I picked up a 54cm Benotto for cheap earlier today, mainly for the components to use on my Waterford, but I am trying to identify which frame it is. It has the heart cutout on the bottom bracket (not sure if that is significant), has a Campi front deraillure, and the only bottom bracket markings I can make out are 8355 on crank side and 620 on the other. It has a Columbus SLX tubing sticker, headset says "Levin Tange Japan".

Any ideas?

Bump.

Can anyone help anomaly?

East Hill

I am still having trouble tracking down any info. I'm not sure if it's a high end Benotto or a low end, I'm guessing with the head set, campi front, and SLX tubing it is on the higher end but I have no idea.

I've been looking at your question for a day now hoping that someone could help you. I have a Benotto that I would like to identify as well, thus my interest in your questions.

My Benotto is quite distinctive with most tubes being shaped in some way, but I am waiting to photograph the bike to help with my questions. I need to learn this technology.

I think your questions would be enhanced with photo evidence to help others find probable answers to your questions.

Now to your bike: If it is Columbus SLX tubing it is a high end frame. This tubing was the cutting edge during the 1980'S. I would say that the heart cut-out is significant but I don't know enough about this feature. I do know that Benotto originally made top frames in Italy for many years (used by top teams and ridden by world champions) before moving to Mexico around the end of the 70's or start of the 80's. My frame is a Mexican frame but it is beautifully built. The Italian frames are more desirable though. Most Benotto frames I have seen have 'Benotto' cast into the seat stay ends and a 'B' or 'Benotto' cast into the fork crowns and rear brake bridge.

If you could identify the front derrailleur you would probably find that it was a Campagnolo super/nuovo record item. It could also be a later item from the c-record era as well. My bet would be that it was a super/nuovo record derailleur though. These derailleurs were top end stuff and often went together with SLX frames. You might be able to find out which Campy derailleur you have by looking up ebay and finding the same derailleur there. You will have to look closely as some differences are minor but can mean quite a lot.

Another clue to an original derailleur could be faded paint on the frame that corresponds to the shape of the derailleur. This brings up the frame features; I would expect a top end frame of the 80's era to have brased on fittings such as a front derailleur hanger, perhaps 2 sets of bottle cage mounts, brake cable guides, a peg to hang the chain from when changing the back wheel, etc. Does your frame seem to have fittings that hold various components?

The Tange headset seems out of place but it is a good headset though. One option is that it could be a replacement headset for a worn-out campy headset. If the frame has a bottom bracket axle assembly in it, what is the make of the bottom bracket axle? (If you were putting together a new bike, you would probably use components from the same groupset.) My problem with the headset is that it is far easier to change a derailleur than it is to change a headset. The headset could be the original item which would/could change my opinion of the frame.

Best of luck finding out what frame you have.

I have a Benotto with the heart shaped cut out on the bb, and I was told it suggested it was an Italian frame with a De Rosa connection. I take this with a grain of salt -I'd love to get more info, though.

I was just reading this thread and the only heart shaped BB cutout I know were the DeRosas. Colnago had cloverleaf cutout on the bottom. By Gios has a GT cutout on the BB.

I don't ever remember seeing a Benotto bike during the 80's (that don't mean they don't exist, I just didn't see any in my neck of the skyscrapers) but I've sure used a lot their handlebar tape.

There are Benotto's with a heart shape cutout. The one I know for sure had a heart cutout was the 3000 model which was pretty much top of the line. From what I've been able to find a good condition frame set for a 3000 goes for $5-700. I'm moving to my new place so I will take pictures next time I am at my old place. It has a Made in Italy sticker on it as well. For reference the front of my frame is white, and the rear stays are chrome. The paint is pretty beat up, and there is some surface rust showing, but the frame seems to be in great condition otherwise.

Anyone?

I had a nice Benotto track frame made of SLX. The chainstays were diamond-shaped, as are most all upper end Benottos whether of Mexican or Italian construction. If "most" of the tubes are shaped then I assume the bike was built with Columbus MS which was very high-end stuff.

As for the heart cut-out, my bike had it and it was definitely a Mexican frame. Mexico frames, BTW, were quite serviceable and often came with very nice paint, but needed a lot of clean-up before assembly. BB threads and inside seat tubes usually came from the factory an absolute mess.

Value? Euro-Asia was selling new old stock for between $250 and $350 (wholesale), no more than five or six years ago. I would think $5-$700 would be excessive even for an NOS Mexican frame. A nice Italian racing frame from the '70s might approach that price, IMO.

As for the frame in question, it is probably a Mexico frame as the Italian ones tended to say so. SLX was, of course, top end stuff, so I figure you have a top end model. I doubt, though, that you could sell it for very much unless it is in essentially perfect condition. There just isn't enough provenance in Mexico-made Benottos for the collectors to take interest.

HTH!