Claud Butler Vantage CBX - 1992 new project

[sparkybhp]

Just picked this up today - saw it on gumtree this morning, cheap and local - my favourite!
This will get a strip down, clean and rebuild with some decent parts. It’s currently got 200 CX mech and brakes for some reason? Does have some nice Deore LX hubs and Mavic rims though.
With some tlc should be a nice rigid alloy bike, I love the paint job - can’t wait to see it when it’s clean!

 

[Peachy!]

Nice, although not from '91.
the 2 colour mountain highlight stripe was for 1992 and into early '93. And the aluminium bikes shipped in from the far east were not advertised until '93. (not that any of that really matters)
Interested to see what date stamps are on the kit though...

 

[mynchiboy]

1992 sounds about right to me. The top tube lettering font is for that year as well. There were loads of these at my school back in the day

Looks like there's a couple of choice upgrades. IIRC these came with Exage hubs and 'Mach' rims which were heavy... I can't tell if you have 231 or 261 CD's but they're nice either way. There's a nice T-bone on there as well.

Not sure why the 200CX ended up there either, maybe a previous owner preferred the look. Will look forward to seeing what you do with it!

 

[bowser]

Nice colour scheme

 

[sparkybhp]

ooks like there's a couple of choice upgrades. IIRC these came with Exage hubs and 'Mach' rims which were heavy... I can't tell if you have 231 or 261 CD's but they're nice either way.

Thanks for the positive comments folks, looking forward to getting stuck in. @mynchiboy - the wheels are MA 40 MB, not seen them before, so if anyone knows anything about them please let me know..

 

[mynchiboy]

Thanks for the positive comments folks, looking forward to getting stuck in. @mynchiboy - the wheels are MA 40 MB, not seen them before, so if anyone knows anything about them please let me know..
View attachment 544440

Cool, MA40’s are an evolution of a road rim and a bit narrower. Caution though… make sure you have some spare tire levers at hand! Getting anything other than really supple folders off these is a blooming nightmare

 

[sparkybhp]

Thanks for the tip on the MA 40’s - you weren’t wrong, the tyres were an absolute swine to get off.. These used Panaracers I had went on a little easier with a bit of lubrication, nice size for this bike too at 1.8.
I’ve stripped it down and cleaned it, re-touched the paint and will re-grease and assemble it now. Wasn’t sure what to do component wise but I think I’ll see how the CX200 stuff cleans up and maybe re-fit that? It’s a matched set and should hopefully function ok once serviced. Don’t want to go too nuts with parts on this one as, ultimately, it’s probably a little too small for me and will likely get sold on once done.
Stay tuned for updates anyhow..

 

[jimo746]

Cool. I had a CB Magna from around the same time period, same paint scheme, probably the same frame but different spec (I think the Magna was Altus C20). Mine died when I tried to imitate the Kamikaze downhill race on my way back from the train station and snapped off the non-replaceable mech hanger .
The 200CX group set was produced for a few years 1992/93-95 I think, and was Shimano’s attempt at a City/Hybrid group set, it wasn’t bad actually, I had some of the 600CX kit and that was supposedly comparable Ultegra level road group set.

 

[sparkybhp]

Just got this finished off this morning, pretty pleased with how it came out. I fitted a new bottom bracket and polished up an Acera X chain set I had, serviced the hubs, cleaned everything up and re-cabled. A new chain and brake pads finished it off. Oh and I swapped the 200Cx shifters out for some 100GS ones that I had as the housing on the 7 speed shifter was broken. It rides nice, the zoom bars are super narrow, proper old school! Will be putting this up for sale though as it definitely is too small, hopefully it goes to a good home..

 

[jimo746]

Will you be selling the bike on here? eBay? Or elsewhere?