Classic & Vintage Bicycle Appraisals and Inquiries - 80's Bianchi, Can You Help ID?

Hello,

I think I got a deal on a 80's Bianchi Limited and was hoping to get a few answers as to year and value from all the gracious experts who frequent these forums. I know you all probably answer to many of these already, so please let me thank you in advance for any info you can provide me with. Here are some photos (taken by the seller, as I have yet to get it in my hands) and the info I have:

80's Bianchi Limited (Purpleish in Color)
Shimano 600 Components
Made In Italy
Columbus Steel
The Chrome Ring on the Right Front Shifter Allows to Switch From Indexed to Friction Shifting

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi1.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi2.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi3.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi4.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi5.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi6.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi7.jpg

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/HalfEmpty43/Bianchi8.jpg

Thanks again!

I'm going to beat the Pro's here to the punch and put my 1.5 cents in just to see how I do. I just finished rebuilding an all original Limited a couple of weeks ago, and by using this forum, was able to positively date it as an 85. The Shimano 600 EX group is model 6207. I'm guessing yours is 6208. If you look on the backside of the components, it will have a model stamp and 2 capital letters, that's the manufacturer's date code. Mine were all stamped HI, which translates to 83-Sept. Shimano's date coding is very simple. H-83, I-84, J-85, etc. The 2nd letter in my case I-Sep, J-Oct, etc. Because it takes some time for the parts to be shipped, I guessed the bike would be an 84. But, one of the Pro's here, with impeccable cred, placed it at 85. The 6207 was not indexed. I'm guessing that the 1st letter stamped on your components will be an I or J and the bike is either a 86 or 87. The Forum priced mine at about $275. Your's is very nice and has a more desirable group, so I'm going to say upwards of $300 as a selling price. Again, this is just my humble opinion.

Of course, I'm also using this as an excuse to post a pic of my bike.:)

just curious: did this come from a guy in the Richmond District? I ask cause he had one very much like this he was saving for his daughter to "grow into" and I bet she never did/will...I agree with the valuation, especially on the "Up" side since it's SF. ;)

OH! It's SF, in that case, "the sky's the limit."

This kinda looks like your bike, to give you an idea of the asking price in a similar market.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/1421726081.html

My esteemed colleague has both the model/year right and the price.
To obtain that bike for 300 is OK, Bianchis command a premium as does your market demographically speaking. So more wouldn't be bad.
Great color, almost top-flight componentry and unless you're under 5'9" or over 6' .5" a "correct" size.

Hello according to my '86 catalog that appears to be a '86 Metalic Violet. pretty bike.

Thanks for all the helpful info! As soon as I get it in my hands I'm going to find these codes and nail it down.

That's a beautiful bike you've got, btw.

No, it's not from San Francisco at all actually. A guy down in Santa Barbara received it in some sort of trade and didn't know what to do with it so he posted it on craigslist for $200!

Thanks for the info!

My girlfriend has an older Bianchi as well that looks to be a lighter purple, perhaps even a bit pinkish. Do you happen to know the name they used for that color?

it all depends on the model and year. post a good pic and I will do my best if it is between 81 and about '98

Hello according to my '86 catalog that appears to be a '86 Metalic Violet. pretty bike.

600EX indexing gives it away. Dura Ace was the first group to get indexing in '85, 600 was indexed for '86..

it all depends on the model and year. post a good pic and I will do my best if it is between 81 and about '98

Thanks Bianchigirl. Here are some photos:















Also, if anyone wants to help us out with identifying year and value on this, we'd also greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again for all the helpful replies!

Ryan

it's a Japanese Bianchi, interesting that it's clearly made from Tange while most of the JP Bianchis were Ishiwata. I'll let more expert voices chime in about year and value.

it's a Japanese Bianchi, interesting that it's clearly made from Tange while most of the JP Bianchis were Ishiwata. I'll let more expert voices chime in about year and value.

Is there a quality difference between the two?

not IMHO, this may be a later one and if there's any diff it might be that Bianchi shifted to another JP contractor to build them, and Tange was the tubing that this contractor had connections with.
The "more common" Ishiwata-tubed Bianchis are widely held to be an excellent value.
If you give us the serial number (and by "us" I mean T-Mar ;)) maybe he can decipher who the contract-builder was.

the rep told me once who built the orient bikies I can't remember. this cute little Orchid Sport SX is a '86. the shimano 'light action' and basic DiaCompe brakes. but it looks like someone put aero levers on it. I have the same frame on my '87 Sport SX but Bianch had Suntour A5000 on them. the '87 sold for 420

there's a chance it might have been Taiwan-built by that date, rather than Japan...but some of the Taiwanese factories were set up by Japanese firms as subsidiaries or contractors.
I'd guess Merida, but without a serial number it's purely a guess.

Merida!!! thats it. thanks unworthy, he mentioned that name at the show in '89.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me find out a little more info about a Bianchi Axis, celeste green serial no. H9A70571. It has a 68 bb, Tange superset tubing. The Bianchi decals are Grey with a blue stripe. thanks