The SR Campus Sport: Vintage Japanese Steel Lugged Frame Road Bike
This is a very good example of the sort of oddball bike that one can find on Craigslist here in the vast Metroplex, teeming with bicycles.
The candid truth? I leapt from my desk in my Lakewood office and got on the tollroad and drove way the hell out to north Carrollton in the middle of the afternoon for this bike.
Why did I do it? Because:
1) the seller’s CL ad was poorly written/described, always a good sign that you are about to recognize/discover a bike that nobody else has yet figured out;
2) the photo sucked (same deal, see above); and
3) when I got the seller on the phone, the personal information that was relayed to me convinced me that this might be one of those once in a lifetime deals that is worth the risk of one’s time and energy,
in pursuit of the big find, the dream………..and
4) I have this fantasy about finding the perfect road bike without spending a ton of money……
plus
5) the price was right.
But just what the heck was an SR? More specifically, what was an SR Campus Sport? In the picture above, you can see the headbadge.
Now, Linda, the seller, told me that she and her husband had bought a matched pair of these bikes in Tuscon, AZ in the “early 1980s”. They had sold the woman’s version before I arrived there for this particular bike, so I have no matching pair shots. I was gambling on this bike being some kind of rare high-end Japanese road bike from the 1970′s or 1980′s, which it isn’t, but I’ll bet that it is about the same quality as some of the comparable Fuji stuff from the same time period. And some of those bikes are commanding quite a premium these days.
And some aren’t.
I do like the notion of a “Campus Sport”, sneaking girls into your dorm room, under-age drinking, etc.,
although the lavendar color of the decal is a bit off-putting, below:
It has a nice lugged steel frame, as well as “Special ST Tubing”, whatever the heck that is:
It’s a ten speed road bike with a Tourney Shimano brake set………….
Cool downtube decal………………….
Pretty nice looking handlebars made by Alps Industrial Co., Ltd., Japan…………..
And Araya 27 x 1 1/4 inch alloy wheels:
“SR” apparently stands for Sakae Ringyo, a Japanese company that manufactured bicycles in the 1970s and 1980s. The bike fits me pretty well. I’m considering throwing some new tires on it and getting it all cleaned up and riding it.
But I might just stare at it for a few months and put it right back on CL. Theses bikes are being converted to fixies left and right, and this vintage Japanese stuff is pretty cool. Some nice young bicycling enthusiast would just love to buy this bike from me, I’m certain of that.
If anyone knows anything about this bike or this company, please feel free to enighten me/us.
-Hubbard
That is a great bike – I’d guess Hi Ten steel, but solid parts that will go forever – I’d suggest putting some bar end shifters on it and just ride it that way. I think you will be surprised how much you like it. My Suteki (exactly the same bike, I’m sure) has now had 4 different incarnations, each one better than the last.
So far it’s a keeper, Justin, and I appreciate the positive feedback regarding these obscure Japanese bikes. I kind of like the fact that nobody will know what it is, and it’s clearly well-made. Geopolitically, these bikes came along in the late 70s and early 80s when the traditional Amercian bicycle industry was rapidly changing, if not actually collapsing upon itself (as in Schwinn). A lot of bicycle manufacturing was moving overseas, and many Asian bicycle companies began to muscle in on those markets that had been until that time either dominated by American or European companies.
Thats a great bike! I had my SR Campus Sport stolen last May and have been looking for it or a similar one since. I rode mine everywhere and created a real bond with it. It was like losing a family member when it was stolen. The great thing about it was how light-weight it was! If you are considering selling it, please let me know because I am interested. Just wondering…do you know the size of the frame (cm)?
I know this might be a long shot, but can you check the Serial number on it? My bike’s number was S9N0363.
Happy riding!
i just got that exact bike (but red)…it was sitting in someones garage for years and because i was a friend of a friend’s friend who knew this guy i got the option to take it off his hands! for the last three days i’ve been cleaning it up and making minor adjustments and with very little tuning (to my surprise) the bike is in excellent condition. i feel like a little kid who just got a new toy…i’d take this bike to bed if it wasn’t so painful.
the frame is 63cm…which is another reason i’m so excited…i’m 6’5″ and have had a hell of a time trying to find a used frame big enough.
cheers, Keith
Great topic. I picked up a SR Semi-Pro for a steal on craigslist. Same situation, had to drive out to the middle of nowhere based off of a short description and lousy photos. What I did know from the ad was that it had the complete Shimano 600 setup. These parts alone go for $200+ on ebay. A lot of SR bikes sell for less then there Shimano parts alone are worth because no one knows about these bikes.
I did a lot of searching online and didn’t find much on the SR brand. Around 1983 a Japanese company bought SR (Sakae Ringyo) and Suntour and combined the companies into SR Suntour. All information about SR before this merger was lost forever. What we do know is this: SR manufactured seat posts and stems primarily. They had some SR branded frames manufactured by a Japanese frame company and then outfitted these frames with SR and Shimano parts to sell in the US. There aren’t many of them for SR’s venture in selling complete bikes was short lived.
I’m sure it was a great buy and I hope that you’re enjoy it.
I picked up a silver SR Campus Sport in a Mixte frame and have been trying to find more information on it. Can anyone confirm Crosby’s bio on the company?
I have the exact SR bike like the one in this picture, super condition, anybody interested?
Hey Jan,
What size is it? Single or multispeed? And how much are you looking to get for it?
My Campus Sport got stolen 3 weeks ago and I’ve been in a depression.
It was bought for $15 20 years ago and has been thousands (literally)
of miles. I got rid of my car the bike was so good. Anyone with a med.
size woman’s SR for sale? (I have relatives in Austin…)
Susan you should be able to find a replacement on Craigslist with a little effort and patience. :-)
Chris
As several writers have noted, there seems to be little information on SR bicycles, and few of those bikes around anymore. When I was living in San Diego in the early 1980s I saw a fair number of SRs, because as I understand it their U.S. headquarters was just south of SD in Chula Vista, CA. They only made a few models, the ones I know of are the Maxima (top of the line, extremely rare), Gran Course, Semi Pro, Pro Am, Alpine Sport, and Campus Sport. I bought a brand new Alpine Sport in Pacific Beach in 1984, and I’m still riding it 27 years later! I broke it in with a 1000-mile tour up the California coast, and not a single problem except a couple of flat tires. SR used good quality Tange steel frames, and I expect mine to last another 27 years which will pretty much take me to the end of my riding days.
I just bought one at an estate sale. Campus Sport. It rides like a dream. Feels better I think than my wonderful Peugoet I had in 1981 and still haven’t gotten over selling it for nothing almost.
If campus sport is low end, I can’t imagine how the high end must glide. I’m 73 and considering riding it to Walmart several miles away instead of hauling over there in the truck.
SR rocks.
In addition; there was a SR Sierra Sport. I purchased the frame last year. It originally had cantilever brakes, and ISO 590 (26 x 1 3/8) wheels. It has Tange Cro-Moly plain (as opposed to butted) tubing. It is a work in progress.
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb8/dianemisso/blue10072011/
I built at set of 650c Alex ME14 rims for it with Terry 28-571 tires – should have gone with the 590 size….it is incredibly light, stiff and responsive.
I have a SR Campus Sport, 10 speed and Shamano gear, that has lived in the garage for the last 20+ years and just saw daylight again this week. It belongs to my lady friend who said to dust it off and Craigs-list it. Very few miles and indoor storage, this could be a nice ‘rider’ for someone.
In San Diego. Anyone interested before it goes to Craigslist?
Ron,
How much is she looking to sell the bike for? Do you know the frame size? Might be interested and live in SD.
Hi, Chris, thanks for asking.Sold it on Craigeslist 2 weeks after posting here. Sold for $100. Medium large frame and in great condition. Keep looking, these are great, smooth, well built “secrets”.
Ron
hi michael, i also have a sr campus sport that i was given from a friend visiting for a couple of months, its in okay shape, i’m restoring it with a new coat of paint and keeping everything original, i have one question? when you got the bike, what type of hubs were on the rims? i have shimano hubs but cant find the actual model.
Back in 1983 or 84 I bought an SR Aline Sport because my sister had the Campus Sport and I loved hers. I rode that bike everywhere back then. It has been in my shed for the past 10 years or so when my husband took it and had it tuned up for me after I told him how much I loved that bike. Surprisingly, it needed very little work. New tires, brake pads but that’s it. The owner of the shop said it was still a solid bike. Got it back this past week and took it for a ride, fell in love all over again! Love my SR!!!!
I bought an SR Semi Pro. Same color. I just had to replace the tires and clean off the wheels. Got it at a Swap Meet for $60. The seller sold tires and had this sitting there with loose brake cables and shredded tires. I spent just $40 for new tires, cables and brakes and I’ve been riding it in marathons and commutes to school. Great bike, light, beautiful and I’m glad I recognized a beauty. The guy couldn’t sell it for months so that’s why he got rid of it for $60. Glad I found more info here about it!