Claud Butler (Majestic) re-build

looking good! the steerer fit the tdc headset it came with perfectly but the headset was grizzly. the seatpost bolt works fine as i remember, just the clamp area was misshapen.

nice job sir

^^ Looks nice, good stuff.

Looks brilliant. Just picked up a late 70s CB Majestic for £40 to referb. Hoping it'll look as grand as yours!

My first post and a weak attempt to get out of the nursery.

I've got a CB Majestic refurb on the go too. 1981 gents 23.5 incher bought new when I was 16. Some pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjromaine/. Just waiting for the F&F to come back from Mercian and then the assembly job begins.

It's costing a ridiculous amount of money to put back together but its a sentimental value job so I guess it'll be worth it. BTW if you're reading this and have a Maj you don't want that's 22-23.5 I may be interested.....

^^ any pics hw?

^ nice that it's been with you so long. all original groupset still?

There's a lovely mostly original Majestique belongs to someone working at North Tea Power in Manchester, often stored in there, am tempted to make an offer on n+1 rule for my gf...

I just used the very same n+1 rule to get a Majestique delivered yesterday. Fleabay £90 and in lovely, original condition. Only nasty is the front end. It's had drops removed, like many (most) have. That's not an issue as it's what I need. It's what they've used! Hideous MTB flat bars, black Shimano MTB brake levers and really ugly thumbshifters. I'm not familiar with town type bars - what might be suitable? What should I look for? Any ideas?

Sjr, welcome, and keep posting your projects! I see you've commented on my Flickr about the mixte I built up. That one got Raleigh North road bars, but the stem should have been a bit shorter than the 120mm used, to get the riding position a bit more upright. The only 'problem' I came across was trying to get a new straddle cable for the rear brake, but they do exist.

That'll be the pale green one with the gorgeous basket? That is one of the most beautiful rebuilds I've seen. True to the bike yet distinctly different at the same time. Well judged.
This Majestique is destined to remain as original as possible. The only non-original parts at the moment are those hideous bars, shifters and levers. I have a set of Suntour stem mount levers on the way (early 80s).
Not sure what to do for brake levers though as I've not rebuilt anything that didn't have drops before! Luckily all the original bits are in really good nick. Cyclone II f/r mechs have lost most of their black decals though, but I've seen that happen before. They'll look just fine polish back to alloy and a lot more enigmatic.
Thanks for the tip on the bars, I'll have a did around.

36x18: I've nicked your Raleigh bars idea - already ordered. I came from a triathlon background recently and am loving how damn cheap this retro game is. £14 for bars. I have paid £250 before! For levers I've found Dia Compe 135 which seems the right kind of shape but I suspect you used Shimano of some kind. I was hoping to stay 'all alloy' or shiny rather than painted black etc.