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I started work on this Bridgestone 450. Its a very nice bike, I am guessing about 1986-87, Triple butted tubing, an early version of dual pivot brake calipers, 6 speed index shifting, nice components and a nice paint scheme, my favorite pearl blue.
The bike will receive a restoration with all new cables, tires, tubes, saddle and new bar tape.
The bike has a lot of corrosion and rust but should turn out nice.
I have been very busy in the shop so there will not be as many photos as usual.
I started by tearing down the bicycle and cleaning and polishing the frame. The paint is in good shape but does have some large chips. The paint polished very nice, I filled the white chips with Bisque colored appliance touch up paint, almost a perfect match. I do not have a blue match right now.
Frame Polished
The stem, handlebars and brake levers where badly corroded, I do not have a before photo. The stem polished nice on the bench top polisher and the handlebars turned out nice. The brake levers where very dirty and a bit frozen up, a good cleaning, oiling and a lot of working the oil in got them working well. The levers polished nice on the bench top power polisher.
Brake Levers – Complete
The derailleurs where in very rough shape, a lot of corrosion, the front derailleur was barely functioning before, the front derailleur looks very nice and after a lot of work function perfectly. The rear also polished nice and functions nice. I originally thought that the derailleurs and brakes where not working because of badly corroded and frozen cables, but it has been a little of all.
Rear Derailleur – Installed
The brake calipers are very nice calipers. They are an early version of dual pivot calipers. I also really like the Bridgestone decal on the calipers, to bad the front decal was slightly damaged. The calipers badly needed a rebuild, but now look great and function well.
Rear Brake Caliper – Installed
The crank is a very nice crank, a Shakes SX. It was badly corroded, stained and rusted. I disassembled the crank and polished the pieces. The crank is beautiful installed.
Crank – Complete
The wheels where also very dirty and badly stained and corroded. I cleaned, polished and lubricated all the spokes. At this point I have the rear wheel complete and the front about 70% done. The rear wheel spokes are stainless so those cleaned up nice, the rim took a lot of polishing to get looking right, but now looks great. I cleaned and greased the rear wheel bearings and installed the new tube and Continental Ultra Sport Tire. The freewheel was very gritty, but after cleaning, multiply flushings and lubricating it spins very nice.
Rear Wheel – Complete
That is it for now, check back later and check later for the Schwinn LeTour Luxe update, it is being painted over the last and next couple of days. Happy New Year!
The front wheel turned out nice. I regreased the bearings and he wheels turns smooth and true.
Seat Post Installed
The peddles where pretty beat up, or at least the toe clips where in bad shape as well as the reflectors. I removed the toe clips and reflectors, the core of the core of the peddles was in good shape, it just took some cleaning, polishing and lubricating.
Peddles – Installed
I installed the new cables and cable housings along with the new cork handlebar tape. The white color of the cable housings and handlebar tape and the white saddle really go well with the paint scheme. I am very pleased over all with the Bridgestone 450.
Handlebar Tape – Installed
The Bridgestone 450 turned out wonderful! It tuned out very nice, but i did not get a test ride with the 10 inches of new snow we got yesterday. I was also not able to get good final photos with the snow. i took some out doors but it was a little late in the day to get good light, I will try again tomorrow but for now the final photos I have for now are below.
