dwg

I'm interested in what I believe is a '87 Super Leggera frame and I'm wondering if someone can help me out with the components.
The frame has a Super Leggera decal on the top tube. The cursive script style and a 1987 World Championshp decal on the down tube make me believe the bike is an 87, but I'm wondering whether it could be an 88.
A couple of things about the bike make me wonder whether it is a Super Leggera, or at least whether the headset and BB have been replaced. The dropouts, headset and BB on the frame are all Gippieme (sp?). I would have thought those would be Campy on a near top of the line bike. Another oddity is that the bike has older style a "generic" columbus tubing decal (not the typical "repaint" columbus decal) on the seat tube. Based on other threads, that could mean the frame was repainted or that decal could have just been the most convenient Columbus decal lying around the factory that day. The decals on the fork are celeste Bianchi Formula Columbus. Another perhaps distinguishing feature is that the frame has Bianchi in cursive script on the seat stay.
I'd be grateful for any insight anyone can provide on the frame, what tubing it is and what components were originally on it. Thanks in advance!

stien

Pics! Pics! If it is a Leggera, you can be sure that Campy was original spec.

Ragooch

If it was sold as a complete bike it would have had a Chorus gruppo, not Gipiemme. The Super Leggera was built form SL or SP mix depending on size, so a standard Columbus decal is right. Gipiemme drops may be right by this time? Reparto bikes always used Campagnolo drop-outs, but the Reparto frames were getting pretty generic by the mid 80's and they may have switched?

Veloria

I can't help, but just want to thank for the above info, as I've been looking at these bikes as well.

DMNHCAGrandPrix

I have a 1988 Bianchi Super Leggera. Gipiemme dropouts. All Campagnolo Chorus components. The Bianchi name is engraved in cursive script at the top of seat stays, but the Bianchi decals and Super Leggera name are both in block letters.

dwg

Thanks for the replies. Sorry I don't have pics at present but will post when/if I can get some. Sounds like it's an 87 but the headset and BB may not be original. Hopefully there will be others who can elaborate. Again, thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.

dwg

Pics! Unfortunately not good ones, but pics nonetheless

stien

What I recall from the 86-87 Championship sticker is that bikes could be as late as '89 with those. It's sure not an '86 (I checked the catalog). Definitely between those years.

Something Bianchi Girl keeps reminding me of also is that not everything is consistent with these bikes. Maybe your top tube decal got replaced by an owner or at the factory, and was supposed to be block lettering?

Bianchigirll 

different styles of the Colorado decal were used well into the '90s IIRC.

if the paint and decals are original, judging by the style of Bianchi decl the scrip model name the above frame is an '87. the fork however may likely be a replacement. Bianchi used lots of GPM dropouts on some great frames in those days. also a Chorus equiped Super Leggera didnot appear until '88, and had a Chorus BB and HS.

I am out of town but (OH this frame is in th states yes?) PM me friday and I will look up more specific info about this model.



if this rides anything like my '88 SL did yuo will certainly enjoy it no matter how yu build it up

T-Mar

Serial number?

dwg

The serial number is in two parts on the underside of the BB.

Drive-side: 22860

Non-drive: 1 . 6 (what I have as a 1 could be an I, also the dot between the two is centered)

T-Mar

Wow, that Colarado Springs decal must have been slapped on right after Argentin won! It was made in late 1986, but is probably an early 1987 model.

dwg

Bianchi Girl & T-Mar, thanks for confirming this as an 87 model. BG, thanks too for offering to look up additional details. I'll take you up on that with a pm later this week. BTW, the frame's in Colorado.

Bianchigirll 

Hi dwg, OK looking in the '87 catalog yes this is an '87 Leggera but it was the 3rd road bike down the X-4, Mondaile, and Giro were above it. it does have a rather eclectic parts mix, which while typical for Bianchi in this period seems odd for a bike so high in the pecking order.

the HS was GPM Chronosprint, the BB itself is not listed (normal) but the cranks are listed as GPM America 87 with Anodized rings, so I would think the BB would be GPM too.

Shifters/ Deraillers; are just listed as Campagnolo C-Record/B Victory Ft der. brakes; Modolo Flyer with anodized kit as well as the bar/stem

the 'generic' Columbus matches the pic in the catalog as I said earlier I don't think a SL decal was in fashion until '89 or later.

the fork crown looks correct for the period but that Formula decal still makes me think it was a replacement.

dwg

Thanks Bianchi Girl! I really appreciate your help.

Bianchigirll 

your welcome. don't forget to update the thread to show us how the build is going

bobleaux

I.6 would be a manufacture date of Sept 86. I picked up a 1987 catalog when I first considered buying the Superleggera in the summer of 1987. The 87 shows a mint celeste colour and mostly the same decals as the 1988 model that I eventually purchased and looks just like the one on the showroom floor. My 1988 Superleggera (bought in mid 1988) differs from the 87 in that it has a black ITM stem and ITM handlebars instead of a silver 3TTT stem with 3TTT handlebars.

This catalog is labeled as 1986; however, it's identical to my 1987 catalog: https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Bianchi-86/

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they were selling 1986 spec'ed bikes in early 1987.

TheOtherGuy

From the '86 catalog:

Bianchigirll 

beautiful '88 Super Leggera

Bianchigirll 

is this from the Bilgier site? it is actually a page from the '88 catalog. there was no Super Leggera in the in the '86 catalog and the Pista is thusly posted above the leftover '85 Centanario

joe englert

as i recall, the earlier super leggieras were better quality/super record etc,,,,later they were dropped down a notch or two in the bianchi heirarchy and lower end parts.

Bianchigirll 

it seems to have moved around a bit sometimes on top others times down a model or three.

bobleaux

You are right, the Bulgier catalog is 1988. Now that I think about it, I picked up another Bianchi catalog (the one that I have) just before I bought my bike. Besides, according to the Campagnolo catalogs, Chorus wasn't released until 1988.

Bianchigirll 

I am not sure who runs that Bulgier site but I also notice that sometimes they onlt sho the top 5 or 6 models and not the whole catalog

Kilgour Trout

Sorry to bump this back to life but.....
This thread has been a fantastic help to my son and I.
We were both over the moon to have finally found a real Italian road bike and a Bianchi to boot.
Turns out it's an 87 Super Legerra, all original with the same unusual script.
The original Super Legerra decal had come off but you could still see the strange script.
It wasn't until I found this thread that I was able to completely decifer the model.

Originally it was a Birthday gift to myself but as my son and I have been working on the bike
my son has fallen quite in love. Funniest thing was when we got home he said to his Mom..
"Mom, I'm in Love and her name is Bianchi!" LOL!

I'm not sure what the outcome of this is but it for sure mean's I'll be looking for another
beautiful Bianchi.
Thanks to all for the insight

Kilgour Trout
P.s. Anyone know if there might be a source for the script Super Legerra?