Panasonic CB4000 with trashiest paint

Hi there

Since I have missed to document my earlier projects, I would like to do so with my current one (will be a quick one hopefully):

I am about to build a „new“ bike for my wife as she does not like her current cheapo road bike. The new bike should be capable to take some load for touring, but should also run smoothly for everyday urban use.

First, i thought about buying a new gravel bike whatsoever, but we all know that this is just too easy. Then, after briefly thinking about buying a used one, I remembered but my mum‘s good old Panasonic CB4000 trekking bike from the early 90s. So, eventually, i ended up digging out this beauty.

Back then it was a high quality 28“ trekking bike and since she has moved it for a stunning total of about 150km since the ourchase, I thought that was a good basis. It uses a shimano DX/XT groupset and panaracer Khartoums mounter on araya rims with DX hubs

After 15 years of storage, the panaracers still had some pressure on them...

The frame is like new and everything else, too,(note the black painted and yet untouched braking surface on the front wheel) except for a little cleaning. Paint job is a nice mix of decent colors and trash 90s patterns

Plan is to

• remove and throw away unnecessary/ugly parts

• replace rusted parts and wearing parts

• give it a clean look (in particular remove bottle cage, replace stem/bar

• put on a front rack (identical to the rear one for opticZ)

• use Japanese parts if possible (so far, saddle and racks are non-Japanese, so should be not more than that)

Would also love to go for a black crank/chainrings but since they are basically new I dont think its appropriate to change this right now...

Will update in the next days...

Cheers

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