colnagoracer

Hi all, I just bought a Colnago and wonder if anyone can identify it ? Would also appreciate some suggestions on period campagnolo components. I'm new to bike building so any suggestions would be appreciated.

cheers

SJX426 

Need more pics. Seat cluster including stay caps, both bridges on the rear triangle, and head tube lugs from top and sides. I don't remember (age issue), but this is earlier than 80 as the cable routing is above the BB. There are no SN to id the frame but this looks like a super. Someone better than myself can ID based on the shape of the BB cut out. I am perplexed at the three cable braze ons on the TT. Usually there are only 2.

colnagoracer

Hi, thanks for the reply. I haven't picked up the frame yet as I bought it on ebay yesterday rather impulsively !. I was hoping it wasn't a fake. Does the colnago cut out on the BB mean it's real ?
cheers

Drillium Dude 

Save your money - it's not authentic. The clover cutout is not correct, there's a round window in the BB shell which should be oval and there are three top tube brake cable guides, for starters.

The clover cutout differences between this and my attached pic are subtle, but they are there.

Authentic clover cutout, 1980's style:



Anyways, it's missing the fork, no? Not much point there - it'll cost you an arm and a leg just to find one that will match up.

DD

colnagoracer

Yeah, no fork. Anyone else think is a fake ?- will save me some money if I can get some more opinions !

SJX426 

If the cutout is the only clover on the bike, it is fake. Typically Colnago will be embossed on the seat stay caps, chain stays near the BB and have clover cut outs on the HT lugs.

Bianchigirll 

I sure would like to see more pics before I handed over money for it.

cyclotoine

It's a fake. I knew it before I saw DD's post. That said, it looks like a decent frame. It would still be worth riding, maybe as a fixed gear or every day bike, something you can lock up and not worry too much about.

colnagoracer

thanks for the replies everyone. I think the consensus is that this is a fake. I guess it was too good to be true - thankfully I haven't handed over any money yet.
For future reference, would you guys be kind enough to list what I should be looking for on a vintage Colnago frame to ensure it's genuine ?
Cheers

Kactus

Here is the bottom bracket clover and oval cutout on the seat tube lug.


Here is the cutout on the down tube lug.


Seat stays on later (late '70's and '80's) bikes will have Colnago embossed on them.


Although this photo doesn't show it, the rear brake bridge will have a clover embossed on it.


Colnago should be embossed on both chain stays, not just a decal.

colnagoracer

Thanks Kactus.

Kactus

There's also a flickr group, Molto Colnago, that has many different photos of a variety of Colnagos.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/359349@N20/

1 Lugnut

There a 3 top tubes guides on my Colnago. Maybe, as the frames got taller, they added a third guide..?

colnagoracer

I've asked the seller for some more details and pics of the embossing and lug details. Lovely looking bike 1 Lugnut !

hueyhoolihan

it's probably genuine. i've seen old ones with above the BB cable guides and three brake cable guides on the top tube... besides, i doubt there is much to be had in fixing up old well used average bike frames into old well used somewhat above average bike frames.

Soylent 

Wasn't that same frame posted here a month or so ago?


My bad. It was a red fake: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=fake+colnago

SJX426 

My 83 does not have embossing on the brake bridge. I have seen variations on this feature. I believe post 83 time frame is when you see the clover on the brake bridge. Don't know for sure (DKFS?).

1 Lugnut: You may have a Superissimo. I believe they differ from the supers by the chrome HT. Is your fork and rear stays chromed (DO may be indicator)?

satbuilder 

It has portacatena dropouts. Can't say whether it's real or not from the pics.

EhGiOeS

I have three Superisimos what I think is a mid 80's one dated 89 and a 90. They all have internal brake cable routing. Ed

1 Lugnut: You may have a Superissimo. I believe they differ from the supers by the chrome HT. Is your fork and rear stays chromed (DO may be indicator)?[/QUOTE]

1 Lugnut

It is a Superissimo. I removed the decal that was on the top tube when I first bought it, as well as the Colnago decal on the seat tube. Prolly shouldn't have, but that was about 30 years ago! The Dropouts are chromed (front & rear) & the brake bridge does have the 'Clover' stamped on it. Never really knew exactly what year it was, so I thought it too be an '83, because your's (SJX) is an '83 & they are both so similar?

A friend had brought me back a couple 2 Colnago servizio corse tubulars on a trip to Italy as a gift. By their construction, I believe they were made by Veloflex. The front one has flatted & I'd like to get it repaired. In all, the ride is superb...

colnagoracer

Hi all, I've been told this frame could be a Cornelo ! Anyone heard of them?

repechage

Yes, google that up in the images section.

From the two images shown early on, the lack of chain stay reinforcements is curious. I don't think its a Colnago at this time. I have a gut feeling it has been repainted as it has a front derailleur braze on that looks investment cast, early on they were stamped.

Drillium Dude 

Ditto on the chainstay reinforcements. And if it were a Colnago, someone had to have brazed on those three brake cable guides as an afterthought - Colnago normally used two and their design was different. The BB shell cutout looks suspiciously like a Cornelo.

I did a search on Ebay to see how the seller presented it, but I found no completed auction featuring this frame. OP: do you have a link to the auction? Some of us may feel the need to educate the current owner

DD

1 Lugnut

An old listing for another Cornelo. Never heard of them B4 this thread...

Ernesto also had a hand in Colners also, which is what I thought you were referring to at first...but they have a different BB cutout. DD might like this orange one...?

Drillium Dude 

Oh, yeah! I found that last night searching out the OP's "Colnago" auction. I love that Colner, and it's in super shape - I'd have spent that money and been a happy camper, for sure

DD