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EARLY SEVENTIES SEKINE GS - INTRODUCTION
Though the vintage of this early Sekine is certainly in question, most evidence collected so far, would suggest that the bicycle was manufactured between 1971 and 1973. With this in mind, and not really knowing the actual date, the year 1971 will be used to define vintage.
The first vintage road bicycle I ever owned was a mid seventies Sekine SHC 270 which I fully restored, affectionately named Big Green and then threw away at the Dump. The first really nice vintage bicycle I ever found was a 1975 Sekine SHT 270, the Canadian company's second from top of the line offering and I still have that bicycle in my humble collection of Canadian made bicycles today. I doubt that it will ever be sold, even if luck shines upon me and I stumble across the top dog, a Sekine SHX 270. Prior to finding the 1971 Sekine GS, featured here, I had believed that Sekine originated in Canada and was later bought out by a Japanese company. Or, perhaps, the Canadian concern, simply moved to the orient, with hopes of reducing manufacturing costs. Needless to say, neither was the case. The parent company in Asia, most likely set up shop in Canada, to avoid very high tariffs that were impacting imported bicycles, at the time. And, set up shop Sekine did. For ten years, some pretty well made bicycles, flowed out of the Sekine factory in Three Rivers, Manitoba. Finding a Canadian made Sekine is hardly a big deal, to me, unless it is one of the two top of the line offerings. But, finding a pre-Canadian Sekine is really unusual, considering the remote area that Thunder Bay rests in. This beautiful, and original, Sekine GS was first believed to be a very early Canadian made bicycle and I was pretty happy when I found it. It did not take all that long for me to realize my mistake concerning the bicycle's origin. After very careful inspection, considerable study and finally reading the "Made in Japan" sticker just above the bottom bracket, did I realize that the bicycle was of Asian issue. Though somewhat disappointed, that the bicycle was not early Canadian, I did not want to part with it right away. Though I have great respect for vintage road bicycles that have been made in Japan, I have never had a keen interest in adding one to my collection. I must say, that as my appreciation for their heritage increases, I give more and more consideration into keeping at least one Asian mount. Perhaps the Sekine GS will be that bicycle, however, for many reasons the jury is still out on that decision.
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