Dawes Linear Lightweight – Reynolds 653 – Shimano 600 Tricolor – 1989

History:

Founded in 1926 by Charles Dawes in Wharf Lane, Birmingham, Dawes Cycles Ltd. held a distinctive position in the British bicycle industry for decades. While large conglomerates like Raleigh targeted the mass market, Dawes focused on manufacturing high-quality touring and sports bicycles, establishing a dedicated Handbuilt Lightweight Division within its facility.

By 1989, the British bicycle market was undergoing significant transition. Dawes responded to declining sales of traditional touring models by strategically realigning its focus toward performance-oriented road bikes suitable for criterium and road racing. The Linear model was specifically introduced to challenge the technological edge held by continental manufacturers from Italy and France. The frame design broke radically from traditional, understated British racing green. Dawes utilized the then-emerging fade paint technique with fluorescent color pigments to appeal to a younger, racing-focused customer base and to signal its alignment with the modern road racing era of the late 1980s.

Description:

This colorful Dawes Linear Lightweight can be dated precisely to around 1989 based on its frame construction and component configuration. The mechanical foundation is a true highlight for connoisseurs: a handbuilt frame crafted from the legendary Reynolds 653 tubeset. Reynolds 653 was not a single material, but a highly specific engineering combination of different steel grades introduced by the Reynolds Tube Company in Birmingham in 1988 to counter the Italian Columbus SLX tubeset. The three main tubes consist of thin-walled, cold-drawn, and vacuum heat-treated Reynolds 753 chrome-molybdenum steel (manganese-molybdenum alloy). To prevent a volatile or overly soft ride quality at the rear, Dawes paired these with stiffer, thicker-walled Reynolds 531 tubes for the chainstays and seatstays. The result is a targeted asymmetrical stiffness: maximum vibration damping in the main triangle paired with efficient, flex-free power transfer in the rear triangle. The frame features classic French Prugnat lugs, a British ISO bottom bracket thread, and forged Shimano dropouts. The paintwork is finished in metallic silver, accented by seamless color transitions in neon green, turquoise, and purple.

The mechanical specification consists of a complete, period-correct Shimano 600 Ultegra Tricolor groupset (6400 series), introduced in the late summer of 1987. The system is configured exactly to the era as a 7-speed drivetrain. The rear derailleur utilizes Shimano's patented SIS (Shimano Indexed System) technology with an optimized parallelogram angle. It is operated via matching indexed Shimano 600 down-tube shifters, guaranteeing mechanically precise shifting. The wheelset features Rigida SHP 600 double-wall aluminum rims, laced in a classic 3-cross 36-hole pattern to the original Shimano 600 Tricolor hubs featuring a labyrinth sealing system. The cockpit is completed by an ITM (Italmanubri) combination of a forged aluminum quill stem and an anatomically shaped ITM drop bar.

Condition:

Used. The road bike is in excellent, meticulously maintained overall condition. The vehicle underwent a complete mechanical inspection and overhaul in the Goldensteelcycles workshop, where it was thoroughly cleaned and perfectly tuned. The handbuilt Reynolds 653 steel frame is structurally pristine, perfectly aligned, and absolutely free of cracks, dents, bends, or deformations. The striking paint finish with its characteristic color transitions is beautifully preserved, fully sealed after deep cleaning, and manually protected with a layer of hard wax. All Shimano 600 Tricolor components were cleaned in an ultrasonic bath, freshly lubricated, and precisely adjusted—the 7-speed SIS system shifts crisply and without error. All mechanical bearings (bottom bracket, headset, and front/rear hub bearings) were professionally disassembled, cleaned, repacked with high-quality hub grease, and adjusted to run smooth and play-free. The Rigida wheels run perfectly round. The bicycle is clean and immediately ready to ride.

Details: