Classic & Vintage - NOS Tommasini with Oria tubing and Chesini forks?

Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone knows about a line of Tommasini's that used Oria tubing and Chesini forks?

(sorry I misspelled the thread title - must have had Orbea on the brain...)

Several NOS Tommasini's have surfaced from a seller in Sweden the past couple of weeks, and this one is different from other Tommasini's I've seen -- Oria tubing (not Columbus); Gipiemme dropouts (not Campy); a Chesini fork, and generally a lot less detailing than the other Tommasini's I've seen (e.g., no Tommasini or "T" engravings and cutouts on seat stays, bottom bracket, lugs, etc.)

This is the one I'm talking about:

http://web.telia.com/~u55802775/default.html

(link corrected)

The same seller as a NOS Columbus-framed Tommasini much more similar to others I've seen (including mine):

http://web.telia.com/~u55802772/index.html (http://web.telia.com/%7Eu55802772/index.html)

Was the Oria-framed bike a lower-end bike in the Tommasini range? Or just different?

First of all, after selling my Sintesi and Tecnos last year, it is always fun to see a beautiful Tommasini. I did the Ragbrai for a couple of years on the Sintesi. As far as your links go, I noticed both go to a Columbus SL frameset. Could you double check this for us? By the way, nothing wrong with Oria. My son's Montagner is built from Oria and has a nice road feel, if a little on the heavy side.

First of all, after selling my Sintesi and Tecnos last year, it is always fun to see a beautiful Tommasini. I did the Ragbrai for a couple of years on the Sintesi. As far your links go, I noticed both go to a Columbus SL frameset. Could you double check this for us? By the way, nothing wrong with Oria. My son's Montagner is built from Oria and has a nice road feel, if a little on the heavy side.


Hi, thanks for pointing out the error. I've now corrected the link.

This is the frame I'm wondering about:

http://web.telia.com/~u55802775/default.html

From what I can tell, nothing wrong with the Oria tubing, but this frame has a lot less detail on it than the "Prestige" and "Super Prestige" models that I'm familiar with from the 80's.

Structurally, it certainly doesn't look like any Tommasini I have ever seen. It lacks the details as you noted, and although it is nicely finished, it's not in keeping with other Tommasinis that I am familiar with. I have heard Tommasini keeps strict control over their decals, but I'm sure some have slipped through the cracks. It's possible that this is not the genuine article.

That said, Tommasini has never been shy about experimenting with different tubesets, so it's entirely possible that they made a few frames using Oria tubing as an experiment. I would write to Tommasini with photographs and ask if they have a record of such a frame being built.

Wow, a beautiful frameset. If the price is right go for it. Would this be your primary ride, or a backup? I rode my son's Oria based Montagner on several 45+ mile rides last summer, and it rode well. His bike has a nice mix of Suntour Superbe Pro and GPX components. Again, not the lightest bike around, but weight is never the whole story. As far as lineage, the markings are missing the fine details on the Sintesi and the Tecnos, and I am not as familiar with the Super Prestige model. Try asking the folks at Tommasini directly, they have always been helpful to me.

Chesini used to make (maybe they still do) a model called the Olimpiade that used a olympic ring design. The fork with that Tommasini is from one of those.

Those bottom bracket lugs look exactly like the ones used on my 1989 Specialized Sirrus. Doesn't make one confident that it's a high-end frame.

But then again, there are the cutouts in the head tube lugs, and the generous chrome.

The frame, only, is Tommasini, and it was a low end - cheap - production of the late 70s bto early 80s named "Gara". The fork is not original.

you know even seeing this 'lesser' Tommasini ( thanks Tina for the confirmation) reminds me
that I've always wanted one. I always thought Tommasini was the cadillac of italian bikes, just
plusher and more 'bling' than any colnago or Pinarello ever were. I just may have to extend my
search for one to go with my Pogliaghi and the Dutch herd.

Marty

They are beautiful and they ride just as well! I was surprised how long it took to sell both of mine late last summer. The right person fell into them while our club was on an extended ride in Minnesota last year. He literally asked me if I was interested in selling my Sintesi and he ended up purchasing the Techno as well. Since then, one of his riding cronies purchased my RB-1 as well. By the way, a low end Tommasini is still a delight and should be admired. The Chesini fork on this bike is probably fine, and one could eventually find a replacement if that is the only issue.

The frame, only, is Tommasini, and it was a low end - cheap - production of the late 70s bto early 80s named "Gara". The fork is not original.

Thanks, Tina!

I have a Tommasini Prestige which I love, am always looking for another...this would be a nice frame to own if the price doesn't run up...

The ride of my Colnago Master Extra Light compares very nicely with my former Tommasinis. The Colnago turned into my long distance rider. It survived my great bike purge of 2008, while the Tommasinis did not.

Thanks, Tina!

I have a Tommasini Prestige which I love, am always looking for another...this would be a nice frame to own if the price doesn't run up...

no problem :) - you might think of getting a Tecno next, the prices just dropped because we changed how we sell in the USA...

no problem :) - you might think of getting a Tecno next, the prices just dropped because we changed how we sell in the USA...

The Techno and Sintesi look really sweet - I just stumbled on some pics in the past couple of days. Way nicer than the Oria-tubed bike that started this thread - they're lightyears apart in terms of workmanship. I've been on the lookout for an older pressed-lug Tommasini for some time - those are the ones to own, IMO, and they're very scarce. But if I was in the market for a contemporary steel lugged frame (which I am) and not going custom (which I am), I think a Tommasini would be on the pointy end of my peloton of choices.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv159/simplythrilled/DSCN9841.jpg

Would any Tommasini aficcianados like to hazard a guess for the era this frame came from? My wild guess is late 70's.

Would any Tommasini aficcianados like to hazard a guess for the era this frame came from? My wild guess is late 70's.

hmmm... can you post or email me better pictures? especially of the lugs/headtube/fork and dropouts. Then I can find out for you.

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv159/simplythrilled/DSCN9841.jpg

Would any Tommasini aficcianados like to hazard a guess for the era this frame came from? My wild guess is late 70's.

Word from the factory is that the bike is a Prestige Pista of the early 80s. :thumb:

The frame, only, is Tommasini, and it was a low end - cheap - production of the late 70s bto early 80s named "Gara". The fork is not original.

Just FYI - the frame closed at a price of $455; the same sellers has had some NOS Prestige frames that closed at around $550.