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Define "rare"

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Old 11-27-18 | 04:00 AM
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Define "rare"

From my collection, it's this:



Why? I've only ever seen three of them - my example included. That's rarer than a Confente

Whatchoo got?

DD

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Old 11-27-18 | 04:06 AM
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Bikes: Saronni Colnago 1982; Battaglin 1982, Centurion Lemans RS 1978, 3Rensho Katana 1978, C. Borghi Olympia 1980, 3Rensho Athlete 1980's, Holdsworth 1980's and more...

This is rarest, I do believe. Because, there is only 1 in the world branded "Danny B Long", my son 's name.

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Old 11-27-18 | 05:24 AM
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Anything one is selling on E-Bay, apparently.
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Old 11-27-18 | 06:45 AM
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If you'd like a laugh put Rare in your local Craigslist Bicycle's search box.
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Old 11-27-18 | 06:52 AM
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Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Rare is when I cant find one and when I do it is way beyond my budget.

1988 Bridgestone Radac 3000
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Old 11-27-18 | 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by DiegoFrogs
Anything one is selling on E-Bay, apparently.
Yes, I was going to say "rare" can be defined as "something I'm selling on Ebay." "Commonplace" can be defined as "something you're selling on Ebay."
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Old 11-27-18 | 07:22 AM
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Bikes: Colnago Super, Basso Gap, Pogliaghi, Fabio Barecci, Torelli Pista, Miyata 1400A



My Fabio Barecci.

Nothing to special, but it might really be the only example in the USA. In all my research over the years, I've never seen another one here, and I have only seen 1 or 2 on Spanish e bay type sites. I believe the bike is of Spanish origin and was marketed by BH Bikes. I purchased the frame on e bay from Lance Armstrong's shop in Texas. I have no idea who Fabio was or is, but I like his style. Very Colnago-ish. I'd love to find out who he is. I did a full Campy build on her and it is a nice rider.


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Old 11-27-18 | 07:43 AM
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Probably not rare, but somewhat uncommon amongst production bikes. My ‘85 Merckx Pro in Reynolds 753 with C Record group.


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Old 11-27-18 | 07:48 AM
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Originally Posted by cb400bill
If you'd like a laugh put Rare in your local Craigslist Bicycle's search box.
Try "rare + badass" for real CL result.
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Old 11-27-18 | 08:42 AM
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Old 11-27-18 | 08:59 AM
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The frame and fork is certainly rare. I've had this for many years now and spent a lot of time looking for info mostly in Italy and found nothing, not even one bike or frame even close to it. So as far as I know it's the only one.

Originally had a Fusari decal and signature. Fusari is an Italian family name and used to names businesses and sports teams. Bolzano is an Italian city. How the two names come together to name this bike I cant find info on.

I've even contacted Olympia for info about the bike but with no reply.

It's a special bike to ride to me and become my grail bike. Very light but stiff in the bb and pure race bike






Not a current photo

93-95 Olympia Fusari by KB, on Flickr
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Old 11-27-18 | 09:06 AM
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Well, all those bikes are beautiful, and Nguyen's is not just "rare", it's unique - one of a kind .
But I don't think that "rare" necessarily implies beauty, or even desirability - Just something very uncommon.
By that definition, this is "rare", but not really beautiful, OR highly desirable (to most people) ...........

MacGregor 2 wheel drive mountain bike:
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Old 11-27-18 | 09:08 AM
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From: Heart Of Texas

Bikes: '85, '86 , '87 , '88 , '89 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman.

Rare is at least obtainable. This is rare but apparently obtainable as fellow BF member and Texan jim dandy has one and there was another in San Antonio. However that's it. The Centurion Ironman had a short five year run ending in '89. And this Color Scheme (Cobalt Blue marble) was never officially offered. The general consensus is that it was slated to be the '90 version.

​​​​​​​
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Old 11-27-18 | 09:20 AM
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From: Saigon - South Vietnam

Bikes: Saronni Colnago 1982; Battaglin 1982, Centurion Lemans RS 1978, 3Rensho Katana 1978, C. Borghi Olympia 1980, 3Rensho Athlete 1980's, Holdsworth 1980's and more...

Originally Posted by mixteup
Well, all those bikes are beautiful, and Nguyen's is not just "rare", it's unique - one of a kind .
But I don't think that "rare" necessarily implies beauty, or even desirability - Just something very uncommon.
By that definition, this is "rare", but not really beautiful, OR highly desirable (to most people) ...........

MacGregor 2 wheel drive mountain bike:
This one is really rare. It's the 1st time for me to see! To me, it's the most beautiful vintage MTB! Congrats!
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Old 11-27-18 | 09:29 AM
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Bikes: 79 Trek 930, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe (coupled), 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5

I have two. A 78 (Shwinn) World, their first import from Taiwan. They didn't claim it by not putting their name anywhere on it, except the quick releases on the brake levers. No idea how many came in, but there are not many left. Mine is in line for a suspension fork and a 27" knobby rear. The other one is a 79 Trek 930, 24". It came to me as a frameset, and I am not particular about period correct or matching components. Or drive side shots, apparently
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Old 11-27-18 | 09:43 AM
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The Ranson frame I have in the for sale section. I've seen exactly one other Ranson on the web, and it was more of a city bike, not like mine.
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Old 11-27-18 | 10:02 AM
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Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma

Rare, to me, means nothing in the world of vintage road bicycles. Generally, old and I mean pre-1970 road bikes are rare - in North America. and parts for them are equally rare. So, I suppose that my Rabeneick 120d, from the late fifties might be considered to be rare, simply because it is old and not all that many were made...


Suppose that I could argue that my early Quintanna Roo is rare also, but only because it is the only one that I have ever seen in person...
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Old 11-27-18 | 10:15 AM
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1972 Line Seeker CF/Steel/Al race bike.
It's the only example that I had found so far that is original, intact and rideable. Only things I had to replace was the brake levers, saddle, brake cables and pads and rims on the wheels. The only other one I found was owned by a bicycle museum and it was toast.
#22 of supposedly only 300 made (hand made in the designing engineer's residence in 1972). Before Exxon bought the design from the engineer and modified to become the Exxon Graftek.
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Old 11-27-18 | 10:21 AM
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Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033

I have a '76 Bridgestone Superlight 'Ten-Speed'
While Bridgestone's aren't rare, the cast-aluminum Superlight is an odd duck.

All of the Ten-speed Superlight's I've seen have been badged as Kabukis, C.Itohs or (Canandian) SuperCycle, never a Bridgestone.
I've found pictures of 'Bridgestone Superlights' but while they appear to share the same frame, they're fendered 3-speeds with swept bars. And they seem to all be in Thailand, or Vietnam.

This particular example was purchased in Okinawa (in 1976), so that explains the Bridgstone badging, but it's a 57~58mm frame, so probably aimed at the export market rather than the locals.
Pre-restoration, mostly original state:
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Old 11-27-18 | 10:26 AM
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Pino Morroni titanium/aluminum skewers. Velo Base suggests these are "Exceedingly Rare".....subjective for sure, but better than my opinion!

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Old 11-27-18 | 10:38 AM
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The one I built myself .. I never made one like it again..
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Old 11-27-18 | 11:01 AM
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From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL

Bikes: Still have a few left!

All I have are a few "Somewhat Rare". So like most of our bikes, only appreciated by bike geeks. Recently got this one based on its unusual frame geometry + low price. 91 Gary Fisher Montare. I examined her seat tube and braze on DR tab carefully, because some cracking/failure problems were reported. Comforting that owner was a trim young fellow who weighed 145 pounds. Plan a renovation this Winter. Don
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Old 11-27-18 | 11:18 AM
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From: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL

Bikes: Still have a few left!

Forget to add my definition of rare: Seldom seen.

Likely we all have old, seldom seen, non-bike stuff, such as hand tools, machinery, musical instruments, weapons and other stuff we valued and used over the years. Don
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Old 11-27-18 | 11:18 AM
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Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs

Rare? Pink in the middle.

Or, a gugified bicycle - like the one I rode on Sunday when the weather was nice.

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Old 11-27-18 | 11:52 AM
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Bikes: Bunches

I don't even see the relevance of "rare". The rarest balloon tire bike I own is also probably my least expensive bike. "Desirable" is where it's at! V/r Shawn
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