Great restoration. I was a mechanic when these came out in 81 at one of the bike shops that sold 100's of them. Claude Butler had been bought out by Holdsworthy and Holdsworthy put these bikes out at a massive discount to clear stock. They were an amazing buy because those gorgeous 531 frames and forks had all come out of the Claude Butler factory. They were then assembled with a slightly lower spec than Butler would have done but a much, much lower price. A great bike to ride for its time!
I love that you don't over-restore the bikes by respraying the frame. This has inspired me to keep my 1992 Eddy Merckx team Motorola Corsa SLX in it's original paint. I've had it from new and it bears a few scrapes and marks from the hundreds of races and training rides it's taken me on. I've kept the original Dura Ace 8 speed components, and will continue to use it as it was first built rather that fit modern equipment. It may not be as fast as modern bikes, but I'm not as fast as the 30 year old me that originally bought it. Keep up the great work.
Great work! I stumbled across this post while restoring a 1986 Vitus Plus 3 Carbone with dura ace 7400. I did clear coat the frame and carbon is still solid. Very satisfied.
Nice transformation! I will say probably the best way to handle small areas of oxidation (if a complete repaint or color-match spot painting, plus decal replacement is off the table) is to carefully sand off just the surface rust (without touching the paint), wipe the area with degreaser and with a small artist's brush, apply a thin coat of clear matte varnish just to the exposed steel to prevent further oxidation. The decals unfortunately look like just an after thought. Nice job though, and as always a good narration of the process.
Nice restoration! Love those old Reynolds 531 frames! I have the French version of your bike! A Peugeot PL50 with Reynolds 531st frame Weinmann brakes, 10speed with Simplex gears and 650b Weinmann wheels! It's was in Mint Condition and I bought from a desperate Frenchmen when I was in Morocco 3y ago... He had to leave the country due to Covid! 2 years later I rode that bike home to Sweden. 5000km It took me 4 month. (Had a hard time to leave Spain and France🍾🥩🍺😇) Keep up the good job!
It's very rewarding, but know going in that you probably won't make any money on the restored bike. I recommend you choose your project carefully, perhaps a long-desired classic that you will ride yourself.
Blows me away how well those parts from older bikes come up in the ultra sonic cleaner. That restore clearly took some time but we'll worth it. Excellent job yet again 🎉
lol, just last week i said that was the best old bike restoration i've seen on this channel, this week tops that, every component came out so shiny and new.
I have renewed three personal Cannondale bikes from the mid 1990's to the level of the bike in your video. It was and still is a gratifying experience. Richard
Absolutely love watching these old bikes get restored!!! Performed maintenance on my wife's bike this last week and followed your routine for checking all the bolts/screw torque settings. To my amazement the derailleur hanger had a loose screw. Your videos have made my bike maintenance process much better. Thanks for the great content. Look forward to more awesome videos.
Thanks to you talented chaps, I'm developing a regular grease collection. My last restoration was a 1987/88 Specialized Street Stomper. I completely took it apart, cleaned and re-assembled with all new bearings, including the pedals. I'm sure I took inspiration from your videos to get through that one, including the ugly spider living in the head tube. Yikes!!
Guys, I love all your videos, but especially the older bikes like this one. I have an 80s Dawes I am doing up, plus a 70s Falcon Olympic in progress. 74 Bianchi is my useable classic I will never sell😊
The last "real" CB was made in 1957 when the business was bankrupted. Shortly after that Holdsworth bought the rights to the CB name and trademarks, and started selling Claud Butlers alongside Holdsworth branded bikes and frames. Around the time that this bike was made the CB was just a HW with different paint and stickers. That continued until 1987 when both brands were bought by Elswick-Falcon Cycles. Initially they sold Holdsworth branded road bikes and Claud Butler mountain bikes as relatively high-end, with Falcon for mid-range and Harrier for low-end bikes, but I've seen some pretty low spec bikes with CB branding, I don't know what happened there. Anyway Falcon got into trouble and was acquired by Tandem Group plc. Tandem still uses the CB brand for some of their better bikes, I don't know where they're built.
This content is phenomenal. I know it has to take some time to assemble and explain what's going on but from an amateur mechanic your wholehearted approach to prioritizing job detail is fantastic. Someday I'll have an ultrasonic cleaner and a proper workbench 🛠
We are starting the process of getting ultrasonic cleaners available for sale on our website so that might tie up nicely for you, good luck with your work!🧡
Great restoration as always. Thank you for including the advice on putting free bearings vs race bearings. Incredible what you learn from watching pros do their work.
Incredible work Lee. It’s amazing how the bottom bracket cups shine after coming out of the ultrasonic cleaner. The old bikes are a joy to ride. Thanks for sharing another great restoration.
such a beautiful video I recently overhauled a 90's Japanese frame Polished all of the aluminum, crankset, stem, derailleurs, with metal polish Came out looking like a brand new bike from the 90's
You've inspired me to take on a restoration project of my own. I've bought an ancient Carlton from a local junk shop and I plan to refurbish it following your methods. Keep up the good work lads , I never miss a video!
My oldest bike is a 1971 Gitane 'apache Standard's road bike which I bought for $10. It's hanging from the ceiling, midway through a gradual transformation to a one speed messenger style bike. I repainted the fenders to match the BMX gauge purple anodized cranks which I found at a shop. I've customized the stem, drilling it for cable routing. I really appreciate your videos.
That is so lovingly done. Great work. Fastest bike I ever had was an old ten speed of similar vintage. Braking power (lack of!) can be a bit scary but they're still fast bikes and make for a great ride if well looked after.
Amazing! Would have been nice to get access to some new stickers for the down tube and some color matched touch-up paint instead of the sticker, but realize that's not always possible.
We have our own vinyl cutter as we make these for our website so for us it’s a value for money and ease thing, we can order this cheap and have a colour swatch in the shop so works better for us than paint 🧡
Lovely bike and great work as always! After cleaning the parts looked almost like new. And almost no wear at all. Jockey wheels, Chainset, wheel bearings seemed to be spotless. Only the paint looked rough. I guess this bike did not do many miles but sat for along time.
IMPRESSIVE! Good bike build. Excellent mechanic...thank you for that I have an assortment of vintage bikes..1979 Schwinn Le Tour, early 80's Diamondback Mtn Bike, 1985 Fuji League 12 speed Road bike
Oh man, this was outstanding. Such lovely work and such a high degree of commitment! Also, I didn't know that a sonic cleaner could yield such good results, so this was very interesting as well.
I wish I had the budget to put this much effort into my '81 Soma. Your work is absolutely incredible and it's made me less nervous when working on my old bikes. Keep up the great work, it's always a delight to see.
Love your work. Please include a long shot (as in) to fit the whole bike in) of the finished bike against a neutral background on drive and non-drive side, please, to finish. It means we really can get a good look of the finished job, and admire it! Thank you!
absolutely brilliant. Although not ancient by any means, the parts on a bike of this vintage seem a lot less serviceable that would be the case nowadays - sealed bearing cartridges vs loose bearings etc. You make it all seem so effortless though (I know it isn't). Chapeau gents, I bet the owner was chuffed to bits with this one 👊
@@Bikespeeds It's not retro at all. "Retro" is something that copies styling that's older than its date of manufacture: retro adjective imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past. The bike in your video was made with styling and components that were current in 1981, so at this point, it could be said to be old or vintage, but not retro. If, in 1981, they had designed it to look like, say, a bike from the 1940s, then it would be retro (as well as old/vintage now).
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
That's probably your best advert for an ultrasonic cleaner to date. Incredible transformation.
Unfortunately we don’t stock any ourselves!🧡
Your channel inspired me to rebuild a number of old Lemond bikes and get back into cycling in general. Thank you!
Wow that’s just great to hear Jeff! Thanks for the support and glad you’re enjoying the channel🧡
Great restoration.
I was a mechanic when these came out in 81 at one of the bike shops that sold 100's of them. Claude Butler had been bought out by Holdsworthy and Holdsworthy put these bikes out at a massive discount to clear stock. They were an amazing buy because those gorgeous 531 frames and forks had all come out of the Claude Butler factory. They were then assembled with a slightly lower spec than Butler would have done but a much, much lower price. A great bike to ride for its time!
The difference is amazing!
I think it's important to preserve these old bicycles. They're part of our cycling heritage
Absolutely! Thanks 🧡
I love that you don't over-restore the bikes by respraying the frame. This has inspired me to keep my 1992 Eddy Merckx team Motorola Corsa SLX in it's original paint. I've had it from new and it bears a few scrapes and marks from the hundreds of races and training rides it's taken me on. I've kept the original Dura Ace 8 speed components, and will continue to use it as it was first built rather that fit modern equipment. It may not be as fast as modern bikes, but I'm not as fast as the 30 year old me that originally bought it. Keep up the great work.
That’s exactly the spirit, enjoy all your time working on it🧡⚙️
Like the fact it's not over restored cosmetically, just mechanically spot-on and really clean. Good job.
Thanks very much we agree!🧡
Great work! I stumbled across this post while restoring a 1986 Vitus Plus 3 Carbone with dura ace 7400. I did clear coat the frame and carbon is still solid. Very satisfied.
Nice transformation! I will say probably the best way to handle small areas of oxidation (if a complete repaint or color-match spot painting, plus decal replacement is off the table) is to carefully sand off just the surface rust (without touching the paint), wipe the area with degreaser and with a small artist's brush, apply a thin coat of clear matte varnish just to the exposed steel to prevent further oxidation. The decals unfortunately look like just an after thought. Nice job though, and as always a good narration of the process.
Nice restoration! Love those old Reynolds 531 frames! I have the French version of your bike! A Peugeot PL50 with Reynolds 531st frame Weinmann brakes, 10speed with Simplex gears and 650b Weinmann wheels! It's was in Mint Condition and I bought from a desperate Frenchmen when I was in Morocco 3y ago...
He had to leave the country due to Covid!
2 years later I rode that bike home to Sweden. 5000km It took me 4 month.
(Had a hard time to leave Spain and France🍾🥩🍺😇)
Keep up the good job!
That’s a story with that bike! Enjoy it and thanks for watching 🧡
Fantastic, really enjoyed this one. Can't beat classic bikes like this.
We couldn’t agree more, thanks for watching!🧡
Just one word: Majestic.
And to answer your question. My oldest bike is a 1951 Veeno. A bike build about half a mile from our shop
That’s awesome! Thanks for all the support 🧡
These videos make me want to restore a vintage bike
It's very rewarding, but know going in that you probably won't make any money on the restored bike. I recommend you choose your project carefully, perhaps a long-desired classic that you will ride yourself.
Do it! 🧡⚙️
Blows me away how well those parts from older bikes come up in the ultra sonic cleaner. That restore clearly took some time but we'll worth it. Excellent job yet again 🎉
Us too! It is like nothing else. Thanks as always AJ🧡
Absolutely... really amazing how it came up.... great that some of the quirky old bits are still just about available if you know where to look...
lol, just last week i said that was the best old bike restoration i've seen on this channel, this week tops that, every component came out so shiny and new.
Haha we appreciate it, yes this one was in better condition to start with than last week’s especially with the chrome components 🧡
The new bikes are fun to watch, but the old ones are the greatest! Keep up the good work! Love the old vines coming back to life!!
We have a mixture on the way with two vintage bikes currently we have bought to do we’re just giving ourselves somewhat of a break in between!🧡
Vintage restoration always is the best.
It's always amazing how good theses old parts turn out, after a good clean up.
It’s mega satisfying that’s for sure! Chrome is awesome 🧡
This one was great. Awesome job.
I listen to these at work, I find it relaxing.
Glad to hear it! Thank you again 🧡⚙️
These videos are so satisfying. Thank you for bringing these vintage machines back to life for many more miles.
this is the first time I see suntour switches )
We liked all the suntour equipment on this one!🧡⚙️
@@Bikespeeds ))
I have renewed three personal Cannondale bikes from the mid 1990's to the level of the bike in your video. It was and still is a gratifying experience. Richard
Wow that’s awesome! Thank you Richard 🧡
To get those weinmann centre pull brakes in the 1970's was my goal. Nice vid.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching 🧡
Amazing job on the bike
Thank you Martyn!🧡
Superbly done AGAIN - that looked like lot of work! The model I believe brought out to mark the Queen's silver jubilee in '77💪🏻 🚲 💨
It was indeed! Thanks for watching Pete🧡
Absolutely love watching these old bikes get restored!!!
Performed maintenance on my wife's bike this last week and followed your routine for checking all the bolts/screw torque settings. To my amazement the derailleur hanger had a loose screw. Your videos have made my bike maintenance process much better. Thanks for the great content. Look forward to more awesome videos.
If it isn’t torqued it isn’t right! Glad you’re enjoying the videos and working on your bikes from the videos!🧡
Claude butler was a great name at the time. Those were great days.
Definitely an iconic brand of our era ⚙️
Thanks to you talented chaps, I'm developing a regular grease collection. My last restoration was a 1987/88 Specialized Street Stomper. I completely took it apart, cleaned and re-assembled with all new bearings, including the pedals. I'm sure I took inspiration from your videos to get through that one, including the ugly spider living in the head tube. Yikes!!
Awesome restoration! Good luck with all your work and glad we could help a little bit there!🧡⚙️🕷️
After that service I bet that bike rides amazingly well!
Thank you!🧡
So many amateurs doing restorations that it's nice to see a professional doing the job properly for once (and not overdoing it!).
As a big fan of the Majestic, I really appreciate this video. Now, more than ever, I feel the need for an ultrasonic cleaner.
We may have them for sale on our website in the near future 🧡
Guys, I love all your videos, but especially the older bikes like this one. I have an 80s Dawes I am doing up, plus a 70s Falcon Olympic in progress. 74 Bianchi is my useable classic I will never sell😊
Awesome! We would love to get a bianchi on the channel, enjoy all your bikes 🧡
Lovely restoration on a lovely bike. I was born the same year as the bike 😊
Awesome! Thanks Barry🧡
Again, another great restoration. Thanks. KB
Thank you again Ken glad you’re enjoying the videos!🧡
Thank you for bringing these videos. They are a joy to watch.
Our pleasure! Thanks for the support🧡
Amazing restore! enjoyed it very much
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the support 🧡
I’m loving these older bikes. So much to look at. New bikes are so much simpler.
We agree 🧡
Absolutely loved the Claud Butler's I've owned in my youth, not sure if their still as good these days, but they used to be really good bikes.
They were an iconic brand back in the day!🧡
The last "real" CB was made in 1957 when the business was bankrupted. Shortly after that Holdsworth bought the rights to the CB name and trademarks, and started selling Claud Butlers alongside Holdsworth branded bikes and frames. Around the time that this bike was made the CB was just a HW with different paint and stickers. That continued until 1987 when both brands were bought by Elswick-Falcon Cycles. Initially they sold Holdsworth branded road bikes and Claud Butler mountain bikes as relatively high-end, with Falcon for mid-range and Harrier for low-end bikes, but I've seen some pretty low spec bikes with CB branding, I don't know what happened there. Anyway Falcon got into trouble and was acquired by Tandem Group plc. Tandem still uses the CB brand for some of their better bikes, I don't know where they're built.
Looks amazing
Thanks!🧡
What a tremendous outcome, thanks
Thanks for watching David!🧡
again a amazing job well done
Thanks Lesley we appreciate the support across the videos 🧡
Those handlebar sponges! 😲
Great work as always...
They are life extinct that’s for sure!🧡⚙️
Once again. What a transformation. Great job.
Thank you very much!🧡
This content is phenomenal. I know it has to take some time to assemble and explain what's going on but from an amateur mechanic your wholehearted approach to prioritizing job detail is fantastic. Someday I'll have an ultrasonic cleaner and a proper workbench 🛠
We are starting the process of getting ultrasonic cleaners available for sale on our website so that might tie up nicely for you, good luck with your work!🧡
Really enjoyed this latest installment, thank you for taking the time to make the video.
Thank your MrDaz we always appreciate your support🧡
Great restoration as always. Thank you for including the advice on putting free bearings vs race bearings. Incredible what you learn from watching pros do their work.
We really appreciate you continuing to enjoy the videos🧡
Wow, what a great job. It must be very satisfying to get a result like that.
Absolutely it is! Thanks for watching🧡
Beautiful Sun Tour gears.
We agree! 🧡
Wow what a gorgeous job you have done of that bike! I’d hang that one on the wall!
The pair of bikes is off to be well ridden!🧡
Excellent - one of your best restorations.
Thanks very much! We appreciate all the support 🧡
Another fantastic rebuild!
Thanks very much!🧡
It’s nice to see a bike as old as i am getting restored , and as always great job always enjoying watching the transformation you do .
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!🧡
Nice job as Always guys 👍
We really appreciate thank you🧡
Brilliant restoration, sympathetic and no overkill, keeping the story of the frame is important.
That’s our thoughts exactly, thanks for watching 🧡
Wow! What a transformation! Beautiful. Well done.
Thanks very much!🧡⚙️
Lovely restoration I am of this era of bike I remember seeing lots of these in my teens and the 531 frame fantastic 😊
Glad you enjoyed it🧡
Incredible work Lee. It’s amazing how the bottom bracket cups shine after coming out of the ultrasonic cleaner. The old bikes are a joy to ride. Thanks for sharing another great restoration.
For some reason they usually come out best from the whole lot! Thanks again Todd for the support 🧡
Absolutely stunning and very satisfying to watch ❤
Thank you!🧡
Beautifully done. A proper mechanic!
Thanks very much John!🧡
@@Bikespeeds
👍
such a beautiful video
I recently overhauled a 90's Japanese frame
Polished all of the aluminum, crankset, stem, derailleurs, with metal polish
Came out looking like a brand new bike from the 90's
Enjoy it!🧡
Truly brilliant attention to detail. well done guys.
Thanks again Nick we appreciate it🧡⚙️
Excellent work. I love working on classic bikes
Thanks! Enjoy your work!🧡
Fantastic restoration work! What a joy to see this old bike come to life again.
Thanks very much!🧡
Boy, this is joyful to watch an old bike come back to life. I'm working on a late 80's Bianchi now. This is such motivation.
We have a bianchi on the way just not coming in for a while! Enjoy all your time working on it!🧡
You've inspired me to take on a restoration project of my own. I've bought an ancient Carlton from a local junk shop and I plan to refurbish it following your methods. Keep up the good work lads , I never miss a video!
Awesome! We did a Carlton, best of luck with it!🧡
Fantastic restoration, loved seeing it come back to life.
Thank you Tinnis!🧡
Another great work getting good looking bikes back on the road! Cheers!
Thanks for watching and enjoying!🧡
My oldest bike is a 1971 Gitane 'apache Standard's road bike which I bought for $10.
It's hanging from the ceiling, midway through a gradual transformation to a one speed messenger style bike.
I repainted the fenders to match the BMX gauge purple anodized cranks which I found at a shop.
I've customized the stem, drilling it for cable routing.
I really appreciate your videos.
That’s awesome! Good luck with all your work David 🧡
I never tire of watching your work, excellent as always.
Thanks John it’s something we worry about so we appreciate the compliment 🧡⚙️
Always makes my day when you upload
That’s really great to hear thank you🧡
Another excellent job, I love watching you restore the old bikes
That’s great to hear, thanks Martin!🧡
I have a very unsightly Claud Butler San Remo which has done more than 70 000km, love that bike! Would love to own one of these older specimens.
Enjoy it! Thanks for watching Peter 🧡
Absolutely superb restoration and video production. Far far better than anything on the TV. Love these old bike restorations. Well done.
Thanks Paul a lot of effort goes into them so we really appreciate that comment 🧡⚙️
Great resto and sure the owner was blown away with the transformation, great work as always!
Thank you Laurie glad you enjoyed it!🧡
How cool, to take these parts down to the basics and reassemble a work of art. Great!
Thanks for the kind words!🧡
What a cracking job, once again.👍
Love Claud Butler's, I have two.😁
Thanks for the video.
John.
Wow this will have been the video to you then! Thanks 🧡
Those builds are so much fun and rewarding…..it’s hard not to be impatient 😎go simon
Haha thanks Murphy we both appreciate it as always!🧡
That is so lovingly done. Great work. Fastest bike I ever had was an old ten speed of similar vintage. Braking power (lack of!) can be a bit scary but they're still fast bikes and make for a great ride if well looked after.
Absolutely! Thanks for watching🧡
Beautiful job guys, keep it up!
Thank you luke the comments keep us going🧡
I'm gonna try to do my Raleigh,,great job best bicycle mechanic I seen ,,
Good luck and enjoy!🧡
Amazing! Would have been nice to get access to some new stickers for the down tube and some color matched touch-up paint instead of the sticker, but realize that's not always possible.
We have our own vinyl cutter as we make these for our website so for us it’s a value for money and ease thing, we can order this cheap and have a colour swatch in the shop so works better for us than paint 🧡
I understand why you did not want to replace the freewheel, but a bright and shiny one would have looked fantastic. Love the work!
We did replace it! That’s a new one on there. Thanks for watching!🧡⚙️
Great work and what a transformation 👍
What a transformation, so shiny........wow 👏
🧡💪🏼⚙️
Lovely job!
Thanks very much!🧡⚙️
Beautiful!! I just love these vlogs. Makes me wish that i still had my 1980s Raleigh Zenith.
Thanks for the support Alan, never to late to track one down!🧡⚙️
Lovely bike and great work as always! After cleaning the parts looked almost like new. And almost no wear at all. Jockey wheels, Chainset, wheel bearings seemed to be spotless. Only the paint looked rough. I guess this bike did not do many miles but sat for along time.
Exactly, it had clearly been well maintained the grease had just all dried up from sitting! Thanks for watching 🧡
Wow that sonic cleaner brilliant look how clean it comes out 👍🏼
This one was so satisfying 🧡
Incredible work!
Thanks again for the support!🧡
IMPRESSIVE! Good bike build. Excellent mechanic...thank you for that
I have an assortment of vintage bikes..1979 Schwinn Le Tour, early 80's Diamondback Mtn Bike, 1985 Fuji League 12 speed Road bike
Awesome! Enjoy your collection 🧡
Oh man, this was outstanding. Such lovely work and such a high degree of commitment! Also, I didn't know that a sonic cleaner could yield such good results, so this was very interesting as well.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for all the support🧡
Incredible rebuild as usual… clearly a new life for this bike ! Congrats, that’s just awsome.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching 🧡⚙️
That was an absolute joy to watch 😊. Great job. I'd better get on with mine!
Good luck and enjoy’🧡
Nice work.
Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Thanks for watching!🇳🇿🧡
This is stunning!! Amazing good job!
Thanks very much! 🧡⚙️
Aww wow amazing looking bike in the end love retro bikes they look and ride so different ❤❤
Thanks for watching Joanne!🧡
Wow - super job. Bike looks amazing now 😁
I love your grease/lube seringe setup. Really neat and clean way to keep that on your workbench ready for use. Gonna steal that idea!
I wish I had the budget to put this much effort into my '81 Soma. Your work is absolutely incredible and it's made me less nervous when working on my old bikes. Keep up the great work, it's always a delight to see.
Good luck! Enjoy your riding and working🧡
Love your work. Please include a long shot (as in) to fit the whole bike in) of the finished bike against a neutral background on drive and non-drive side, please, to finish. It means we really can get a good look of the finished job, and admire it! Thank you!
Another superb restoration. I wished I had kept my first real buke from the late 80s to do a restoration 😎🙌 Great job simon in the vudeo as always 😎🇫🇮
Thanks Dean, definitely worth getting one and doing it up if you haven’t 🧡
absolutely brilliant. Although not ancient by any means, the parts on a bike of this vintage seem a lot less serviceable that would be the case nowadays - sealed bearing cartridges vs loose bearings etc. You make it all seem so effortless though (I know it isn't). Chapeau gents, I bet the owner was chuffed to bits with this one 👊
Yes this was more retro than vintage you’re right there, lots of work goes into the “effortless” effect for the videos so we appreciate it🧡
@@Bikespeeds It's not retro at all. "Retro" is something that copies styling that's older than its date of manufacture:
retro
adjective
imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past.
The bike in your video was made with styling and components that were current in 1981, so at this point, it could be said to be old or vintage, but not retro. If, in 1981, they had designed it to look like, say, a bike from the 1940s, then it would be retro (as well as old/vintage now).