cudak888 

Gone is that ugly Modolo stem and the Speedy bars, in with a nice ITM stem and unmarked replacement bars (and some NOS Vetta vinyl bar tape!):







Better photos to come tomorrow.

And if anyone wants to see a chain on this Basso, dig through your piles and see if you have about 10 links of the old, big, bulged-plate Shimano UG chain on hand. A brand new box of it would be even better.

Take care,

-Kurt

Wino Ryder

Thats a nice lugged steel Basso man. Looks like maybe early 80's.

cudak888 

'87. Just wish it was an inch taller though. I have another D'Arenzo-badged Basso (an '85) that is my size, but it needs to have the entire main triangle replaced. Figure I'll try my hand at framebuilding on this one - that is, IF I can find the tubing and two lugs I need at a decent price...

Take care,

-Kurt

pastorbobnlnh 

Looks fast, very fast, if it only had a chain!

cudak888 

It is fast, but the worn Sedis chain it had on it was slowing it down too much . It was litterally grinding on the chainrings, to give you an idea of how worn the old chain is.

Well, if anyone is looking to unload their Shimano UG bulged-plate chain (or just 10 links of the Dura-Ace or shined silver version), just let me know, for that is what I wish to use on this machine.

It is also getting a replacement Shimano 600 freewheel - the one on it is worn equally with the chain.

Take care,

-Kurt

cudak888 

Did you say something about chain, Bob?

Just got my NOS UG chain in the mail today. The replacement 600 freewheel came a day before.

Haven't tested it out. Wish me luck, and pray to the Lord for me that the chain won't skip - with my luck when it comes to chains and freewheels, I'll need that luck.

Take care,

-Kurt

intron

where did you find a chain? ive been thinking of replacing the chain on my miyata, it has a UG chain and 600ex freewheel, like yours

cudak888 

Where else? Fleabay. Incedentally, this wide 6-speed chain does an excellent job of eliminating the chain-skating over the small ring (during front derailer downshifts) on the Campagnolo crankset. The extra 2mm width of the UG chain (in comparison with the Sedisport) does the trick.

I am also pleased to report that the chain and freewheel work flawlessly together. I took it out on her first test ride after the addition of the new handlebar and drivetrain components.

I haven't had that much fun in a long time. The test ride ended up lasting over an hour long, in muggy after-rainshower weather to boot. Both the bike and I became wet as dishrags - something I'd ordinarly be furious about, but I was enjoying myself far too much to care. Even had a cager smile as they passed me - apparently, they appriciated my hand signals.

Here are some photos - you'll be glad to know that I've wiped and oiled her since, and used a computer gas duster to get the water out of the freewheel and chain.





Also see the two uploaded photos below.

Take care,

-Kurt

Mariner Fan

Great looking bike Cudak. I love looking at white bar tape but never had the guts to put it on my bikes because it shows dirt so fast.

beckman

very very nice color scheme
originaly without top tube braze-on ?

cudak888 

The Vetta vinyl tape I'm using on it right now doesn't attract dirt that easily, and is pretty easy to clean up - that's why I used it on this bike in favor of cotton. White cotton though, attracts dirt like flies to a garbage heap - and it shows on my daily-rider '86 Raleigh USA.

It originally had two top tube braze-ons, but they had popped off when I got the bike (note the nasty mark from a tie wrap at the back of the top tube). When I inspected the top tube and the braze-ons, it didn't even look as if they had any braze on them. See photo. The Shimano top tube clips do the job just fine.

Take care,

-Kurt