locka

People on this forum were awesome when I had questions about a Marinoni Special 1991 (which I just sold - didn't want to deal with the tubular tires in the end, though it was a sweet ride).
On my way today to look at a Miyata 615 (going for cheaper and less worry about scratches, potholes, theivery etc) saw a flyer in a window of a decor shop selling a bike. Gianni Motta Personal 2001 $600 CDN. Went and had a look. Dusty, tires old and cracked, but otherwise hardly used. Set up for touring - mirror, horn (electric beeper - sounds like a whistle!) odometre. Just my size. Guy wouldn't budge on the price and I took it. Santé groupset Shimano (I'm told like old 600 Ultegra).
Basically just wanted feedback from anyone with feelings for a bike like this - pros and cons - and for those in and around Montreal, if anyone could recommend a preferred shop for maintaining older bikes. Reading about the Santé stuff, I'm not sure it's everywhere that would know what they were dealing with.

Yeah! Summer's here! Happy biking!

locka

Oh and also the year if anybody could take a guess. 2001 is just the name of the bike (no idea) but it's probably a late 80s with this old Shimano all over it?

JJPistols

I had one last year, bought the frame and fork dirt cheap of CL. I set it up with a coaster brake SS wheelset and apparently offended many people here.


Hopefully, I will again.





















It was a fantastic, light and responsive bike, amazing climber, and if I ever find one that is my size, hopefully I'll be able to afford it. I ended up stripping it back down to the frame/fork and selling it to a kid who was going to set it up for vintage steel races with his dad's help.



Guess it was nice of me to leave those bosses there, huh?

JunkYardBike

There isn't much information available re: Gianni Motta, probably because I don't think they were widely imported to the North American continent. However, if you search the CR list you can dig up some information (and if you post there, some members may be able to identify the date):

www.bikelist.org

Here's the CR page for Gianni Motta:

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Motta_Gianni.htm

There are a few members on BF with Mottas. I recently sent a frame to member here for restoration - keep your eyes open for progress reports!

JJPistols, you fit some pretty fat tires on that frame! Looks like you've got the 'Trans Torx' seatstays, which I think I read on CR list were designed to give more stiffness to larger frames (apparently, Motta was a tall guy). I can't confirm, however, as it appears the bikelist.org server is currently down.

BTW, nice pics!

JJPistols

they're 700x28, and I'm sure nothing bigger would squeeze in


everyone who ever saw the bike commented on the seatstays, I think

Trsnrtr

The Italian tri-color is identical to the one that I bought new in March of 1985. My bike, a 53cm, looked exactly like the attached ad picture that came with the frame after being built up with Campy super record. I also had the suede Concor saddle and red Benotto tape. I scanned the ad photo and sent it to Classic Rendezvous for their GM page many years ago. They were imported by CKR out of Oklahoma. BTW, check out my avatar.



Alas, the bike hasn't survived to the present. Like many of the Italian bikes of the era, they were all show and go but not built for longevity. Mine broke through the bottom bracket shell after 20-25,000 miles.

T-Mar

The samples I've seen were mid-1980s but Sante, if OEM, would place it 1987-1989. Agreed, Sante is very much like Ultegra 600. Consider it a boutique version.

In Montreal, I'd take it to Cycles Gianella on Boulevard des Sources. Barry and John will take good care of your bicycle. Just don't tell them that you sold a Marinoni in favour of the GM. They're long time Marinoni dealers.

TL179

locka, where are you in mtl

locka

Thanks for all the input. Got a few (slightly fuzzy) pictures up. I realize now the paintjob is maybe a little unusual as most of the other mottas I've seen online have the classic italian tricolour. This one's mostly a kind of off-white, a little colour around the lower front triangle. I'm going back to the seller to see if I can get a little more history. Chrome rear triangle and forks. And that crazy white Santé stuff all over. The narrow rear seat stays are interesting. I'm just getting a sense of how that affects the ride.

In response to some of the feedback: In Montreal I'm in the Mile End, Parc and St Viateur. Thanks for the tips on bike stores and I'm thinking of heading out to Cycles Gianella asap. Also, I like the conversion to fat tires and single speed, but I've been drooling at https://www.speedbicycles.ch/index.html and liking the idea of restoration to as close as original.

Thanks again. Any more feedback, comments, questions more than welcome.

Trsnrtr

I would guess mid to late 80s. I remember seeing some Mottas like that a year or two after buying mine. Also, i bought a Sante group on closeout in 1990 that had been laying around the shop for a year or two.

tuz

That is a nice bike! I like the lugged and curved seat stays. And although I'm not a fan of the white finish of the Santé, it is a really good quality group.

Incidentally, I am looking for a rear 32h Santé hub

jet sanchEz

Nice but I think it might be a bit pricey at $600

locka

No doubt you're right. It was a bit of an impulse buy, and I didn't really know what I was looking at. That being said, I sold two bikes recently and had none, so was feeling a little desperate. Also Maillard 700 hubs and Wolber tx profil rims which look pretty sweet (trying to ease the pain here)

Roll-Monroe-Co

I noticed that too. Reminds me of an electroforged Schwinn.

Ex Pres 

Little hijack,
Just in case anyone has info they can add to this thread, the PIF frame JYB sent to me has internal cable routing for both the rear brake cable (TT) and the derailleur cables (DT/chainstay). Model is a Personal 2000 (without the "pinched" stays). It was originally equipped with NR components and uses recessed mounted brakes. Chromed bottom bracket shell, DS chainstay, rear dropouts, and front fork. Was painted white with decals that looked a little cheesier than most of the pictures of other frames I've seen. Please PM me with any dating info.


Since this project is going to be more of a reclamation than a true restoration, I'm thinking of this paint scheme, stolen from the fade thread, although my red will be "redder". I'm thinking this will be a good place to hang my [partial] 7s DA group.