Welcome to Takara Tuesday! Today’s installment provided by Ryan S.  This is baby has all the markings of a true OTS for the ages.  Lollipop reflectors, a seatpost with no hope of ever seeing the light of day, centerpulls, cottered crank, oh my!

A consideration for your next Takara Tuesday.
Every May my area of Seattle has a neighborhood wide garage sale. There are literally 100’s of garage sales going on that Saturday, and I was hoping to find a cheap 10 speed for a project. I scored this 1975 Takara for the princely sum of $25.  The guy I bought from said it was his college bike but that he wasn’t it using it much- the cobwebs in the spokes were a giveaway- he estimated it was a ’75. After closer inspection I realized I had gotten a trifecta of mediocrity: stem mounted shifters, “Safety” (suicide) brake levers, and a Cottered Crank!  In all fairness the shifters are Suntour power shifters which I have heard good things about.

I do like the head badge though, not simply a stylized “T” like most of the Takara bikes I find pictures of on the web, but intricate and with a very Germanic Eagle.  If anyone has any background on the Company and what model of Takara this might be I would love to hear it.  All I can find is that they are of Japanese make and had a North American HQ in Oklahoma at some point. This bike is much crappier than the Miyata 912 I found last month and it should be a fun project.  I think there is some nice sky blue paint under all the grime.

I did actually ride it briefly but its going to dry rot…er.. dry dock for now.  As always thanks for the great site.

“Roadie” Ryan