SJX426 

I realize the GDI and Pro are the top of the line for Bottecchia of the period we are discussing, but I am disappointed in the quality compared to Colnago, which isn't the best, not to mention later model De Rosa's and Pinarello's which are significantly better.

Brannigan

Actually, the frame -as someone mentioned previously- was not better finished. The component group was the difference... and I think decals.

crank_addict

Ha Robbie.... that ratty Bottecchia indeed has become one of my faves. I wouldn't consider it as 'da bike' but its now working so perfect, simplistic and the ride is crazy nice. Older Italian Vitt. tubulars, small flange, longer spoke... I don't really know why but its a beautiful rider including for off-road.

BTW: SJX426 has the same (in blue) like bibliobob's wife Elle has. Her bike looks really neat and believe all original. She can put the hammer down and ride that thing fast!
Hope she doesn't mind but here it is >

crank_addict

Welcome! And what a beautiful bike... gorgeous color. Is it original?

Brewsmith 

From what I have gathered, Bottecchia's of that era were similar in build specs to the high dollar brands, but they hit a lower price point by concerning themselves less with the aesthetic bits like polished, lugs, thick paint jobs etc. Personally, I kind of like the slightly rough look, as it is clear evidence that this frame was put together piece by piece by hand. Kind of like patina I guess, a flaw that adds to the appeal

I also have to agree with @crank_addict, that is a beautiful bike @FNS32! The outlining of the lugs is something I have never seen before, and that looks to be a cottered crank? Very interesting indeed![/COLOR]

Brannigan

Here's the frame chrome on mine right after wiping off the paint thinner. *Note detail on fork crown and headset.

FNS32

no it is not original, it was quite rough when I found it so I did a repaint

randyjawa 

I should qualify the statement I made. Generally, only lugs were polished. That said, some did come with the full chrome frame, and some without any paint covering it, although I have not seen a full chrome model in the flesh (so to speak).

devinfan

As for the saddle, I use Kiwi shoe polish on all my leather saddles, rub in, let dry and buff to a shine. Haven't had a stain yet even on light coloured pants. Try it and see!

SJX426 

I edited my post but it wouldn't execute. Here is the rest.

My 72 Motobecane Le Champion was representative of good quality of the period for a production model.

Those seat stay caps and the lug points are down-right ugly! But hey, it is what it is and represents what it is.

My seat cluster~[IMG]P1020442 ], on Flickr[/IMG

Brannigan

Do you happen to know then which models/years were fully chromed frames? Trying to pin the year/model of mine to a point of certainty. Thanks in advance.

randyjawa 

One would have to understand that full polished chrome was an option, just as blue or red were, for many models. That said, I have no idea which models or vintages were offered in full polished chrome. That said...

If you can, share a close up of painted areas that might show this feature, it might make it easier to make a more accurate call.

Brewsmith 

Just a quick progress update. Spent a few hours today doing some drillium work on the Nervar Star chain rings. Pretty happy with it for a first attempt, and I know that the next chainrings I do will come out even nicer with the proper tools. I think the countersink bit I used was too big and possibly a little dull which caused some skipping in the holes, and my pilot bit drifted a few times. What size and brand of countersink bit are others using for this kind of work?

Also toying with the idea of some pantographing on the crank arms. Thinking blue, red, black, yellow, green (to match the top of the bottecchia decals below), red, red, white, green, green (to match the bottom of the decals) or all black on the five arms on the star and possibly black in the recess in the center of the arms. Thoughts? Inspirational pictures? Thanks!

RobbieTunes

There's also a guy in the triangle setting up a laser engraving "service and support" center, which, outside of OSHA, would be a shop.

Brewsmith 

Very interesting, is it going to be a coop kind of thing where you can rent time to use the equipment, or a shop where he does the labor?

Force 

Cool bike. I saw it on craigslist and was interested. Seemed like a good deal and should turn out nicely.

juvela

and very fine looking it is too!

had this same model come through my workshop in the same colour, also an early seventies example.

its finish was fascinating.

it had experienced so much uv exposure that at first glance it appeared to be a completely silver bicycle. one was of course looking at the undercoat for the flambouyant finish. the only remaining red was on the underside of tubes and beneath the clamps.

was yours at all similar in its "as found" state?

thanks again for posting.

here is the factory catalogue page showing the Professional & Giro D'Italia models for 1973 -

cbutler

I prefer cloth tape over padded tape for better grip and appearance. On longer rides, I wear gloves for padding, wiping my tires when riding and protecting my hands while crashing. Thick tape just looks out of place to me. I thought you had electrical tape on the bars, or at best, glossy padded tape. Your existing leather tape with new matching saddle would be awesome. Alternatively, your existing Unicanitor would come back to life with some sort of bottled suede treatment. If the saddle is smooth leather, shoe polish works wonders.

FNS32

Heres mine "as found" no traces of any color
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rmfnla

Perhaps the ones I've seen were like CroMo Mike's because I don't remember ever seeing a Botteccia that was so poorly finished...

juvela

thanks very much for the response FNS32

perhpas a previous owner wished to fit extension brake levers, hence the change to the cherry(?) set. funny to see that vestige of the atalanta gomma boot for the pietra adjusting barrel hanging about.

i like that you selected a factory colour for the respray.

CroMo Mike 

Here are a few shots of my fork blade/dropout joint. The blades were blunt cut (not flattened) and slotted for the Campy dropouts, then filled with brazing material to form a concave surface. It was difficult to show it clearly in the pictures. Also attached a picture of a Bianchi for comparison.

rmfnla

Much cleaner than the other npics.

How do the rear DOs look?

CroMo Mike 

The rears look like SJX426's photo in post #21 - crimped flat enough to fit over the flat mating part of the Campy dropouts.