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Italvega Superlight original

Old 07-01-13, 11:44 AM
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Italvega Superlight original

I have a Italvega Superlight that I bought from the original owner in 1980. I rode the bike for a few years prior to my back injury. After that it has mostly been in storage. It's time to find out what this bike is worth so that I can sell it and buy something that is easier on my back.

The bike is still as I bought it, full Campagnolo with one exception, the original purchaser had it equipped with Phil Wood hubs. Also, the original owner didn't like all the decals and removed most of them except for the decals on the down tube, headstock tube, and the "Designed by Corresini". The bike is in excellent condition, no dings, bends, scrapes, etc. The only marks are those caused by the chain. And they're not bad.

So what do you think? I can't seem to find any other similar Italvega's to compare this to.

Thanks for your help on this, Dave.
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Old 07-01-13, 07:05 PM
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Hi Dave,

That's a really, really beautiful bike. It's in great condition (shame about the decals), and the hubs are a nice substitute.

Unfortunately, Italvegas don't fetch the same amount as the more prestigious brands (though they may be just as nice). When it comes to collecting, nostalgia and brand cachet matter a lot. And, the frame size (on the big size) limits your audience.

If you're looking to eek out every available penny, you'll need to take it apart and sell it on Ebay. But, you're in a decent market, so you might do alright trying to sell it on your local Craigslist?

On CL, you might see $500-650 (those wheels help a lot), but you could probably gross in the neighborhood of $900-1200? Of course, by the time that you pay Ebay and Paypal fees, go through the hassle of packing and shipping, you might prefer to see if you can find a local sale....

Best of luck!

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Old 07-02-13, 09:00 AM
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Bob,

Thanks for the info. Although I would like to get as much as I can for this bike, it would pain me to part it out. I think I'll start with CL and see what kind of response I get.

Thanks again, Dave.
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Old 07-02-13, 11:00 AM
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Beautiful bike!! Thank god it is too big for me!!

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Old 07-02-13, 11:27 AM
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Beautiful bike! In California, I would hold out for $600 minimum.
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Old 07-02-13, 12:26 PM
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So here's a question. This has always been my dream bike. It rides so nicely, stiff, responsive, light. However, with my back issues reaching for the brakes or shifters is very uncomfortable for me. Would you ever consider putting different handle bars on it and changing out the shifters and brake levers to something more comfortable? In my mind that would be sacrilege. But, if I sold it I imagine that there's a good chance that the buyer would part it out. And I think that's even worse.

Dave.
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Old 07-02-13, 12:37 PM
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I understand your dilema.

If you really like the bike, (and why wouldn't you?) then for sure, you can change the bars and shifters on it, and for a fraction the price of a new bike. It might be the best thing you can do. I would also hate to see the bike parted out.

Have you tried riding it much the way it is? You might just get used to riding it again as is. You've been off a bike for years now, so even somebody without back problems might be sore after a ride or two, but you might just get used to her if you ride it steady for awhile. One thing you can do, is turn the bars up a little, or bring the brakes up on the bars some, in order to be able to ride the hoods a bit more easily. It would be more a upright position...
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Old 07-02-13, 01:18 PM
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You've owned the bike for a long time, and you have the right to change it in any way you want. In my opinion, a bike is meant to be ridden, so you should do whatever makes it more comfortable and enjoyable to ride. You should be easily able to put some more upright bars on the bike, with maybe bar-end shifters. You could do a retro thing with mustache bars and nice cloth tape, for example. If you decided to do something like that, I would advise keeping all the original parts together, somewhere clean and safe, and if and when you ever sell the bike, sell all the original parts along with it so that the next owner can put them back on if he/she wants to.
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Old 07-02-13, 02:17 PM
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I don't think it would be sacrilege to make the bike comfortable for you to ride. You can always put back to spec. Sounds like you will regret selling that bike.
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Old 07-08-13, 04:21 PM
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Ok, I found the original sales receipt. The bike was sold from Stan's Cyclery on Stevens Creek in Cupertino, Ca in September 1975. The receipt is kind of interesting in that the bike was sold as an Italvega Super Special with a Superlight frame. It was also sold without the wheels. They were provided by the customer. All for a total of $554.38. The only explanation I can think of for this frame switcheroo would be that the Superlight frame was laying around so they took the components off of the Super Special frame and installed them on the Superlight frame. Another possibility is that the original buyer didn't like all the drilled out components but wanted the Superlight frame. Any other ideas?

I've done a little more documentation of the bike to support a Cl add that I've just placed for the bike and I'm including that information here for completeness.

- Frame size: 63cm
- Derailers: Campagnolo Super Nuovo Record
- Chain wheel: Campagnolo (42/52)
- Cassette: Suntour winner: (13/16/18/21/24) (possibly replaced by original owner)
- Brakes: Campagnolo (side pull)
- Seat tube: Campagnolo
- Handlebar and Stem: 3ttt
- Wheels: Cinelli
- Hubs: Phil Woods
- frame geometry: (seat tube: 24 1/4", top tube: 23 1/4", down tube: 26", head tube: 6", seat stay: 22 1/2", chain stay: 17")
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Old 07-08-13, 05:40 PM
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I have neck issues. Added a tall Nitto stem and bar end shifters, it's not pretty, but it's more comfortable. Change the stem, or add some Road North bars and thumb shifters. Don't sell your bike.


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Old 07-09-13, 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by zdave
Ok, I found the original sales receipt. The bike was sold from Stan's Cyclery on Stevens Creek in Cupertino, Ca in September 1975. The receipt is kind of interesting in that the bike was sold as an Italvega Super Special with a Superlight frame. It was also sold without the wheels. They were provided by the customer. All for a total of $554.38. The only explanation I can think of for this frame switcheroo would be that the Superlight frame was laying around so they took the components off of the Super Special frame and installed them on the Superlight frame. Another possibility is that the original buyer didn't like all the drilled out components but wanted the Superlight frame. Any other ideas?

I've done a little more documentation of the bike to support a Cl add that I've just placed for the bike and I'm including that information here for completeness.

- Frame size: 63cm
- Derailers: Campagnolo Super Nuovo Record
- Chain wheel: Campagnolo (42/52)
- Cassette: Suntour winner: (13/16/18/21/24) (possibly replaced by original owner)
- Brakes: Campagnolo (side pull)
- Seat tube: Campagnolo
- Handlebar and Stem: 3ttt
- Wheels: Cinelli
- Hubs: Phil Woods
- frame geometry: (seat tube: 24 1/4", top tube: 23 1/4", down tube: 26", head tube: 6", seat stay: 22 1/2", chain stay: 17")
It might be that it is a Super Speciale. You say the PO removed all the markings from the TT. Is there a "shadow" of the removed decal that you can see that tells you it is a Superlight? The frame for the SS and the SL was the same in some years (IIRC). See page from Bulgier catalog site and read frame specs.

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Old 07-09-13, 11:08 AM
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You can always try raising the bars and at the same time bringing them closer. Most of my bikes have very upright position






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Old 07-12-13, 10:25 AM
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I seriously considered raising the handlebars, or even changing them out. However, the normal riding position is only a part of the problem. To make the bike really work for me, I would need to move the shifters up onto the handlebars. Unfortunately, this would require me to change out the entire drive train. Something I'm not willing to do. I've decided to sell the bike. Hopefully to someone that wants it for what it is and not to part it out. So I've put it on CL for a price that should pretty well exclude that. I.e. if someone's going to part it out, it will be me. But I'm going for the complete sale first. Once that's done, I will buy a really comfortable bike like a Trek FX 7.5 or Cannondale Quick SL 2 or SL 3.

Thanks for all the input. If you're interested in the bike, check CL in the SF Bay Area.

Dave.
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Old 07-12-13, 10:58 AM
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Lots of ways to move shifters that do not require drivetrain replacement. The cheapest option is stem shifters, not the classiest choice, but very functional Then there are a myriad of bar mounted thumb shifters.

For a little more, bar end shifters are also an option, still no drivetrain replacement needed.

Or you have the integrated shifters, STI, which tends to be relatively costly for sure.

Now in the end, if you really just prefer a hybrid, then selling this bike and buying a used hybrid makes a lot of sense. Used hybrids tend to go cheap, so you will probably end up with quite a bit of $$ in the switch.
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Old 07-30-13, 02:21 PM
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I've been working with a local person that is very interested in my bike and wants to work a trade for a 2007 Bianchi Axis that he has. He's setting it up with straight handle bars and the correct shifters. I've ridden the bike and it fits me well and rides very nicely, and it light. The original forks had to be replaced and it's now fitted with Bontrager carbon fiber forks. The reason I'm posting to get some opinions. Do you think that this is a fair trade? If I don't go with the trade I'm looking at either a Cannondale Quick SL2 or SL3, or a Trek 7.5 FX. And I'd probably have to part out the Italvega.
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