Help to ID this 1980s Rossin
 

Hello!
I found this Rossin for sale (CND$1000 - ouf!). The Chorus groupset is said to be original so my initial guess was 1987-88 bike. I tried to identify it through catalogs (only found the 1988 from this period), Google searches and through this site. I am really puzzled. No crimped tubes so I thought it could be an RLX. However, I could not find a single Rossin RLX with top tube brake cable loops (the RL has them and it is in Co
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5e2cebb06.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...401d1ad14.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b1904bf46.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4b9b66f47.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aa8d0768a.jpeg
lumbus SL). Paint and tubing decals looks original. Could it be an earlier Rossin RLX? I think SLX tubing bikes started to be seen in 1984-85.
Thanks for your help!

That is my absolute favorite Campanutella group. When you’re ready to upgrade to 13 sped brifters let me know

PS. 10 Speed Drive offered custom paint options back then, not sure if they did it to Rossin or or why someone would pick that for a custom job.

As long as it is SLX tubing (check for rifling at the base of the seat tube) I think you'd be safe calling it an RLX.

There's a few RLX with cable guides:

https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159...66e927.jpg?v=0

If you were really worried, you could check the geometry:

https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/rossin-88/8.jpg

Beautiful bike, by the way.

RLX was the model name used only by the USA distributor, Ten Speed Drive. In Canada, where the OP is located, this model was known as the SLX Professional.

That is an amazing bike right there. If original equipment I would think it was an 87, wouldn’t it be?

'87 at the earliest, '90 at the latest.

Chorus was introduced in late 1987, for the the 1988 model year. The frame uses the pre-1988 version of the SLX decal. While it's possible that they were using up some older decal stock into 1988, it's just as possible that it was built with Chorus using a frame that had been hanging around the LBS for awhile.

Is it odd that the cable at the levers is not routed under the tape? I thought Chorus came with aero levers.levers

The bike looks like it mainly needs a good cleaning. Nice.

Pretty sure they were able to hooked up aero or non-aero.

Correct. Although aero/concealed brake cable configuration required a pair of the elusive "guide cable plates" which were often lost along the way forcing later rebuilds to be non-aero configuration.

Various Italian manufacturers and pro teams also continued to set up similar C-Record and Croce d'Aune levers up non-aero for a year or three post-introduction because that was how it was back then. No need to rush a change from what had been proven over decades prior. That of course led to the same practice for Chorus and Athena.

Thank you all for your very informative and quick answers. Looks like it's up to me to decide to put CND$1000 on this bike :foo:. Seems high to me, but I still have to see it.

Cheers!

While the paint appears quite good, the subject bicycle is not without issues. The bar tape is ripped. The front derailleur cage exhibits significant rust. The chrome shows some peppering and possibly exposed nickel. Some of the aluminum components are severely oxidized. Finally, why isn't there a chain? Is the seller trying to prevent a test ride, to hide other issues?

Montreal is a high priced market but it's also not a good time of year to sell a bicycle in that market. The ad is only 4 days old, so it sounds like the seller wants to move the bicycle now. I imagine they will be willing to settle for less. The question is how much less?

I have read some old bike reviews that are not very flattering of early aero brakes. They had considerably more friction than standard levers at the time.

Hard to tell, but shift levers look to have rounded tips and not the expected bevelled shape. If the tires are tubulars, this might not be desirable for you and a negotiation point.