Bottecchia Reborn
 

I bought this Bottecchia (Columbus Chromor), that had been spray bombed. A coworker wanted me to build him a bike so I used his funds to get the frame and fork powdercoated. I think she came out nice. The crowd at the LBS agreed.
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Great bike, though I must say its a shame you didnt keep the old frame as it was... but I'm a sucker for the classics!

It looked better/more interesting before - all that black - yech!!!

I think it looks great! The lug details are as good as I've seen on a powder coated frame that wasn't a factory job.

Is that rider all torso or what?

Very nice looking bike, I can't say I've ever seen a stem that long before.

liked the white w/ decals

I think the black looks sleek, and the whole bike looks streamlined. all white would of looked ace too.

I guess you should expect some criticism in a "vintage and classics" forum!

Spraybombed with original decals? Please elaborate, Rob - I can't see the paint repair in the "before" picture.

Your powdercoater certainly did a great job masking the lugs. How much did the whole thing cost, curiously?

-Kurt

That came out well; the new owner should be pleased with it. I too am partial to the original though, largely because I had one just like it 20 years ago.

that lug treatment is fantastic.

i thought the white version was the after at first (im sure many did). either way it looks great.

The new owner wanted burgandy - like merlot as with sunshine showing through it. I'd like that also but we couldn't find a match. The gloss black was the second choice.
The powdercoat guy, Len, did an awesome job for $300. My coworker upgraded from the $155 plain color. Len chemically striped the frame, media blasted, and filed it. He took out a lot of pitting. He then put on two black coats, the pearl silver lug coat, and a top clearcoat.

I'm almost 6'2" with 32 inch pant seam and long torso - though the bike wasn't mine. The new owner is 5'11" with 32" pant seam. I'm hoping it will work for him.

I have 150mm mtb stem (not used) but - yes it seems long. It'd work for me - I get larger framed bikes so the top tube is long enough for my torso.

I did too but the frame and paint was in horrible shape. The new owner has talked about getting decals but I've never done them. He's trying to come grips with the current cost & $50+ for decals.... Black wasn't an original color, was it? I do have the head badge but have not installed it yet.

Someone masked off the decals and spray bombed the frame with cheap white paint; it got on the BB shell and headset. It had the Columbus Chromor sticker and some builder name sticker. The saddle, pedals and rear derailleur (Suntour VT) were not original. The brakes were Athena, the crankset and BB Victory. The DA hub / Mavic Open CD wheels were not original. The headset was Miche (beat condition)

$315 w/tax for the striping, prep, and powdercoating
$200 for the original bike, that I mostly made up by selling a few of the Campy parts; The wheels went to a TREK 1220 (DA hubs!)
$410 approximate additional cost - many components were used or bought at steep discounts ($17 crankset, $17 titanium rail saddle). It still added up

Total -- approx $725

Very nice! I vote for peel the rim stickers.

+1

I agree with "the before pics looked better" the black is nice but everything is black these days. are those worthless Campi bits still in the trash can?

I love the old Bottecchia, but the new looks great in its own way. The powdercoater did an *excellent* job from what I can see!

I would leave the rim stickers. I think the letters/logos spinning is part of the modern look (that for me also echos the white-lettered tires of the muscle car era).

Personally, I'd love to see some muted color tracing the lugs and maybe worked into the housings, but that's just because I've never been a Darth Vader kind of guy.

That's one beautiful powdercoat job...wow, guy does fabulous work.

That said I would have used the same powdercoater and done all the same stuff, PCed in white, and replaced the decals. Drop the MTB stem, get something proper. I think you have a beautiful bike there but I liked the original better. But, my 2c isn't even worth that, if the owner is happy, and why wouldn't he be, it's a job well done.

Man that's a nice PC job...sheesh.

32in pants inseam, thats what I wear. I'm trying to find a vintage bike frame that's the proper size for me. What size is it?

Truly, it is reborn. She looks better than her modern counterparts. Very nice work she looks fast even sitting still.

Sorry, but I first thought the "After" picture was the one with the white bike on it......
Frankly, I liked it better with the white paint and Bottechia decals from that distance.
The powdercoating must be beautifully done but now it's sort of just "watizit?" dark colored bike.
Add on some Bottechia decals for that final touch!

Chombi

I believe she's a 57cm ctt. I usually ride a 60 or 61 vintage frame or 58+ modern compact frame with very little seatpost. That's because I need the longer top tube for my longer torso. This one was a bit too small on me.

He is a perfectionist - and I'm glad I found him. I liked the original also, and drove 2 hours after seeing her listed to pick her up - at much more than my normal price point. When I saw her condition, I made the opportunity to fix her up my coworker. It was a big jump for him to put out several hundred dollars. It's amazing how much it can cost for a rebuild - even with incredible deals and cheap used parts.

From that era there is no bike I like more than the red, white, and chrome SLX Bottecchia followed by the matt black, white and chrome Bott. But the plain white one is not one of my favorites. I like the black. I suppose if I wanted it to retain some originality in its appearance, I would have gone with red but truthfully, I like the black with silver lugs. It's different.

There was a Panda paint job on the 88 line I believe. I resprayed my frames all the time(except the bottecchia) I've learned this, it pretty much looks the same when you are riding it. I think you will find a lot of crusty bike lovers here and I'm in that group. Still doesn't change that the bike has some great steel and good geometry so still good to ride!

I like the black, can you add decals?

I like the white in the picture but obviously cant see the bad paint job, white can hide them better than most colors. The black looks fantastic, decals will really finish it nicely.

Edit arrgghhh zombie thread

Sorry my bad