Michael Shaw

See the pictures: I picked this up this morning at a garage sale and cannot find anything very useful about this type of bike on the internet. Any info about Aquila bikes and possible value appreciated.

It is a hideous pink & green Aquila Tri-bike with a 23-inch frame and COMPLETE Shimano group:

Shimano 600 Brake levers
Shimano 105 front hub
Shimano 105 front calliper
Shimano 105 rear hub
Shimano 105 light action SIS gear selection levers
Shimano 105 rear calliper
Shimano 105 head bearings
Shimano 105 crank arms
Ambrosio Elite 700 X 25C Rims


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6625.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6626.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6627.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6628.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6629.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6630.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6631.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6632.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6633.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6634.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6635.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6636.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4370787/100_6637.JPG

wrk101

Can't find on the internet = private label, store brand. Note, by the 1980s, many of the store branded bikes were quite nice, but they do not get the response from the market as do similar recognizable brands.

thinktubes 

Classic Tri-setup!!! Aero bars are so high the rider would look like a brick to the wind. I'm amused...

I remember the brand back in the day mid-rangish, aimed at recreational riders.

JPZ66

And from the look of that setup and how clean it appears, I'm sure the PO was "much faster" back in the day....


Joe

FastJake

Tri setup is a turnoff to me, but I'm not into that stuff. Maybe it would get a good response with those bars.

But honestly, that has to be the ugliest factory paint I've ever seen. I'd probably part it out and spray bomb the frame and use it as a commuter. Or leave it as-is knowing no one would ever steal it..

Value? I would say $150-200 but that's based on my assumption that the tri setup is a minus and that horrible paint job!

Michael Shaw

OK, OK, OK..... I am forced to concur. Maybe I'll offer it to a neighbour to use as a winter trainer. If he uses it in the dark it won't scare his dog.

I get it. Even with the Shimano 105 parts on it, this bike is an ugly ducking. Perhaps I'll just strip it for parts & toss it. However, there appears (evident from my last visit to Toronto) that there are some riders who seriously compete to see who can ride the ugliest bike. This could be a contender....

Thanks to all who chimed in.

I will say this for it : It is virtually theft-proof, even in Toronto. I'll save on locks and cables !!

Mike

Bianchigirll 

SOLD!!! where do I send the check!

That thing is funky as all get out! I could really get my groove on with this thing.

Michael Shaw

BG: Funky indeed !! I'll have to ride it to see how truly bad it is.

The little label on the chain stay says "Racer Sportif".

I found that they are one of the local bike shops in Toronto and they flog Colnago, Scott, Ridley, Merlin, Pinarello, Cinelli, Bianchi, Aquila and others. They sell bare frames and complete bikes, and they still have Aquila bikes for sale. I just sent them an email to find out the age and nationality of the frame.

This beast was possibly not one of their better offerings, but still a great garage sale find, at less than the price of a case of beer and a large pizza (no anchovies).

Mike

SteveSGP

Just one quick point, It is entirely possible that someone installed the aero bars for comfort.

My wife has aero bars on her bike simply because it gives her a riding position that takes the weight off her hands and wrists when she needs to.

thinktubes 

Excellent point FordSVTparts. Probably not a tri-specific model. A normal stem and dropbars would put this bike back to "normal".

The current bars setup is straight out of Rube Goldberg.

Michael Shaw

I'm thinking along those same lines... Normal for this bike would still be ugly but it would have universal appeal.

If I take the triathlon junk off it & put normal drop bars on it, I could possibly flog the Tri-ath stuff for as much for that stuff as I paid for the bike, and then put on an alloy stem and some normal drop bars. It has a 23-inch frame and would make a decent beater bike, with the Shimano 105 stuff on it.

Weighs very little and without the tri-ath stuff it would likely float away.

4Rings6Stars

Don't undervalue it just because YOU don't like it. I'm sure somebody else will go wild for it. I would suggest ditching the try setup in favor of traditional drops or maybe just reposition the bullhorns that are on there and listing it for a couple hundred bucks. Or convert it to a single speed and keep the decent Shimano parts for something else.

My bet, a hipster would love to turn this into a ss flat bar bike with some wacky colored deep rims.

Michael Shaw

Hey ! I liked it enough to actually pay money for it !

Thank the gods for hipsters. With a normalised setup the bike will be somebodies pride & joy but I would not sell it to anyone who would strip off the Shimano 105 stuff and turn it into a fixie or single-speed bike.

I may ride it myself if it feels right. I have an old Peugeot with a 105 group on it and like it very much.

Mike

shadoman

I'd buy that in a heartbeat ! Great 80's paint scheme, decent hardware. I'd have those tribars on CL within 5 minutes tho.

bobotech

I would ride that in a heartbeat except I would change out the front bars for normal drops and either brifters or bar ends. I think it would be killer seeing a 380 pound clyde (me) riding around on a mint green/pink road bike.

wrk101

That color is a time capsule, represents that era well. I have learned to start appreciating such unusual paint schemes. From a sale standpoint, either clean up and sell as is, or use as a donor bike if you have a more recognizable brand frameset around in good shape. I tend to hold onto decent frames for just this purpose.

oddjob2

If you appreciate psychadellic paint schemes, wait until you see my day glo orange and bright yellow Gary Fisher Hoo Koo e Koo!

jet sanchEz

It is the house brand for Racer Sportif on Bloor Street in Toronto. With some proper bars, you could get an easy $300 for it in Toronto, it looks to be in excellent shape.