My very first encounter with a brake-rod roadster was in-fact with a Phoenix. The famous Shanghai brand which started in 1958 and was the 3rd of the "Famous Four" bike makers in China. However, my encounter was NOT in China. It was in Moshi, Tanzania, where many a local was mounted on large framed, double-bar, fork-trussed, 28" wheel roadsters!
As I was later to learn, Africa is a huge and important export market for Chinese brands.
Phoenix is a very large concern and makes bikes and eCycles of every possible kind, but of course it is their brake-rod roadsters in which we are interested. These come in the exact same sizes and varieties as Flying Pigeon, Forever or any of the other roadster manufacturers. Parts will interchange, and of course this was intentional and back in the bad old days, necessary. Still, that doesn't stop there from being a high level of variation when it comes to the details. Take a look at the following picture of 2 men's 28" roadsters (and one barely seen 26" women's roadster). You immediately see the differences: different decals, different grips, one has a chain case the other doesn't, different seats, fork trusses on one, but not on the other...etc...etc...etc.
So how do you identify a Phoenix from the other Chinese roadsters? First and foremost,THE LOGO. The most beautiful and elaborate logo in all of bicycling.
The Feng Huang (Phoenix) is the legendary Chinese king of birds. This is different than the middle-eastern Phoenix or Firebird, with which it shares an English name. The downtube logo is a long, multicolored Phoenix coming to rest on a Lotus, tail feathers resplendent behind it. A nice touch on an other wise, staid black bike.
The Phoenix headbadge (taken from the corporate website) is similar, but picked out in gold over a field of scarlet.
Not all bikes are worthy to wear the Phoenix however. The second roadster in the first pick has a completely different downtube logo which can be seen
below. The headbadge is also different, but shows the bird at rest.
Phoenix also has a flanker brand called "Feide", which better suits some bikes.
But of course the elaborate Phoenix logo is not appropriate for all bikes, even if they do wear the Phoenix name. Modern style bikes look...well more modern. I have to say...I like the traditional flair better. How about you? Phoenix Bicycles
Always difficult to tell from pictures online but these machines are either of a pretty decent quality.... or finely detailed by their owners... or it could just be they look good in the pics.
All in all, they look to be quite sharp!
Thanks for posting them up!
Posted by: Larry Bone | September 01, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Does anyone know the difference between a Phoenix and a Fuji Phoenix. Was the Fuji Phoenix an export model? I have a blue, ladies single speed, caliper brake bike that is missing the headbadge. The Phoenix logo is on the down tube but I want to replace the missing headbadge with the correct one. Phoenix is spelled out on the chainring. Looks like it was intended for the US. (Raleigh type fork, drop-center rims etc.)
Thanks, Dan, NY
Posted by: Dan Kretzer | September 26, 2009 at 04:36 AM
Fascinating. A Humber bicycle has turned up on Trademe.co.nz in New Zealand with a Fenghuang chainwheel. The Humber looks authentic with a humber brass head badge. The chainwheel has FENGHUANG in upper case font as part of the webbing. We assume it was fitted later.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Cycling/Other-bikes/auction-244491969.htm accessed 30/09/09
Posted by: Peter Healing | September 30, 2009 at 05:17 PM
Dan-
I think you'd be safest putting a Phoenix badge on it. As long as the bird is on the downtube and in the Chainring, then it's probably a Phoenix.
I haven't heard of Fuji-Phoenix but I too have seen the badge on Ebay. My guess is that it just be intended for the Japanese market as Fuji is a term usually associated with Japan.
Another possibility is that "Fuji-Phoenix" was an attempt by Feng Huang to create a flanker brand in markets where the Japanese brand Fuji had greater brand recognition.
That's my speculation...and that's really all it is.
-JS
Posted by: JS | October 10, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Hi, my name is Fabio, I live in Shanghai and I would like to buy a new bike Phoenix brand, but I don't find a Shop.. You can help me? how much is the price? thank you so much.. bye bye
Posted by: fabio | October 01, 2010 at 01:41 PM
Hey Jeff! I´m Billy, from Uruguay, South America. I´m just restoring a men´s Phoenix bike (check it out here: http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=33351) and I could use some help with Decals. I need to repaint the hole bike and I´d like to reapply the decals so I´d love to know where I can get a nice pic of them, a PDF, or something from where I can duplicate them. Please fell free to contact me,
Best Regards,
Billy
Posted by: Billy | November 18, 2010 at 07:37 AM
Can I buy a Shanghai Phoenix in USA?
Ning Wang
Posted by: Ning Wang | May 06, 2013 at 08:16 AM