Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Bianchi ID?

A couple days ago I went to the local thrift shop and bought a Miyata 914 which I posted on here. Today I was riding it and stopped by another local thrift shop and found this Bianchi there. The price was 129 which is the most I have ever spent at a thrift shop. This bike fits me better and Im gonna give the Miyata to my dad. My question is does anybody know what kind of bianchi this is and was it worth the money?
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2877.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2878.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2880.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2882.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2883.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2884.jpg

Bianchi touring bike? Interesting.

Do they allow for returns, just curious?

-Kurt

Bianchi touring bike? Interesting.

Do they allow for returns, just curious?

-Kurt

No they dont, was it that bad of a deal?

No, looks like a very good deal - just wondering why you'd worry about a purchase you couldn't return had it been a bad deal ;)

Can't figure out two things on it though - seems to be original, yet, the lower headset raceway is painted yellow over the chrome. The pinstriping on the crown does not look original either, but otherwise, the yellow does not look like a repaint either. More then I can answer to my knowledge.

-Kurt

Nice touring bike!

LOL I thought you were implying that I should return the bike because I got ripped off. Haha

Can't figure out two things on it though - seems to be original, yet, the lower headset raceway is painted yellow over the chrome. The pinstriping on the crown does not look original either, but otherwise, the yellow does not look like a repaint either. More then I can answer to my knowledge.

-Kurt

I'm with you on this. I'm having doubts about whether its a Bianchi frame. The fork appears to be Bianchi judging from the panto "B" yet the rear dropouts just don't seem right. On the '80 touring models the rear drops have a cut-out with a chromed surface. Bianchi also placed the "Bianchi" decal on both the downtube and the seat tube. Also, something just doesn't ring true about the head-badge decal.

What cutouts or panto are on the head tube lugs? If the fork is original, then the frame should have a similar panto "B" on the down tube lug and on the top tube lug. The picture is fuzzy so it looks like either a cutout shape or something scratched out.

One other thing, doesn't the rear geometry look a little tight for a touring frame, even a sport-touring frame?

Just trying to make sense of the apparent inconsistencies.


stan

It looks to have some pretty slack angles for a tall frame such as that, but I agree - closeups of the front dropouts and seat lug/stay caps are in order.

One thing though: If the fork is not original to the frame, it would have had to go to the framebuilder for the canti bosses and front rack eyelets.

-Kurt

After cleaning the bike up its seems to me that it is not the original paint on the bike. Here are some better detailed pictures of it.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2887.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2888.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2890.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2895.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2896.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2897.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2898.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2900.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2902.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd287/vinasity/DSCN2903.jpg

that's a fairly strange bike. It seems pretty clear that it has been repainted.

Looks like an unknown brand of touring bike that got a Bianchi donor fork, a trip to the framebuilder for canti braze-ons and front eyelets, and a cheap paint job.

Still isn't bad at all, but I'd make it my first order of business to drop the fork, knock out the lower raceway from the headtube, and clean that paint off of it before re-installing ;)

-Kurt

What a weird bike to find at the thrift shop.