This is the rarest of the few I have, a '74/'75ish Klein:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/949/40...debfdb33_h.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/893/41...a16e4042_b.jpg

Above is ~more or less how it came to me with some substitutions and DD panache. I need a better pic of it in the sun...and to finish the wheels that I wouldn't have to worry about riding.

Details from when I disassembled for clean & wax:

https://i.imgur.com/lluPrbL.jpg?2

https://i.imgur.com/5nCjg3C.jpg?2

Buttery smooth, Dura Ace spindle:

https://i.imgur.com/rggjqlW.jpg?2

https://i.imgur.com/457JYP3.jpg?2

https://i.imgur.com/GBF6IV9.jpg?2

https://i.imgur.com/DHlI4ax.jpg?2

One similar example here: Quite very early Klein frame | Retrobike -- and one other that was at least a few years later showed up on BF a while back.

This one also has some aluminum and titanium bits here and there, SR pedals, some weight weenie bolts left off for now.

If anyone has info, please give a shout.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ed8d0a782b.jpg
1987 replica of my Dag Otto 1987 stage winner

Confente with 50th anniversary group? Yeah, I think that counts. Beautiful bike! Beautiful color. I'm considering a similar color for a current project.
Brent

:foo:

That is just cool. I love my 88' or so, so fun and fast. That is just way ahead of it time!

[QUOTE=Vonruden;20694206]Rare and valuable. Many on her have some value but so many places rare does not mean the same, or at least what they associate with it.

Rare - something you experience infrequently...

For instance:

Shimano’s trim being functional.

Hah!

Agreed.

Let's see what happens. Our son ordered a Kona NRB dl so we'll see what happens......

Rare: Take this back to the cook and make him finish it.

I like my bikes well done.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...767890886.html.

Seller is a bit deluded on his pricing.

But I bet it's the only one near Yorba Linda.

$3K??.... Really???!
And it's even a Frankenbuild....:twitchy:

See? I was right!

How about this 1982-3 John Harrington track frame?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...76f98a6d5a.jpg


The builder himself tells me he built 75 track frames, 250 road, and about 25 tandems in the Bay area in the early 1980s.

Cat 1 racer based at the Hellyer Park Velodrome, and later the driving force behind the establishment of Easton's cycling components division.

Very nicely finished, with some cool features such as Zeus track ends and oval 'brake' bridge.

Too small for me, so I moved this on to someone who will ride it (and promised not to drill anything out).

My newest acquisition raises the question, perhaps, of where we draw the line between 'rare' and 'uncommon' - Columbus EL OS frame, silver-brazed, 'Freuler' style geo with significant head tube and seat tube extensions, one of about 600 built over the course of a few decades by JP Ryffranck of Sherbrooke, Quebec. All were custom and I reckon with those specifics that there are not many quite like it out there...

I'll have to add pics later (brand new pickup and it's awful out here so no pics today), but in the meantime interested parties can check out this cool YouTube vid of Ryffranck interviewed in his home workshop:

Let's try the question in this form: how few frames would a given builder or shop with a given marque have to build before the frame's from this builder or shop would be considered rare? On the other hand, rare doesn't imply good. I could build one rubbish frame, and it would certainly be rare, but it wouldn't be anywhere near notable.

Well there is a bike shop called "Fusari" located in Via Firenze 2, Bolzano... shop-branded bikes are very common. Shop Website seems to be down but on the first page of google hits was a linkedin profile of a guy working there as a mechanic, too ;)

Fusari Cicli Bolzano « HEY BICICLETTE (top10posti.it)

Interesting thread. Rare is a word which should be easy to define, but like a lot of things in life, there are nuances.

Some in the thread have commented that certain bikes might not be rare by strict definition, but they are rare to see in their particular area. I've found that to be very true in my area. For example, I see bikes here on the forum that come up on Craigslist in other cities and I never see similar ones in mine, not even the brand in many instances. So there are certainly regional factors that add to rarity.

I have seen exactly one Miele in the years that I've scoured Craigslist in my state. That includes two major cities and several decent sized cities. And I bought it! Cleaned and refurbished it and resold it for profit. It was sadly just a tad small for me. It was quite nice though.
Bottechia? I've seen two and bought one. The other was junk.

Frejus? Still waiting! My dream is that a 57cm will suddenly appear locally at a decent price. So while Frejus might not be a rare brand, it sure it around my home. There was a dealer locally back in the day and I have seen one (that the shop owner had), but none in the wild or for sale.