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Old 06-17-10, 04:10 AM
  #17  
cpsqlrwn
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Chesapeake, VA
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Originally Posted by Ragooch
The serial number will be basically meaningless. But fear not it's absolutely a top of top Reparto frame. In that size, full Columbus SL tubing. The chrome head-lugs were only used for a couple of years in that era and only on the top models had 'em.

It's an easy restoration and correct decals are available if you want to put back to "right". Or just ride it as is.
There's actually no tubing decal on this bike so it's just a fairly safe assumption that it's Columbus SL given all the other characteristics of the frame. The absence of the tubing decal with all the other decals in such good shape definitely supports the repaint theory. As to the actual decals on the bike, looking at Bulgier's site, the 81a catalog shows this bike with Paggio head tube decals and the older Bianchi decals with the beginning and ending slashes. The newer decals without the slashes show up as early as the 1983 catalog. It would be interesting to see a 1982 catalog, but Bulgier doesn't have it.

Here is the '81 catalog page showing the Super Corsa models.....http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalog...hi-81a/pg2.jpg
And an '83 page showing the newer decals on a Professional....http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Bianchi-83/03.jpg
Here's an '83 cover page showing the Specialissima without the chromed lugs, with the newer head tube decal and with the old style seat tube and down tube decals......http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/Bianchi-83/01.jpg

This bike is a 6 speed so I am hoping the rear is 126. The seller is a little measurement challenged so I couldn't get that from him. It's a little hard to establish whether the rear is 120 or 126 when you measure in inches! At the very least, I may want to throw a Super Record 7 speed drivetrain on it. I also have a very nice 8 speed Record group with new hubs and almost new ergo shifters that would be a big step up in performance. I'm going to ride it "as is" immediately to get a feel for the ride characteristics before deciding. However, if the rear is only 120 should I be reluctant about going from 120 to 130 on the rear? I know 126 to 130 is nothing, but I've never taken the bigger jump. 5 mm on a side is about 1/5 of an inch.

Last edited by cpsqlrwn; 06-17-10 at 04:49 AM.
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