Fredo76

1. My tricycle with the extra-large front wheel.
2. The red Schwinn that I learned to ride on.
3. The Raleigh 3-speed that became my paper-route bike.
4. The Romana 120 10-speed that I bought with my paper-route money.
5. Fredo, the frame I built in high-school with Colin Laing.

I only still have the last one, alas.

obrentharris 

I'm very happy we have arrived at zero consensus! This forum would be miserably boring if we all wanted the same 5 bikes.
Brent

fvernon

I'm quite happy with these 4 already in my possession:

- 1977 Romic custom sports-tourer
- 1979 Centurion Pro Tour
- 1991 Marinoni Special in Columbus TSX
- 1998 Petaluma/Ross Shafer-era Salsa La Cruz monstercross

What would round out my top-5?
- A Jim Merz
- I definitely drool over the barely-ridden, almost NOS 1976 Centurion Semi-Pro hanging in my neighbor's garage

merziac

Atta boy

Kontact 

1. Chris Kvale. Quite possibly the nicest made custom lugged steel bike builder around, but not well known. Tiny, elegant thinned lugs.
2. Serotta NHK. I have one. This was a transitional frame between more classic lugged designs and the Colorado tubeset. Straight SLX main tubes, fastback seatstays, sexy curved chainstays.
3. Various '80s Miyata racing bikes. Something about the name, the graphics, the way the cables went through the top tube (even though they tended to crack there).
4.Gios Compact. So cool.
5. '89 Lemond Bottechias.

scarlson 

1. Bailleul with Nivex derailleurs front and rear
2. Paul Charrel with the weird fender mounts
3. Herse tandem (have one)
4. Barralumin
5. Alex Singer from the '50s

mhespenheide 

Assuming I could find them in my (tall) sizes and other quirks, and not meant to be in any order:

• A fillet-brazed Ritchey road bike (with steel fork)
• A DiNucci, Strawberry, or Merz; or an appropriate Davidson from the Bulgie era
• A Della Santa, for the Lemond and Reno/Eastern Sierra connection
• A Dave Kirk
• the impossible, because he's now retired; a neo-retro Tim Neenan in the style of the original Sequoia built with modern steel.
• (A Chris Kvale would be a very close sixth)

My tastes run towards American and a blend of modern and classic, or at least "mid-school" vintage.

sd5782 

I realize this thread invites all kinds of perspectives including rider uses and custom frames. I haven’t had access to customs and am not a fast rider. That being said, I have a couple frames for perspective. My 89 Miyata 1000LT is an impressive beast. An 83 Trek 700 in full 531 is also a very nice data point. My old friend of a 1973 Schwinn Super Sport actually measures up quite well and is a very pleasant ride.

Considering my limited exposure, I did get one a few years ago that really impressed me. It’s a 1972 Fuji Newest that came to me in rough shape. The previous owner must have treasured it, as it had some higher end components on it but was obviously a commuter bike at that point. I changed it to suit me, but am quite impressed with the “feel”. I’m no expert, but it just feels nice. So, I will only submit 1 bike to this best thread.

WaveyGravey

Specialized Allez Sport. 1997

georges1

the first Specialized Epic in carbon with Aluminium lugs were amazing bikes. Daccordi, Vetta and Grandis frames are also high quality frames

rch427

Is there a story behind the acquisition of your Confente?
I would expect that buying any such rare beast would have involved unmarked bills concealed inside of a hollowed-out book, a password whispered through a peephole, a Cuban priest with a scar across his cheek, and an East German model named "Uta"...

bikingshearer 

This is all extremely subjective, which is fine. For me, the most desirable steel frames are ones I lusted after and could not afford in my teenage years. Hence the ones I have now, in order of acquisition: Schwinn Paramount; Ron Cooper; Albert Eisentraut, Cinelli SC, and another Cinelli SC (it basically fell into my lap; I was not looking for another one). None newer that 1982 or so. All great frames that built up into great bikes. There are others out there that I have think are gorgeous and highly desirable, but not by me. Some folks would have no great desire to own mine. Vive le difference, and all that

VanCityNovice

I kept a list in my computer before I reset it, but I think I've got it stored in my brain permanently anyway.

1.) David Kirk Onesto with Terraplane stays - I've been fascinated by his design philosophy and the passion he clearly has for the art of frame assembly since I stumbled upon his Instagram page.

2.) Pink 1985 Trek 170 - I've been curious about Reynolds 753 and how it compares to 853, and I fell in love with the hot pink as soon as I saw it. I'm hoping one appears near me soon.

3.) Billato built Lemond - I'm a big fan of the guy after what happened with him and Lance, and I've owned a few of the Trek-built 853 Lemonds. I love the paint jobs as well.

4.) Fillet brazed Ritchey Road Classic - This was the frame that made me want to start building frames myself, so I would love to own one in good condition. I think fillets look so elegant compared to other assembly methods.

5.) Any DeRosa - I just think they look nice.

merziac

DiNucci
Strawberry
Merz
Davidson

Then pick one of the others and you are set.

repechage

knowing the original buyer helps.

imabeliever1

This bike just looks looks right in so many ways. Nothing flashy, just a beautiful ride.