Looks like an English Lambert/Viscount but not all original. They normally came with a alloy cast fork that was riveted to the steer tube that would break inside the head tube so people would replaced with steel fork. I knew someone who worked for the company and he told me that the 1st production was lugged then they decided to save cost by eliminating the lugs. If done properly, this worked BUT because of the thin walled tubing they used, the people who cleaned up the brazing would grind off too much material causing the joint to fail. A local closeout company purchased the remaining inventory and took the time to put lugs on the headtube and replace the forks then resold. The cranks are non tapered so if the bolts loosened up, they would literally fall off. The original wheels had sealed bearings. The chainring pattern was a copy of the TA Cycletourist chainring. Brings back old memories of the Lambert ads that showed the bike next to a Lear Jet just to show how high tech it was. I really wanted one back then but bought a Peugeot PX-10 instead. I volunteer for free bikes 4 kids and we see bikes like this come in but don't fix them. I would buy one as a collector if it had original equipment and in good condition. Take care.
The forks were recalled, that looks like the standard replacement Tange item, I expect the later bikes used these from new. There are still some original aluminium forks out there too - the third version wasn't known to fail like the earlier types, although they were included in the recall IIRC. I very much doubt that these were built lugless to reduce cost - it's a more skilled and labour-intensive process. Lugless can be useful when a frame has odd angles or tubing, which standard lugs don't fit, but also just for lightweight bling factor. I've not heard of problems with the frames - the later lugged versions were probably just cheaper to build. The Lambert/Viscount Aerospace bikes were great value lightweights when new, but the proprietary bottom bracket used on early versions caused problems as it could break at the circlip groove as well as having a unique and under-engineered crank interface. There were also cheaper lugged non-Aerospace Viscounts that used standard components, I've had a couple and they're surprisingly good for cheap frames.
Without question a Viscount. The fork on this bicycle is NOT the “death fork”, it’s steel not aluminum. Lots of history on this brand can be found online, a good bit has been written in the comments. Chain rings were called “porthole style”. I have read that the red/white and blue/white frames are the Aerospace G.P. and the black/silver were the Aerospace Pro. I own three at the moment, one of them is the Aerospace Pro.
It is a Viscount Aerospace Pro. The original fork was cast aluminum that used to snap off at the steerer tube and the factory (that bought the rights to the Viscount) did a recall and replaced the fork with one made by Yamaha. The BB and wheels all used double sealed ball bearings. My bike was silver with black trim that had gold pin striping. Mine did have the crane derailier. I bought mine in the US sometime around 1975. The double sealed ball bearing never needed to be serviced. I think there was a fancier version that the chainrings were machined from titanium instead of aluminum.
I had one like that in the mid 70s. Is was sold in the U.S. as a Viscount. Manufactured by Lambert, which I think is British. The steel frame was lugless The aluminum forks had a recall, yours was a replacement steel fork. The chainrings and arms were very distinctive. The head badge was a decal, so that could have disappeared a long time ago. Mine was white and red, but think they came in white/blue also.
RJ the Bike Guy is back! RJ, I am really enjoying your videos since 2014 and I learned to fix bikes with your videos which made me start an apprentice and mechanic school 2 years later and moved to Germany for that, and I´ve been doing this for a living ever since. I´m sure I´m not the only one you inspired, but just wanted to say thank you a lot! Greetings from Berlin!
You're right, this guy has helped many people fix, maintain or even improve their pride and joys, Including myself on many occasions. Fantastic content!
That V logo is the Viscount logo. Shimano Crane became Dura-Ace, and Titlist is a bit lower end. Those chainrings are specific to Viscount bikes, as is the crankset. Looking at the Sheldon Brown article on the Aerospace, it seems a lot of that is stock, I do not know about the painjob. I'd definitely look into changing the fork to something safe, although it *looks* as if that's already been done. It's a super cool bike, with some super interesting parts.
Bought an AeroSpace Pro from a friend back in '84/85. I don't recall how I was alerted to the fork issue, but, I vividly remember removing and shipping the original to Yamaha.... and I seem to recall the new fork arrived quickly... maybe 10 days. It was awesome looking, chromed Tange. Looking back I can't believe I routinely bombed down hills 40-50mph on that bike with the new fork, though not surprising because my friend and I were constantly checking and tuning our bikes. Man, .those were the days... survived just fine without the internet. Thanks for the flashback!
It’s identical to my first real race bike. The paint is original. I have an original decal set for it. The cranks are Lambert. The bike was distributed by Yamaha. It was made in England. The tires are not original. Mine had the solid aluminum forks that were recalled. It came in the blue trim like that one or one with black trim. The original wheels had sew up tires (tubulars). The components were made by Lambert and the V badge was for the bike brand Viscount. I got it for Christmas when I was 14. It was probably the best and most memorable thing I ever got for Christmas. It led me to a lifetime of cycling.
@@themoodyteam I loved that bike and wanted it but was not expecting it. I ended up working at the bike shop it came from for my first job and worked there for several years.
Nice Size RJ... will come up a treat. Crane was the original Dura-Ace. Looks like a Stronglight chainring. Rigida are french rims, looks like a Sugino seatpost or SR royal. If the rear derailleur is in decent condition that's pretty much your money back right there
I was stumped with every hunch but one. I didn't think the fork looked right with the rest of the bike and figured it was not the original. This was a very, very interesting setup for your video. I certainly got totally involved researching and learned a lot, then later learned a lot from all the smart people who follow you and submit their comments. Appreciate your work. Happy New Year. Oh, yeah. I think it was a good deal.
Me and a friend bought one of these Viscounts in the 70s. 4130 crmo brazed tubes. We switched out the 52/42 rings for 46/36/26 TA triple rings without any adjustments. The Shimano Titleist tear derailleur handled the gears well. The centerpulls ( I still have them) looked crude but were powerful especially with Mathathouser pads and good cables. And we did replace the forks as the original alloy forks could break.
One of your best posts. Worth pointing out that it has Christophe straps. They were never cheap. I used them for 30 years, though prefer platforms now. I like the detective aspect of how great bikes get waylaid and stashed. My last acquisition was a BRC Trekker. It was barely used - a brilliant stable ride with elliptical rings and a brass pulley for the brake cable. First I’ve seen. It needed a cross cable and brake housing and minor tightening. Original chain is perfect. Original seat. Original cables. Tires were powder. So, what happened? Why was the cross cable gone? Simple. The tire tube had massive patches. Patches on patches. So, the owner kept torquing on that cable every time he “fixed” a flat. Until it broke. Also, it came with big bar ends. They made the handlebars claustrophobic. One of the coolest things, that while looking up BRC bikes, came across a bike blog who states: I’m 80 and wrench on bikes more than I ride them and that’s the way I like it. I also have an unusual BRC Suburban with a 5spd Positronic shifter on the crossbar. Again, first I’ve seen. About 40 years old - original tires still hold air well. The ride is ineffable. I have replacement Schwalbes, but am reluctant to install them.
As others have noted, you have a Viscount Aerospace Pro. Bought my first one I the fall of 1975 as a senior in highschool from Olympia Cycle in north Omaha. It was advertised as weighing about 22 pounds. I believe your weight is more accurate. Mine came with the cast aluminum solid fork. If yours has campagnolo hubs, I am sure they're an aftermarket addition. The bike came with its own branded sealed bearing hubs front and rear. They made their own seat post, brakes, crank set, bottom bracket (sealed bearing), pedals (needle bearings that had some lateral play that seemed unnoticeable while riding), stem, and bars. Mine had a leather saddle with what seemed like a synthetic material glued onto the bottom for protection from road spray. It felt lightning fast compared to my previous ride. Several of my friends bought them. I swapped out the downtime shifters for bar end shifters. It was my dream bike. It was stolen in the spring of 1977. I got another one to replace it. The frame was supposedly their own straight guage chrome molly stuff they used in air plane builds. I was told that Yamaha bought them out, and did the recall on the fork. They sent a chromed fork replacement. This bike was priced at about half of what other manufacturers were charging for bikes of this weight. Sealed bearings were rather novel at the time. You could get Phil Wood hubs that were sealed. They were beauties, but we're very expensive, and you would have to build the wheelset around them, adding to the expense. I felt like this was the best bargain in cycling. I have my doubts about how well it would have held up, but the one you have looks pretty good. That blue paint on the seat tube is a mystery. As I recall, there were some decal-like items that stategically covered places where the silver paint butter the blue or black accents. I never raced, but I always felt fast on that bike. I would love to hear more about the project as it progresses.
Hey Sara, I was a senior in 1975 and worked for two summers at the Silver Spoke bike shop in west Omaha while I was in high school. Olympia Cycle doesn't ring a bell with me. The only other shops I can recall were Fred Hess's Schwinn downtown and the Schwinn shop off Center Street in west Omaha (Countryside Schwinn?).
Its a Viscount Aerospace Pro from the mid 1970s made by Trusty , which either later became a part of or was Lambert. I rode one exactly the same from about 76-88. The forks were later found to have a structural design weakness and all models were recalled and the forks changed. The original forks were reported to have snapped at the head. They became known as " The Forks of Death!!" The replacement was a chromed fork. The derailleur ,front changer, saddle , breaks, handlebars, tape, brak handles, cover on the break handles, chainwheel and pedals are all 100% genuine. There was a name on the frame , "Viscount Aerospace Pro" , I fond after many thousands of miles the side labels would be worn away by leg movement but never 100% erased so the labels on your cycle have been purposely removed. The frame was made from molybdenum. The bottom bracket was a sealed in nylon bearing design. The chainwheel was made by Trusty and could accept Stronglight TA chainrings. The break mechanisms were made by Tusty , the V on them was for Vicount. Trusty made all of the components on the cycle , except ,I believe for the saddle which was a hard unforgiving leather Brooks saddle (from memory). The tyres were originally glued on tuberless. I changed to road wheels later. The wheels in the video seem like original , the axel tighteners are definitely original, so I'd say the wheels are very proberbly original. The component parts were not really the best of the best quality except for the derailleur perhaps. The break mechanisms later stuck, the chainwheel was all but impossible to remove (metal went soft when an extractor was used) , the frame 20 years later went soft at the bottom bracket so taking energy while cycling in bending the frame. I cycled mine to death , with all the same components on as the day I bought it, except wheels, so that says something about the quality. Even the toe straps were used to the end. I heard a cycle shop owner in Europe say he wouldn't touch them again after selling one that snaped at the bottom bracket, well mine never did nor did the forks ever break & I lived then in a very hilly area descending regularly at speeds of up to 80mph. I did though tighten the rear break a little more than maximum & oval the frame at that point but ride with this for 20 years!! It showed how soft the frame really was though. Last memory , I paid 135 for the cycle in 1976!!
Viscount Aerospace Pro. Owned one in the late seventies early eighties. One of the best touring bikes to have ever been made. Welded and assembled by hand. Mine was black with silver trim paint. Derailed shifters at the end of the handle bars. Fully restored to original specs is going for really good money right now. 😀
I remember my uncle having one of these, an English made Viscount. He had play in his bottom bracket so I said no probs fetch it round and I will sort it out, when I took a gander at it, I remember thinking WTF is that! It only had very slight play in it, so told him it would be fine as I just reckoned I would be opening a can of worms if I'd started to tinker with it. Nice retro bike though, amazing how frame geometry has changed, it's one for the more laid back kind of rider. Have a belter of a New Year RJ.👍
That bottom bracket sure looks like a Lambert, the big ring is a dead giveaway. You discovered that the BB is non-threaded - it’s press fit. You will also find that there is NO taper on the spindle - it’s an all-or-nothing package deal. The chainrings will work with TA Pro Vis or other 50.4 BCD cranks, but those cranks will work with no other BB. Ask me how I know…
It looks like the Aerospace Pro model. They were distributed in the US by Yamaha. Yamaha did a recall on the aluminum forks and replaced them with chrome finish chrome moly forks. After the recall, Yamaha dropped distribution and the brand went away. The crank, brakes, pedals, and quick release levers were proprietary made in-house. The frames were brazed, not welded and reportedly weighed 3.75 lbs, pretty light for steel, especially at that time (1974). The sealed bottom bracket bearings do fail but are standard size and should be available at any industrial bearing shop. I bought an Aerospace Sport model (the next level down from the Pro… mostly Japanese components and weighing in at 26.75 lbs) in 1974 and still own it and ride it every week
Shimano Crane, the precursor to Dura Ace. This would be like finding a modern bike with a Dura Ace rear derailleur and a Tourney front derailleur. The cranks are copies of the then popular Specialites T.A.
Not to mention with a hodge-podge of other components: Dia-Compe brakes, Campagnolo hubs. Looks like this is a well used bike and any failed components were just replaced over the years.
I bought one of these bikes new in 1974. On advice of my local bike mechanic i had the forks replaced. The crank spindle snapped in two on day. It cost 300- 350 and rode well.
It's a Viscount Aerospace pro built here in good old blighty, it looks like the solid aluminium "Death" forks have been swapped out but everything else looks original (except tyres) I see some have said about aerospace tubing, at the time the aerospace industry didn't use any tubing of this type 🤣
@@RJTheBikeGuy I think just in name, either way in my book it’s a lovely vintage bike very much worth the asking price. I’m Not a purist needing everything matching in the highest spec available, if it all works as it should then it’ll last a lifetime provided you look after it!
@@RJTheBikeGuy Just the pro model in name. No pro would ride 27 inch clinchers in that era. Those center pull brakes wouldn't work on tubular rims without a caliper drop bolt. Good find.
@@RJTheBikeGuy It is highly unlikely you find an actual pro bike. Pro bikes are individually made for a specific rider, same as any professional racing machine. "There's nothing stock about a stock car," Pro bikes are the same, try buying professional racing parts that are no knockoffs. But it is a lot easier to get mountain bike racing parts than actual road racing parts. Road racing chains can cost over $100 and only last a race or two depending on conditions
I was thinking it has similarities to the old Lambert I have out in the shed, which my father bought in the mid-70's. No death fork on mine, but it is a nice light frame. Maybe I'll build it back up one day.
I bought a frame and forks on ebay a few years ago. It was lugless except for the head tube which was lugged, (connecting the down tube and top tube). Took a while to identify it. Turns out that it was hybrid Viscount/Lambert. Apparently when Viscount took over from Lambert they used some of the leftover Lambert tubes and lugs and used them with Viscount lugless tubing. It also has the aluminium fork. It's a great bike, really light for a cheap frame.
Yep, a Viscount which was very innovative w needle bearing pedals, pressed cartridge bearing bb, lightweight lugless frame and originally an aluminum fork which was, if recall correctly, solid. The fork was later recalled and that chromed steel fork was the replacement.
That is a classic 1976 ish... Viscount Aerospace Pro bike ( sear post would be 26.8mm ) which Tony Doyle himself rode in his heyday (not this particular bike). I nearly had one in 1986. The chainset is a French TA Specialite model, very similar to the stronglight 45 / 49D. Mafac centrepulls (?) Campag Tipo large flange hubs. Campag seatpin. $70? A great find and a bargain.
@@RJTheBikeGuy I believe like any brand it would be the components were better. The Aerospace Pro I have has few original parts. The previous owner replaced the fork with a Cervelo steel fork, and replaced the drivetrain, wheel hubs, brakes and seatpost with early Dura Ace. It has a Cinelli stem and handlebars. It did have the original bottom bracket, and when I picked the bike up the crankset was not installed. I had to find a tapered bottom bracket and new sealed bearings to install the crankset. It’s a very light frame, and is a great ride like a lot of steel frames. I enjoy the Great videos from you!
Still got my Tipo hubs but with 700c rims and DT Sword spokes , Mavic E2 box section rims. Italian threaded but Shimano freewheel unfortunately. Spare Eroica kit. Missing the leather helmet.
In Shimano history, Titleist was second grade FD in 970s, next to DURA-ACE FD. Titleist FD had not 28.0 cramp inner diameter variance for French sheet tube diameter, only had 28.6 to accommodate Japanese and English tube sets.
I'm 99.9% sure it's a Viscount; the unusual bottom bracket and the Vs on the pedals and brakes were helpful clues. Inthe UK some bikes may have had different decals but were essentially the same model, hence the references to Lambert. They crop up on Ebay fairly regularly and have a bit of a cult following. There's even a "death fork rally". A bike that's worth restoring. Who knows? You might have to use your impact wrench.
I have an old Viscount Aerospace with the same bottom bracket bearings and cable guide on the bottom bracket shell. Mine came with Simplex derailleurs though.
Have two, one with original fork,one with there replacement fork, good bike, not a hill climber. Bikes frames maybe in Britain, fastback rear triangle, sealed standard bottom bracket. You got your monies worth!
Nice bike! I very nearly bought one last year. I think the bottom bracket has press fit bearings, so you might have some fun with that. Good to see you posting videos again. Happy new year and all the best from the UK.
VIscount Lambert without aluminum "monocoque" fork having a steel steerer tube studded with a litteraly nail to the lower part of the fork ;) Viscount cardridge bearings hubs, 27 1/4" alu rims, TA-like cranks made for viscount, unfortunate press-fit BB, fillet-brazed frame with no braze-ons (quirky invention of 1970's), annoing super thin and super long rear dropouts (wheel is always somewhat dis-aligned with the rest of the frame); But for sure - very light frame, with around 1.8-1.9kg in size 60cm. Quite popular in UK, not a rare thing among the continent:)
Sometimes, one decides to work on a mysterious problem-set, in order to discover new things, and widen the breadth of one's knowledge/experience. Crane RD is very interesting, i.m.o., as is the seat-post clamp design.
Viscount from 70s bike craze but not a top race bike more like a nice sport tourer. The brakes, dropouts etc indicate nice bike but not top level. Enjoy its smooth ride
1974 Viscount Aerospace Pro, if you ever fancied doing a full restoration, paint job the works thats not a bad bike to start off with, most of the parts seem to be original and repro decals (the head badge was only a decal too I believe) are easy to find online. Funny thing is it got its name from the supposed "Aerospace aluminium" fork that it originally came with, but had to be recalled as it had the tendency to snap off at the fork crown. Yikes! Despite that they where pretty well respected in their time/ They are not very rare (at least not here in the UK) but hey do make an impressive bike when restored.
Actually I've owned exactly the same Viscount bike for 20 years though the front "death fork" has been replaced with a CroMo fork. The original components on the bike were mostly labeled as "Viscount". I guess they were either knock-off or OEM parts from Suntour and other Japanese parts makers which were still active back in the 70s.
Viscount from the '70s. The middle of their product line. The Bike Rack in Pittsburgh sold them. Crank is original. I'm guessing it has Nuovo Tipo hubs. They polish up very nicely and are usually smooth as glass. Don't know if the wheels are original but I doubt it. Derailleurs are correct from my vantage recollection. The frame's fillet brazing was their claim to fame.
@@linseyyoung1772 There are a couple really nice write ups in the internet covering the history of Viscount. Everyone I remember owning one was constantly upgrading them. At the time they really were a light bike. Brakes were the first thing to go but I don't think you could do much with the crank due to the BB.
@@chrisharper2658 A friend of mine managed to tap the BB shell to Italian threads a few years ago on one. At least I think it was Italian threads he used.
This thing was just a unicorn of components! That chain ring is wild, wonder what it's flex might be like under load or at all. This is nice build up, doesn't look like it needs a lot of full blown rebuilds or replacements. Friction system?
Nice find RJ. The cranks look French, maybe Nervar/Stronglight. The parts on the Viscount Aerospace were branded Lambert but were sourced from European cycle component manufacturers much like Milremo. The Aerospace used a lightweight steel tubing, but it wasn't Reynolds 531. The Lambert name I believe refers to Keith Lambert who was a British pro rider. Viscount did co-sponsor one of the domestic British pro teams in the 1970s.
Crank looks like T.A. Criterium but could be a knockoff. Pretty good guess about the make. Used to be either 27 inch, or tubular rims. 27 inch wheels didn't fit pro level bikes. Rigida rims were awful. Does it have trois etelle spokes in the wheels? Very interesting bike.
Viscount!! I have almost the exact same kind I found last year. Watch out for fork though, if it’s steel you are probably fine but if it’s aluminum they were dangerous.
The only ones to survive were barely ridden Viscount /Lambert I worked in a bicycle shop that sold these. Lambert had a more conventionally equipped model late in their production run that was red,,,I almost bought one
As a vintage steel fan, I think the price was good, components are worth that as you know. Picked up a freebie outside Seattle that was repainted, poorly, with Colnago stickers...not a Colnago, total mystery machine, never seen anything like it. But came with components I have never seen before, so loving the similar mystery you have going here. Somewhat similar frames also. Love the vid, thanks RJ, and Happy New Year!
I know of someone here in the UK who had an old Raleigh Europa. He took it to tthe LBS to have it serviced and repaired but the mechanic pointed out that the cost of the repairs way exceeded the bike's value, but he insisted. A few weeks later someone GAVE him a next to new Colnago.
just quick google searches show Lambert and Viscount frames built along these same lines. Not sure about the crankset. I think you've got a very memorable bike.
hey Rj! i really follow your channel and watch all of your videos! i have a question when the tire is balding ( it has balding spots) is it time to replace it or the balding spots can be somehow patched with something ? what do you think? cheers
If the colors are original, together with some other technical aspects it very much looks like a slightly older version of a race bike I once owned. It had a frame made by Giant and components were mostly shimano. My version was 12 or 14 speed
2:28 - Wow! In Soviet Union some people made custom parts. And some also made custom frames (maybe you've seen some photos of frames with "SAMOILOV" decals. But I thought there was no need in this in other countries, because you just could go and buy anything you need. Quite interesting. ХВЗ рулит!))
My dad had something veery close to that, maybe even the same one, when he was 12, he is 61 now and my brother took that old bike and repaired it it looks like new now and gave it to my dad for xmas This is very cool too tho
I would add racing stripes with new off road tires and a bigger seat. Add some blue tape to the grips instead of rubber grips. I know bikes good. My college degree is bike expert and performance adder expert. So I know
Clincher tired have beads that lock into the rim and usually have tubes. As opposed to a tubular tire which has the tube built into the tire and is glued to the rim.
Maybe if you wipe off the seat post blue paint with solvent you might expose the graphics underneath. With all the ‘V’ logos I’m going to agree with the Viscount crowd.
@@RJTheBikeGuy The fork looks like someone's replaced the original with a conventional steel fork. The original fork didn't have a lugged crown like the bicycle you found has.
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Looks like an English Lambert/Viscount but not all original. They normally came with a alloy cast fork that was riveted to the steer tube that would break inside the head tube so people would replaced with steel fork. I knew someone who worked for the company and he told me that the 1st production was lugged then they decided to save cost by eliminating the lugs. If done properly, this worked BUT because of the thin walled tubing they used, the people who cleaned up the brazing would grind off too much material causing the joint to fail. A local closeout company purchased the remaining inventory and took the time to put lugs on the headtube and replace the forks then resold. The cranks are non tapered so if the bolts loosened up, they would literally fall off. The original wheels had sealed bearings. The chainring pattern was a copy of the TA Cycletourist chainring. Brings back old memories of the Lambert ads that showed the bike next to a Lear Jet just to show how high tech it was. I really wanted one back then but bought a Peugeot PX-10 instead. I volunteer for free bikes 4 kids and we see bikes like this come in but don't fix them. I would buy one as a collector if it had original equipment and in good condition. Take care.
Spot on, it’s a Viscount !
Great piece of uk 🇬🇧 biking history! Thanks
I think you made the right choice with the PX-10 over the Viscount!
The forks were recalled, that looks like the standard replacement Tange item, I expect the later bikes used these from new. There are still some original aluminium forks out there too - the third version wasn't known to fail like the earlier types, although they were included in the recall IIRC. I very much doubt that these were built lugless to reduce cost - it's a more skilled and labour-intensive process. Lugless can be useful when a frame has odd angles or tubing, which standard lugs don't fit, but also just for lightweight bling factor. I've not heard of problems with the frames - the later lugged versions were probably just cheaper to build. The Lambert/Viscount Aerospace bikes were great value lightweights when new, but the proprietary bottom bracket used on early versions caused problems as it could break at the circlip groove as well as having a unique and under-engineered crank interface. There were also cheaper lugged non-Aerospace Viscounts that used standard components, I've had a couple and they're surprisingly good for cheap frames.
Without question a Viscount. The fork on this bicycle is NOT the “death fork”, it’s steel not aluminum. Lots of history on this brand can be found online, a good bit has been written in the comments. Chain rings were called “porthole style”. I have read that the red/white and blue/white frames are the Aerospace G.P. and the black/silver were the Aerospace Pro. I own three at the moment, one of them is the Aerospace Pro.
That's correct. I worked in a shop that sold them. They were a pretty good deal at the time.
It is a Viscount Aerospace Pro. The original fork was cast aluminum that used to snap off at the steerer tube and the factory (that bought the rights to the Viscount) did a recall and replaced the fork with one made by Yamaha. The BB and wheels all used double sealed ball bearings. My bike was silver with black trim that had gold pin striping. Mine did have the crane derailier. I bought mine in the US sometime around 1975. The double sealed ball bearing never needed to be serviced. I think there was a fancier version that the chainrings were machined from titanium instead of aluminum.
I had one like that in the mid 70s. Is was sold in the U.S. as a Viscount. Manufactured by Lambert, which I think is British. The steel frame was lugless The aluminum forks had a recall, yours was a replacement steel fork. The chainrings and arms were very distinctive. The head badge was a decal, so that could have disappeared a long time ago. Mine was white and red, but think they came in white/blue also.
RJ the Bike Guy is back! RJ, I am really enjoying your videos since 2014 and I learned to fix bikes with your videos which made me start an apprentice and mechanic school 2 years later and moved to Germany for that, and I´ve been doing this for a living ever since. I´m sure I´m not the only one you inspired, but just wanted to say thank you a lot! Greetings from Berlin!
You're right, this guy has helped many people fix, maintain or even improve their pride and joys, Including myself on many occasions.
Fantastic content!
That V logo is the Viscount logo. Shimano Crane became Dura-Ace, and Titlist is a bit lower end. Those chainrings are specific to Viscount bikes, as is the crankset. Looking at the Sheldon Brown article on the Aerospace, it seems a lot of that is stock, I do not know about the painjob. I'd definitely look into changing the fork to something safe, although it *looks* as if that's already been done. It's a super cool bike, with some super interesting parts.
I concur with Viscount. The Lambert brake levers and and unusual chain rings give it away. Good find!
Bought an AeroSpace Pro from a friend back in '84/85. I don't recall how I was alerted to the fork issue, but, I vividly remember removing and shipping the original to Yamaha.... and I seem to recall the new fork arrived quickly... maybe 10 days. It was awesome looking, chromed Tange. Looking back I can't believe I routinely bombed down hills 40-50mph on that bike with the new fork, though not surprising because my friend and I were constantly checking and tuning our bikes. Man, .those were the days... survived just fine without the internet. Thanks for the flashback!
It’s identical to my first real race bike. The paint is original. I have an original decal set for it. The cranks are Lambert. The bike was distributed by Yamaha. It was made in England. The tires are not original. Mine had the solid aluminum forks that were recalled. It came in the blue trim like that one or one with black trim. The original wheels had sew up tires (tubulars). The components were made by Lambert and the V badge was for the bike brand Viscount. I got it for Christmas when I was 14. It was probably the best and most memorable thing I ever got for Christmas. It led me to a lifetime of cycling.
Great present! Thank your parents 😊
@@themoodyteam I loved that bike and wanted it but was not expecting it. I ended up working at the bike shop it came from for my first job and worked there for several years.
I believe they were made in Northern Ireland rather than in England.
Nice Size RJ... will come up a treat. Crane was the original Dura-Ace. Looks like a Stronglight chainring. Rigida are french rims, looks like a Sugino seatpost or SR royal. If the rear derailleur is in decent condition that's pretty much your money back right there
I was stumped with every hunch but one. I didn't think the fork looked right with the rest of the bike and figured it was not the original. This was a very, very interesting setup for your video. I certainly got totally involved researching and learned a lot, then later learned a lot from all the smart people who follow you and submit their comments. Appreciate your work. Happy New Year. Oh, yeah. I think it was a good deal.
Me and a friend bought one of these Viscounts in the 70s. 4130 crmo brazed tubes. We switched out the 52/42 rings for 46/36/26 TA triple rings without any adjustments. The Shimano Titleist tear derailleur handled the gears well.
The centerpulls ( I still have them) looked crude but were powerful especially with Mathathouser pads and good cables.
And we did replace the forks as the original alloy forks could break.
One of your best posts. Worth pointing out that it has Christophe straps. They were never cheap. I used them for 30 years, though prefer platforms now. I like the detective aspect of how great bikes get waylaid and stashed. My last acquisition was a BRC Trekker. It was barely used - a brilliant stable ride with elliptical rings and a brass pulley for the brake cable. First I’ve seen. It needed a cross cable and brake housing and minor tightening. Original chain is perfect. Original seat. Original cables. Tires were powder. So, what happened? Why was the cross cable gone?
Simple. The tire tube had massive patches. Patches on patches. So, the owner kept torquing on that cable every time he “fixed” a flat. Until it broke.
Also, it came with big bar ends. They made the handlebars claustrophobic.
One of the coolest things, that while looking up BRC bikes, came across a bike blog who states: I’m 80 and wrench on bikes more than I ride them and that’s the way I like it.
I also have an unusual BRC Suburban with a 5spd Positronic shifter on the crossbar. Again, first I’ve seen. About 40 years old - original tires still hold air well. The ride is ineffable. I have replacement Schwalbes, but am reluctant to install them.
As others have noted, you have a Viscount Aerospace Pro. Bought my first one I the fall of 1975 as a senior in highschool from Olympia Cycle in north Omaha. It was advertised as weighing about 22 pounds. I believe your weight is more accurate. Mine came with the cast aluminum solid fork. If yours has campagnolo hubs, I am sure they're an aftermarket addition. The bike came with its own branded sealed bearing hubs front and rear. They made their own seat post, brakes, crank set, bottom bracket (sealed bearing), pedals (needle bearings that had some lateral play that seemed unnoticeable while riding), stem, and bars. Mine had a leather saddle with what seemed like a synthetic material glued onto the bottom for protection from road spray. It felt lightning fast compared to my previous ride. Several of my friends bought them. I swapped out the downtime shifters for bar end shifters. It was my dream bike. It was stolen in the spring of 1977. I got another one to replace it. The frame was supposedly their own straight guage chrome molly stuff they used in air plane builds. I was told that Yamaha bought them out, and did the recall on the fork. They sent a chromed fork replacement. This bike was priced at about half of what other manufacturers were charging for bikes of this weight. Sealed bearings were rather novel at the time. You could get Phil Wood hubs that were sealed. They were beauties, but we're very expensive, and you would have to build the wheelset around them, adding to the expense. I felt like this was the best bargain in cycling. I have my doubts about how well it would have held up, but the one you have looks pretty good. That blue paint on the seat tube is a mystery. As I recall, there were some decal-like items that stategically covered places where the silver paint butter the blue or black accents. I never raced, but I always felt fast on that bike. I would love to hear more about the project as it progresses.
Hey Sara, I was a senior in 1975 and worked for two summers at the Silver Spoke bike shop in west Omaha while I was in high school. Olympia Cycle doesn't ring a bell with me. The only other shops I can recall were Fred Hess's Schwinn downtown and the Schwinn shop off Center Street in west Omaha (Countryside Schwinn?).
Its a Viscount Aerospace Pro from the mid 1970s made by Trusty , which either later became a part of or was Lambert. I rode one exactly the same from about 76-88. The forks were later found to have a structural design weakness and all models were recalled and the forks changed. The original forks were reported to have snapped at the head. They became known as " The Forks of Death!!" The replacement was a chromed fork. The derailleur ,front changer, saddle , breaks, handlebars, tape, brak handles, cover on the break handles, chainwheel and pedals are all 100% genuine. There was a name on the frame , "Viscount Aerospace Pro" , I fond after many thousands of miles the side labels would be worn away by leg movement but never 100% erased so the labels on your cycle have been purposely removed. The frame was made from molybdenum. The bottom bracket was a sealed in nylon bearing design. The chainwheel was made by Trusty and could accept Stronglight TA chainrings. The break mechanisms were made by Tusty , the V on them was for Vicount. Trusty made all of the components on the cycle , except ,I believe for the saddle which was a hard unforgiving leather Brooks saddle (from memory). The tyres were originally glued on tuberless. I changed to road wheels later. The wheels in the video seem like original , the axel tighteners are definitely original, so I'd say the wheels are very proberbly original. The component parts were not really the best of the best quality except for the derailleur perhaps. The break mechanisms later stuck, the chainwheel was all but impossible to remove (metal went soft when an extractor was used) , the frame 20 years later went soft at the bottom bracket so taking energy while cycling in bending the frame. I cycled mine to death , with all the same components on as the day I bought it, except wheels, so that says something about the quality. Even the toe straps were used to the end. I heard a cycle shop owner in Europe say he wouldn't touch them again after selling one that snaped at the bottom bracket, well mine never did nor did the forks ever break & I lived then in a very hilly area descending regularly at speeds of up to 80mph. I did though tighten the rear break a little more than maximum & oval the frame at that point but ride with this for 20 years!! It showed how soft the frame really was though. Last memory , I paid 135 for the cycle in 1976!!
Viscount Aerospace Pro. Owned one in the late seventies early eighties. One of the best touring bikes to have ever been made. Welded and assembled by hand. Mine was black with silver trim paint. Derailed shifters at the end of the handle bars. Fully restored to original specs is going for really good money right now. 😀
I remember my uncle having one of these,
an English made Viscount.
He had play in his bottom bracket so I said no probs fetch it round and I will sort it out, when I took a gander at it, I remember thinking WTF is that!
It only had very slight play in it, so told him it would be fine as I just reckoned I would be opening a can of worms if I'd started to tinker with it.
Nice retro bike though, amazing how frame geometry has changed, it's one for the more laid back kind of rider.
Have a belter of a New Year RJ.👍
That bottom bracket sure looks like a Lambert, the big ring is a dead giveaway. You discovered that the BB is non-threaded - it’s press fit. You will also find that there is NO taper on the spindle - it’s an all-or-nothing package deal. The chainrings will work with TA Pro Vis or other 50.4 BCD cranks, but those cranks will work with no other BB. Ask me how I know…
It looks like the Aerospace Pro model. They were distributed in the US by Yamaha. Yamaha did a recall on the aluminum forks and replaced them with chrome finish chrome moly forks. After the recall, Yamaha dropped distribution and the brand went away. The crank, brakes, pedals, and quick release levers were proprietary made in-house. The frames were brazed, not welded and reportedly weighed 3.75 lbs, pretty light for steel, especially at that time (1974). The sealed bottom bracket bearings do fail but are standard size and should be available at any industrial bearing shop. I bought an Aerospace Sport model (the next level down from the Pro… mostly Japanese components and weighing in at 26.75 lbs) in 1974 and still own it and ride it every week
Shimano Crane, the precursor to Dura Ace. This would be like finding a modern bike with a Dura Ace rear derailleur and a Tourney front derailleur. The cranks are copies of the then popular Specialites T.A.
Not to mention with a hodge-podge of other components: Dia-Compe brakes, Campagnolo hubs. Looks like this is a well used bike and any failed components were just replaced over the years.
I bought one of these bikes new in 1974. On advice of my local bike mechanic
i had the forks replaced. The crank spindle snapped in two on day. It cost 300-
350 and rode well.
It's a Viscount Aerospace pro built here in good old blighty, it looks like the solid aluminium "Death" forks have been swapped out but everything else looks original (except tyres)
I see some have said about aerospace tubing, at the time the aerospace industry didn't use any tubing of this type 🤣
So this is the "pro" model? Really a pro bike, or just the name?
@@RJTheBikeGuy I think just in name, either way in my book it’s a lovely vintage bike very much worth the asking price.
I’m
Not a purist needing everything matching in the highest spec available, if it all works as it should then it’ll last a lifetime provided you look after it!
@@RJTheBikeGuy Just the pro model in name. No pro would ride 27 inch clinchers in that era. Those center pull brakes wouldn't work on tubular rims without a caliper drop bolt. Good find.
@@RJTheBikeGuy It is highly unlikely you find an actual pro bike. Pro bikes are individually made for a specific rider, same as any professional racing machine. "There's nothing stock about a stock car," Pro bikes are the same, try buying professional racing parts that are no knockoffs. But it is a lot easier to get mountain bike racing parts than actual road racing parts. Road racing chains can cost over $100 and only last a race or two depending on conditions
I was thinking it has similarities to the old Lambert I have out in the shed, which my father bought in the mid-70's. No death fork on mine, but it is a nice light frame. Maybe I'll build it back up one day.
Probably a Viscount. I had one with the same brazed/lug-less tubing. Not a bad price. Had a bad death wobble at high speed though.
That sounds hairy !!
I bought a frame and forks on ebay a few years ago. It was lugless except for the head tube which was lugged, (connecting the down tube and top tube). Took a while to identify it. Turns out that it was hybrid Viscount/Lambert. Apparently when Viscount took over from Lambert they used some of the leftover Lambert tubes and lugs and used them with Viscount lugless tubing. It also has the aluminium fork. It's a great bike, really light for a cheap frame.
I too have a lugged front lugless rear Viscount and had never seen another same ! Always wondered why it was built like this 👍
Love my aerospace pro. Even the name arouses me. The death fork makes it even more exciting.
I’ve got a viscount aerospace in my loft . I’m trying to find a rear wheel in the uk as my hub flange is cracked.
Yep, a Viscount which was very innovative w needle bearing pedals, pressed cartridge bearing bb, lightweight lugless frame and originally an aluminum fork which was, if recall correctly, solid. The fork was later recalled and that chromed steel fork was the replacement.
Definitely a Viscount bike and worth restoring. Nice purchase!
That is a classic 1976 ish... Viscount Aerospace Pro bike ( sear post would be 26.8mm ) which Tony Doyle himself rode in his heyday (not this particular bike). I nearly had one in 1986. The chainset is a French TA Specialite model, very similar to the stronglight 45 / 49D. Mafac centrepulls (?) Campag Tipo large flange hubs. Campag seatpin. $70? A great find and a bargain.
What's the different between the pro model, and other models?
@@RJTheBikeGuy I believe like any brand it would be the components were better. The Aerospace Pro I have has few original parts. The previous owner replaced the fork with a Cervelo steel fork, and replaced the drivetrain, wheel hubs, brakes and seatpost with early Dura Ace. It has a Cinelli stem and handlebars. It did have the original bottom bracket, and when I picked the bike up the crankset was not installed. I had to find a tapered bottom bracket and new sealed bearings to install the crankset. It’s a very light frame, and is a great ride like a lot of steel frames. I enjoy the Great videos from you!
Still got my Tipo hubs but with 700c rims and DT Sword spokes , Mavic E2 box section rims. Italian threaded but Shimano freewheel unfortunately. Spare Eroica kit. Missing the leather helmet.
In Shimano history, Titleist was second grade FD in 970s, next to DURA-ACE FD. Titleist FD had not 28.0 cramp inner diameter variance for French sheet tube diameter, only had 28.6 to accommodate Japanese and English tube sets.
I'm 99.9% sure it's a Viscount; the unusual bottom bracket and the Vs on the pedals and brakes were helpful clues. Inthe UK some bikes may have had different decals but were essentially the same model, hence the references to Lambert. They crop up on Ebay fairly regularly and have a bit of a cult following. There's even a "death fork rally". A bike that's worth restoring. Who knows? You might have to use your impact wrench.
Mystery solved with so much info provided by you guys! Happy 2022 RJ and everyone else 🎉
I have an old Viscount Aerospace with the same bottom bracket bearings and cable guide on the bottom bracket shell. Mine came with Simplex derailleurs though.
RJ. Welcome back to RUclips, it's been awhile. hope to hear and see more.
Have two, one with original fork,one with there replacement fork, good bike, not a hill climber. Bikes frames maybe in Britain, fastback rear triangle, sealed standard bottom bracket. You got your monies worth!
This one is a 1974 viscount/ lambert lightweight, yours is just missing the decals, I have had two pass by my shop
Nice bike! I very nearly bought one last year. I think the bottom bracket has press fit bearings, so you might have some fun with that. Good to see you posting videos again. Happy new year and all the best from the UK.
Nice. Great to see you back.
VIscount Lambert without aluminum "monocoque" fork having a steel steerer tube studded with a litteraly nail to the lower part of the fork ;) Viscount cardridge bearings hubs, 27 1/4" alu rims, TA-like cranks made for viscount, unfortunate press-fit BB, fillet-brazed frame with no braze-ons (quirky invention of 1970's), annoing super thin and super long rear dropouts (wheel is always somewhat dis-aligned with the rest of the frame); But for sure - very light frame, with around 1.8-1.9kg in size 60cm. Quite popular in UK, not a rare thing among the continent:)
It's a Viscount aerospace ,I had one about five years ago ,I liked it
Sometimes, one decides to work on a mysterious problem-set, in order to discover new things, and widen the breadth of one's knowledge/experience.
Crane RD is very interesting, i.m.o., as is the seat-post clamp design.
It is 1975 Viscount Aerospace - Paint is original with the decals off
Happy new year RJ and the rest of the followers all the way from Portland, OR. Great history lesson gentleman….
Viscount from 70s bike craze but not a top race bike more like a nice sport tourer. The brakes, dropouts etc indicate nice bike but not top level. Enjoy its smooth ride
The Campagnolo hubs are really nice and worth the price alone. A good buy!
I would say it's a 1974 Viscount Aerospace Pro. Some parts are repaired or changed.
yes, it is a Viscount Lambert without the "death fork·, I have one like it.
Very interesting. Looks like a reasonable performance bike for knocking around on.
1974 Viscount Aerospace Pro, if you ever fancied doing a full restoration, paint job the works thats not a bad bike to start off with, most of the parts seem to be original and repro decals (the head badge was only a decal too I believe) are easy to find online. Funny thing is it got its name from the supposed "Aerospace aluminium" fork that it originally came with, but had to be recalled as it had the tendency to snap off at the fork crown. Yikes! Despite that they where pretty well respected in their time/
They are not very rare (at least not here in the UK) but hey do make an impressive bike when restored.
Actually I've owned exactly the same Viscount bike for 20 years though the front "death fork" has been replaced with a CroMo fork. The original components on the bike were mostly labeled as "Viscount". I guess they were either knock-off or OEM parts from Suntour and other Japanese parts makers which were still active back in the 70s.
Great video ! Love ‘The Jetsons ‘ style chain ring !!
how big of a tire can I fit in a race bike like this doing a 700c conversion?
Viscount from the '70s. The middle of their product line. The Bike Rack in Pittsburgh sold them. Crank is original. I'm guessing it has Nuovo Tipo hubs. They polish up very nicely and are usually smooth as glass. Don't know if the wheels are original but I doubt it. Derailleurs are correct from my vantage recollection. The frame's fillet brazing was their claim to fame.
Hubs will be Viscount's own with cartridge bearings.
@@linseyyoung1772 There are a couple really nice write ups in the internet covering the history of Viscount. Everyone I remember owning one was constantly upgrading them. At the time they really were a light bike. Brakes were the first thing to go but I don't think you could do much with the crank due to the BB.
@@chrisharper2658 A friend of mine managed to tap the BB shell to Italian threads a few years ago on one. At least I think it was Italian threads he used.
This thing was just a unicorn of components! That chain ring is wild, wonder what it's flex might be like under load or at all. This is nice build up, doesn't look like it needs a lot of full blown rebuilds or replacements. Friction system?
Yes, friction shifting.
Mine still has the original death fork. I ride it occasionally. It is very light and fast.
Is 25lbs light?
I've got one which still has its death fork too - not in rideable condition unfortunately. One of these days I'll get round to restoring it...
Nice find RJ. The cranks look French, maybe Nervar/Stronglight. The parts on the Viscount Aerospace were branded Lambert but were sourced from European cycle component manufacturers much like Milremo. The Aerospace used a lightweight steel tubing, but it wasn't Reynolds 531. The Lambert name I believe refers to Keith Lambert who was a British pro rider. Viscount did co-sponsor one of the domestic British pro teams in the 1970s.
Crank looks like T.A. Criterium but could be a knockoff. Pretty good guess about the make. Used to be either 27 inch, or tubular rims. 27 inch wheels didn't fit pro level bikes. Rigida rims were awful. Does it have trois etelle spokes in the wheels? Very interesting bike.
Could you make a video on how to fix spongey rim brakes?
Viscount!! I have almost the exact same kind I found last year. Watch out for fork though, if it’s steel you are probably fine but if it’s aluminum they were dangerous.
Yeah it is a viscount i got one over here in nz extremely light came out with alloy fork that had to be recalled
Is it a Viscount?
Maybe the V is for Vittoria. Maybe if you carefully remove the downtube paint, you can find a factory label?
OMG! I was thinking Peugeot but I think Viscount. Dude, look at those tires! Definitely not from Sears. That’s all I can add.
I had a viscount bike on the 80s they had v on fixings. Hope you find out more details soon
I love these skinny bikes from the 70's.
I call this bicycle archeology. Fascinating
The only ones to survive were barely ridden Viscount /Lambert I worked in a bicycle shop that sold these. Lambert had a more conventionally equipped model late in their production run that was red,,,I almost bought one
As a vintage steel fan, I think the price was good, components are worth that as you know. Picked up a freebie outside Seattle that was repainted, poorly, with Colnago stickers...not a Colnago, total mystery machine, never seen anything like it. But came with components I have never seen before, so loving the similar mystery you have going here. Somewhat similar frames also. Love the vid, thanks RJ, and Happy New Year!
I know of someone here in the UK who had an old Raleigh Europa. He took it to tthe LBS to have it serviced and repaired but the mechanic pointed out that the cost of the repairs way exceeded the bike's value, but he insisted. A few weeks later someone GAVE him a next to new Colnago.
the "V" brand center pull brakes are Viscount brakes.
Is there a market for vintage bikes?
I’m with a lot of others on this. Lambert/Viscount. I’m not sure which model. Maybe the Grand Prix?
just quick google searches show Lambert and Viscount frames built along these same lines. Not sure about the crankset. I think you've got a very memorable bike.
Very interesting, love those hubs
hey Rj!
i really follow your channel and watch all of your videos!
i have a question
when the tire is balding ( it has balding spots) is it time to replace it or the balding spots can be somehow patched with something ?
what do you think?
cheers
Replace it.
If the colors are original, together with some other technical aspects it very much looks like a slightly older version of a race bike I once owned. It had a frame made by Giant and components were mostly shimano. My version was 12 or 14 speed
It seems pretty Japanese to me. Are there any markings on the bottom of the BB case? Pretty interesting.
*buzzer* Sorry, that is incorrect. English apparently.
@@RJTheBikeGuy Northern Irish rather than English if I recall correctly.
It is a Viscount. I can tell by the paint job in the cranks.
2:28 - Wow! In Soviet Union some people made custom parts. And some also made custom frames (maybe you've seen some photos of frames with "SAMOILOV" decals. But I thought there was no need in this in other countries, because you just could go and buy anything you need. Quite interesting.
ХВЗ рулит!))
it might be a mercier ,intended for american market ?
You guys are amazing. You know your bikes. thanks for sharing
Wow honestly I've never seen a road bike like that. Maybe it's a frankencycle or a custom project? That chain ring is really interesting though🤔
Don't know what bike it is, but looks like a great platform for randoneur built!
My dad had something veery close to that, maybe even the same one, when he was 12, he is 61 now and my brother took that old bike and repaired it it looks like new now and gave it to my dad for xmas
This is very cool too tho
I would add racing stripes with new off road tires and a bigger seat. Add some blue tape to the grips instead of rubber grips. I know bikes good. My college degree is bike expert and performance adder expert. So I know
Lambert/Viscount grand prix . looks like the aluminum forks were replaced
Yep the Viscount came with an anodized aluminum fork...
What does a “clincher” rim mean?
Clincher tired have beads that lock into the rim and usually have tubes. As opposed to a tubular tire which has the tube built into the tire and is glued to the rim.
@@RJTheBikeGuy thank you for the knowledge & a happy new year to you!
Maybe if you wipe off the seat post blue paint with solvent you might expose the graphics underneath. With all the ‘V’ logos I’m going to agree with the Viscount crowd.
I think the blue paint is actually original, and it had decals over the ends.
@@RJTheBikeGuy Here in San Francisco is typical to see stolen bikes either painted over the seat post tube graphics or just taped over.
@@evanswinford7165 Not the case here. Just the decals missing. oldtenspeedgallery.com/owner-submitted/michael-ps-1975-viscount-aerospace-g-p/
great video to watch thank you take care keep safe
I'm sorry I thought it was a tie seen the v in the brakes and it's viscount
Is that a TA crank ?
No.
I own one. They are very fast when restored. That looks like original paint scheme
RJ, you have great subscribers!
Fab feedback 😊
That is a Viscount Aerospace - I have one myself that I will be building
Viscount aerospace for sure
That is a Lambert 10 speed with death fork. Made in England.
The fork is steel.
@@RJTheBikeGuy The fork looks like someone's replaced the original with a conventional steel fork. The original fork didn't have a lugged crown like the bicycle you found has.
Viscount for sure, careful the fork was known for failure
I have no clue what kind of bike that is.. still looks pretty decent though and worth servicing
Viscount/Lambert with a mish-mash of parts.