Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - mid-80's tommasini

hoping you guys can help me make a decision on this bike. I just saw it, and I'm on the fence:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/bik/1409900254.html

Super-record derailleurs, C-record cranks. Some sort of record headset and (supposedly) bottom bracket. Cinelli drops, some sort of campy seatpost. No saddle. Brakes feel a bit spongy compared to my '03 ultegra brakes, but I don't know if that's just normal for super record (this is my first foray into vintage kit). The rear brake felt a bit weird, with the rim considerably closer to one pad than the other. It wasn't immediately obvious if this could be easily adjusted. Wheels were phil wood hubs laced to mavic rims, seemed reasonably true. Nice hubs. Tires not usable. he's throwing in some beater wheels, new conti gatorskins, and a few extra freewheels.

He repainted the fork with rattle-can paint, a bit sloppily done. Says it's chrome underneath. Plenty of paint chips on the frame. No rust. T shaped cutouts on the lugs. Cables are kind of falling apart.

The tubes are rotted out and he said he didn't have time to get it rideable for me to test it, which put me off buying it. Seemed to shift fine when holding it up in the air. $650 firm

One thing you could do is flip all the extras he's including to lower your total purchase price. I usually do this instead of hording parts. I can't provide specifics on the frame.

yeah, I'd definitely do that for the beater wheels and the freewheels, maybe net $100 off the cost, then add a saddle for ~$30, and we're talking $650-$70=$580 for the rest.

Personally I love Tommasinis and the super record and phil hubs just increase the value to
me. Tommasinis don't show up all that often, Ebay completed auctions go from anywhere between
$500 to over $900 for complete bikes, none of those had the level of components the bike
you're looking at have.
The price is good, but remember you're going to have to sink some $ into it to get it on the road
again.
Me? I'd offer $550 and see what he says given the repairs it needs. if not, I'd buy it at $650

edit: and don't be surprized if Tina Tommasini posts in this thread!

Honestly....you should be in the car picking it up. $650 isnt a deal by any stretch but it is a fair deal for and end user.

seems like he's pretty set on getting the full $650, for which sum he's appears willing to include the thick layer of dust that he didn't bother to wipe off. My only concern is that since I have experience only with modern bikes, I'll buy something stupid and learn about vintage the hard way.

seems like he's pretty set on getting the full $650, for which sum he's appears willing to include the thick layer of dust that he didn't bother to wipe off. My only concern is that since I have experience only with modern bikes, I'll buy something stupid and learn about vintage the hard way.

That's probably the best way too learn :). Just don't go breaking anything and you have the whole C&V as a whole to assist!

That Tommasini is not anything Stupid.
Phil Hubs sell for a couple hundred the pair on ebay, laced to old
rims (and I'd bet tubular) won't hurt the price.

As stated we (C&V) will be happy to guide you through your clean up and maintenance.

marty

seems like he's pretty set on getting the full $650, for which sum he's appears willing to include the thick layer of dust that he didn't bother to wipe off. My only concern is that since I have experience only with modern bikes, I'll buy something stupid and learn about vintage the hard way.

I love thick layers of dust, it means it hasn't been messed with in ages so I know exactly where to start. I hope you got this, you saw what that Ciocc on eBay ended at, right?

I love thick layers of dust, it means it hasn't been messed with in ages so I know exactly where to start. I hope you got this, you saw what that Ciocc on eBay ended at, right?

yeah ~$775 for the frame on a full record/chorus bike he bought for $600. nice deal.

ok you guys convinced me, just talked to the dude and I'm picking it up later today


That Tommasini is not anything Stupid.
Phil Hubs sell for a couple hundred the pair on ebay, laced to old
rims (and I'd bet tubular) won't hurt the price.

As stated we (C&V) will be happy to guide you through your clean up and maintenance.

marty
they're clinchers, fortunately. I expect you'll be hearing from me with lots of noobish questions shortly.

For less than the price of a bottom end new road bike, you got a classic with high end components and extra stuff. Sounds pretty good to me.

Just pay the man the money. Unless there is some knock-out punch damage on the frame, you can't miss.
I've owned two, and they were beautiful bikes. Just make sure of the fit, mine did not.

I'm a cheap m'fckr. When I buy a bike I always ask myself if I can get my money out of it if I needed to round up some cash real quick.

As I mentioned earlier, $650 isnt deal but you could easily get your money back and then some if you parted it out.

I just looked at these pictures again. It really could be a special bike. You'll have a blast taking it apart, cleaning every last piece, replacing tires, brake pads, cables etc. The fork paint issue can be dealt with, and I agree, the folks here will help you get this bike on its feet. It looks like a perfect winter project.

Why is the fork white?

Why is the fork white?

he spray painted it. said the chrome was dull. I don't like that part. (He also said he stripped the paint off the fork crown, although I don't know what it is supposed to look like on an unpainted frame.) Structurally I could see no problems with it. The fork crown has the Tommasini T's on it, so it at least looks like it came with the frame.

That is an easy fix, just use some paint remover for furniture and you will be fine. I had a similar problem with a bike a few years ago and the stuff worked really well and the chrome was perfect underneath...and if it isn't fine you can buff it up fairly easily.

How does it ride?

Hi, just noticed this thread. I bought a Tommasini of similar vintage two years ago and really enjoyed fixing it up and it's a beauty to ride. Very good way to get hooked on the sport.

The original chrome Tommasini "Air" forks are lovely to look at.* If you can't rehab the one you have, you could like get it rechromed *or* just start searching eBay. I look at every Tommasini auction there is; I'd guess an original fork comes up every few months.

* See my avatar on the left.

edit: and don't be surprized if Tina Tommasini posts in this thread!

Tina apparently is no longer the U.S. distributor for Tommasini.

They sent an email out a few weeks ago saying they were shutting down the business. Their URL "ridetommasini.com" is now for sale; their Facebook page shut down, etc.

Then two weeks ago a press release came out saying Tommasini has a new U.S. distributor.

Brakes feel a bit spongy compared to my '03 ultegra brakes,

New (modern) brake pads will help.

he spray painted it. said the chrome was dull. I don't like that part. (He also said he stripped the paint off the fork crown, although I don't know what it is supposed to look like on an unpainted frame.) Structurally I could see no problems with it. The fork crown has the Tommasini T's on it, so it at least looks like it came with the frame.


My experience with older Italians is that the chroming wasnt very good. It certainly wasnt up to Schwinn or Peugeot standards.

some pictures posted here, any help identifying parts would be much appreciated: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=9837626#post9837626

came with a pair of extra wheels (sakae hubs w/ regina 7-speed cog, laced to mavic ma 2, wolber t430, camy skewers), an extra cinelli stem, chainring, and another extra cog with gearing for flats.