Hi Sooper8
That Viscount looks very familiar - even the dirt on the rear hub! My Aerospace Sport has a 22.5" frame, perhaps yours is the same.
The only noticeable difference between mine (when I bought it) and yours is that mine has brazed-on cable guides but doesn't have brazed-on pump pegs.
On the subject of chromed forks, I tried getting some of the muck of mine at the weekend, and used masking tape to protect the paintwork at the join. But when I removed the tape, some of the paint came with it, and exposed (much brighter) chrome underneath. Has anyone ever found touch-up paint that comes near to matching the original colour? Because I haven't.
Anyway, you have a fine bike there. Definitely worth fettling up.
Viscount bicycles!!
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
22.5"! Viscount's frames always had a slightly longer than average seat tube. My 24.5" frames actually measure just under 25".
Not sure why. It may have something to do with needing enough tube length to get the 'fast back' style seat stays brazed on and leave enough room for a seat tube clamp and centre pull brake quick release hanger. All this lot only just fits.
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
DannytheLuddite wrote:Has anyone ever found touch-up paint that comes near to matching the original colour? Because I haven't.
Flam Red or Ruby Red is a very good match
.Re: Viscount bicycles!!
busaste wrote:DannytheLuddite wrote:Has anyone ever found touch-up paint that comes near to matching the original colour? Because I haven't.
Flam Red or Ruby Red is a very good match
Oh, and don't forget to put a clear coat on top
.Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Phil Wood, maker of fabulous products over in the USA does Outboard Bottom Bracket Cups for...well let him spell it out:
"A threadless (press fit) OBB cup set is available for those that wish to convert older Klein frames that used the pressed-in 6003 bearing bottom bracket shells. Other frames that use a press fit system with 6003 bearings can utilize this threadless OBB as well."
So, another option for us Viscount fans with BB woes
.
Here is a link to the product:
http://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/outboard.php
"A threadless (press fit) OBB cup set is available for those that wish to convert older Klein frames that used the pressed-in 6003 bearing bottom bracket shells. Other frames that use a press fit system with 6003 bearings can utilize this threadless OBB as well."
So, another option for us Viscount fans with BB woes
. Here is a link to the product:
http://www.philwood.com/products/bbpages/outboard.php
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Viscount Aerospace Sport update time.
Maybe it's fate, alignment of planets, some mystical force or whatever but just as I am in the middle of sorting some things out for Whippet's 'Sport this pops up on fleabay
: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130810257381? ... 1423.l2649
NOS Viscount fork? Still in the box since 1981? Crazy.
Look out for it gracing the 'Sport soon .
Maybe it's fate, alignment of planets, some mystical force or whatever but just as I am in the middle of sorting some things out for Whippet's 'Sport this pops up on fleabay
: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130810257381? ... 1423.l2649NOS Viscount fork? Still in the box since 1981? Crazy.
Look out for it gracing the 'Sport soon
.-
Cliff Wilkins
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 31 Aug 2012, 7:33pm
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
busaste wrote:Cliff Wilkins wrote:Hi Busaste,
Was good meeting you last month I do hope we were of some help.
You did seem rather impressed at my old grand prix that has been in the shed for well over 30 years.
It was a daily rider when younger to work. I pumped the tyres up for your visit and there still up.
I will get around to giving it a good clean even though you were shocked of the condition concidering all that time in the shed
unlike dads pampered bike thats never been out of a spare bedroom.
Hope you can get as much info as possible.
Cheers.
Cliff.
Hi Cliff
I had a great day thanks, really enjoyed meeting you all and learned lots. MUCH appreciated!
Your dad's bike is something else! I love the Grand Prix too - what's not to like?
Cheers
Steve
Cool Hope the pics came out ok of both bikes.
Cliff.
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
busaste wrote:Viscount Aerospace Sport update time.
Maybe it's fate, alignment of planets, some mystical force or whatever but just as I am in the middle of sorting some things out for Whippet's 'Sport this pops up on fleabay
NOS Viscount fork? Still in the box since 1981? Crazy.
Look out for it gracing the 'Sport soon
Colour me gobsmacked!
bRe: Viscount bicycles!!
Just took advantage of lunch time finish at work and some decent (but cold) weather, and got out on the 'new' Sport
I love the way a Viscount handles...When I got back home and told my wife I'd just had a great time she asked 'what is it that makes it good or better than other bikes'?
And to be honest I couldn't easily sum up why it felt good and handled well. Yes,the frame is by any standards a very good frame and the components are good, but something about a Viscount feels right to me.
Maybe it was those many thousands of miles I did between the ages of 13- 18 and the fact I never had a day when I didn't ride mine back in those years. But it feels good whatever it is!
IMG_2775 by Sooper 8, on Flickr
I love the way a Viscount handles...When I got back home and told my wife I'd just had a great time she asked 'what is it that makes it good or better than other bikes'?
And to be honest I couldn't easily sum up why it felt good and handled well. Yes,the frame is by any standards a very good frame and the components are good, but something about a Viscount feels right to me.
Maybe it was those many thousands of miles I did between the ages of 13- 18 and the fact I never had a day when I didn't ride mine back in those years. But it feels good whatever it is!
IMG_2775 by Sooper 8, on Flickr
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Sooper8 wrote:but something about a Viscount feels right to me.
Yeeha, another satisfied Viscount customer!
I know exactly what Sooper8 means. But what is that 'something'?
For what it's worth, I think it's the frame
. The Phoenix tube was something special; very thin walled yet very, very strong (it takes a 9000lb pull to remove the down tube from the head tube and even at that it's the steel that fails not the joint 
). It has a very distinctive 'feel' that gives a lovely smooth ride. Then there is the 40" (or thereabouts) wheelbase to help absorb the bumps, very stiff frame triangle mixed with a relaxed fork rake, 'fastback' style seat stays and the super strong fillet brazed joints. Put all that together and it is an unbeatable combination as many racers here and in the USA found out in the 1970s.The Aerospace frame really did create the basis for a bike you could tour on and win races. And, THAT is not an easy thing to do. Don't believe me? Here is what Cycling magazine said in their March 8th 1975 issue which featured a road test of the Aerospace Pro:
"It used to make sense - having five bicycles instead of one: separate machines for road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, training and touring. With the advent of the Aerospace Pro there's no point.
Trusty of England don't claim to have manufactured The Perfect Bicycle. But they may well have found the formula for the perfect all-rounder"
Is all this the ramblings of a deluded nerdy fan? I don't think so. If people think its all b***ocks then they are welcome to come and try my bikes and see what the fuss is all about!
I love the picture from Sooper8 of his 'new' Aerospace Sport. The nonchalant way the bike is leaning against the public footpath sign is a so cool. It's as if the bike is saying "Walk? When you can ride this...".
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Just couldn't resist posting up another picture!
I got out for an hour this afternoon.
I had a blast! Came back from town down a fairly steep but small hill, got up plenty of speed down to traffic lights that were on green- (it's a one way road and I had plenty of road space), it turns into a 90degree right hander and I was virtually grazing my right knee on the road (well, in my mind I was...)
Two things about this bike that struck me
1) It is fast
2) I have total faith in it's handling, and trust it.
I'm just loving the Viscount!
When the days get longer and it warms up a bit, I'm up for a meet up with other Viscount owners!
IMG_2834 by Sooper 8, on Flickr
I got out for an hour this afternoon.
I had a blast! Came back from town down a fairly steep but small hill, got up plenty of speed down to traffic lights that were on green- (it's a one way road and I had plenty of road space), it turns into a 90degree right hander and I was virtually grazing my right knee on the road (well, in my mind I was...)
Two things about this bike that struck me
1) It is fast
2) I have total faith in it's handling, and trust it.
I'm just loving the Viscount!
When the days get longer and it warms up a bit, I'm up for a meet up with other Viscount owners!
IMG_2834 by Sooper 8, on Flickr
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Viscount Aerospace Sport build update
Brrrrrr it's chilly in the shed at the moment. Still, even though spanners stick to your hands the build is moving on nicely.
The YST threadless cartridge bottom bracket is now in place. The size of the chamfered edges of the cartridge unit is a lot chunkier than YST's earlier models and as a result it does not quite sit in the bottom bracket shell as well even with the ends of the shell being chamfered. I suspect this is so you can get a decent amount of torque applied when tightening every thing up especially if you have not chamfered the ends of the bottom bracket shell (I suspect this is what most people would do). I thought about facing the shell even more - a tad risky - but in the end went for a shim on each side. Result: the cartridge is in and it is nice and tight!! Best of all are the bearings - super smoooooooooooooth. Real high quality feel just like the Mavic threadless cartridge bracket I once used on another Viscount:D . I've done a fair few Viscount bottom brackets now using original equipment and whilst the end result is nice and smooth it's not like the YST set up. Here is a close up (free NOS Viscount Aerospace Pro to anyone who can spot the shim!):
The slight chips to the paintwork at the end of the BB shell are annoying. This sometimes happens with powder coating as the thick paint can pop off in one lump rather than in fragments as tends to happen with a wet finish. I'll touch the chips up with a sable brush (it has about 10 bristles on for ultra fine touching up!).
The wheels have now been built up by Paul Hewitt. They are absolutely superb. For the wheel build up I went for the following:
a) Rear wheel
DT Swiss stainless steel plain 14 gauge on freewheel side, double butted 14/15 gauge on left side
Lambert/Viscount NOS hub
Rigida NOS 27 x 1.25" polished alloy rim
b) Front wheel
DT Swiss Stainless steel double butted 14/15 gauge on both sides
Lambert/Viscount NOS hub
Rigida NOS 27 x 1.25" polished alloy rim
The wheels feel very solid and strong. The cartridge bearings have a lovely smooth feel to them too. Here is one of the wheels:
And here is the all important Hewitt build sticker that is on each rim - the sign of quality and craftsmanship (by the way I have absolutely no connection with this company - this is nothing more than making a recommendation based on direct experience of great service):
The NOS Viscount forks (I still can't believe that they popped up for sale at just the right time) have just arrived from Florida (only took 4 days). All the original Yamaha International recall paperwork is in the box (which is also the original one too) as is the Tange headset and Dia-Compe front centre pull brake quick release. ALL NOS of course and what an incredible find. It was quite an odd feeling holding the forks and looking at the paperwork; so much history behind it and the beginning of the end for Viscount
. Who would have thought you could get this stuff 31 years after it was made. All hail the internet and ebay (although, Mr ebay, STOP AVOIDING PAYING CORPORATION TAX 
or I will take my custome elsewhere - there, I feel better for that).
The replacement fork is fully chromed and made by Tange. Reference code is 1I. Really nice it is too with a sloping feature cut box crown, thick chrome plating and forged drop outs marked 'Tange TX-R'. OLD is 100mm. I'm very envious Mr Whippet!!! Pics of the fork and original paperwork soon.
For a final bit of bling I picked up some NOS chrome Sugino crank bolts again via USA fleabay. Gotta have them as my Lambert bolts have the old imperial thread whereas the YST BB spindle is tapped for metric threaded bolts. Plus the YST bolts look, err, cack.
Brrrrrr it's chilly in the shed at the moment. Still, even though spanners stick to your hands the build is moving on nicely.
The YST threadless cartridge bottom bracket is now in place. The size of the chamfered edges of the cartridge unit is a lot chunkier than YST's earlier models and as a result it does not quite sit in the bottom bracket shell as well even with the ends of the shell being chamfered. I suspect this is so you can get a decent amount of torque applied when tightening every thing up especially if you have not chamfered the ends of the bottom bracket shell (I suspect this is what most people would do). I thought about facing the shell even more - a tad risky - but in the end went for a shim on each side. Result: the cartridge is in and it is nice and tight!! Best of all are the bearings - super smoooooooooooooth. Real high quality feel just like the Mavic threadless cartridge bracket I once used on another Viscount:D . I've done a fair few Viscount bottom brackets now using original equipment and whilst the end result is nice and smooth it's not like the YST set up. Here is a close up (free NOS Viscount Aerospace Pro to anyone who can spot the shim!):
The slight chips to the paintwork at the end of the BB shell are annoying. This sometimes happens with powder coating as the thick paint can pop off in one lump rather than in fragments as tends to happen with a wet finish. I'll touch the chips up with a sable brush (it has about 10 bristles on for ultra fine touching up!).
The wheels have now been built up by Paul Hewitt. They are absolutely superb. For the wheel build up I went for the following:
a) Rear wheel
DT Swiss stainless steel plain 14 gauge on freewheel side, double butted 14/15 gauge on left side
Lambert/Viscount NOS hub
Rigida NOS 27 x 1.25" polished alloy rim
b) Front wheel
DT Swiss Stainless steel double butted 14/15 gauge on both sides
Lambert/Viscount NOS hub
Rigida NOS 27 x 1.25" polished alloy rim
The wheels feel very solid and strong. The cartridge bearings have a lovely smooth feel to them too. Here is one of the wheels:
And here is the all important Hewitt build sticker that is on each rim - the sign of quality and craftsmanship
(by the way I have absolutely no connection with this company - this is nothing more than making a recommendation based on direct experience of great service):The NOS Viscount forks (I still can't believe that they popped up for sale at just the right time) have just arrived from Florida (only took 4 days). All the original Yamaha International recall paperwork is in the box (which is also the original one too) as is the Tange headset and Dia-Compe front centre pull brake quick release. ALL NOS of course and what an incredible find. It was quite an odd feeling holding the forks and looking at the paperwork; so much history behind it and the beginning of the end for Viscount
. Who would have thought you could get this stuff 31 years after it was made. All hail the internet and ebay (although, Mr ebay, STOP AVOIDING PAYING CORPORATION TAX or I will take my custome elsewhere - there, I feel better for that).The replacement fork is fully chromed and made by Tange. Reference code is 1I. Really nice it is too with a sloping feature cut box crown, thick chrome plating and forged drop outs marked 'Tange TX-R'. OLD is 100mm. I'm very envious Mr Whippet!!! Pics of the fork and original paperwork soon.
For a final bit of bling I picked up some NOS chrome Sugino crank bolts again via USA fleabay. Gotta have them as my Lambert bolts have the old imperial thread whereas the YST BB spindle is tapped for metric threaded bolts. Plus the YST bolts look, err, cack.
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Lovely looking build Busaste. I'm envious of both the bike and the project! There's something about having a project on the go: always have smething to look forward to.
BTW I can see the shim, it's nestled behind the BB cup. Do I get the bike now?
Are those single wall rims or double? The only problem with rims from that era was they tended to be single wall and not as strong. One of the few undoubted innovations that is an improvememt on how things were (probably the other thing is cable technology: brake cables are much less elastic than they used to be).
Looking forward to seeing more of those forks...
b
BTW I can see the shim, it's nestled behind the BB cup. Do I get the bike now?
Are those single wall rims or double? The only problem with rims from that era was they tended to be single wall and not as strong. One of the few undoubted innovations that is an improvememt on how things were (probably the other thing is cable technology: brake cables are much less elastic than they used to be).
Looking forward to seeing more of those forks...
b
Re: Viscount bicycles!!
Aerospace Sport build up update.
Blimey, it is even colder today...
Okay, pics of the Tange forks below as promised:
I am going to scan the original paperwork and post that on the forum early next week. They are fascinating pieces of cycling history!
Hats off to the American dude who had the good sense to keep these forks and paperwork in perfect condition for 31 years and then pass them on to us Viscount fans. If you are reading this, have a great Christmas!
If the forks were mine by the way I would NEVER have sold them.
Regarding the Dia-Compe front centre pull brake quick release that is part of the fork recall package it comes with a blck plastic coating on the lever presumably to aid operator comfort when the huge(!) tension built up in the brake is released via the lever. The thing is though, this Dia-Compe part was not fitted to Aerospace bikes (Whippets included). Aerospace Sports actually came with one of two centre pull brake quick release set ups:
a) Taiwanese sourced (company called Landar who later went on to specialise in the BMX market) chrome plated hanger/adjuster with the quick release mechanism being provided on the brake lever. Used on the earliest Aerospace Sports. Not the best piece of kit out there, especially the 'chrome' plating!
b) Shimano quick release mechanism - easily the best and fabulous build quality (to be expected as it was originally part of the Dura-Ace centre pull brake set). There is no plastic coating on the Shimano quick release lever - they must have thought - quite rightly - that us rufty tufty cyclists don't need one
!
Full marks to Bendo for spotting the BB shims! Your NOS Aerospace Pro will be posted today! I know what you mean about projects - I love them. Whippets Sport is my seventh Viscount project. I have three more to do - a Sebring, an Aerospace GP and a 'winter' Aerospace Sport - then I think I will be done. Or not...
Blimey, it is even colder today...
Okay, pics of the Tange forks below as promised:
I am going to scan the original paperwork and post that on the forum early next week. They are fascinating pieces of cycling history!
Hats off to the American dude who had the good sense to keep these forks and paperwork in perfect condition for 31 years and then pass them on to us Viscount fans. If you are reading this, have a great Christmas!
If the forks were mine by the way I would NEVER have sold them.
Regarding the Dia-Compe front centre pull brake quick release that is part of the fork recall package it comes with a blck plastic coating on the lever presumably to aid operator comfort when the huge(!) tension built up in the brake is released via the lever. The thing is though, this Dia-Compe part was not fitted to Aerospace bikes (Whippets included). Aerospace Sports actually came with one of two centre pull brake quick release set ups:
a) Taiwanese sourced (company called Landar who later went on to specialise in the BMX market) chrome plated hanger/adjuster with the quick release mechanism being provided on the brake lever. Used on the earliest Aerospace Sports. Not the best piece of kit out there, especially the 'chrome' plating!
b) Shimano quick release mechanism - easily the best and fabulous build quality (to be expected as it was originally part of the Dura-Ace centre pull brake set). There is no plastic coating on the Shimano quick release lever - they must have thought - quite rightly - that us rufty tufty cyclists don't need one
!Full marks to Bendo for spotting the BB shims! Your NOS Aerospace Pro will be posted today!
I know what you mean about projects - I love them. Whippets Sport is my seventh Viscount project. I have three more to do - a Sebring, an Aerospace GP and a 'winter' Aerospace Sport - then I think I will be done. Or not...