Hi again some additional photos that might be help?
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/q...20head%201.jpg
http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/q...20head%202.jpg
cheers

Hi all, does anyone know what the letters MG stand for, as beginning of a serial number? Bike is a reparto corse from 1999 with veloce group. Thanks for info!

Hello again okonokos,

Thank you for the additional pictures. ;)

Have found the machine's kitting a bit puzzling from the outset.

The Huret gear ensemble is one employed on the economy model Chiorda built Bianchis at this time. The balance of the fittings are a slightly odd mix. Usually bikes in this class were given one of the economy OFMEGA alloy cotterless chainsets, such as the Forgiato, rather than the cottered steel seen here.

There appears to be a transfer on the seat tube down near the bottom bracket. Is it a "MADE IN ITALY" one or is it perhaps from a bike shop?

Frame constructed with an Agrati bulge-formed head consistent with the Chiorda built Bianchis.

If finish a respray it is certainly a quite nice one. A bit odd that someone would go to such trouble and obtain transfers for such a modest model... Sometimes done if bike has a sentimental value for owner.

There's no doubt in my mind that this is a respray with new decals. The seat post cinch bolt was not removed prior to the repaint.

By 1999, the Reparto Corse decals were being applied to frames that were designed by Reparto Corse but not necessarily built by them. Veloce was a relatively low level group, so the bicycle was likely contract manufactured and the MG may be a contractor code.

Did Bianchi work with local factories then? The bike is from France, so close to Italy?

Well - I personally have never seen a non-Italian/Columbus Brava. That one is made with Tange and has a unicrown fork. Every single Brava I've encountered has a fork crown, and is made with Columbus (either Bianchi 2 or Cromor). So this would be the first time I've seen a Brava that was made in Japan.

Hello okonokos,

Here is a Bianchi whose frame and some of its fittings are quite close to those of your bicycle. Owner identifies it as a 1979 Rekord model.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MD..._id=880000500F

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MD..._id=880000500F

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MD..._id=880000500F

Several of these have surfaced in the past. The sources of Bianchi models varied with the currency exchange rates. In the early 1980s the manufacture of the entry level and some mid-range models for the North American markets transferred from Italy to Japan. In late 1985, there was a massive revaluation of the Yen which resulted in the mid-range models being pulled back to Italy and some entry level manufacturing being moved to Taiwan. Circa 1988, further changes in the exchange rates resulted in some mid-range manufacturing returning to Japan and Taiwan moving into mid-range models. The subject Brava could be either Japanese or Taiwanese manufacture but an Asian manufactured Brava is not an anomaly for the very late 1980s. If I checked my database I could probably come up with a handful that have surfaced on the forum.

frame number X-4 Argentin
 

Hi All,


I have found my dads old frame. The Bianchi X-4 Argentin.


Because I want to restore it, and want to use the correct Record group I need to know the exact year of production.
Who can help me to find out?


Frame number is E278


Please see some of the picture
All need to be cleaned and restored.

http://i.imgur.com/KYmFpR3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/c7zDUKz.jpg

A Bianchi from 1999 with Veloce isn't a Reparto Course. Sometime in the later '90s some bean counter decide putting RC on almost everything would be a good idea. Very few RC frames/bikes had an actual model name on them.

[QUOTE=Toine81;18964012]Hi All,


I have found my dads old frame. The Bianchi X-4 Argentin.


Because I want to restore it, and want to use the correct Record group I need to know the exact year of production.
Who can help me to find out?


Frame number is E278


Please see some of the picture
All need to be cleaned and restored.[/QUOTE

Any other pics? I don't think it was Cataloged as an Argentin here in the US but the '87 X-4 is the most likely candidate and C-Record would be the group.

IIRC the only US bike that carried the Argentin name was the black/Celeste paint scheme on the '88 Trofeo.

Marco Pantani begged to differ, I guess. I do agree that very few RC bikes had an actual model name. So I name my bike by group, as did the Bianchi catalogue of 1999. :)

Bianchigirll after seeing you all over bf I am finally coming to you for your wisdom. Just scored this Bianchi for $200. Not sure the model though. It has full Campy athena that looks like its late 80's but thats as much as I know.
Also I must replace that nasty tape, any suggestions? Do I just buy new tape or do I shell out $$$ for some overpriced NOS.

http://i.imgur.com/xrIt7N0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/UfYsZu0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Xvwf2an.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/mkpAzGp.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4HO6B3V.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/S13XxER.jpg

Well, I'm not Bianchigirll but i can tell you that it's a 1989 model and the presence of Athena, if OEM, would make it a Bianchi Giro. The frame would be a Superset mix of Columbus SLX and SPX, with the heavier grade in the down tube and chain stays.

Finally realized this is a good place to put my collection of Bianchi Proto serial numbers (slow starter...).

Bianchi Proto was Bianchis top of the line offering in the late 80ies and very early 90-ies. It is rather easy to identify by its lugless construction and Columbus Max tubing.

I started "The Bianchi Proto tread" where pictures and more info can be found. Please feel free to contribute if having additional serials, pics or info:
http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...to-thread.html

List as it looks today 2016-08-17:

F030
F058
F136 (added 7/7 2016 found at "vintage art work" on flickr)
F.243 (added 5/5 2016 - and also have a dot as 254)
F.254 (has a dot between F and number)
F287 (added 16/8 2016 -found in old ebay auction)
F370
F382 (mine)
F403 the one in the PDF-file at http://www.ciclimasini.com/images/90...i%20Caurus.pdf

BCOC157
BCOC360
BCOC515 (the O probably stamped at an angle - making it look like BCCC)

Argentin
 

[QUOTE=Bianchigirll;18974731]
Herewith some more pics.

I'll have to look for one of those.

Hello everyone. I've been reading this thread and it seems that many people have the same issue as I do. I just bought a Bianchi bike but can't figure out what year or what model it is. The serial number in the frame reads "NB1000807" which seems odd as all the other serial no. I've seen in this thread have 2 letters and 6 numbers. My bike has 7 numbers. The other thing I know is that it comes with Shimano 105 rear and front derailleur, and caliper brakes. Here's a picture. The information may be limited but it's all I know.

Thank you!
http://i.imgur.com/feKxupd.jpg

It has what appears to be 5500 aeries 105 which came out in 1999, so it's not exactly vintage and what most forum members are familiar with. Check the back of the Shimano components for two letter date codes which you can interpret using the information on the components page of the Vintage-Trek website. That shopuld get you no more than one year off the model year, provided the components are OEM.

Very impressive. The component is Shimano 5500 series, made in Japan. The RD reads WF which would correspond to 1998, June. The FD reads WC which would be 1998, March. According to that, if the components are OEM, the bike should be 1998-2000 maybe? Do you have any idea of how to figure out the model of the bike?

Thank you, T-Mar!

I did not think the bicycle was that old. The 105 equipped model during this period was the Giro but it did not use the carbon fibre monostay until circa 2003. Are your chainstays carbon fibre too?

I don't have every 2000 catalog but I don't see anything like this in the 2002. The next one I have is '05 and it shows frames similar to this but with a standard headset or a noticeable bulged head tube to accommodate a 'hidden' type. I am not too familiar with bikes of this era but I think you have a 2004/5ish or newer frame but with older kit. There is something troubling me about the graphics and paint, the Bianchi decal on the seat tube is very high and frankly it looks rather plain for a fancy Alu/Carbon frame of this vintage.

T-Mar, the chainstays are carbon fiber too. The frame is aluminum and the fork, seatstays and chainstays are carbon fiber.

Bianchigirll, what you are saying makes sense. It must be ~2005. I asked the person who is selling the bike to me and he said that the bike is repainted. Something must have happened that he (or some previous owner) decided to paint it and also paint the Bianchi decals on top. So that explains why it seems a little bit odd.

What would you think is a fair price for this bike?