dsonyay

Hello.. yesterday I was given this bike: it is a steel frame Masi Gran Corsa with full 105 groupset. Brake levers are shimano but not 105. On the chainstay theres writing that says “Brev. Masi”. Abbreviation for Brevet??

It needs a chain, rear wheel, cassette, two tires, rim tape, and tubes. Probably a few adjustments as well.

It literally looks brand new .. zero rust. I almost believe it was some sort of restoration project down to the tiniest detail. The crank bearings are like butter (as well as steering tube). The bike is just a bit dirty.

Im going to get this bike rolling and maybe ise it as a primary road bike.. the steel frame may be great for long rides.

does anyone know anything about this brand and model? I only know Masi was the star of “Breaking Away” in the late 70s.

It looks like a 70s era bike

pics attached— I can post a better shot of the whole frame later.

dsonyay

Few more pics:

Robvolz 

A post like this and people will wonder if you are being serious.

MASI was considered one of the 4 tailors, experts in framebuilding along w Cino Cinelli, Ernesto Colnago and Ugo DeRosa

much has already been written about Masi. Shouldn’t be hard to find.

It’s like asking a car group; “hey has anybody heard of Alfa Romeo? I know a car was used in the movie ‘the graduate’ but that’s all I can find.”

Cool find, regardless of the shimano stuff.

thinktubes 

rccardr 

Nice.
Can any of our Masi lovers help date the frameset with the serial 8588?
Component group is 87-88-ish.

martl

brevet. == "Marcio Brevettato"; brevettato == "patented". In this context, its the same as "registered trademark". You may also find "marca depositata" which means the same thing.

btw a 105 on a Masi is a registered sacrilege.

dsonyay

yes. Well I’m very sorry.. but I have no clue about Maci except that recently I’ve seen Maci bikes on the road and they were all Chinese made frame sets in either aluminum of carbon I suppose.

When I went to pick up this frame set, I knew it was steel and I fully expected it to be completely rusted up and in poor shape so I was thinking I’d probably give it to a buddy who likes vintage bikes.. but this thing is so nice and nearly ready to ride, I want to get it riding and get a feel for a steel frame bike as it’s been decades since I’ve been on one.

The only thing I know about Maci steel frames is the star of “breaking away” movie was riding one -That’s it .. lol. I thought they were made in Italy, but it appears that they were made in Colorado at one point?

Is it possible that this is a recent Chinese knock off steel frame? Sold through Aliexpress? I mean, it looks so freaking brand new that I find it hard to believe that it just sat in a garage for many decades.. so was thinking this was some sort of knock off from china.

Or — whoever had this bike before me may have actually done a full restoration on it complete with paint job and decals, and never got to finish it. The bike was in the back shed of a nearby home.. and the new owners just wanted it gone. The previous owner had died, so I assume he was some sort of a cyclist/hobbyist.

As much as I enjoy cycling.. I really have no clue as to what this actually is other than maybe a very old Maci bike. Or maybe a “new” aliExpress type retro bike. I have no intention on selling it.. just want to kind of enjoy it as it is.

I went through a bunch of YouTube videos and some online searching, and it does appear They made a Gran Criterium. I figured that one was more of a racing bike geometry, and the one that I have in these pictures is more of an all purpose road bike more or less.

billytwosheds 

If you're interested and willing to learn, you've stumbled upon a very nice bike and a community full of knowledge.

If it's not near your size, you should be able to sell or trade it for something high end that will work for you.

If (and I know this is a third if) you don't have the tools and patience to work on a classic steed like this, stop. Get the bike off the ground and don't lean anything on it. You've got a gem there.

dsonyay

back then were rear cassettes mostly 5 speed?? Need to figure that out.. i need a rear wheel and cassette.. only has a Shimano from wheel

dsonyay

good advice.. I am friends with an mechanical, engineer, who also works part time as a bike mechanic, and loves all kinds of vintage stuff like this. I was actually going to give him the bike because I assumed it was gonna be in poor shape and I didn’t really wanna mess with it , but once I got my hands on it, it literally looks like a brand new bike with just about everything needed to ride except for a rear wheel , cassette, tires , and chain.

The groupset looks fantastic, and all of the bearings are actually very buttery smooth. I’m wondering if it actually came with Campanello parts and the prior owner tried to do a group set upgrade and went with shimano maybe. Who knows.. he passed away and new owner wanted it out

unworthy1

seems like that's a good general estimate for timeframe: despite the decals being an homage to '70s era Gran Criteriums, this is undoubtedly a later frameset. Columbus tubing decal points to something drawn specifically for Masi, but could be something like a assembly of different weights/wall thickness SL, perhaps with some SLX?

When Columbus was making these 'bespoke" decals the waters got pretty murky except for things like the Bianchi "Super Sets" that are well documented.

No doubt this is a "genuine" (Italian-made?) Masi but from the era after rights had passed hands and perhaps even Faliero's son Alberto was not allowed to make frames with the Masi name.

Personally I'm not nearly as incensed by seeing Shimano 105 on a Masi as some are, but really? Did they have to use Biopace chainrings?

dedhed

Not your average bike.

https://www.ebay.com/b/Masi-Bikes/177831/bn_55170556

https://www.ebay.com/itm/13477979115...3ABFBM6Pumofli

unworthy1

masure the space between the inboard faces of the rear dropouts (where the rear wheel axle will go): if this has 126mm spacing then your rear wheel hub takes something like a 6-speed cassette or freewheel, Chances are this might be 126 or the "next size up" 130mm...you should start educating yourself by reading all you can from Sheldon Brown (a treasure of vital info):
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bicycleGears.html

unworthy1

Of all this search result shows I think this is the one that most closely matches what you bought (same decals including the Columbus sticker)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/40449003001...Bk9SR9yHgaL5Yg
but the charity seller does not note in what year they think it was built. However the Campy gruppo and 8-speed rear are good clues, plus it looks later than the other red Gran Corsa which is dated as "1985":
https://www.ebay.com/itm/40449003001...Bk9SR9yHgaL5Yg

jdawginsc 

Not a Masi expert by any means, but as Doc said components are SLR era, click 105 6 speed Shimano. Looks like the frame might be slightly earlier by the frame details. Maybe 85-86? 126mm tear drops would seem to make it that era...?

Thats a beauty.

dsonyay

thanks.. I will get this bike roadworthy first, and later I might try to source some Campy parts to get it back close to that correct vintage.

i was playing with the shifter/ deraileur and it is not the sis type, but a friction style.

my buddy will look it over and we’ll get appropriate bits ordered just to fet it rolling.. tires, chain, rear wheel, cassette.. thats really it.

Could Masi bikes have been equipped with Shimano? Or maybe the frameset was bought, and buyer built it up himself. Hard to know i suppose.

dsonyay

I see “SLR” on brake levers.. and also on brakes calipers ( along with “105”). Never heard of SLR.

dsonyay

Spotted this sticker, and forgot to upload it. Looks like the name of a Bike Shop?? Anyone ever heard of this place? Probably long closed by now:

P!N20

Importer/distributor. They imported a lot of European bikes and components.

They were reps for Masi USA, so that probably tells you where your frame was made. They folded in the early 90's, I believe.

dsonyay

maybe this was an inported bike? Was thinking it was a California made bike.. but maybe an actual Italian bike? Well, maybe not everything they sold was imported I suppose.. but that’s pretty cool. I looked up the shop .. was in Marina Del Rey. Closed in the 90s.

edit— Masi USA rep— i missed that part. So yeah.. probably built in the CA shop.

P!N20

Shimano Linear Response. It was used across component tiers, just like STI or SPD.

P!N20

Most likely - still a very desirable bike!

dsonyay

Maybe that’s why the bike is outfitted in Shimano 105 gear. Because it was made in the USA? Makes a bit of sense that USA made bikes may have had Shimano parts. Just a guess

dsonyay

yes— I’m kind of excited to get this on the road now. .. just a couple of missing items.

Chuck M 

Buy the person that gave you that a beer or three. I'm over here with people I know trying to give me department store Schwinns out of their garage.