I picked up an (I believe) early 80s Marinoni last summer. Paid $550. Perhaps a little steep. Took the triathalon bar off )now an ugly gap in the tape. Turbo leather seat, sakae post, grand prix handlebars, the rest shimano 600. Sent the serial number to Marinoni who said it was too old for them to provide information, but probably early 80s. Nisi rims, tubular tires. It's in excellent condition, runs really nicely. However, what I really need is a street bike. It looks like I'd need to build or rebuild wheels so as not to have to deal with tubular tires. The streets here (montreal) are brutal on a bike, and I'm thinking I might trade it in for something a little more abusable. But it's pretty. And when I read the aficionados on this forum talking about the details on the 80's marinonis, I'm forced to re-think. I'll post (crappy) pictures if I can, but they don't do justice to the detailing on the frame. It's also light, tight and fast. So my questions are do people think $550 canadian is a high price (what I paid, and what I plan to sell for?), and how about the wheel building, city riding idea?

You must have written the serial number down wrong or something because I am pretty sure that is a late '80s, early '90s Marinoni Special. I can guess this because the seat-stays are slightly behind the seat-tube. I would say that yeah, you could get $500 for it, mostly because it is in good condition and the Shimano 600 stuff is great.

I'd keep it and get a set of clincher wheels that you can fit 28C tires, I think you will have the clearance for those (but even wider if you can) and you might be surprised at how much better your ride on brutal roads becomes. Otherwise, I think that it's worth $550 with a cleaning and waxing.

You could be right: says Marinoni Special right there on the chainstay - that's a tip off. I re-sent the serial with photos to Marinoni. On the phone, the guy told me there are similar sets (?) of numbers for some early and late 80s models. Amazing service from those people, incidentally.

Thanks for your advice. I'm now leaning toward this option.

I don't think the price was too high for such a handmade classic if it's in good shape.

Look, I don't believe in trying to make a fine road bike into a daily use steet bike. You would be better off buying yourself a cheap and easily replaced lesser old road bike (like a Norco, Fiori, Nishiki, etc.), and keeping that one for when you really want to ride like a Marinoni was designed for (and you may at some point).

I would LOVE to use tubular tires on my road bike. Too expensive for me, because they are somewhat more fragile - intended for people who accept the trouble as part of the cycling experience. But you can get pretty close with high-quality racing clinchers if you want. Get new wheels for them, and keep the tubular wheels in case you want to use them some other time.

People are starting to forget the old, true, handmade lugged steel Marinonis. They were always one of the best values in super fine road bikes. Italian bikes made in Canada at Canadian prices. Most if not all were made by Mr. Marinoni himself. Not sure we can say that even for the most famous Italian makes.

Masi's were immortalized in "Breaking Away", but except for the ending, the greatest film is "2 secondes" and the little shop which sells Marinonis.

Marinoni is a quality bike and rarely comes up for sale on Craigslist (I'm in Toronto). So you've got a real find there and the price, for the condition is good. I agree with Longfemur: turning this gem into a city bike would not do it justice.

+1 for late 1980's. Fade paint in conjunction with the decals, chrome stay and front derailleur braze-on, all point ot this era.

Top bike. Top builder. Buy yourself a cheap beater bike for those Montreal streets and take this one elsewhere.

But not until you've ridden it up Mount Royal, along the same roads as the world's top pros did, just about the time Giuseppe created your little gem. If that doesn't get the juices flowing and make you reconsider the sale, nothing will.

...and talking about Montreal; great place for us swedish bicycle-fans when Bernt won olympic gold medal 1976

I recognize that climb, McTavish Street and probably one of the steepest hills in the city barring some of Westmount. I used to go to school in that gray prison looking thing on the right.
I had my eye on that bike, if it had been July I probably would have pulled the trigger, looks like a nice ride though and at a fair price. Marinonis aren't quite as rare here as they are other places. You might almost say they're easy to find (don't flame me), Velo Makak usually has a few lugged/ergo examples for sale for 800-$1500.
I ride this city with 28s and even 25s in some cases, no problems. Just learn to get light on the potholes, often.

If you need new wheels built check out J.R.'s on Rachel and Hotel De Ville. They're pretty much the vintage specialists downtown and they just opened a new location with twice the staff and floorspace.

How come you say you picked it up last summer?? It was for sale on local CL here last week (https://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/bik/1096014281.html). Maybe it's a bike with an identical paint job, but I'm pretty sure it's the one.

It's ok to ride a Noni in the city here, but don't thrash it by locking it everywhere and neglecting it. They are really good riders and beautiful road bikes.

That's news! I pass in front of that shop everyday and never bother to stop. Had mixed feelings about the shop... probably due to an incompetent salesman couple years ago. Will check it out for sure.

Cycle Patrick in Montréal Nord has tons of vintage stuff. They know their stuff too.

I go with T-Mar on age. My 'special' is a 1987 and before they moved to the somewhat fastback seatstays.
I had a 1990-1 Limongi made in Montreal, it had a very similar paint job to your marinoni.

thanks for all the feedback. zoro, that was my bike on craigslist. you saw the post a week ago because I posted. I'm thinking of selling. I took it out for a spin yesterday and had confirmed my decision to sell (just feels too damn delicate for the city, and that's where I ride, and I don't put enough love into it to keep it maintained as it should be) but each time I read here comments from the hard core fans (and see the bicycle-porn pictures) I'm indecisive again.

comments much appreciated.

No early than 1990, In fact that is my guess. The serial number doesn't start with 0? Are you missing a digit? It has the smooth mitered stays without caps. I have never seen a Marinoni with that prior to 1991, but I have been surprised before and the DT shifters point to late pre 1991 so yeah I'mna go with 1990. I had a 1989 with almost the exact same paint job...

I live around the corner, the only place in downtown that doesn't balk at selling me cables, housing, tires, you know REAL bike parts. I can't tell you how many flippers I've bought parts for there, very reasonable considering Grand Cycle charged me 78 bucks for 6 cables, housing, and a pack of brake pads. If you go to J.R. Jaime and Ross are the guys to talk to. As far as incompetent salesmen i guess it depends on what they're selling you. They know their CV and their BSing boom bikes too

Yeah le Grand Cycle had me a couple times too. They are really expensive, but at the same time, they have a couple of interesting brands on display. Guys are pretty cool too down there. But 78$ for all that!! Unless it's diamond incrusted gold coated Campy super extra record...

Velodidacte on De Brébeuf is a pretty cool little shop too. Not really vintage oriented, but they sell Surly(s), have cheap cables and friendly staff.

Let's not turn the thread in Montreal bike shop review though!

Ok, that explains all!

I mean if you plan to do road rides in the summer time in the Montreal / Rive-Sud / Laval areas, then most def keep the 'Noni. If it's only for the city, you maybe want a more "utility" oriented bike like a Surly (or any other of the 1000s of suitable bikes for city riding out there).

Good luck with your tribulations!

The bike isn't too fragile, put wider tires on it and you'll feel better. If you sell it, you'll regret it.

Locka, I just saw you decided to part ways with the Marinoni on CL. Good luck and I hope you get your 550 for it. Should go pretty fast, people seem to be all over those Noni's recently in Montreal. I just hope somebody does not turn it into a fixie... I'd be all over it, exactly my size, but I just bought one for myself a couple weeks ago (a '95)

Anyway you'd want to part out with that Turbo saddle separately? Been looking for one exactly like that for a while... Or I could trade it for a Turbo Matic if you want



Ok, enough thread hi-jacking for now!!

I'll hang on to the saddle, thanks. I'm keeping all the pieces together until I find out if they might be all the original parts - I think they might.

All of you calling it an early 90s were on the money. A reply from the Marinoni people after I sent pictures with the serial number says they found the work order and it's a '91. Looking again at getting new wheels. And maybe watching Breaking Away and 2 secondes...