1987 Lotus Excelle

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Beautiful Lotus Excelle, Ishiwata triple butted chromoly lugged frame.

Lotus was an american brand selling japanese made bikes (Tsunada and Ishiwata), to be sold only in the US, similar to Shogun, Univega and many others.More about lotus here and a 1981 catalogue here, and a great lotus fan page here.

they started making bikes in the late 70's and stopped in the late 80's. they are usually mid to high end bikes and this is a beautiful example. sold to a student in boston college who came with his friend, who bought a Fuji del rey. 

Jeunet Franche comte

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Beautiful, mint condition, Jeunet franche comte. built in the early-mid seventies. Check out another french bike boom era bike we restored.

the bike is very light considering it has a steel frame and still rims. has the standard simplex derailers and sidepull brakes package that is so common on entry-mid level french bikes from the bike boom era. we usually dont sell older french bikes unless they are in excellent to mibnt condition, due to the problematic french bottom bracket issues, 

but this one was probably never ridden more than 100 miles in it's whole life. French ten speed bikes are among the most rare bikes right now since for a long time, french bottom bracket were un obtainable, thus every bike that showed up in a bike shop was scrapped. the ones you do manage to find are usually in great shape or mint, like this one. Today you can find s high quality french bottom bracket for at velo orange.  

The bike was fully tuned aup with tires, tubes, cables, Handlebar tape and brake pads,

Mid nineties GT Force

Pretty rare bike from GT, before they were bought by Pacific who owns schwinn as well

GT were and still are well known for their unique looking triple triangle frames, featured on their mountain bikes.

Early welded aluminum triple triangle frame with an 80's road bike geometry and chromoly fork.

We refurbished it with new tires and tubes and new lines and were even able to find an original 3 speed RSX shifter since the one that came on it was broken. pretty common on Early shimano STI systems 

The bike has full Shimano RSX group, even the hubs. From an era where bikes were equipped with full groups from shimano, Not like nowadays where only the Derailers and sometimes the shifters are shimano and the rest is cheaper or lower quality brands, especially on the more expensive parts like the shifters and crankset. RSX was later discontinued and replaced by sora and tiagra which are of much less quality. 

RSX had also relatively small Chain rings, the largest being 46 teeth. 

We also installed the rack for the customer who was looking to replace a beat up Univega. 

A very nice and light bike overall. 

Early-mid seventies Gitane mixte

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

This Beautiful early seventies Bike boom Gitane has been overhauled and refurbished here at bike boom somerville. Gitane was a huge french company at that time competing with peugeot and later motobecane. More info about french bikes at sheldon brown

Bought in Cambridge in relatively good shape. We did change a few original parts. first we moved the shifters to the stem and added modern brake levers and grips and white cable housing.

The early french mixte bikes have a different geometry in comparison to the japanese mixte bikes which are much longer.

White bikes are harder to restore since they show any dirt or scratch. this one was very clean and the decals were bright and intact.

brakes are mafac racer with modern cantilever brake pads and a french cottered crank. simplex front derailer. the rear has been changed from a simplex to a suntour  

Gary Fisher Tassajara Early 90's mountain bike

Are you looking to repair this bike? Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon. Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts.  Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued.  We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike. Parts list for Gary Fisher Tassajara: Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2s2uMQI Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RmyIGj

Tires: (pavement or Light off road): https://amzn.to/2YsSodj (select 26x2.1)

Tires:(high performance off road): https://amzn.to/2LzPazq (select 26x2.1)

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Front (left) Shifter: https://amzn.to/2smGHJG

Rear (right) shifter: https://amzn.to/2smGHJG

Rear Derailleur: https: https://amzn.to/2sHJOeL

Front Derailleur: https://amzn.to/2Pj0QHH

Crank: https://amzn.to/2qp6e3H (select 42/32/22 tooth type)

Cassette: https://amzn.to/37oL9pN

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2OUDbyD

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (select 26.4 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/34TYUMF (standard use, original part)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/369Nvbs improved performance in wet and cold conditions

Brakes: https://amzn.to/2s2IfIg

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn

Handlebar (25.4 clamp): https://amzn.to/34SU2XT

Early nineties Gary Fisher Tassajara Mountain bike

This was a really fast, mid end cross country machine at it's time. It has a very light chromoly frame and shimano STX discontinued group, it was under the deore LX, Deore XT and XTR.

Made by Gary fisher which, at that time was still not sold to Trek. All the fisher bikes had a Hale of quality, being designed by the man who basically invented mountain bikes. 

the derailleur is very similar in design to the Shimano RSX road Group.

has Shimano rapid fire 3x7 speed integrated with cantilever brakes. 

we received it in mint condition and was bought for a freshmen student in Harvard by her father and mother.

The bike is all original and apart from tuning it up and a couple of cables we didn't really have to do much to it.

we have many more mountain bikes in our archives which we will share with you as the bike boom Blog continues.

Check us out on www.bikeboom.net as well and our facebook page 

Giant Quasar road bike

Are you looking to repair this bike?
Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of these and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 
Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 
We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Handlebar Tape: https://amzn.to/2qxHiaf

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RuAB3X

Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2PuFaIM

Tires (good): https://amzn.to/2s9eipE (similar look, casual use, choose 27x1 1/4)

Tires (better): https://amzn.to/33YwOyl (super flat resistant and fast rolling, choose 27x1.25 or 27 1 1/4)

Shifters: Front and rear (right and left): https://amzn.to/347vWrv

Rear Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/2DYUOXF (choose w/ direct attachment)

Rear Derailleur (Better): https://amzn.to/2PupyVA (choose GS type)

Front Derailleur (good): https://amzn.to/3415IXm (choose double)

Front derailleur (better): https://amzn.to/2LAI262 (better quality, fit and finish)

Bottom Bracket: https://amzn.to/2RydlSI (Likely 68x122.5 but must measure spindle length before purchase)

Crank (good): https://amzn.to/2Yw7miQ (better quality fit and finish, will likely need a new bottom bracket)

Crank (better): https://amzn.to/2rg0YQx (lesser quality option, likely will not need a bottom bracket)

Freewheel: https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 27.0 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)
Pedals: https://amzn.to/3593fvC (Modern style)

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2DZbNZP (same style as original)

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 5, 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Brake pads (good): https://amzn.to/36eEldP (casual use)

Brake pads (better): https://amzn.to/38ixNN7 (Improved performance and wet/cold condition)

Brakes (rear): https://amzn.to/2P31N8o

Brakes (front): https://amzn.to/2Prqcn2

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/2LQALz9 (similar to original

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Brake Levers: https://amzn.to/356h3Hc (modern style)

Mid-late 80's Giant Quasar. A super nice 10 speed (actually 12 speed) we had in the store earlier this year. had very low miles on it, we gave it a tune up and replaced cables and bar tape. Great paint. Has indexed suntour shifters, derailers and a sugino crank. 

This is one of the first giant branded bikes after giant stopped producing bikes for schwinn.

In the early 80's schwinn hired giant, which was a tiny bicycle company in taiwan, to manufacture light weight bikes for them. before that panasonic made bikes for schwinn. By the mid 80's schwinn was in bad economic shape and moved production back to the US. Giant, which was a huge factory by then, had the knowledge and started producing light weight bikes under their own name.

Today, Giant is the 2nd largest bicycle manufacture in the world, Merida being the largest.