yep, a 3Rensho MTB...some interesting stuff

[wallymann]

spotted on the interwebs. there's a whole lot going on here!

big image (https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/10957443_10152750560913246_2452162173384554176_o.j pg)

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/s480x480/10943675_10152750560913246_2452162173384554176_n.j pg?oh=ae0f6e570ee5e76c3eb74521ea21d50c&oe=556F1979

[Cicli]

That thing is awesome.

[ik2280]

I'd ride that.

[velvig]

That shop put out a lot more than just standard road and track bikes.

[brockd15]

I might be alone on an island here, but I think that thing is painfully ugly. The oversize downtube makes me think of a cheap walmart bike, the tall headtube...

Maybe up close and in person I'd change my mind, but not from what I see here.

[wallymann]

i think thats the point. this is an MTB from when the sport was so new it was called ATBing and builders were still figuring stuff out. this one's by a quirky builder from a far-off land known mainly for his road/track stuff, no less.

its interesting because it's ugly and just...so...strange. unless you're "of a certain age" you probably just wont get it.

I might be alone on an island here, but I think that thing is painfully ugly. The oversize downtube makes me think of a cheap walmart bike, the tall headtube...

Maybe up close and in person I'd change my mind, but not from what I see here.

[Repack Rider]

These photos are from a trip I took to Japan in 1984 with Tom Ritchey and Dale Stetina. The woman is Denise Caramagno. I'm pretty sure this is a "one-off." It looks more like a modern mountain bike than it looks like a bike from that year.

[thirdgenbird]

That thing rocks!

[Matt-H]

That double crown, monostay'ed, disc Rensho was way ahead of its time. Inspired by motos, no doubt, but awesome nonetheless! An early DH machine.

[tctyres]

That double crown, monostay'ed, disc Rensho was way ahead of its time. Inspired by motos, no doubt, but awesome nonetheless! An early DH machine.

Yeah. It's kind of amazing. I also forget how MTB tires have changed over the years. It's nice to see the classic shoes on that bike.

[redir]

A funny MTB? Needs air in the tires too :D

[AJosiahK]

wow, just wow.

[wallymann]

i know, right?

wow, just wow.

[Dr Luxurious]

Wow. Do those bikes turn right?



.

[OperaLover]

That's Makino-san in the first picture, who brazed most if not all of the frames at that time. Konno-shacho was always innovating; trying to imporve on frame design, production, etc. He was ahead of his time in so many ways.

Konno-shacho was also my friend. I had the distinct honor of hanging out with him at his shop in Kashiwa and later in Abiko from 86-88.

http://www.makino-cf.com/

[Mr_Gimby]

Wow, thats so rad! I really dig the integrated frame-mounted bash guard! Though I shudder to think what it weighed!:eek:

[cainez]

Integrated bash guards and disc brakes? This is too much to handle.