Mr. Embrey

Why is it so hard to find info on Bianchi's?

I don't think it qualifies as vintage, but I figure this is the best place to get info. I just bought this Bianchi Alfana from my LBS for $50. It needed some TLC, but it's good to go now.

Anyway, I haven't been able to find much info about this model. It has a full Shimano RSX group, a 3TTT stem, Ofmega headset, and Ambrosio Super Elite rims on RSX hubs. Please check out the pics and tell me any info you can. I'm wondering what year it is, where it sits as far as quality of the frame, and if these are the original components. An approximate value would be nice, but not nessicary. It has a serial # A404521 on the bb shell and a sticker on the bottom of the dt nex to the bb with 41179589 on it.

Thanks for any info.


Bianchi Alfana by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -tt, ss, st by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -DT by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -HT, DT by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -RSX Cranks by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -3TTT Stem by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -Seat Tube by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr


Bianchi Alfana -Fork by Mr. Embrey, on Flickr

Bianchigirll 

nice Looking Bianchi! it is a '95 judging by the TEC color and the RSX. that also appears to the last year of the Alfana. I don't have a price for the '95 but the '94 w/105 was about 875 so this must have been right around there.

looks in great shape you did well for $50 you should be able to get $75 for it easy.

too bad it isn't a 59

Mr. Embrey

Thanks for the info. Whats your secret for finding info on these?

Bianchigirll 

I am Bianchigirll *giggle*


I am huge Bianchi fan and I have a good stash of older catalogs

thirdgenbird

$75? i have seen comparable bikes sell for $300+ around here.

Mr. Embrey

Oh, I see.

Wow, I wish the KC market was that strong. We's broke 'round he'a.

thirdgenbird

last winter i bought a lesser Japanese build Bianchi for $200, parted out the components, made profit, and kept the frame.

cb400bill

Here is a link to specs for a 95 Alfana.

https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...fana&Type=bike

Mr. Embrey

Must be nice. Around here the flippers get jelouse, and flag your listing till it's removed.

thirdgenbird

i dont make habit of parting bikes, but it is tempting.

Mr. Embrey

Awesome, thanks!

Bianchigirll 

well you see I know you can get more than $75 for that nice Alfana however I have a thing about 'fliping'. now don't get me
wrong I know a few Gents on here do it for funa nd few scheckles on the side. but you came across that bike and got a killer deal. you had a bit of funa dn learned a few things shining her up. now rather than max out your profit pass your good deal along. sell it next spring for $175. yes you can get more but some young kid might be really excited to grab a bike liek that for a good deal.

IMHO parting out a decent ridable bike just to max out the profit is wrong.

thirdgenbird

even if i built up the remaining frameset/parts and built a better bike???

parting it out was just a side effect of the total goal...

edit: what would make it wrong anyway? if the parts sell, there is obviously a market for them. people will buy a bike and not ride it. people rarely buy components and let them sit. at the end of the day the parts are getting used and that's what counts. none of the parts i resold were priced for max profit. many of them actually were sold under resale to the local bike shop for use on an incomplete bike.

Mr. Embrey

When I buy a bike, it's because I want it. If it doesn't work out, or I'm short on cash for another project, I'll sell it. I usually price mine just low enough to be sold by morning, but always high enough to at least recover the cost. I view knowledge and experience as a form of profit.

thirdgenbird

i agree. monetarily i have come out even or lost money on a lot of purchases over the last few years but the experiences and "hobby" are all worth it. in the case of the bianchi i parted, i bought it for the the frame and a few other parts with the intention to use components i owned on it.

Bianchigirll 

well I sort of missed the part about keeping the frame but also you did not say you rebuilt. I just think it is wrong to strip a bike just for porfit. we are all entitled to our opinion yes?

some times I can understnad it like a bent or severly rusted frame. or something like lowend 63 or 27" something or other. I don't know maybe I am just turning into one of the "cat ladies" but with bikes I want to save them all LOL

thirdgenbird

not a problem you are entitled to your opinion. the way i view it is that some bikes have the ability to "save" more by parting them out. in this case the sacrificed bianchi provided parts for a used trek at the local shop, my friends world sport, and was restored with better parts.

bradtx

Mr. Embry, It's fifteen years old, that ought to qualify it as C&V, IMO. The RSX group while at the bottom of Shimano's lineup at the time is an over achiever WRT functionality. Congrats on a solid bike.

Brad

Mr. Embrey

Ok, I gave it a chance, but it's about 1-2 cm too big. The height is tolerable, but the length of the top tube is a bit much. I could make it work if I needed to, but I don't like to be stretched out quite this much.

Anyone interested in the frame? I can include the stem and seat post. I already added everything else to another more suitable frame.

Any ideas on what it would be worth? I'd be willing to trade for a compairable frame in the 52-54 cm range.

tugrul

You bought that at an LBS for $50?

I was looking at a Waterford Paramount (64cm CTT ST/60cm CTC TT, full dura ace, allegedly 853) today on the rack outside a local LBS. Fully overhauled (even rebuilt STI), but no post purchase warranty/support, $875. I didn't think it was a bad price, except for the spots of bubbling paint near the fork tips and one underneath the midpoint of the top tube. But not $50

Mr. Embrey

It was on consignment, and I'm friends with the shop owner.

Mr. Embrey

Btw, it measures 22" or 55.88 cm c-c seat tube and top tube.