whensurfsucks

I was recently given a bianchi by a family member who had it given to them, so I'm unsure of the history of the bike. From what I gather, I think it may be a mid-eighties model. Stickers on the frame read: "Formula two" and "made in Italy", "foderi forcella" and "Bianchi formula" on the fork, and "3ttt" engraved into the seatpost. All components are shimano 600. Any ideas on value or history?

luker

sounds like my old trofeo, except for the shimano gruppo.. Formula 2 was good double butted tubing, although I think the tubing on mine was seamed (puts it down about cromor in the columbus pecking order). if it says made in italy and has original japanese parts then it is later than mid-eighties...more like late '80s. How is the rear brake cable routed? can you post a few pics?

whensurfsucks

I'm new to this site and I'm not sure how to upload pictures but until I find out, the brake line runs across the top side of the bar running from bars to seatpost if that helps

whensurfsucks

ok, I think I figured it out...

T-Mar

Given that it's an Italian manufactured model, the serial number will tell us the year. FYI, pics should be taken from the drive side, so that we can see/identify the important components, like derailleurs and cranksets.

whensurfsucks

I will have another picture from the drive side up tomorrow, for now if it is any help, the derailleur components, 3-piece crank, and everything else is shimano 600. Also, the serial number mentioned; is that the four digit/letter number on the seatpost? If so, is there some sort of way to check into that serial? I appreciate the help.

T-Mar

Depending on the age, the serial number will be either on the bottom bracket shell or the seat lug. Typically it will have two sections, one section comprising a single letter and single number and the other section being a string of numbers. The seat lug serial number, is generally stamped with one section on each siude of the lug. The BB shell serial number generally has the two sections stamped on opposing sides of the shell, sometimes with the sections at right angles to each other.

John E

Hey TMar,

Are we any closer to decoding Bianchi serial numbers? You have seen my two data points, both of which are consistent with the digit adjacent to the letter denoting the last digit of the year of manufacture, ala early 1960s Schwinns and my 1988 Greenville MS Schwinn.

whensurfsucks

Thank you Tmar for that. Sorry I can't retrieve that number or a new picture of the drive side now but I will have both if I can as soon as I get a chance; I really appreciate all the help and would hate to lose this thread. Any idea if this is a high or low end frame for the time period? Thanks for all the help so far

T-Mar

Mid range. Typically, in the 1980s, Bianchi created proprietary tubeset names for their mid-range models, while the high end models used the recognizable Columbus tubesets. A 600 group also indicates mid-range. Italian manufacture also indicates at least mid-range.


To date, all the cases where I've been able to confirm the year using catalogs and/or components codes have followed the format. However, the sample size is still small. It's not like CCM, Miyata or Centurion where I've got 100+ confirmed data sets. Being an engineer, I'm sure you appreciate the relationship between sample sizes and confidence levels. You never know, Bianchi could trurn out to be another Peugeot, where there appears to be a relationship, but almost as many anomalies as legitimate matches!

T-Mar

I've been studying the pics a bit more and the components appear to be the New Shimano 600EX group with indexed shifters, which should place things 1986-1987. But it doesn't have the the World Championship decal, so unless it's been removed, like the model decal, that should make it a 1986. In which case it's not a Trofeo. I couldn't find the 600 shod model for 1986, but in 1985 and 1987 it was the Limited, so there's a good chance that is what you have. Some Limited were made in Japan, but we've also seen Italian manufactured versions.

Of course, pics and the serial number are still required to confirm my guess. Then again, maybe I'm out in left field.

bjke

Premio is your model.

whensurfsucks

I'm pretty surf you're not out in left field T-mar; check out the first picture. I found the serial: HP-6207. If this confirms things with you, it confirms them with me. Thanks!

luker

hmmm. In my limited understanding of the Bianchi stackup in the '80's, I thought the Limited was a Japanese bike...this bike has a "Made in Italy" sticker, no?

whensurfsucks

yeah, luker, if you look between the gear in the picture above, you can see the red, white, and green of the sticker that reads "made in Italy". I really wish there was some database for these serial numbers. Any idea if anyone has tried to independently gather serial numbers for bianchi?

whensurfsucks

T-mar, above you mentioned columbus tubing. Check out this first picture and let me know if that sticker confirms that or if its something else. While I was at it, I took a picture of the made in Italy sticker. Thanks!

T-Mar

Well, a Limited decal certainly does confirm the model doesn't it? And yes those are the New 600EX SIS components which does narrow the year down to 1986-1987. At the end of the 1986 season, Moreno Argentin won the World Championship, pro road race on a Bianchi. This victory is celebrated by a decal on the very late 1986 models and the 1987 models. Given that this decal is absent your frame would indicate that it is a 1986. Unfortunately the serial number does not help to confirm, as it does not match the format typically used by Bianchi. Curiously, that number is model number is the exact model number for the headset!

While the tubing decal does indicate a Columbus tubeset, there is no indication of the level. It could be Aelle, Cromor, SL or a mix. Most mid-range models used mixed tubesets, with a better grade used in the main triangle. Bianchi also sometimes used heavier grades in the down tube and seat stays, to stiffen the bottom bracket. Given the level of bicycle, I suspect it is proabably a Cromor main triangle with Aelle stays and forks.

Luker, the earlier Limited were indeed made in Japan, while later models were made in Italy. I suspect the reason is the re-evaluation of the yen that took place around 1985. This made Japanese manufacturing more expensive and drove much entry and mid-range manufacturing out of Japan to Taiwan. In Bianchi's case, they appear to have sent the entry level manufacturing to Taiwan, but returned the mid-range manufacturing to Italy.

whensurfsucks

T-mar, thanks for that. You were right about that number, I must be wrong about it being the serial. i checked again and found some numbers printed below the crank. I'm not sure if it is as you mentioned above but the letters IU read perpendicularly to the numbers 627. Could that leave me with IU-627? If that one makes no sense I'll try to look again. Again, thanks; I'm glad you guys know so much about dusty old bike frames. haha

luker

my horizon is broadened. Thanks! I don't think I'll ever know enough to write a book on Bianchis, but my knowledge is improving. Anyone wanna read a book on Bianchis?

whensurfsucks

If that book told me what my bianchi was worth today, I'd buy it.

curbtender

I have the same bike. 6 C on left of bb and 12586 on right. Sticker says "formula two". Hope that helps with data base. 68mm shell.

Fred Smedley

We also have a Limited with a made in Italy a decal. It is Purple. My mechanic who has been wrenching for 35 years believes it probable that the Italian Limiteds where also made in Japan, but painted in Italy allowing for then Made in Italy decal which allowed Bianchi to charge more or at least have a marketing edge. The lug work is probably better on the Limited than on my 96 Columbus TSX ultralight Reparto course frame. The Limiteds are nicely built.