Would Love To Identify This Vintage Steel Road Bike
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Would Love To Identify This Vintage Steel Road Bike
Picked up this bike frame from my brother along with another road frame (which folks from BF were able to identify as a nicer Bielstein bike and provide some good background on the bike as well).
Unfortunately this frame has no decals and the only identification number I can find is on the bottom of the BB.
Would love to have some of the BF gurus opine on what this frame might be.
I plan to build up the Bielstein bike but would like to know if this frame is worth investing time and money into to also build up.
Unfortunately this frame has no decals and the only identification number I can find is on the bottom of the BB.
Would love to have some of the BF gurus opine on what this frame might be.
I plan to build up the Bielstein bike but would like to know if this frame is worth investing time and money into to also build up.
#2
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,584
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1444 Post(s)
Liked 1,063 Times
in
788 Posts
Yeah, looks well-brazed and the seat cluster details are especially nice, but would be nicer if the seat lug "ears" are filled in rather than hollow (I can't tell for sure). The BB shell a little more commonplace but all told would be worth somebody's time, especially if there's a fork!
Is it Ital threading? What's the seat post size?
A bit too much that's generic to pin a name to it, could be any of a dozen or more.
EDIT: one concern, the shorty Campy DOs like this has have a rep for cracking, and the fact this DS one looks a little "porous" in the casting...I would keep my eye on that and try not to stress it if you can. They are fine until the aren't, but then you have a repair that can be costly. I have had 2 of these crack on bikes I owned.
Is it Ital threading? What's the seat post size?
A bit too much that's generic to pin a name to it, could be any of a dozen or more.
EDIT: one concern, the shorty Campy DOs like this has have a rep for cracking, and the fact this DS one looks a little "porous" in the casting...I would keep my eye on that and try not to stress it if you can. They are fine until the aren't, but then you have a repair that can be costly. I have had 2 of these crack on bikes I owned.
Last edited by unworthy1; 07-03-22 at 09:47 AM.
#3
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,601 Times
in
1,764 Posts
1985 Batavus Professional. 60cm frame. Nice. 👍
#4
Senior Member
No matter who made it, that is a nice frame and is worthy of paint and a rebuild.
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I do have the fork as well, should have taken a picture of that and posted it as well. When I go back to his shop to pick it up I’ll take a picture of the fork and repost.
I’ll check the threading to see if it is Italian and also measure the seat post.
If this really is a Batavus Professional, then I do think it is worth restoring. My brother owns a auto body shop so just need to determine the original paint code (looks like the frame came in blue) and repaint the frame in the original color.
I’ll check the threading to see if it is Italian and also measure the seat post.
If this really is a Batavus Professional, then I do think it is worth restoring. My brother owns a auto body shop so just need to determine the original paint code (looks like the frame came in blue) and repaint the frame in the original color.
#6
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,601 Times
in
1,764 Posts
Before you add any paint, check the tubing. These could be had in Reynolds 531 as well as Columbus SL. I would expect the fork to be a chromed affair.
#9
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,601 Times
in
1,764 Posts
Here you go. And a picture of another '85 BB shell for good measure:
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Awesome…thanks.
I think I am going to go with the Transparent Blue for the new frame color.
May take a while to paint and build the bike but will post pictures once finished. Just need to build the custom Bielstein bike first!
I think I am going to go with the Transparent Blue for the new frame color.
May take a while to paint and build the bike but will post pictures once finished. Just need to build the custom Bielstein bike first!
Likes For unworthy1:
#12
Seńor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,925
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,093 Times
in
640 Posts
When I saw the first picture of the BB shell I was thinking something like C-Itoh. Then the wrap-arounds had me thinking Falcon. Then I became very confused. Glad non-fixie pegged it, and that it's much better than that 1st picture lets on.
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
#13
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,799
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,326 Times
in
837 Posts
The combined knowledge base and expertise of this group is as impressive as its passion for C&V bikes. I cannot jump onto this forum without learning something.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Likes For John E:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,794
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3513 Post(s)
Liked 2,926 Times
in
1,775 Posts
The frame looks really nice, but that fork...Seems very crudely assembled. That crown looks like it has quite a bit more metal then necessary!
Likes For smd4:
#17
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,194
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times
in
866 Posts
From the catalog images, the "Criterium" and "Competition" models appear to use the pictured "box" fork crown, not sloping.
The "Nuovo" Professional's fork being the only one that's chromed(?).
The "Nuovo" Professional's fork being the only one that's chromed(?).
#18
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,601 Times
in
1,764 Posts
That is definitely not a Batavus Professional fork.
This is what I would expect it to look like. My '84 Professional (Columbus version):
This is what I would expect it to look like. My '84 Professional (Columbus version):
#19
framebuilder
That fork looks exactly like forks on my 70's Schwinn Super Sports. I'm sure it was not original to the frame. It might be something an owner could have gotten as a replacement at a Schwinn Store.
Likes For Doug Fattic:
#20
framebuilder
Here is a picture of an early 70's Schwinn Super Sport Fork. I'm in the process of repainting it and the blue is a House of Kolor primer. Eventually it will get painted another blue base coat color before it is final cleared.
You can see that my fork looks exactly like the OP's fork. His look-alike is an obvious replacement. An early 70's the Super Sport was one down from the top-of-the-line Paramount and cost about $150. Schwinn experts can chime in with greater knowledge but my impression was these forks were not made in Chicago but rather imported from Japan. The forks on my Super Sports from the mid 60's were more nicely made. I'm assuming those were made in Chicago.
You can see that my fork looks exactly like the OP's fork. His look-alike is an obvious replacement. An early 70's the Super Sport was one down from the top-of-the-line Paramount and cost about $150. Schwinn experts can chime in with greater knowledge but my impression was these forks were not made in Chicago but rather imported from Japan. The forks on my Super Sports from the mid 60's were more nicely made. I'm assuming those were made in Chicago.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Toledo Ohio
Posts: 1,496
Bikes: 1964 Huffy Sportsman, 1972 Fuji Newest, 1973 Schwinn Super Sport (3), 1982 Trek 412, 1983 Trek 700, 1989 Miyata 1000LT, 1991 Bianchi Boardwalk, plus others
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 583 Post(s)
Liked 699 Times
in
394 Posts
And that fork on the Super Sport would have had the shiny chrome sheet metal cap covering the crown. It was certainly a cost cutting way to dress up the looks of the crown and not have a lot of labor intensive hand finishing work.
#22
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
This picture is from BMXMuseum.com, but I believe someone has posted a larger copy (or a different brochure) here on the forum that shows the exact fork available from Tange's catalog of lower-end hi-ten offerings:
At any rate, that frame is definitely worthy of something better. Probably doesn't fit it right either; the fork is likely built for 27"/ISO 630 clearances and the frame 700C.
-Kurt
#23
Junior Member
Thread Starter
As always, the wealth of knowledge on this forum is second to none.
Good thing I posted a picture of the fork. I assumed, given that both the frame and fork had been stripped down, that both were original.
Bad assumption on my part. I should know better, but here’s another assumption…finding a matching fork for my frame is going to be very difficult to find.
Good thing I posted a picture of the fork. I assumed, given that both the frame and fork had been stripped down, that both were original.
Bad assumption on my part. I should know better, but here’s another assumption…finding a matching fork for my frame is going to be very difficult to find.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,053
Bikes: Gunnar, Shogun, Concorde, F Moser, Pete Tansley, Rocky Mtn, Diamant, Krapf, Marin, Avanti, Winora, Emmelle, Ken Evans
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Liked 417 Times
in
218 Posts
any vaguely correct nice chrome fork would be good
nobody would notice except all the people here who would notice
nobody would notice except all the people here who would notice
Likes For Soody:
#25
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,395 Times
in
2,092 Posts
-Kurt