Stephen C’s Korean Built Tsunoda Ten Speed

Posted

I promised the next two OTSG First entries on Friday, but never got around to posting them.

This is a Tsunoda Ten Speed, sent in by Stephen C., and it is apparently, “The Best Bicycle for Young Men”.  I’m not sure how they came to such a lofty claim, and I’m not sure why they would limit themselves to such a narrow slice of the bicycling public, but since I have seen a “Tsunoda” in the Tour nor have I seen a “Tsunoda” at my trusty LBS, I’m assuming this strategy didn’t work out so well for them.  It’s too bad because it’s a pretty snazzy rig.

I think this Tsunoda bicycle (with a made in Korea label) was made in the 1970s, I am hoping your readership can provide more details.

Brought this on the Brooklyn Craigslist for more than I should have but it was my size and I was looking for a beater for trip to Manhattan. The bicycle is heavy, probably more than 30 lbs. The chain, rear derailer, and the gears were covered with a thick layer of greasy gunk preserving it from rust. I have replaced the dropbar with a straight bar from a Schwinn urban bicycle that was wrecked in an accident. Had to replace the rear wheel because there was missing spokes and the remaining spokes were rusted. Will eventually need to replace the front wheel, but so far it is ride-able with new tube and tire. Clean the brakes and put the Tektro brake levers from the Schwinn to good use. Gonna convert it to a single speed by removing the front and rear derailer next summer…

Thanks, Stephen

BTW love the OTS gallery site.

Thanks Stephen

Related posts:

  1. Mark H’s Takara Mixte
  2. Doohickie’s 1987 Schwinn Prelude
  3. Daniel V’s 1986 Schwinn Prelude
  4. Mark’s 80s Womens Schwinn Caliente
  5. Dave M.’s Hercules Royal Geoffrey
  • older1

    Oh, MAN, the description of your TBBFYM was going real good until that last statement, Stephen! Obviously out of my league!
    Anyway, that’s a sharp-looking bike, even with the flat-bar-conversion! Thanks for posting before it turns into an OTS/10!

    The manufacturer definitely limited their market, but they were probably thinking the title “The Best Bicycle for Every Bipedal Creature on the Planet” would have been too pretentious, as well as impossible to prove in court.
    Technically, the tile should have read:
    “The Best Bicycle for Young Men Who Are Able to Read, Comprehend, and Ultimately Acquiesce to Extremely Pretentious and Futile Marketing Claims Written in the English Language”.

  • Stephen C.

    older1, did I mention how heavy this bicycle is, more than 30lbs. The Shimano Eagle derailleur alone is 379g.
    http://www.disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Shimano_Eagle_SS_derailleur_%28D310%29.html

    • older1

      Yikes! Okay, Stephen, those specifications should give your bike an honored status in the OTSG!
      Maybe Cameron should start a HOTS (Heavy Old Ten Speed) Gallery to distinguish the qualified from all the other run-of-the-mill OTS postings!
      On second thought a HOTS search may direct the unsuspecting to undesireable destinations, so maybe not!
      Anyway, I like your bike and thanks for the submittal. I continue to enjoy and be amazed at the endless manufacturers that show up here!

  • George

    Wow, that rear fender is…truly amazing. Form over function, anyone

    • older1

      Not that it applies here, but typically,
      bobbing the rear fender is a common technique applied to competition vehicles to reduce overall weight and reduce aerodynamic turbulence at elevated speeds without incurring official disqualification from a wider variety of sanctioned event classifications.
      That being said, a missing, or in this case, truncated, rear fender, while limiting it’s original design function, has the practical feature to allow LBS staff, for instance, to efficiently maneuver a bike in tight quarters on its rear wheel, from one display area to another.