Classic & Vintage - Battaglin Giro info needed

A friend has come across a Battaglin Giro, and we're looking for more information on it. Seat stays, fork crowns, bb, and dropouts are pantographed, fork is chrome, frame has Columbus tubing stickers. Group is Shimano 600, and BB shell is Cinelli. Looks to be a solid little bike of decent quality.

Any ideas as to vintage, original specs, hierarchy, etc? Ebay, Google, and forum search has turned up very little.

http://shutter05.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/13/00C/7B/55/94/7D/5PHi2LRdsxdahuV+x5ms5TJcsp6+jNIu0280.jpg

http://shutter10.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/17/009/7B/97/D0/4C/1KgtmxizqTqq37A3xGc3Y03wPZAM7mKy0280.jpg

http://shutter07.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/17/007/7E/FE/A4/75/MJlwwQYNJaSSQw0Ft73eK202jsgcwvLP0280.jpg

http://shutter09.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/21/006/3B/7E/09/9B/0px+Xh8y2n--KtJpkx++haSfCWt5xUEC0280.jpg

http://shutter11.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/15/00A/5D/B6/7B/13/CSoydV2GfRXHF1Wcc1eNNvquuQ+qA2cM0280.jpg

http://shutter10.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/17/008/2A/F5/1F/37/ejlBFVZMW0QoippsYoeeRHEy22hPKXKl0280.jpg

Bossman,

I don't know anything about Battaglin Bicycles, other than what Google tells me. I'm bumping this up hoping that someone else will chime in.

It looks like a decent bike, and I know I've seen that Italian flag on the top tube somewhere before. They do have a web site: http://www.battaglin.it/

and the bike is my wife's size, what is going to happen with it?

.....and the bike is my wife's size, what is going to happen with it?

I'm going to go look at it tomorrow. If it fits my 12 year old and she likes it, it'll become hers. If that happens, all the Shimano 600 stuff comes off and it gets fitted with a modern drivetrain.

If it doesn't fit her and I pass on it, I will put you in touch with the owner if you like.

>BUMP<

Nobody?

I owned a Giovanni Battaglin bike in the mid- 80's equipped with a full Gippiemme road group. The frame was very well built of Columbus SL and at the time, I preferred its handling and quality of craftsmanship over my Pinarello Treviso and Colnago Super. Yours appears to be a later model than the one I rode(guessing late 80's) The company still exists and has in recent years supplied racing bikes to several Continental Pro Teams including Panaria-Selle Italia.

http://www.battaglin.it/

http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/help/battaglin-bikes

http://www.cyclingnews.com/teamtech04.php?id=tech/2004/probikes/panaria_battaglin2

caterham has owned just about every Italian bike you can think of, and can readily explain their nuances.

I think I will be calling on him soon for advice on my Rossin build.

I'm going to go look at it tomorrow. If it fits my 12 year old and she likes it, it'll become hers. If that happens, all the Shimano 600 stuff comes off and it gets fitted with a modern drivetrain.

If it doesn't fit her and I pass on it, I will put you in touch with the owner if you like.

I was just thinking that bike was a little big for me, but would be almost perfect for your daughter :p .

Nice looking bike, even if I can't tell you anything more about it.

East Hill

I owned a Giovanni Battaglin bike in the mid- 80's equipped with a full Gippiemme road group. The frame was very well built of Columbus SL and at the time, I preferred its handling and quality of craftsmanship over my Pinarello Treviso and Colnago Super. Yours appears to be a later model than the one I rode(guessing late 80's) The company still exists and has in recent years supplied racing bikes to several Continental Pro Teams including Panaria-Selle Italia.


Thanks for the response. I queried Battaglin through their website, and am awaiting a reply. They do not appear to have a presence in the USA. I figure an Italian frame made out of Columbus tubing might be a nice ride for the little one, so I'm hoping it fits her well enough to glom onto. The fact that it is her favorite color is a big plus. :)


Late 80's is a good guess - it is a 6 speed, and the late 80's was the heyday of 6 speed bikes. That also makes it a 126mm rear, perfect for a 130mm cold-set and refitting for a 9 speed drive-train.

Here is a link to a catalog on Mark Bulgiers site, I think it is an 1983 issue. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/battaglin/

I was just thinking that bike was a little big for me, but would be almost perfect for your daughter :p .

Nice looking bike, even if I can't tell you anything more about it.

East Hill

I've acquired two 48cm frames for her so far, and have yet to build one up as she is still enjoying the loaner. I started off with a donated gray/pink Schwinn World Sport, and before I built it I came across a very pretty two-tone blue Centurion Cavalleto. I stripped that one down in preparation for the build last week, and now I come across this one. What's a father to do - I sure hope I don't run into any more tempting 48cm frames!!

I figure that the loaner Specialized will find its' way back to its' owner in March (The Cinderella ;)), so I need to get on the stick and get one built.

I'm thinking this is "The One".

Here is a link to a catalog on Mark Bulgiers site, I think it is an 1983 issue. http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/battaglin/

Thanks for that link. Looks like, at least in 1983, the Giro model was second from the top and definitely Columbus SL tubing. Too bad the bike I'm looking at doesn't have the original pantographed stem and seatpost - but that is a blessing in disguise as I'm going to modify/upgrade this bike to moderd stuff anyway.

And the Shimano 600 stuff is obviously a later add-on by the previous owner. That's cool - I've another bike that'll make good use of it.

I'm thinking this is "The One".

apparently, mine was also a Giro d italia model from the catalogue specs, only earlier than the one pictured as it had conventionally mounted downtube shifter bosses rather than the top mounted shown in the pics. The us importer was the Nor-Am Gipiemme distributor and they were sold mostly as framesets and Gipiemme equipped bikes. Mine was purchased as a complete bike, less wheels.
As I stated previously, I thought the Battaglin handled extremely well and very predictably .IMO, just about anyone can make a reasonably decent riding 700C frameset in a 53-58 cm size.It's when things get tight, very large or anatomically abnormal that show off the real skills of a framebuilder/designer. Very few can produce a small frame without fitting anomolies, handling compromises or quirks. I traditionally ride a 49 to 50 c-c frameset and the Battaglin got it right.

The fact that it is her favorite color is a big plus.

If it is her favorite color, and it has an Italian name (as she's got one of those), there really is no good reason she shouldn't like it even if it isn't her size. :p

All those pantographs on it look cool--even that chrome fork has them.

There is (or was a couple of days ago) one of these for sale at Thrift Town on Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento for $299.00, or is that where your friend got it? :)

There is (or was a couple of days ago) one of these for sale at Thrift Town on Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento for $299.00, or is that where your friend got it? :)


:D

So does this mean you got it?

East Hill

I can't add much, but what a great present! Hope your daughter appreciates her Dad. I have seen an Italian flag braze-on on Concorde (Ciocc) frames from the early '90s, but they were not angled as this one is. I especially like how the head lugs have been milled down to work on the short head tube of a 48cm frame, a nice touch and seems to reinforce what caterham says about their attention to small-frame details.

So does this mean you got it?

It means that the thrift in Sacramento mentioned above was where it was found. And yes - I picked it up last night. :)

It is a clean little bike, and very pretty. It will make a fine bike for my daughter. Now, hopefully I can get it built up before another, better frame falls into my lap.

It means that the thrift in Sacramento mentioned above was where it was found. And yes - I picked it up last night. :)

It is a clean little bike, and very pretty. It will make a fine bike for my daughter. Now, hopefully I can get it built up before another, better frame falls into my lap.


I'll be looking forward to seeing her ride that in March then :) . Is it really a 48cm, or is it bigger than that?

East Hill

It means that the thrift in Sacramento mentioned above was where it was found. And yes - I picked it up last night. :)

It is a clean little bike, and very pretty. It will make a fine bike for my daughter. Now, hopefully I can get it built up before another, better frame falls into my lap.

Sweet! If I were a bit shorter (like a foot and a half) I would have snagged it myself! Spendy for a thrift store, but a good price nonetheless! Congrats!

Sweet! If I were a bit shorter (like a foot and a half) I would have snagged it myself! Spendy for a thrift store, but a good price nonetheless! Congrats!

Yes, spendy for a thrift. Thrift Town has a habit of doing that - even Huffys get priced high there if they are shiny enough.

Bill called me from the thrift with bike in hand and described it to me. I did some quick Google searches while he waited, and we couldn't really get a fix on whether or not it was worth the $300.

The tip-over in deciding to buy it was the fact that it had the earmarks of a quality (if relatively unknown) frame, and I was looking to build it for my daughter. I figured that even if I overpaid at $300, it wouldn't be by much. And, since I was going to rebuild with a modern drive-train (which I already have on-hand), I could recoup some of the purchase price eBaying the Shimano 600 stuff.

So, I ended up with a a very clean and very pretty quality Columbus SL frame in my daughter's size, AND in her favorite color. Overpaying a bit for it was justified IMO, given those parameters.

For flipping, it might not have been a good purchase. But for personal use, I think it was a good deal.

$300???

imo, you did NOT overpay. in fact, i think you got a very decent deal on that bike. the frameset alone is worth what you paid.

I think you did very well for $300.

You should be able to recoup a great deal of your cost on the 600 stuff alone, especially if it's indexed---if you really want to sell it.

If your daughter is still going to grow, I'd leave most of the stuff as is. Put brifters on if you want, but everyone should at least know how to ride with downtube shifters.

I think that the 600 stuff will take a wide range of freewheels and chainrings, and as toomany bikes once said 'seven speeds are enough'.

Nice score, congrats!

edit: flippers and riders are not even close, this was awesome for a rider!

I think you did very well for $300.

You should be able to recoup a great deal of your cost on the 600 stuff alone, especially if it's indexed---if you really want to sell it.

If your daughter is still going to grow, I'd leave most of the stuff as is. Put brifters on if you want, but everyone should at least know how to ride with downtube shifters.

I think that the 600 stuff will take a wide range of freewheels and chainrings, and as toomany bikes once said 'seven speeds are enough'.


Yes, Shimano 6 speed SIS - indexed. I'll probably bag and tag the Shimano stuff, and keep it around for when she outgrows the bike. That way, I can sell the bike complete and migrate the newer stuff over to whatever frame I but next.

BTW - don't rave too much about the price - Bill is watching..... :D And to be honest, the total was $323 with tax.

Yes, Shimano 6 speed SIS - indexed. I'll probably bag and tag the Shimano stuff, and keep it around for when she outgrows the bike. That way, I can sell the bike complete...


I'll have to check out this bike when I get down there in March. In a few years time you could profitably flip it to me for my Cinderella ride :D .

Well, if it fits ;) . And assuming that she actually does outgrow it :p .

East Hill

Whew--even for that steep price I'm pleased I could figure it was worth it. Never seen or heard of that marque before I ran into it, and that catalog on the Bulgier site even reveals that it is higher end model. Glad it is going to a good home, and it will look even more stunning after it is cleaned up well and outfitted with a modern component group.

The dropouts are pretty special too but I didn't take a photo of any of them. Post a pic of one of them please.

And if your daughter doesn't end up liking it you should give up on the bikes for her and get her a horse. :D

And if your daughter doesn't end up liking it you should give up on the bikes for her and get her a horse. :D

You know, you could always use a helper on the weekends :p . It would give you more time to ride the bikes :) .

East Hill

That sure is a nice one and obviously is a great color - my favorite too. Nice find BlankCrows. Glad its going to a good home. Did you ever get a response back from Italy?

Did you ever get a response back from Italy?

Nope - nothing. That's ok, though.... you guys have filled in admirably!