Senior Ryder 00 

Hi folks,

I've found a Bianchi frameset that's supposed to be from the 70s. The only thing that identifies it as a Bianchi are the seat stay caps. There don't appear to be any decals in the pix. It's way over priced, but the seller is a vintage clothing/furniture shop who is dreaming. The shop is 3 hours away, but I'm going to be in that area in a couple of weeks and would like to have some ammo to haggle the price down if it's not trashed. The frame appears to have been a half-assed SS conversion with a cheap crankset. The paint and lack of decals are obvious bargaining chips, but I would also like to ballpark the vintage and possibly the model or at least the tubing. I know that this vintage should the serial# on seat lug or possibly on the BB and should start with 16x-???. Any suggestions on checking the tube set? B-t-w, it's the right size.

Thanks and regards,

Van.

ridelikeaturtle

Would love to see some photos.

juvela

Earliest date for Bianchi marking in seat stay cap is ~1978. This is the beginning of the Piaggio period.

Senior Ryder 00 

Pix added

juvela

Thank you for the photos.

Are frame ends marked with a name?

Shell width? Shell thread?

Saddle pillar diameter?

Image of bottom bracket area not much help as it is out of focus.

Image of saddle does not enlarge, but would not be of much assistance in any event.

Senior Ryder 00 

@juvela Sorry, just copied the pix from the sellers posting. So, no control. You've presented good questions that need to be answered. I plan on asking a few pointed questions via phone prior to visiting the store. If I get a reasonable response, I'll start serious negotiations when I'm there with cash. Thanks for the help.

Regards,

Van

T-Mar

I'm fairly certain that this is an early 1980s, Japanese manufactured Bianchi. It's certainly not a racing frame based on the presence of the fender eyelets on both sets of dropouts. If it's Japanese, the serial number will be on the bottom bracket shell and we can tell the exact date of manufacture, down to the month. If it's Italian the serial number should be in two parts, on both sides of the seat lug. As for tubing, the best indicator would be to get the seat post diameter from the seller. Assuming it's Japanese, the best model would be a Limited with Ishiwata 022.

Bianchigirll 

I agree with T-Mar, looks like '83/84ish frame that came with a 600 group built in Japan. If it is one of the 022 Ishawata frames it should be a good rider but I wouldn't spend more than say $75ish on it and only if you have the parts on hand. 6+ hour round trip sounds like a deal breaker.

Senior Ryder 00 

Hi folks,

Many thanks for the excellent feedback. Although I’ve owned/ridden several Continental European bikes over the years, my current focus has been vintage English lightweights. The Bianchi info is greatly appreciated.


With the info provided, I’ll call the seller, ask a few pertinent questions, and see how they respond as well as get a feel for their willingness to haggle. They appear to be a neophyte “vintage” wheeler-dealer who’s trying to cash in on the Bianchi name. They’re asking $200. I have to be in that area week after next, so it wouldn’t be an inconvenience to stop in, check it out and make an offer. Hopefully, after I explain that they don’t have a rare, 70s, Italian Bianchi, but a Japanese manufactured Bianchi design with many missing components, they’ll accept an offer of ~$50. I’ll bring along documentation showing complete bikes with the proper components in the $250-$300 range.

B-T-W, there is a method to my madness. I have a hodge-podge of mid-level Campagnolo components from the mid 80s that I’d like to find a home for. If it turns out to be a nice ride, I’ll keep in the stable. If not, I’ll clean it up and move it on.

A special thanks to Bianchigirll and T-Mar. Their knowledge of Bianchi and it’s Italian cousins is outstanding.

Regards,

Van

Senior Ryder 00 

Hi folks,

I talked to a person at the vintage/antique mall where this bike is. She said that it’s in a vendor’s space and she tried to get me some additional info. The serial number on the BB is CF3020044. Sounds like it could be an 83/84 model from Japan or possibly Taiwan? The decals have been removed or painted over, so no indication as to model or tube set. Also, there aren’t any labels or markings on the fork crown. It has an SR stem which would indicate Japanese. Could be that the seller is trying to hide something.

The only obvious Bianchi identifiers are the block lettered “Bianchi” on the seat stay caps and the spade cutouts on the lugs.

Thanks again,

Van

Talked to a ero

T-Mar

The serial number indicates it's a 1983, Japanese manufactured model but that's all. We'd need to know the required seat post size to determine which model it might be, though I'm still leaning towards a Limited.

Senior Ryder 00 

@T-Mar,

Thanks for the feedback. I'll take my calipers with me. Can I assume that 27.0 or 27.2 would mean higher quality tubing? This one is probably Tange or Ishiwata.

Cheers,

Van

T-Mar

The presence of a forged dropout with integral hanger indicates it almost certainly isn't hi-tensile steel. However it could be CrMo, CMo or a mix. Given the year, it's almost certainly Ishiwata tubing. In which case, 022 would be a 27.4mm inner diameter seat tube for a 27.2 mm post. If it's a Magny seat tube, both dimensions will be 0.2 mm smaller. All of Tange's CrMo sets of this era used a 26.8 mm inner diameter.

If you're getting a lower reading, just make sure it isn't a false interpretation due to a smaller post having been installed. This should be evident by examining the cinch slot, which will be narrower at the top than the bottom. I often like to take a range of posts with me, just to make sure.