Classic & Vintage - Masi, Masi, Masi, and more Masi

There seems to be a lot of talk on these boards recently about Masis -all good stuff. I got into cycling as a kid after seeing "Breaking Away" and really wanted to get a bike like Dave's. At the time, my budget was more in line with the repainted Sears double or the TV version's Huffy (which I did get). I finally owned a real Masi while in college. It was beautiful metallic blue to white fade with full Campy Croce'Daune. I owned that bike for all of 5 days before it got stolen right out of my apartment! I cried that night + still get pains thinking about it...

Anyway, the history of this marquee has intrigued me quite a bit -especially after reading Dave Moulton's blog (wish he was still writing). Very interesting stuff about the cast of characters who at one time or another lit up a torch in the name of Masi. Then it gets hazy. What is the relation with the current Masi? Is it the same company that just evolved into what it is? Or is it something like what happened with Motobecane, Dawes, Windsor et al?
Is there a history of Masi somewhere?

Cheers,
Dave

I am not the person to attempt to recount the history, but I do know that Masi frames are now built in Asia.

This is the Classic Rendezvous entry for Masi (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Masi/Masi_main.html).

This is the Classic Rendezvous entry for Masi (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Masi/Masi_main.html).

might try searching: how the mighty have fallen

Masi will get you so much that it will take a long time to dig through.

The masi name is now owned by Haro, the BMX company.

The masi name is now owned by Haro, the BMX company.

Only in certain markets. In Europe, Alberto Masi retains the rights to - and builds under - the Masi name.

To add a little more, it was Roland Sahm who originally bought the rights to the Masi name in North America, and later Ted Kirkbride bought the rights from Sahm. I believe Haro licensed the name from Kirkbride originally before buying them outright.

To add a little more, it was Roland Sahm who originally bought the rights to the Masi name in North America, and later Ted Kirkbride bought the rights from Sahm. I believe Haro licensed the name from Kirkbride originally before buying them outright.

As the name was not possible to be sold to Bill Recht way back, I would not assume that it actually SOLD, could well be it was licensed one or more times, but in fact Haro does manage the brand in the USA, Canada, and the Far East. How and where the money goes, who knows.

Torelli was running the brand in the USA in the 90's and still paid royalties to Falerio, so the Maestro may have had darn good lawyers to set things up.

Only in certain markets. In Europe, Alberto Masi retains the rights to - and builds under - the Masi name.

So, given the proper connections, could one stilll buy a Masi-built MASI?

Does that connection involve a web site? ... with a URL? ... which is?

As the name was not possible to be sold to Bill Recht way back, I would not assume that it actually SOLD, could well be it was licensed one or more times, but in fact Haro does manage the brand in the USA, Canada, and the Far East. How and where the money goes, who knows.

Torelli was running the brand in the USA in the 90's and still paid royalties to Falerio, so the Maestro may have had darn good lawyers to set things up.

I read a posting in an older forum thread by the then-current Masi Brand Manager (at least that's who he claimed to be; probably the guy who had/has the masi guy blog) who said that Haro had licensed the name and then purchased it.

So, given the proper connections, could one stilll buy a Masi-built MASI?

Does that connection involve a web site? ... with a URL? ... which is?

Alberto's site is apparently down at the moment, probably being redone. He seems to have been doing quite a bit of rearranging lately at the Vigorelli, having held an open house and sold off some bikes.

I read a posting in an older forum thread by the then-current Masi Brand Manager (at least that's who he claimed to be; probably the guy who had/has the masi guy blog) who said that Haro had licensed the name and then purchased it.

Tim Jackson did write that. If you think it through it would have taken some cash to let go the royalties for the future. So I would withhold it as fact.

Alberto's site is apparently down at the moment, probably being redone. He seems to have been doing quite a bit of rearranging lately at the Vigorelli, having held an open house and sold off some bikes.

It was albertomasi.it there is a wayback machine web resource that might have it archived. albartomasi has been off line for a while, I think it was of little use.

Also look up a web site in the name of Bob Hovey. He is a Masi freak who continues to work on history, dating, a serial number decoder ring, and a design features timeline.

http://milano3v.com/

http://milano3v.com/

Yeah, but that won't get you to a "Masi" labeled Alberto Masi bike.

Yeah, but that won't get you to a "Masi" labeled Alberto Masi bike.

I think there was a workaround, they are labled AlbertoMasi. The Milano name just did not catch on, and there were those unfortunate late 60's early 70's cheapo bikes labeled Milano.

I think I would prefer a bike built by Alberto Masi labeled Milano instead of a generic Taiwanese frame with a Masi sticker on it...

Is he still building them? That website is not too current.

I think there was a workaround, they are labled AlbertoMasi. The Milano name just did not catch on, and there were those unfortunate late 60's early 70's cheapo bikes labeled Milano.

That jibes with what I've seen the last couple of times I've seen Alberto's Masis exhibited, at the Westminster swap, and maybe again at Cirque. Nice folks, on the US end.
There was also some potential for confusion I guess now that Milani seems to be getting cranked up again. (Then there are those fancy cookies ... )

Alberto built 1973 Masi.

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee237/Pogliaghi/Masi.jpg