Grimnick

Hi,

My friend and I recently got this old Colnago bike for free and we're trying to identify what frame it is (year, model etc (brand)).
Actually, we're not even sure it's a real Colnago, it might be a knockoff with some Colnago decals slapped on...
So let's start with the bad news: it does not have the clover- or clubs-cutouts anywhere on the frame.
Instead it has small circle cutouts in all the places you would expect the clubs. It has no cutouts on the fork though.
Ok, so that led us to believe it was a Colnago Sport, since most of those don't have the clubs either... and to be honest, comparing the frame to other Colnago Sports, they really look alike.
It has some old Colnago decals which we think (after some google-ing around) date back to the early 70's.
The crank is an SR Apex which was manufactured in the early 80's.
Oh, and more bad news, no serial number on the BB either

Any help identifying this frame is very much appreciated


Pictures!











Thx!

SJX426 

Well I cannot help. It does not look like a Colnago to me, but I can't say I have seen a "sport".
What is the seatpost diameter?
Do you have an idea of the weight?
Can you ID the BB?
Is there a date code on the RD?
Colnago's don't have SN's.
Joints don't look very good either. Note the excess material and the voids.

jet sanchEz

That's not a Colnago. Someone got their mitts on a can of white spray paint and some Colnago decals---and maybe some beers too as the decals are poorly applied.

It is not a Colnago Sport either as it has eyelets for fenders on the fork and drops.

gomango

+1

Tough to even use as a college bike, as some nimrod would still try to steal it.

Grimnick

Yeah I thought the bike might have been repainted, the "excess material" SJX426's talking about is probably just excess paint.
The "Emaillage M.V." sticker also leads me to believe it's been repainted by a "professional".
Also the dating of the stickers and other parts dont match up... it's probably a bicycle from the 80's with some old 70's decals they found lying around slapped on.

The RD is painted over, I can't see a date code... though I should have another look at them when I get home. (They are marked 'brev campagnolo').
No ID on the BB, looked at it for a good long time yesterday and couldn't find anything :/
And I was wondering about the fender eyelets... hmm

Grimnick

I was just googling around about the fender eyelets. Apparently in the early 70s Colnago produced some "touring" versions that had fenders. I can't find many other posts/articles about it though. Anyone know something about these?

jet sanchEz

I have never seen a touring Colnago, do you have a link to the info?

Grimnick

https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-751221.html
Picchio Special mentions it in his reply... can't find any info on it myself though

unworthy1

I have seen an authentic Colnago (no doubt whatsoever) that has eyelets on the DOs and forkends. Whether that makes it a "tourist" is debatable, cause the geometry is not particularly different from road geometry. I have pics on my home computer and can update this with pix when I'm home.
The OP's frame is not one of these, it's not a Colnago and might not even be Italian: check the seatpost size, the BB threading and the steerer base (for "rifling").
Doesn't look too bad (might be mid-grade).

gomango

Phoney baloney or not, I'd convert that to a city bike pronto.

Fenders, upright seating position, and a little rack with a bag, that's what I would do.

A nice Crane bell and some decent tires.

Probably some lights as well.

Would make a great market and coffee shop bike that I wouldn't have to fret over at all.

SJX426 

And remove the decals!

gomango

I'd just let them rot off of their own accord if they weren't clear coated.

Grimnick

I've put on some new Vittoria tubular tires. I was planning on cleaning it up, readjust brakes and deraillers, maybe repainting it and using it as a roadbike.
Is this a descent frame for a road bike? I'm only planning on using it once or twice a month for 40 mile rides... so I don't need a top-of-the-line racing-machine
+ I don't have the money right now and this one was free

Btw: if/when I repaint it, should I add some decals? I think a road bike without decals looks kinda weird... which ones should I use?
It's clearly a Colnago replica... but if I add Colnago decals I'm just as bad as the last guy that repainted this bicycle

realestvin7

What's the bottom bracket threading and seatpost diameter? It has Dia-Compe-ish brakes, budget steel headset, Shimano shifters and Dura-Ace front derailleur but what is the rear? What dropout stampings does it have (Campagnolo, Columbus, Tange, Shimano, etc.)? That bike has an awful lot of Japanese going on.

Grimnick

Rear derailler (and also front I think) is Shimano 500.
The dropouts are both Brev Campagnolo (wheels are campagnolo too but those have probably been replaced over the years).
I believe you're right about the brakes, I remember seeing Dia Compe on some part of the bike, I believe it was on the brakes.
The saddle is marked both "SR" and "ITALIA" which doesn't make any sense xD

As for the bottom bracket threading, what should I be looking for? (I'm new here )
I'll measure the seatpost diameter tonight, I couldn't get to it yesterday.

realestvin7

If you look at the bottom bracket cups, it may be clearly marked on them. You may have to clean the dirt/grease off. A brand is also likely to be found.

Look for markings like these:

jyl

Why repaint? Paint looks fine. Would you improve the paint with a rattle can job, seems unlikely, and then decals are not free.

I'd tune it up and ride.

Grimnick

Ok thanks, I'll look for them when I get home tonight!

Grimnick

The paint is scratched everywhere, down to the metal in some places. It also has some rusty spots which I would like to get rid of.
The current decals are just peeling off when I touch them, last time I was holding the frame with my hand on a decal, when I let go I had half the colnago clover sticking to my palm xD

Update: I've been snooping around for some decals on the interwebs... man, those things are excpensive! :O

Grimnick

I've cleaned the bike, re-adjusted brake-cables, shifter-cables, put on a new saddle and stripped some of the decals off.

I bought some handlebar tape, I haven't installed it yet as I'm missing 2 brake hoods.
I do have a question about these though... they're old dia-compe non-aero brake levers... there were no hoods when I got the bike and the levers were wrapped in tape (presumably to prevent the aluminium from oxidizing?).
From what I can find on the internet I should be ordering crane creek brake hoods, nearly all of these I find on eBay are to be shipped from the US and shipping costs are 20$ in most cases.
Can I safely ride without brake hoods? I know it won't be as comfortable as riding with brake hoods but are there any other downsides/dangers I should know of?

Pars 

Its safe to ride without the hoods, though you can get new ones from loose screws for $10/pair. Not sure where you are, so no idea on shipping.

https://www.loosescrews.com/index.cgi...id=60615032977

Did you ever determine what the bottom bracket threading is?

Grimnick

I'm from Belgium and I can't tell from the website if they ship to europe, and even if they do it'll cost me another 10$.

Anyway, I haven't gotten to checking the bottom bracket threading yet. I also haven't measured the seatpost diameter yet.
I'll do that as soon as possible. I've been very busy the last few weeks and haven't had much spare time to spend with the bike.

Grimnick

Allright... I measured the seatpost diameter. The inner diameter btw, dont know if thats the one i need. It measures 9cm circumference. So 2.86cm diameter... Thats 1.126 inches or something

The bb seems to be completely blank on one side, no markings. The side under the crank isnt 100% visible. But i cant make out anything either. I would have to remove the crankset to have better look.

As for the brakes. theres no serial number on them either... The only markings are the diacompe stamp on the front and "0377" on the inside of both levers... Will the cane creek hoods fit on them you think?

Grimnick

Ooh almost forgot: the bottom bracket cups in the picture have 5 or 6 grooves in them on the sides. Mine only have 4, dont know if that helps or anything. Just thought it might be usefull info