Classic & Vintage - Info on Vintage Bottecchia

A guy has this for sale, says it is a Vintage Bottecchia 1967-74
Anyone know anything about this bike, he wants $250 for it and I thought it mighty steep as the Simplex derailluers may speak bottom of the line model.

I have the exact same kind of bike. Simplex prestige derailluer-cottered cranks, universal brakes with chrome forks and lugs. Nice bike but certainly not a high end one. I think the price is too steep for that particular model. You could get a much better frame for that price. Having said that though, I'm very fond of mine. I don't know what it is about bottecchias they always seem to attract a lot of attention when I'm out riding.

Too much money. Technology now-a-days is complitely diferent, more sofisticated. If you realy want the bicycle for collection, I would say $50. If you want to update the frame the bicycle and if the wheels and stem and handlebar are not even aluminium take into consideration you can only use to frame and you will have to buy the rest of the components.

I am not expert but I am starting to get the hang of it, I was thinking it was high but then again how often do you see one from this year?
Thank you for your help

>>how often do you see one from this year?

christoph1

Another Bottechia owner here so I am rather partial...

It goes back to why you're interested in this bike. As an investment it might seem high now but the way things are going in 10 years it might be a good investment. if you're looking for a daily rider, there are newer bikes with more modern components out there--for about the same money or less. Too, location has a lot to do with price. In Portland and Seattle, that price would be about right. Whether they actually sell for that is a question of debate, tho. Bottechia's as a rule seem to bring top dollar. Of course anything Italian seems to bring top dollar nowadays. Check ebay -- typically, decent Bottechia frames go for over a hundred bucks.

Another thing that I think is missed in many of these "conversations" is the fact that even though some of these bikes are called bottom end, bottom end doesn't necessarily mean bad. A "bottom end" Nikon camera, for example, is still a better camera than 75% of the cameras in the world.

By the mid 80's the smaller European builders were facing stiff compitetion from the Japanese. Typically, many of them offered less expensive bikes built with cheaper components--it was the easiest way to lower costs. All in all they were still pretty good bikes when compared to the real bottom end junk. Personally I'd rather own a bottom end Italian made Bottechia than a mid level Asian made Bianchi. And if you want to upgrade, used components are relatively cheap. You can come up with a pretty decent bike this way.

Go with your feelings and if you choose to buy, don't let anybody spoil it for you. I hate it when after buying something someone has to chime in and tell me that I paid too much for it--or "ohhh...that wasn't a very good deal." Don't let others determine your enjoyment. If you plan to buy--offer less, however ;-)

Have fun.
John in Oregon

I am not expert but I am starting to get the hang of it, I was thinking it was high but then again how often do you see one from this year?
Thank you for your help

from those years you'll get either a Highend model or 2 (one Campy and another same frame but mid-level components). and then you'll get the bikes at this level - entry

10 years later and you'll find a huge variety of Mid-Level stuff that for all intent is barely discernable from the topend, when you're in the cockpit and rollin. i.e. this Bottechia (http://cgi.ebay.com/BOTTECCHIA-Classic-Road-Bike-Shimano-Campy-54-NR_W0QQitemZ7202355520QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
or other brands like -
this Benotto (http://cgi.ebay.com/Benotto-Steel-Road-Bicycle-Campagnolo-Selle-Italia-Used_W0QQitemZ7201352471QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

early 70's Bottechias do pop up regularly on ebay and craigslist, and are usually not 'expensive'. Just a day or so ago a nice Frejus sold on ebay - I was sorely tempted and would have bid, except I also really want a 'NEW' steel bike in 853, Nivachrome, Deda or TrueTemper.

But back to the Bottechia, as stated above, they have great heritage, are unusual and fun riding even for entry machines. But for $250 you can do better. As nice as this one looks (asthetically) the topline Bottechias from the late 60's and early 70's are things of real beauty and well worth hunting for. And you'll prolly then also have the unbounded joy of rolling on tubulars ...
;)
hey, its a bike! a lot dependz on how indulgent the family members are when you start haulin another in every month or so... :eek:

sidenote - this bottechia is running 27 inch steel, so upgrading the wheels to 700c will be a pain, considering you'll likely need to upgrade brake calipers also. A bike setup for 700c will take a simple wheel swap if one wants clinchers for daily use...

Like a few other Italian manufacturers from the 60s & 70's, there are really nice Bottechias, and then there are entry level dogs like this one. $250 is about $200 too much for the one pictured. If you can find a top of the line model from the same period, that'll be a whole 'nother story- it'll be nicely made of columbus tubing, with a complete campy NR gruppo. And there's everything in between...

You speak with gifted tongue, I guess your right. The reason I have the vintage bug is because of the Buzz, the lightning that goes through my brain when I cruse one of this vintage babies down the street, not because of the impressive value or high-end components. I guess your right the marketability of a lower price point during the 70’s bike boom was huge if you wanted substain market share from the likes of Peugeot and others.

...The reason I have the vintage bug is because of the Buzz, the lightning that goes through my brain when I cruse one of this vintage babies down the street, not because of the impressive value or high-end components. I guess your right the marketability of a lower price point during the 70’s bike boom was huge if you wanted substain market share from the likes of Peugeot and others.

I, and it seems so many others on forum, hear thar siren song all the time as well. It takes great restraint to not bid on every beauty I see on ebay (itz da devil!). On the other hand most of these vintage bikes from the 60's, 70's & 80's bring to mind so many wonderful images of the daring do of europe's best or more locally, the riding buddies, friends and mentors that bring a smile.
Bikes can be an obsession, a disease. A sweet way to waste away into cycling heaven.
I'm never sure if posting a cool bike ebay listing to the forum is OK. But I'll keep an eye out for interesting vintage stuff. Will query the moderators on How-To.