Two Bianchis that need identification!
 

Hello, I am thinking of buying this old Bianchi:

http://www.blocket.se/vi/11988800.htm?ca=11_s

(and possibly http://www.blocket.se/vi/11875130.htm?ca=11_s too, but I don't have any details here)

For the first bike, I know the following:

1. It has a Made in Italy decal on the tube above the crank

2. It has a 68.8 mm bottom bracket (probably 68mm), seemingly contradicting 1.

3. It has a Campione del Mondo 1986-87 Colorado Springs sticker.

4. It has Campa gears and rims, and "Modolo Corsa" brakes.

5. It has a number, possibly a S/N, on the steering lug: 7B00516. It also says '73' somewhere close to this.

6. 'BCM' is engraved on a tube somewhere.

7. Another sticker says "TTS/Tubi Trafilati Speciali/Bianchi".

8. Yet another says Bianchi Martini Racing

It sells for around 300 euro, which is about average for 80's and 90's racers here. The condition is good, and the seller very nice, but it's far away from here so it would mean a bit of a hassle.

If anyone has any thoughts on the first one, please let me know!

I am sure some of the bike detectives out there can recognize the frame from this info!

Thanks,

Gustaf

New photos:

I really can't say that I would choose one bike over the other. They both look very similar. They both look to be '85 / '87 models.

I would probably investigate the components and select the bike with the more original parts but condition would have to be a factor in the choice of bike.

Thanks for your reply. I was actually considering to possibly buy both, but I am especially keen to find out more about the first. The seller lives on the other coast, and doesn't know exactly what model, year, frame etc it is, so I was hoping someone could tell me. The sticker says made in Italy, but I think someone here said that the Italian frames have a 70mm bottom bracket, which this doesn't seem to have.

Hej pa dej Gustavo! Where in sweden are you? As for the bikes, the components you show on the green one do not look to be top of the line Campagnolo, and it is hard to say about the second one. It is interesting that the green one is made in Italy, but with a 68mm bottom bracket. Was the measurement done correctly? Are there any Columbus tubing decals on either of them, and if so, what do they say? It sounds like maybe the green one has some kind of proprietary Bianchi tubing (TTS/Tubi Trafilati Speciali/Bianchi), which probably does not indicate a high-end Bianchi frame. Hopefully some others here on the Forum will know more. Good luck!

from the parts mix (mostly second tier Ofmega stuff, looks like) the first bike is probably a Trofeo, or whatever is equivalent in Europe. The celeste color was reserved for made in Italy bikes, and I'm gonna be suprised if that bottom bracket isn't really a 70. I rode a Trofeo for a couple of years...it was a good solid, comfortable race bike, not a lightweight. It would make a good stage racer, or fast randonneur. The celeste bikes, especially, still seem to be gaining in value. Based solely on color, I'd guess that the second could be a Limited (a Japanese Bianchi). All things being equal (and they're not) the Limited is probably a better bike, but not nearly so good an investment. Ask about the "Made in Italy" sticker on the second one...

Luker: Thanks for the input! If it is a Trofeo or similar, I should proabably try to bargain a bit then. I have asked the other seller about stickers.

evwxxx:
Thanks for the info, I am a native Stockholmer, have you been here? Is it correctly understood that the better frames have colombus tubing?

My idea was actually to buy one of these bikes and use it to make a fixie. How do I recognize a high-end 80's frame? Perhaps I could even go for one from the 70's? I have a red italian frame on my road bike, supposedly from 1986 that is very light, perhaps triply reduced? It is marked "Columbus", but I haven't checked if they just made the tubes, I'll have a look later. The coolest thing to do I suppose would be to buy an old Bianchi Pista, but they seem hard to come by.

From the seventies and eighties, the battle was between reynolds and columbus - both are really good, and you can't go wrong with either. The identification of any without a tubing sticker is pretty tough. They are still duking it out today, btw, but there are several other topline tubing makers in the battle now. Probably your best bet is to find one in original paint and parts mix (not that hard, really) and then find the reference catalog on the web (bulgier.net is invaluable). counterfeit bikes are not unheard of, but usually way too much trouble to do very well, for such small renumeration.

Oh, hey! if you are looking for the schizz, look for columbus KL or reynolds 753. Style points are way up there with either tubeset.

I'm one of those who think Bianchi only should come in celeste ;)

Pity the BB is 70. Have to recheck my to-be-build bianchi frame on that. Are they common?

Hi Gustavo. My father was from Skovde, my mother's parents from Varmland, so I have been to Sweden several times, including Stockholm, and drive Volvo's (I have 3) and even have a Crescent road bike. Most high end Italian bikes came with Columbus tubing, forks and stays, since Columbus is an Italian brand. Many high end French, British, and others were built with Reynolds tubing, which is a British brand. Of course there were exceptions, especially many high end bikes built outside of Italy were made from Columbus tubing. Then, there are different "grades" (quality) of both types of tubing, Such as Columbus Cromor, SL, SLX, and Reynolds 501, 531, 753, etc, which is why it is nice to be able to read the tubing decal on an individual bike to get that info. However, sometimes just knowing the model of bike and the period it was made (date of manufacture) will tell you what the frame material was. Good luck!

I think it is the french ones that are hard to come by. but because of their insistence that the fixed cup be right-hand threaded, it is the italian ones that are hard to keep tight!

So then you are at least as Swedish as I am! You should let me know next time you're in Stockholm! Thanks for your assistance!

/Gustaf

I don't think the bike is a Trofeo as it lacks the Eduardo Bianchi signature & Trofeo model name on the top tube, but the thumbnail shot of the Bottom Bracket area appears to show a top tube that changes from round to oval at the bottom bracket which is also seen on the trofeo. My 1990 Trofeo has Dedacciai triple butted tubing (also Italian but not Columbus) and the Trofeo used a unicrown fork. The fork on this bike looks to be an older style. Here is a pic of mine for comparison(it is built up with older components). Don

Oh, were it only that easy! I've seen a Japanese manufactured Sport SX in celeste, made with Tange 900/1000 mix and Exage components. However, the 1st bicycle is definitely Italian origin, as indicated by the serial number format. Not sure of the model, since it's European and they varied from the US models.