than just a rant against silly CL sellers, I’ll put together a time line showing links to the various models over the years. (Please be patient as I’m still working on adding to the time line below)

The Panasonic Sport Model Time Line: 1979-1989

1979

1980

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Discussion Group

Darin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:46:11 +0000

Are you a past or present Panasonic bicycle owner that would like to discuss the bikes with other owners and enthusiasts? I encourage you to join our Google Group for all Panasonic bicycle enthusiasts where you can do just that. So far we’re low volume with a dozen or so members but in time I am sure more and more people will discover the site and group.

Subscribe to Panasonic Bicycles

Email:

Visit this group

GROUP RULES:

Please keep the group PG and appropriate for all ages.
No “personal attacks” allowed. Keep it civil, we’re talk bicycles after all.
No political commentary please.
Do not join to group simply to try to market your bicycle to us. We have a fully functional classified ad system for that… please use it.
Members are allowed to post a “heads-up” notice of interesting bikes they have noticed on ebay, Craigslist, etc. If you’re selling your own bike, it is ok to make a mention of it to the group but please, please, please take a moment to post it within our classifieds.
Please help spread the word about the site, group, and classifieds to other Panasonic enthusiasts.
Help me out! When I created the Panasonic Bicycles Virtual Museum web site and owner’s group I did so in order to help fill a void. With that said, I am certainly not a know-it-all when it comes to all things Panasonic bicycle related. Additional web site editor positions are available if you’re the kind of person who wants to assist in the construction of this resource. If you want to help, just say so in the group or email zeringer@hotmail.com
Enjoy and ride safely!

NEW!! Owner Registry form now online.

If you are the owner of a Panasonic Bicycle you may now submit it to us to be archived offline. We will NOT be posting your bicycle or personal info online, but rather keeping it safe in an offline database of owners. The purpose is simple. In the event your bicycle is ever stolen contact us right away so we can post the serial number, photo, and other important information. With a little luck, your bicycle may turn up somewhere and you can be reunited or notified.

The registry database will also help us determine where the hot-spots are for certain models around the country/world. Statistics are fun!

Naturally, NO personal information will be revealed about your submission and we won’t contact you, spam you, walk your dog, mow your lawn, or reprogram any of the remote controls on your coffee table. Don’t even ask… we’ll say NO.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

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1989 Panasonic P.I.C.S. Team 1200 Custom

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:13:51 +0000

Here is another bike you don’t see every day. In fact, I’d bet that most of our site viewers have never actually seen a Panasonic like this one outside of this web site. This Tange Prestige tubed Team 1200 Custom, owned by Jared, was part of the 1989 PICS/POS program which allowed buyers to custom order a frame and paint scheme. Would you believe he found this one on Craigslist for a song? Believe it. Some guys have all the luck!

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1989 Panasonic P.I.C.S. Team Custom

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:13:53 +0000

This is a beautiful NOS ’89 P.I.C.S. Team Custom frame constructed with Tange Prestige tubing. It was submitted to us by a visitor name Sheryl. You certainly don’t see these every day!

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Project 1983 AR-6000

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:04:38 +0000

One of the Panasonics I always liked were the old AR-6000 Aero models. They came about at a time when Aero was a bit of a craze in the cycling world and were fitted with the unique Dura Ace AX part group.

This particular bike was brought to my attention by the mechanic at my old Panasonic dealership in Clear Lake, Iowa. The previous owner (Ryan) really loved the time he spent with the bike although an upcoming move to Florida prompted him to sell it. It has had at least two or three owners prior to it coming into my hands and it will need a little work to be brought back to prime condition.

It has most certainly seen better days but have no doubt it can be saved. I have been wasting no time hunting down a few of the missing parts I need for it as well. I have a NOS drive side crank to replace the scratched original piece, some replacement brake hoods, Panaracer gum wall tires, and a Dura Ace AX rear derailleur.

I also just managed to get a pair of NOS original aero water bottles on ebay. Oddly enough, I had been bidding on another one there that wound up selling for $143.50 plus $9.95 shipping! Unbelievable! Much to my amazement, I just happened to stumble across another pair of NOS bottles just like it with a buy it now price of $25 each. I bought them and then noticed two more with the same buy it now from the same seller so I snapped them up as well. I wanted two for myself and planned on offering the other one to another local AR-6000 owner. The last one would be offered up to someone on bicyclingforums.net in the even someone was in need of that specific bottle for a restoration. Well, as it turns out, the seller (Chris of Alpha Bicycles in Vista, CA) called to inform me he had mistakenly listed four instead of just two. He was apologetic and offered a refund or asked if there was anything else I was in need of. As it turned out, I needed a Dura Ace AX rear derailleur and he just happened to have one which he offered to me in place of the other pair of water bottles. I love it when things work out like that! I’m looking forward to stripping the bike down and getting it ready for paint in the upcoming months.

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PR-6000

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:24:56 +0000

This particular Panasonic PR-6000 belongs to a collector friend in the Netherlands named Melvin. We’ll refer to him as “91 MC Comp” from here on as that might be how you know him on the various forums. He found this wonderful PR-6000 as a complete ex-Team bike. He spent some time tearing it down and going through everything before reassembly. It is not 100% factory original since it was a pro team bike, but it is still a very nice (and rare) example. The specifications listed below the photos are for the featured bike. Clicking the ‘read more’ link will display the 1993 factory specifications for the European market.

From Panasonic PR-6000

91 MC Comp’s Panasonic PR-6000 Specifications:

List Price: $6998 gilders (approx. 3176 EUR or $4,265 USD)
Frame Size:
Frame: Tange Prestige, silver brazed with lugs
Fork: Tange Prestige and Stronglight needle bearing headset.
Handlebar: Cinelli Giro d’Italia
Stem: Dura Ace 120mm (originally XA ‘Cinelli’ panto 130, team spec)
Saddle: Selle San Marco Rolls
Crankset: Dura Ace
Freewheel:
Chain:
Hubs: Dura Ace
Rear Derailleur: Dura Ace
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace
Shifting Lever: Dura Ace STI
Brakes: Dura Ace Dual Pivot
Rims: Mavic Open S.U.P. CD
Tires: Vredestein Volante yellow 23mm
Spokes:
Pedals: XC Pro Grease Guard
Color: Team Color

Owner’s Notes: The seat post is a Shimano aero one milled down to fit the frame. Very rough surface, probably to prevent it from slipping.
Groupset is full Dura Ace, with exception of Stronglight needle bearing headset. I do not know whether it is original or whether it replaced a Dura Ace one at some point. Not on pic yet, but I have a white ‘Super Turbo’ seat to go on the bike.

1993 Panasonic PR-6000 Specifications:

List Price: $6998 gilders (approx. 3176 EUR or $4,265 USD as of 3/18/09)
Frame Size:
Frame: Tange Prestige tubes, investment cast head & seat lugs and B.B. Brazed on front derailleur bracket & 2 bottle studs, Handmade by P.W.T.
Fork: Tange Prestige, Lostwax Crown, Panasonic Forged ends.
Handlebar: Nitto No. 55 alloy, 430 mm
Stem: Dura Ace HP-7400 100mm (54-58cm) 120mm (60cm)
Saddle: Selle San Marco Rolls
Crankset: Dura Ace FC-7402-SG 53/39T 170mm (54cm-58cm) 172.5 (60cm)
Freewheel: Dura Ace CS-7401 12-23T 8-speed
Chain: Dura Ace CN-7401
Hubs: Dura Ace 32H HB-7400 / FH-7402
Rear Derailleur: Dura Ace RD-7402 8 speed
Front Derailleur: Dura Ace FD-7400-F
Shifting Lever: Dura Ace ST-7400-8 Dual Control Lever
Brakes: Dura Ace BR-7400 Super SLR
Rims: Mavic GP-4 Super Hard Anodized 32H
Tires: Clement BIS-Criterium Tubular
Spokes: Stainless 14/15G
Pedals: Dura Ace PD-7401 clipless
Weight: 9.0 kg / 19.84 lbs.
Color: Team Color

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Panasonic Owner Registry

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:14:40 +0000

If you own a Panasonic Bicycle we encourage you to join the Panasonic Bicycles Owner Registry. You can view existing owner data here or sign up to add yourself via the form below. At this time we’re accepting only Panasonic or National branded bicycles however we do have plans to add other Panasonic built owner registries in the future… Centurion and Schwinn owners, that means you!

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