Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Bianchi Campione d'Italia 1984???

I just picked this up this Bianchi at a bike swap and still need to clean it and look it over better. I'd like to know if anyone can tell me more about it, if it is indeed a Campione d'Italia 1984 or some other model with that decal slapped on it. I've seen the "Specialissima" chainstay decal on other models that weren't Campione d'Italia's so I'm a little confused. I'd also like to know if this is just another average Bianchi that I can use as a commuter, or if I should give more care and thought to it.

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Outstanding.

I am clueless about their models, but I'd ride that pretty bike any old day.

.....and I would take care to keep her that nice.

I love that bike. If I had it, I'd never get rid of it.

It's a very nice frame: I'd take care of it.
As to the decaling, I'm not a Bianchi expert by any means, but I've seen this before, and my sense is that "Specialissima" is in reference to the frame, designating it of very high quality, while the "Campione d'Italia" is in reference to the complete bike, which is not at the very top of the lineup by virtue of it's high-mid level of componentry.
Overall, it's a very nice package.

FABULOUS!!! what a beautiful Bianchi. except for the wheels, it seems you do indeed have a fabulous example of a '84 Campion de Italia. the model was alot higher in the pecking order that year with only the Tipo Corse and Super Leggera above it. the GS cranks with SR rings was stock on tha model.

Beautiful!

PS that bottle cage may be the one that actually came on it.

Thanks for the confirmation. It appears to me that the hubs are original and that the rims are not. Any suggestions as to what rims I should consider lacing on to these hubs?

Thanks for the confirmation. It appears to me that the hubs are original and that the rims are not. Any suggestions as to what rims I should consider lacing on to these hubs?

I would like to put a nice set of clincher rims on this bike, any thoughts as to which vintage rim I should consider or should I just lace up modern rims to my Record hubs?

Thanks for the confirmation. It appears to me that the hubs are original and that the rims are not. Any suggestions as to what rims I should consider lacing on to these hubs?

OEM rims were tubular (Mavic Montherly) which is probably the reason for the change. Period correct, 700c, clincher rims would be Mavic Module E. Hubs are probably replacements too, with the original apec being Gran Sport/Nuovo Tipo.

Anything shiny and silver. the Sun CR18 are a decent buy although not super vintage looking with the centerridge.

Outstanding.

I am clueless about their models, but I'd ride that pretty bike any old day.

.....and I would take care to keep her that nice.

I have the same bianchi specialissima, I purchase it secon hand in 1984 in voghera Italy for lira 800.000
I will take it to a race sunday 04 march in singapore

great feeling

cheers

Mario

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I have the same bianchi specialissima, I purchase it secon hand in 1984 in voghera Italy for lira 800.000
I will take it to a race sunday 04 march in singapore

great feeling

cheers

Mario

bianchi specialissima ! probably te only one in singapore

I have never seen a Bianchi Champion d'Italia with Campagnolo drops, nor a chrome plated fork crown. My guess would be a better model but I am, certainly, not a Bianchi expert.

I have never seen a Bianchi Champion d'Italia with Campagnolo drops, nor a chrome plated fork crown. My guess would be a better model but I am, certainly, not a Bianchi expert.
I wish I was an expert too, all I know is that I love my bike. I'm fairly certain it is a Campione de Italia, but there are a few items like you mentioned that make me wonder if I have something even nicer on my hands. Either way, I have been thrilled with the bike.

The CdI was a bit higher n pecking order back in '83/84.

I just looked this one up again and yes the CdI had chrome stay caps and stays in '84 although the catalog does not say what kind of dropouts were used just that it is a TreTubi frame (that is normally SL main and Alle stays?) and an Alle fork.

I have the same bianchi specialissima, I purchase it secon hand in 1984 in voghera Italy for lira 800.000
I will take it to a race sunday 04 march in singapore

great feeling

cheers

Mario

This one looks like maybe it is a step up from the OPs bike perhaps a Super Leggera but I do not know how the Italian markets bikes were set up/
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=236753&d=1328806000


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Personaly i would hang it above my fire place. That bike is beautiful. Keep it mint

It's a good rider, but not anything super special. Tretubi is essentially SL (good quality racing tubing) in the main tubes and "unspecified" tubing in the rear triangle. This is a sensible money saver, IMO, as the tubing in the rear triangle isn't as important, but it does add a bit of weight.

Likewise, the Campy Gran Sport stuff is okay functionally (though not great compared to any slant parallelogram derailleur) and looks nice enough (though not finished as nicely as Nuovo/Super Record). I really disliked Modolo brakes when I was racing, as they didn't stop very well and had a wooden feel with high lever effort. The anatomic hoods were very comfortable, though.

I've had a lot of Bianchis with the "Specialisima" sticker. It doesn't seem to mean anything. At one point I had three separate bikes of various quality (from medium to best) that all had the same decal on the chainstay. So there's no reason to doubt that it's a Campione D'Italia - although I did have the same model from '87 with Gipiemme dropouts; yours is nicer.

If it were mine I'd take semi-care with it. It's fine as a commuter, unless you're chaining it to a tree downtown, and you don't need to treat it as though it's some kind of a museum piece. But you don't want to leave it out on your porch all winter either.

HTH...

^ I hope that's a joke. Are you referring to the OP's bike? Because the pictures clearly show nuovo record derailleurs, and has been kept in great condition. That bike is not fine as a commuter - it's a mid-top quality mid eighties celeste Bianchi for cripes sake. Very nice bike.

And the reason one can't commute on mid-range 80s Bianchis is...?

Well, OK, you certainly can commute on that bike, so long as you could keep a close eye on the thing while at work. I still don't think it's a good idea, as that's a beautiful bike, and probably not best as a daily rider. But, I guess that depends on the type of commute - for a typical rider's commute, I think the benefit of a commuter is not having to worry about condition.

Well, it's nice enough for what it is, but I still can't see getting very excited over it. I wouldn't commute on a pristine 80s Super Record, or something rare like a 40s Bianchi Sport, but you know, mid-80s Tretubi Bianchis aren't exactly setting the collector's world on fire.

I guess maybe it depends on your definition of "commute". If the OP is riding it through Boston winters and chaining it to a bus stop, then no, it's not a commuter bike. But if he's commuting to his bike shop job in Southern California (I know a guy who does that on his $11,000 carbon race bike) then there's no reason not to ride his Bianchi.

I live in Park City, Utah and only plan on riding this bike on the nicest of days in the summer when the mood strikes me. Even then, I will only be riding it on flat back roads to and from my office which is only 5 miles from my house. I have a nice closet in my office and will store the bike there while at work; though I am not really concerned about it riding off as $5-$8,000 carbon bikes are everywhere here. Bottom line, if I am on that bike, I am having a fantastic day. I will baby it, it is in my nature to take extreme care of the things I own and I have it on display at all times inside my house. It currently is mounted on the wall of my man cave, but my wife has insisted that it would look nice over the fireplace as well.