I have tried repeatedly to drop some pics in here but it just is'nt happening at the moment.

A few days ago I picked up a blue Bianchi road bike. It has a fully chromed front fork and chromed rear stays, SR APEX cranks, SR seatpost and stem, suede saddle, Suntour Vx RD, Suntour arx FD, Suntour G dropouts, Suzue hubs laced to 27" Araya rims, 5 speed freewheel, MMK Pro Vic II pedals. Serial # J*18975. It also has twin PIAGGIO decals about midway up on the seat tube.

I'm interested in knowing the model and frame tubing. It is my size and will likely get in line with the rest of my keepers needing an overhaul. Any ideas?

Pics can be found here.......... https://plainoldsteel.blogspot.com/

It looks like an '83 Special in Cobalt Blue. The Special is the only bike in the lineup with chrome 'socks', and the FD, Cranks and general looks seem to match up. Although the catalog does not mention the type of dropout. The frame is listed as Three Tube DB ChroMO w/ Mangalloy stays 1/2 chrome and a Mangalloy fork 1/2 chrome. The whole chromed fork seems to be a replacement. I have an '87 sith TreTubi DB ChroMoly frame and it rides pretty well.



This may be a replacement also since the catalog calls for ARX-GT for the rear

Thanks for the info and, once again, the pic help BG.

I would have to agree with the RD replacement with the black cable housing, as the rest of the cable housing on the bike is blue.

I was thinking a 1982 Sport SS in which case it's a Mangalloy frame. What's the seat post size?

Would that have the socks?

The 1982 catalog indicates chrome tips only on the fork tips. Per the 1982 catalog, there were no Japanese models with chromed stays, including the Limited. However, this one is definitely Japanese and is older than 1983. Normally, like you, I'd suspect the rear derailleur to be a replacement but AR derailleurs weren't spec'd on any models in 1982, while the OP's Vx-GT was spec'd on the Sport SS and Touring. The Touring used stem shifters while the Sport SS was spec'd with downtube shifters, hence my suggestion of a Sport SS. However, to be sure, we'd need the post diameter.

Seatpost is 26.8

Well, that would appear to confirm a 1982 model, unless it's an undersize post. My understanding is that the 1983 models used Ishiwata and even their Magny sets didn't use posts that small. However, Tange's CrMo and Mangalloy sets both used 26.8mm posts and while the 1982 catalog doesn't state the tubing manufacturer, they do state "mangalloy" which was Tange's brandname for their manganese alloy tubeset.

I just noticed something that I overlooked earlier. The shifters aren't SunTour Power ratchet shifters. That would eliminate a Sport SS, unless they've been replaced, so I guess we can go back to square one. We can eliminate a Standard and Sport because of their hi-tensile frames which would use smaller posts, a Ranndonneur because of its cantilever brakes and a Limited because of its 700C wheelset. That leaves a Sport SS, Touring and Special as possible candidates. Can you identify the crankset and brakes by brand and model or model number (on back)?

The DT shifters appear to be more in line with the Suntour Vx RD than with the arx FD. I forgot to mention the brake levers are Zeus and the calipers are Dia Compe G. Cranks are SR APEX w/arm pressed into the spider.

Post is not shimmed.

I will check for more component info.................

Can't definitively place a vintage on a Bianchi Trofeo I've just purchased off of CL. Owner on phone was 2nd owner and wasn't sure of age, also told me the frame fit him (@ 6' 1") but was a bit large. long story short, I arrived at the meet-up (45 mins away) and it was well small for me (being 6' 4"), but I bought the bike anyway because I really wanted to own a Bianchi! Paid $125 and am certain can re-sell for nearly $400, also can use it as my gf's started bike. But, would really like to use it to trade for a 60-63cm frame. Anyway, here is what it looks like..


not actual picture which I'm aware is an epic fail on my part, but almost exactly like this one only the one I have has Brifters. I'm thinking like 97' 98'?
specs on bikepedia say the 97" only came in celeste and marino blue, but then the 98' was in red but blue lettering.
campy 8spd double. not sure if it's Avanti.

Dia-compe 500G calipers and an SR Apex crankset would make it a Special, per BG's original post. In which case the frame is a CrMo butted main triangle (tubeset not specified) with Mangalloy stays and forks. Again, the seat post size, in conjunction with hte serial number, points towards it being a 1982 model with Tange tubing, as opposed to a later model with Ishiwata.

"ALmost exactly like this one only"

Well this one appears to be an '86, but yours who knows. I would concentrate more on the frame color and the components esp HS and brakes rather than decal color. Blue decals on a white frame sounds like an odd match.

"Well this one appears to be an '86, but yours who knows. I would concentrate more on the frame color and the components esp HS and brakes rather than decal color. Blue decals on a white frame sounds like an odd match."

Fair enough, I will try and snap some pics in the near future and get them posted. From the research I've done I'm thinking it's mid-late 90's.

Okay.............I'm going with an '82 or '83 Bianchi Special.........dependant on Tange or Ishiwata tubing used.

Thank you very much for your expertise BG and T-Mar.

Here is the actual bike. Now, with some proper photos, can some one help me identify a vintage? I'm guessing circa 1998? Problem is, 1998's have Campy Avanti, which usually read (Avanti) on the derailers correct? Bianchigirl? ;-)

WOW that is a mess! Ditch that QR on the seatpost, and turn it around, drop the stem to the minimum insertion mark and turn the handlebars to a more correct position. Then head to the carwash with some simple green and an old bottle brush.

I am pretty sure this is a later '90s model maybe a '98ish one. A search through bikepedia may help ypou find the year.

Yes, I know. I haven't had a good chance to sit down and go over it yet, that's how it was as I bought it a few weeks ago.

But still as far as age, yes I am PRETTY sure it's a '98 based on research, however, I thought Campy Avanti actually had the word "Avanti" on it. According to Bikepedia, '95, '97, 'and '98 are very similar.

It might bot have that first year. All bikes of given model are very similar from year to year unless there is a huge shakeup in technology or something.

Thanks for the input. I've had a couple offers for this in the $400 range, but I think I'll hold on to it for awhile.

Bianchi Special, Ishiwata Magny frame and fork. Suntour ARX FD/RD date code to October 1983, Shimano Golden Arrow brakes code to May 1983. Spade shape windows on lugs, replacement rear wheel not original, front is Sunshine hub. Sakae CR crank, don't know if its original. Piaggio decal. I'm guessing a 1984 model, given the late date on the FD/RD. No chrome on fork. Bianchi headset, dropouts. With adjusters