tamatrick

Hello, I am newcomer here and on the way to find my first vintage bike. I've been reading a lot of topics here but this is my first post to ask for some help.

Well, I jump into the topic now. I live in Finland and have a chance to get a 'Paolo Bassan SLX' bike for 400Eur with following features:
- It has Dura Ace derailleurs (front and rear), but the brake and brake levers are Shimano 105.
- The frame and fork are Columbus SLX (information from the decals on the seat tube and fork).
- Cinelli sterm and handle bar.
- Having Paolo Bassan pantograph on the fork.
- Internal brake cable route in the top tube.

I've done some research but still haven't found much information about this bike. Could anyone help any information about this bike?
And is 400Eur a good price for such bike?
Thank you in advance for all the help.

(I include some pictures from the owner)

exxongraftek

+1

Chombi

Sounds like a good deal if it is indeed an SLX frame. The not so familiar brand name helps to keep the price reasonable on this bike anyway...
Just make sure there are no surprises being hidden.....like what is that black tape (electrical tape?) Doing on the top tube, neat the seatpost lug??
I also noticed the seemingly very steep head tube angle in the bike.....which might mean that some could find the handling on it to possibly be a bit twitchy/nervous. Some riders like that, but some prefer a more "relaxed" handling bike, so make sure that a quick handling bike is what you are looking for....

tamatrick

Thank you for the rely!

I came to check the bike directly. Those black electric tape are just used to prevent scratching on the paint, since the owner used to put a pump at that position. The frame and paint looks good without considerable 'deffects'.

It's true that the head tube is a bit steep. I didn't get a chance for test ride yet, so I don't know how it feet. But thanks for good point. I will check the handling if I decide to go for it.

Actually I am now between this bike and the Bianchi Rekord 905 with 105-series group set, Columbus CroMo. Both are more or less at the same price, but the Bianchi fits me better. So I am more into the Bianchi. Do you have any experience on this Bianchi?

venntim

You're right, the head angle is pretty steep and I suspect the geometry has been tweaked with criteriums in mind. There is also only one bottle cage mount. But having said that, I've ridden Eroica with relative ease on this bike.

As tamatrick said, electrical tape is there only to protect the paint from the pump.

T-Mar

The Bassan is probably circa 1984-1985 as it lacks a pump peg and 2nd set of bottle bosses which became typical on high end frames shortly after debut of SLX. This is further corroborated by the presence of the Shimano New 105 SLR brakeset, which came out in 1987 and was a popular upgrade on Dura-Ace equipped bicycles due to the lighter feel and better modulation.

Ideally, the better fitting bicycle should be the front runner, however the Bianchi would typically be substantially cheaper than the Bassan, assuming they are from the same era, as 105 was two steps down from Dura-Ace and was typically found on lower mid-range models. The European models do not align with those offered in America, so we'd really need to know which Columbus tubeset and which 105 group (i.e. 105, New 105, 105SC, etc.) in order to make a fair comparison. If you don't know, we can probably identify them from photographs.

venntim

Those brake levers are not original – the bike had Dura Ace levers, don't remember the number, perhaps 7402, which were not allowed in Eroica. So I changed them to 105 levers I happened to have. Not sure if the DA's were original either, probably not. So it's my bike were discussing... And still for sale, although i'm beginning to have second thoughts.

tamatrick

Hi T-Mar, it would be great if you can help identify the parts and make some comparison. According to the owner information, the Bianchi is 1898 Rekord 905 model (The seller is 1st owner of the bike, he still keeps all Bianchi manual, documents, receipts when he bought it in Austria in 1989. Looks like his collection). Tube set is Columbus Cro-Mo, so I think it is in lower rank to the SLX. The bike has full Shimano groupset, from hub, headset ... to derailleurs, pedals, cranks .... I think the groupset number is 1051, because they are 7-speeds and dark anodized as shown in this velobase link:VeloBase.com - View Group

I also have some photos from the owner as well. Thanks

DMC707

per the pics, the seat is set lower and the bars higher on the Bianchi -- if both bikes were adjusted similarly, the fit issue may be nonw existant

the Paolo Bassan is a nicer machine aesthetically, but if you tried both with equivalent seat and bar heights and the Bianchi still feels better, Then proper fit trumps almost everything else

tamatrick

Thank you for the advice. Then proper fit is always 1st priority

T-Mar

The Bianchi has Shimano New 105, which places it 1987-1989 but seven speed would make it 1989. In America the New 105 models typically came with Bianchi Formula II tubing, which appears to be equivalent to Columus Cromor. Basically, the Bianchi is mid-range model with (most) components and tubing that are a couple steps below the Bassan. It should be notably cheaper than the Bassan. My major concern right now, is the discrepancy in size. The Bianchi appears to be about 2 cm smaller, so go with the best fit and negotiate price, if necessary.