Can someone out there please help me. I came across this older Bianchi frame that someone was throwing out. I have dug around but can't seem to find something that matches this frame exactly. Can anybody give me an idea of approximate year? Model? Type of steel? Japan or Italy? Would it be worth rebuilding? And yes, I know the fork is not original. And no, I have no idea where the original fork is. Pictures attached. I tried to capture things to help identify but if something else would help, let me know.

Thanks !

Hi Stormymonk welcome to the forums. Is this in the US? the decals look like '84 to '87ish, and the Italian BB would make it an Italian made (possibly a Columbus steel) frame. I think it is a odd that it doesn't seem to any embelishments on the staycaps though.



maybe T-Mar can nail it down from the serial number.

Thanks Bianchigirll. I was hoping you would see this! In digging around I've seen that you and T-mar are always big help.
Yes, it is in the U.S. The staycaps are giving me trouble too. That is one of the reasons I took that specific picture. I wanted to point out that there was nothing on them...thought it might help in identification. One thing I forgot to mention; I was told it originally had full 105. Never saw it myself so I can't confirm.

It should be a 1988 model. The 105 components would make it a Bianchi Brava. OEM tubeset was Columbus Formula II which, given the era and level of bicycle, is probably Columbus Cromor

Thanks T-Mar. Are you suggesting an '88 based on the S/N? Did some Bravas have nothing on the staycaps? The only bike I see without embellishments on the staycaps are the CDI but you guys have a lot more knowledge with this then I do. Where did the Brava fall in the Bianchi line-up? From what I can gather it was a entry level road.

The embelishment on the staycap seems to have disappeared from the '87 to the '88 model year.

The Brava was a lower mid-range model.