Shimano Altus... Any Good?
09-30-09, 03:14 PM
#1
bashermax
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Shimano Altus... Any Good?
A friend has found a junk yard bike with a full compliment of Shimano Altus derails etc. Are these good parts? (i.e is it worth the time to take this thing down for parts or are these kind of low end?) The bike is a "CONCORD" of which I've never heard. Any thoughts!?!?!?!
09-30-09, 03:17 PM
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Altus is lower end, I think, but still works just fine
09-30-09, 03:27 PM
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+1; I'd say on the upper lower end, Just under shimano 600 at the time period? I have an altus rear derailleur somewhere and its mostly made out of steel, im sure I had another one at some time before though that seemed to have more aluminum to it, like the pulley cage was aluminum, and it had an allen pinch bolt for the cable rather than a nut.
09-30-09, 07:09 PM
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I have a schwinn moab from my younger days with altus stuff. had some kind of thumb button speed shift things. i remember it shifting really well. maybe i was just enjoying pushing buttons. it's no where near big enough for me to ride now to test it out.
09-30-09, 07:29 PM
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If the junkyard bike is not salvageable, I would pull the parts off of it and put them in a box for possible later use. They have no resale value, but are decent everyday quality parts that could find a home on some garage sale or trash find in the future.
09-30-09, 07:43 PM
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bashermax
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OK .. so the consensus is. It's worth an hour or 2 to pull the parts, even if they're not the greatest stuff, RIGHT!!!!!!?!?!
09-30-09, 08:03 PM
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It is worth keeping, sure. Plus, it's fun to talke apart bikes.
09-30-09, 09:57 PM
#11
You gonna eat that?
+1
I think that's what my primary commuter has and it's worked flawlessly since I got it a year ago. A bit of caution, though, if the bike has Shimano cranks and is from the mid-90s, the cranks may be recalled. Check here for more info. Shimano is still replacing the death cranks for free; I got mine done earlier this year.
I think that's what my primary commuter has and it's worked flawlessly since I got it a year ago. A bit of caution, though, if the bike has Shimano cranks and is from the mid-90s, the cranks may be recalled. Check here for more info. Shimano is still replacing the death cranks for free; I got mine done earlier this year.
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09-30-09, 10:19 PM
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Altus has been around a long, long time. It's been issued and reissued in different versions every few years. In the '80s, some road bikes had the old model, later on other bikes & types of bikes had Altus; never the top o' the line but it was always decent. Even in the '90s.
Concorde was a really high end racing bike, Swiss I think, raced by Pros.
they also made some not so high end, more regular riding types.
Concord spelled as I just did, was a cheaper bike I suppose, I seem to recall seeing that name too. It stands to reason that such a bike could have the older Altus.
Concorde was a really high end racing bike, Swiss I think, raced by Pros.
they also made some not so high end, more regular riding types.
Concord spelled as I just did, was a cheaper bike I suppose, I seem to recall seeing that name too. It stands to reason that such a bike could have the older Altus.
09-30-09, 11:12 PM
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Lower end of the bike-shop-bike quality parts. IYKWIMAITTYD.
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09-30-09, 11:32 PM
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A friend has found a junk yard bike with a full compliment of Shimano Altus derails etc. Are these good parts? (i.e is it worth the time to take this thing down for parts or are these kind of low end?) The bike is a "CONCORD" of which I've never heard. Any thoughts!?!?!?!
10-01-09, 11:33 AM
#15
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As noted I think it depends on the vintage. I had a 1979 Motobecane Grand Sprint with Altus and that was the most positive shifting friction bike I've ever ridden. I think the older road versions were pretty good mid quality.
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10-01-09, 03:44 PM
#16
The Drive Side is Within
my old panasonic is Altus. badger biker's experience is similar to mine.
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