Hey,

I found this Colnago on a site in Belgium:

https://www.2dehands.be/fietsen/fiets...fiets&start=21

Is it the real deal? It's got that cutout in the BB, but did Colnago really use lugs like that?

The seller's asking €180 for it (about $220-250, I think). Is that reasonable? He says there are some small dents in the frame, but I'm waiting for more details on that.

As always, any advice is gratefully received.

John

Yes, it looks like their Arabesque model.

Here's one on Velospace: [Click!]

I think it's a serious bargain. I would love to have a Colnago Arabesque.

+1 Gary.

In a split second.

damn, if I weren't 'ethical' I'd buy it out from under him.
crappy components from what I can see, nice frame.

Marty

I realize this has been said too much lately, but there's a genuine bent fork on this thing.

If only Gilberto could still facilitate these

-Kurt

For that price it'd be worth it to have the dents rolled out and the forks straightened.

marty

If only I could. I'm now in MD.

Are you in Belgium? If I were local and there were no cracks or bulges around the headtube (the fork is bent, as cuda has already pointed out) I would buy that bike for a fun project.

When I see a nice bike like that in such bad condition it really makes me wonder what else could be wrong with it. It was probably ridden very hard and banged around a lot so keep that in mind....

Also, need to consider that the $ to euro is about .69/1 Euro, so that price is more now, plus likely another $100+, if the seller would even entertain packing and shipping.

I rather pay an additional $400 for one that isnt so beat up. It that condition thats about all its worth.

Yep.

This isn't rocket science. You just need a little cash.

Three frame builders and four shops that would have this straightened away pronto within twenty miles of our house.

I'd see this as a fun project as well.

I bought my son's Super for $175 for the frame and traded for an original fork.

I just got home from work, and I ride her almost every day. 25 miles round trip.

Well worth a few bucks as I watch the rest of my commuting friends on cross bikes and Surly's.

Are you sure the fork is bent? The space between the front wheel and the down tube looks correct and I can't see the bend.

Even if it did have a bent fork I think it is a rare beast and still a bargain. How often do Arabesques turn up for sale especially at such a low price? Personally, you can have your CX's and Mexico's; I'd rather have an Arabesque.

And... there is always a fork available on ebay.

I suppose it all boils down to where you live and the ease it takes to actually take possession of the bike. I think a bare frame would be much more practical especially when the parts are just so-so.

Hi Gary,

I am at the shop right now, and the owner here thinks it is probably bent. I never trust pics on the internet though.

I've seen enough Batman camera angles, including my own pics for that matter.

It's all a moot point anyway guys, as most of us can't get this out of the country.

If it was in Bavaria, Austria, or northern Italy I know some folks to help though....

The seller discloses two "putjes" which are little dents. The components on the bike means that they have been swapped out as they were not current to the time this bike was built, so you can expect that the first owner used it hard and then sold the frame alone onwards. This in itself is not terribly confidence invoking. I have some friends in Antwerp who could check it out in person, but I wouldn't waste my "favor" token for this bike.

I guess its all relative to the prospective owners skills.

I'd have to agree - I'm in no position to purchase this bike - I'm too far away and the language barrier is a further complication. There is also a frame size issue as well.

Personally, I could fill any dents with bronze and repaint the frame myself at little cost. Re-chroming is another matter though. I would probably purchase it if I was able to look at it.

If it's just a commute; the fork is the issue.

As gomango states, and he is at the shop and the owner thinks the fork could be bent. Is it bent enough to worry about? If it is difficult to detect and it tracks straight perhaps it OK to leave in place.

I think JohnSqual must be considering a purchase because he is in a position to buy the bike. I suggest a phonecall to the bikeshop to discuss the frame with all the great support of the forum members as a backup.

How do I go about filling a small ding with bronze? I was going to try bondo but your post has intrigued me.

Hi jet sanchEz,

Very carefully! It's quite difficult to localise the flame to the dented area and heat it to a proper temperature as well as melt the bronze to fill the dent - but it can be done. Clean the bronze up with a file and sand.

I picked up the method from one old (dead now) and extremely experienced frame builder and also from a bike mechanic (also dead) who both suggested that this was the best method of repairing dents. I have repaired 2 x Reynolds 531 frames this way with great success. I don't know how it would work in a really thin tube of perhaps an air hardening steel tube though.

Seller just confirmed me that the bike is sold.
Did you get it?

Nope, there was already a bid on there for it. He never replied to my e-mail - did you mail him or phone?

I guess (like Jet Sancjez said) it could've been a fun project, but a possibly long, complicated and expensive one, especially if
I wanted to find some authentic components.
Maybe not so wise to post direct links to stuff I'm considering buying. Oh well, live and learn, I suppose.

I mailed him. He sold me I could come pick it up after 18h today but there was already some other person who also would come. He told me" first to come, first to buy"
As I live pretty far away I didn`t make the journey. At 17h40 he mailed me that the bike was sold and he was sorry.

jup, you should never post stuff like that. Especially not where you found it. A picture is ok, but not the exact advertisment.