Don't know much about De Rosas, but I'll take their top model from the mid 80's in red or blue as my favorite!.....

I think white pearl paint with your choice of lettering color would be cool

Mid 80s blue.
Also offers @armstrong101 a chromed stay treatment option w/ white decals on stay.
Not as fast as red, instead of being the rabbit, steady blue leads the pack. SLX.

Balance. That is the word that I always think of when I think of deRosas. It's also what makes a great bike great. I have three steel deRosas-Professional SLX, Nuovo Classico TSX (the old one), and Primato EL/OS. They are all very classically road racing bikes, but do vary slightly in their personality. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Nuovo Classico. Actually, it is my favorite steel bike of all time. It has the elusive combination of stability without sluggish steering...not that the others don't, but sometimes the stars are in alignment when the bike is put together...

My Buddy has the same Bike in Blue. The pics do not do it justice gorgeous Bike. Much nicer than the Red.
I searched for the right De Rosa for Months but ended up with a Cinelli SC. Still would Love to have a Blue one. Maybe one Day.

I have a blue 1983ish Professional with SLX. The frame looks nearly identical Spaghetti Legs example below, same color and size. Mine also has yellow lettering and the Super Prestige decal on the top tube.

It's sensational. It accelerates like a carbon race bike and the ride and handling are impeccable. My Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra has nearly identical geometry and is SLX also. Somehow the De Rosa feels more responsive. No other bike I've ridden comes close.

I can only echo the comments of @El Chaba & @Barrettscv regarding the handling, balance and race feel while providing comfort.

I was lucky to find mine years ago in the size that fits like a glove. Wanting to change out the Modolo stem, but almost afraid to modify anything that might alter the magic of this ride.

Sorry to be stuck on this thread.

To answer the titled question = Favorite DeRosa?

My favorite is ??? ,
meaning I Don't Know - at least until I get my buttocks on a mid/late 70s version, size 60, with 58-ish top tube, 12/13cm stem, 23mm tubies, lotsa chrome (more than mine), period Campy. And PLEASE, while I'm dreaming, make it Rabbit Red.

A De Rosa is on my bucket list of bikes to own. Having a Pinarello Montello, I am wondering if anyone can compare?

We often talk about DeRosa in comparison to Colnago, Pinarello, etc....but it should be noted that deRosa's output was pretty small compared to these others...even in the mid 80's to mid 90's period. Before his three sons joined the business, the production was quite small. Anything much earlier than the late 70's is very rare and rarer still to see in the United States. I still want one from the pre-investment cast era.

You and me both. They don't come up cheap and they don't come up often.

I have the Pinarello Gavia in TSX. The Gavia feels slightly more agile, but in some situations it feels slightly less natural and stable than the De Rosa Professional, especially if my shoulders are forward, while going downhill or while braking. The De Rosa always feels natural, neutral and predictable. The De Rosa, the Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra and my Serotta Nova Special X are three bikes that disappear while riding. There are no losses or exaggerations while turning or braking.

The Pinarello Gavia will exaggerate steering inputs in a way that improves response but sometimes that response is excessive and unexpected.

[MENTION=47570]Barrettscv[/MENTION] - thanks!

I'm down to four De Rosa's. The best one, by far, is the one I'm riding.

You ascetic

Since there are so many red and blue De Rosa: s here I have to post my dark green-goldish (a colour called ambrosia) 1979-80. First of the investment cast lugs. Sorry for the unshortened Campag brake cable housings. I really do not know what I was thinking that day. It will be fixed... any day now... (he said three years later)









I do have a 1985-6 in red but there has been enough of them already here.

I wish I had the good fortune to have a favorite amongst different models!

Here's my '86 Professional which has finally gotten out of the gates on the build. There is a Team Blue and an Azurro in the catalog, different shades of blue and I forget which is which. I hope to have her on the road in the next few days.

I have two De Rosa framesets hanging here on hooks.

A red 58ish made from SLX and a blue 52ish from SL.

Let me know if you might need one.....

I want a Bixxis when I grow up.

That's kinda the opposite of me. I know of a Cinelli SC in my size "locally". Not for sale yet... Then I had a De Rosa fall into my lap. That would be a pretty interesting thought experiment though: Cinelli SC vs a De Rosa, which one would rank higher on the grail list...

n+1

I've only ever owned a few 80's Professionals. I really liked the ride of the 'diamond' chain stays...

I have both. I prefer the De Rosa over the SC. That being said, I would never sell my SC.

Sold the blue 52 last night.

Thanks.

I have a few De Rosa bikes that I ride reasonably often. The one that leaves me with the biggest smile after or while riding is this one:

That would put a smile on my face too. Oh my...