Info & value of thrift store find: Titan exklusiv?
 

I found this beautiful bike - along with a equally beautiful vintage Bianchi road bike - at a local thrift store today! And unlike most I find that need minor (or major) work, this one is ready to ride except for the end of the handlebar tape needs to be reglued or taped!
There doesn't seem to be much info on it - can anyone tell me about it? I've figured out that it's Swiss or Italian (maybe Italian because the Bianchi found with it is Italian?), but mine has a "Falk" frame where most I've found had Columbus. And mine has Shimano EVERYTHING! Derailleurs, shifters, brakes, sprocket, even the racing pedals (with Titan straps)! And even the metal/chrome ring around the base of the frame's neck where the stem goes (see photo 8) - usually I see 'Cane Creek' on that piece

Speaking of stems - mine has a TITAN stem, but it looks like it's been in a fire! See 2nd photo - what caused that?

Any idea of what year this bike is?

Is the Shimano group factory or custom installed?

Is this a good bike? Should I call it a racing bike or a road bike when selling? What is it worth?

PS - I'm thinking this is a higher end bike - look at the lugs in photo 3 - they are ornately cut; with a diamond cut inside them! Add chrome forks + it has Mavic rims - please tell me I have a winner here!

Thank you in advance - I greatly appreciate any help this bike.

[IMG]https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4160/3...3d47d390_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 1AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr[/IMG]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2855/3...f010c3bd_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 2AA_AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2884/3...2791a388_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 2BA_A by miamibeachcg, on Flickr


https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2865/3...fb4fc1df_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 3AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/3...f56d7ce9_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 4AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr


https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2832/3...ecf35d99_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 4BAAA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2879/3...be26fcf1_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 5A_AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2881/3...a0998b23_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 5AAA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4184/3...47565d1a_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 6AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2874/3...51622c2c_z.jpgAA BICYCLE TITAN EXCLUSIV 5AA by miamibeachcg, on Flickr

I should have said it's a Shimano 600 groupset of everything(!) instead of just Shimano -
Thanks again for any help

It's a pretty nice generic Italian bike (or frame), probably from the seventies.

I won't set a value, and leave that to others, but there's a hint of a possible front end crash.

Take a close look at that area just behind the top tube head lug, and also look below the front end of the down tube.

Even the suspicion of a possible crash will cut into the value, but otherwise it's a nice frame, and the components have good value also, if it won't sell as a bike.

Speaking of possible front end daamge, I'm also concerned about the discoloration on the top tube just behind the head lug. Other than that, this is a very nice mid-range bike (falck tubing, shimano 600) and looks to be from Germany originally (look at the bike shop sticker which appears to have an address written in German). The bike is giving me a $250ish vibe if it is structurally sound; otherwise, it is worth whatever the parts will bring. The bike is exceptionally clean which helps the valuation; the brand is unknown which hurts the value.

Your stem...
 

Hopefully what you're seeing is an anodized finish faded by the sun instead of fire damage. Nice find! Hope you also have the special wrench to fit that EX headset!

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IIRC is there not a Dutch or Belgian Titan bicycle as well?

Is there a logo or crest which allows one to tell three marques apart?

Here is a late '60'a Italian ran across a fortnight or so back:


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OK, tell us how much you paid-it's required here!

Same as I paid for the Bianchi Campione d' Italia I found there next to it (I think they may have been donated from a couple - both have Shimano 600 Everything - from derailleurs to shifters to brakes to crank to pedals) - they were both marked $59 & I didn't even try to dicker the price down; I just agreed to pay before someone else saw them!

Pretty bike. Doesn't look like it took a very big hit. Could just be scrapes from a frame bag. Go get a luggage scale from someplace like Target and, weigh the bike. If it's down around 22 lbs or less then, it's worth a lot. Maybe $350 - $450. If it's over 28 lbs then, not worth as much. Maybe $150 - $250.

I seriously doubt this is 1970s. The New Shimano 600EX group is 1984-1987 and almost certainly 1984-1985, based on the friction levers. The tubeset is mid-range and at this level the frame characteristics are more typical of mid-1980s. The group is age and level appropriate for the frame.

I don't think the top tube damage is due to a crash. More likely, as previously suggested, it's a wear mark from a strap, based on the pattern, bare lug tip and lack of similar damage on the down tube.

picked up a Titan and found this post, did you find anything else out? mine says made in France on bottom also found the stem, brake set and rims on ebay and appears to to vintage. .