Bianchigirll 

OK we all know, or at least most of should, that up until the very late '90s it is not uncommon for bike manufacturers to use mixed components to make a price point right? However it seems tonnes of bike posted here for some reason automatically get labeled as "Frankenbikes" if every part from the seat post to headset to skewers to the cranks bolts are not all Campagnolo Super Record or Shipmano 600 EX, etc.

What gives? I have seen great looking Bassos, Pinarellos and even Bianchis that came with Campagranola F&R derailleurs and shifters but say Ofmega crank and hubs, Modolo brakes and SR post from the factory labeled as Frankenbikes what gives?

I could understand giving a bike such a name if say the chrome fork on a Bennoto was replaced with the painted fork of a Moser and hybrid bars. But why disparage bike built with mixed kit to make a price point? Think about up until the late '80s how many road bike models could a manufacturer make if all the components had to come from the same group? 4 maybe from Campagnola? Maybe 5 from shipmano? what would that start at? $500 for 'entry level'?

Don't a lot of manufacturers still do it today? Cannondale with their Coda parts, Bianchi with some brakes and hubs, I think even Specialized does it.

So what really is a Frankenbike and why do bike undeservedly get labeled as such?

Oh right what of frame up builds? we all know someone who scrimped and saved to buy that fancy Italian frame then had to build it with spare and hand me down kit does that bike get labeled as a frankenbike too?


BTW this is the bike that brought on the tirade. I am not expert on late '80s Univegas but I suspect except for the RD and maybe the shifters this bike is pretty much stock. So what aside from an upgraded or replaced RD makes it a frankenbike??

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/4986185681.html

phenry24 

I only consider a bicycle to be a Frankenbike if it's painted green and has two hex bolts coming out of the headset. Maybe some flexy hi-ten tubing that groans with each pedal stroke too.

But on a serious side, I don't really see the issue with upgrading drivetrain parts on bikes that are far from being collectors items. If it helps keep the bike on the road, I'd call it an improvement. Then again most of the bikes on this board are older than me so I won't argue about not understanding the "classic" part of "classic & vintage".

wrk101

Agree Frankenbike is a little strong, and at this price point, people are looking for recreational level/good rider bikes. This is not some highly sought after, rare collectible.

I have sold quite a few bikes in the $200 to $300 price range, and no one cared if the parts were original or not. I sold two Frankenbikes last night, Paramount Series 5, other than the frameset, nothing original. But I think the Cinelli bars and stem, mostly tricolor 6400 STI, and the remainder of the bike was Ultra 6500. IMHO, upgrades were a major step over the original parts. I sold it as an upgraded bike to my personal tastes. It was a keeper, which I have too many of right now, so it moved to a new home. I also sold my Tomassini Competition, upgraded to a mix of DA 7400 STI and tricolor.

clubman 

Spot on BG. I purchased a new 93 C-dale T-1000 from the largest distributor in Canada and it sported many parts contrary to the companies documentation. Future buyers and purists won't know the bike's original...voila, Frankenbike!

Most of my bikes wear my mods and that's what makes it all fun. Build a bike and it's got a bit of you in it.

tyler_fred

"Dr Frankenstein..."

"No, it's pronounced Fronkensteen."

RobbieTunes

I gather you think the term is over-used.



Me too.

Then again, remember what Young Frankenstein was known for........
whinny
whinny
stomp

horatio 

+1

oddjob2

I think there are some posers here trying to show they're a knowledgeable insider by slinging buzzwords around. It happens in business speak as well and is such a turnoff.

The 12 Most Overused Business Buzzwords

At this year's auto introductions, over used terms include:

Advanced technology
Sustainable
Enchanced customer experience
Brand focus
Luxury

bikemig 

The term is kind of silly for a lot of pre-indexing bikes. It was pretty rare to spec all the parts from one manufacturer and that was typically at the high end.

crank_addict

Today I decided to air up the tubulars and take this for a ride. To the purist, there's enough wrong in it in every catagory and its been called a Frankenbike. Regardless, there's Italian, English, French and even Japanese parts on it but nothing from Switzerland or Germany. So there.

Back when, if a part broke or if one felt the need to upgrade, it didn't matter that much to switch brand or replace even if older.
This old Bot gives blood too. I stole the toe clip straps and Campy skewers to use on my Motobecane. haha

My definition of a Frankenbike would be like those 26" wheel mountain bikes converted to 700c, road drop bars and some bizzaro stem. I like some of those too.

Sincerely,
Frank N. Stein

musicdiver

Hmm, yeah, having a couple components that don't match/aren't part of a complete set, especially when they're roughly period correct anywya, doesn't really say 'franken' to me. Rather, I think the bikes featured on r/FrankenBike hit closer to what I'd consider (sometimes quite nice) 'monstrous' mix and match deals.

jimmuller 

My Raleigh has Shimano shifters and Suntour derailleurs. It seems to work however. If anybody calls it a Frankenbike I'll thump 'em!

Henry III

I never used let alone heard the term until a few days ago from this forum.

embankmentlb

In fairness, there are those groups that should stay as a groups, Campy record groups, Dura-ace / 600 , Superbe , Zeus ,etc.

Others seem to mix and match better, Campy 980, Ofmega , Simplex , Sugino , Suntour Cyclone , Avocet , Gran Compe, Modolo , etc.

It's all what makes u happy, but those are my so-called rules.

CliffordK

I don't use that term much. Over the life cycle of a bike, it can receive a few updates.
Some people may be sticklers for "originality" of a C&V, but the true originals are those that have gotten stuck hanging in a garage for 30+ years.
One might argue that a bike assembled from parts from all NOS parts is a "Fankenbike".

What if my Colnago came with sewups... years ago. Which I rode for many years, but eventually changed out for clinchers?

Now, for "Fankenbikes"...
My Steyer Clubman/Mongoose Massif hybrid certainly would fit into the Frankenbike category. So I don't repeat all the photos too many times, here are some build photos.
Steyr Clubman / Mongoose Massif Custom Hybrid Cargo Bike | Rat Rod Bikes
So much of a Frankenbike that people open a path in front of me like Moses and the Red Sea.

My Litespeed from the Velo Chepo Contest also might be considered as a Frankenbike.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...-favorite.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129722...7648562611983/

This would fall into the Franken category due to a 26"-->700c conversion, Cantis--> center pull rear, side pull front, plus a Litespeed frame and Schwinn fork. Mismatched cranks??? And, it was a scratch assembly with the only "original" parts being the main frame, seat post, seat, front derailleur, and the 3 black sections of cable housing. The shifters, front derailleur, and rear derailleur are 3 different brands, and represent multiple speed options.

Lascauxcaveman 

i agree.

But still, I'm going to start calling Bianchi Girl "Frau Blücher" just to piss her off [h=1][/h]

Jeff Wills

Thumbs up!

lostarchitect 

People get worked up about some weird stuff 'round here.

randyjawa 

Frankenstein was a creature assembled from an assortment of appropriate, and perhaps, inappropriate parts that worked. Not pretty to look at, and worked might be a strong word, but you get the drift.

A Frankenbike to me is exactly that. A bicycle, assembled from an assortment of appropriate, and perhaps, inappropriate parts, but the bike does work.

So, if that is any kind of definition, I hate admit it but just about all of my bikes have been/or still are Frankenbikes...

Oh boy, there goes my day!!!

However, there is a real world out there, and I am one of the people who lives out there (this is an N+1 arguement, in case anyone is interested). With that in mind, a fellow forum member, and recently met friend, shared a phrase with me that might shed a touch of favorable light on the Frankenbike thing...

He, and I, build our bikes "period and price point" correct. Put another way, if we can't afford the absolute correct component...



We use something else. Look at my Legnano, one of my all time favorite bicycles...



It is not original. Far from it! But it looks good (my opinion) and it is fun to ride. It did not costalotta! Corsa not, cause I no gotta a lotta moola.

To me and my friend, that old Legnano is "period and price point" correct - for now.

For now? Yup, because when the next component, that I find for the bike, meets the "period and price point" qualification, I buy it and then add it to the Legnano. After that, I start looking for the next, you know what...

Yup, period and price point correct component, that I can actually afford.

YouthxCrew

Most of my bikes are frankenbikes, one is one by way of coming to me with a lot of replacement parts that it's hard for me to get the original parts for (cheapo mismatched Huret derailleurs in place of Jubilees, SR stem, cheapo modern replacement rear wheel, Shimano downtube shifters) It ridea great and most prople can't tell the random Japanese parts form afar, though it does bug me.

Two are like that on purpose. They both have components that predate the frames by 3-5 years and you can tell stylistically, but I have reasons. One bike is Japanese equivalents to Campy NR and the other is being built with Japanese equivalents to Campy SR (except for the pedals, they're Miche) That sort of Frankenbuild I like.

CliffordK

Calling something a "Frankenbike" then would depend on your definition.

One could say that buy buying a "donor bike", and moving all the parts from the donor to a new recipient frame would be creating a Frankenbike, no matter whether the parts are 100% period correct.

However...
Taking a 1960's bike, and buying 100% new production parts, making a bike that is not period correct would not necessarily meet the "Franken" definition because it is merely updating, and not taking "body parts" from a donor.

verktyg 

BG,

My 1981 Bianchi Campione Del Mondo came from the factory as a "frankenbike" (bastardo in Italian)...

These were bikes were originally designed for a Belgian amateur team (per Bianchi literature).



The components included Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs and pedals, Gran Sport brakes with Super Record levers, Gran Sport cranks and headset plus a Bianchi panto Nuovo Record seatpost. The hubs were small flange Nuovo Tipo or Gran Sport.

If I buy a high quality bike or partial frame that came with a certain level gruppo (Campy NR or SR, Spidel, Shimano 600, Ultegra etc. or Suntour Superbe) then I'll usually keep it all original.

I've acquired most of my bikes as bare frames. They tend to be mid to high mid range models. I've built them up with components that I had on hand or ones that I preferred, especially bikes that I want to ride not look at.

Some of my frankenbikes (cover your eyes if you're squeamish):












verktyg

Chas.

72Paramount

Here is my 1974 raleigh pro frankenbike. The brake hoods are cane creek. I spent 14 dollars instead of 70. And you know what? They are fine.

OldsCOOL

As a classic/vintage Trek (racers) lover, it seems most Trek racers were Frankies. When I acquired this 760 it was not a surprise to see nothing lining up with the brochures, yet it has parts from a previous year and model. As a Trek lover I have come to embrace the thought, "if you live by the brochure, you die by the brochure".

SJX426 

As presented by many of you, it appears to be a definition issue more than not. I really don't have one so I watch what is said and try to understand how the term is applied. Now that it has its own thread, I have settled on my own definition. Any modification to the frame set (frame and fork) is a Frankenbike.

A '"drewed" bike is a Franken bike to me. I bought one unknowingly (poor attention to detail in the dark). It was rattle canned so I stripped it and will paint it this summer, I hope. In the mean time, the frame was modified by brazing on not only the eyelets that were removed (part of the DO casting) but added bosses on the seat stays and STI cable stops on the DT. It was already modified with additional bottle cage mounts. So many of you are tired of see this picture but it demonstrates that not only is the frame set modified but the parts are at least 10 years older than the frame set. The exception is the HS and BB. Parts on a frame set are like clothing. I don't wear period correct clothing for my age, mostly because I outgrew diapers and tricycles!

[IMG]108_PaTrek by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]

Your might consider restoration as a part of Frankenbike definition but unless it is a different color and/or decals, I wouldn't.

BTW: 1984 Trek 610 I call the PaTREK instead of Frank!