General Cycling Discussion - Unridden 1984 Russian Olympic Team Masi on Ebay

Hi,
I just saw this one. I am mentioning it because I think it looks cool. If anyone wants to loan me a couple large; I might bid on it myself

:D


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3605140689

Nice! I love that cyrillic "MA3N" decal, too. Still I'd want to have those numbers confirmed before I paid a lot for it. FWIW, converting it to 9-speed components probably hurts it's value as a collectible.

I saw that too. Yeah, that bike should be either Super or C-Record.

A bit tall for me but something like that is a wall hanger more than a rider and my wife won't go for that.

A few years ago, the bicycle was built up with a Campagnolo 9-speed Record gruppo.

seems like he built it up just from the frame? he never had the original parts? :confused:

I'd be wary of buying something like this off ebay, especially with only 2 positive feedbacks? :rolleyes:

From the Buzz on the Classic Rendezvous list
its the real thing.
They show up from time to time.
S/B campy S. Record components, sewups,
cinelli bar and stem. . .

Marty

Indeed, this machine sould be dressed up with SR components or just sold as a frameset. In fact, selling it the way it is now is just like throwing away a Record 9 group. Anyone who wants (and can afford) a high zoot classic like that is going to want it original. He may as well just be selling the frameset.

So, right under the very stylish signature, is hand scrawled 62/100 in silver pen ?

Sheesh - that looks so jarringly ugly..........is that just scrawled on the picture or do you think it was really marked on the frame?

Does that really increase the value?

Dumb questions I am sure but bleh :(

well they (masi) wouldn't have decals to denote
frame number (although serial number might do).
Most pro team frames from the era weren't so much
about advertising and looks as they are today.
The masi in question, was built as a tool to be
used by the rider.
I'd wager that most pros don't love their bikes
the way that most of us here do.
to quote another pro "Its not about the bike".
FWIW if this bike were my size, I'd be ponying up
for this one.
Anyone know for sure if this was a California Masi?


Marty

Personally I think the bike was ruined when it was built up with 9-speed components. Back in the 80's we didn't have STI and 9-speed. If he had it built with compoents of the 80's era then I think the bike would be worth much more. Any guesses on what what the highest bid will be? I'll toss out $2125.

Zack
not bidding on this one

STOP THE PRESSES
(sorry for shouting).

I just got an e-mail response about this one.
it ISN'T a 1984 Masi.

Here's the real story on this bike:

It's a 90-91 California 3V... Jim Allen painted them and still has the dates in his records. This bike and a few other "Russian" Masis have been on Ebay before and the sellers always seem to get the story wrong. These bikes had nothing to do with the Olympic team, or any Russian team. It was a commemorative issue from Masi USA, probably something to do with detante or
the end of the cold war or something.
So, I dutifully withdraw everything I posted earlier about
this bike (other than it should have S.R components on
it. ok, maybe CDA or early chorus would work too)

Marty

bah see why I was wary :p

regarless it does look neat...

And to further what I posted I received this e-mail
from Joe Starke (of Trek bicycles fame, also worked
at Masi California):


Marty, Vladislav, Dave, Steve, Bill - It was in 1984 that Mark Gorski rode a Muray?/Huffy?/Fuji?-labeled,
Ted Kirkbride-built frame to victory in L.A..It was in 1988 that Ekimov and crew rode Masi-labeled frames to victory in Seoul.
Me and my assistants, Raoul and Tony, built these pursuit frames,
Jim Allen painted them, and Ted and Jim configured the
pursuit-style handlebar clamping set-up, internal bearings and
what-not. Eddy B. was involved in this project also. Ted
Kirkbride's Cicli Masi Inc. sponsored Ekimov's Russiam team extensively from this point on,
including the inaugural Tour de Trump.
So, the e-bay listing ought to state that the bikes
commemorate Russian victories on Masis from 1988 on, I think.
My last year at Cicli Masi was 1990 and, as I recall, the frames
weren't availabel even then. When they did become available
though, they were built in Italy, I'm pretty sure, and sold through
Torreli Imports, so Bill McGann, then known as Bill Senonian
would have to know something about this e-bay Masi.
At the least, it's surely not a "1984" model commemorating the
Russians absence from competition. - Joe Starck

Ok, an interesting bike, but either a confused seller
or misrepresented, you decide.
Marty

Bidding went to $1825 and didn't even break the reserve. All for a fake?
Thought the '62/100' looked rather bogus.

Caveat Emptor.

Maybe not exactly "fake." Its still a Carlsbad Masi with full on Record. Truth be told I bet that Record 9 group probably shifts as keenly as my friction C-Record group. So, really $1,800 or so isn't unthinkable for the bike without all the (dis)provenance. For my money though... I'll keep my 7spd Pinarello and take the leftover and buy the next Tesch that comes down the pike in my size.