Minimax it is!! Thanks a lot!! :D

That is a rare bird. I only ever saw one in person and that was because I sold it. Sadly Bianchi USA only offered it a year or maybe two.

great find

Wow, good to know! Maybe it was easily find here in europe than in the US by the mids 90s

Bianchi purchase.
 

Hi, I have recently purchased a Bianchi and it has Columbus SLX decals on seat tube and forks. Forks are embossed and chrome underneath with chrome under black paint on rear triangle.

cannot post pictures as I do not have minimum 10 posts.

Serial number is E3831.

Any idea on a possible age for bike. I was thinking 80’s.

Any assistance for year and model appreciated.

Hopefully I can get 10 posts then put some pictures up.

many thanks

Paul.

Welcome to the forums. Is this a matter or satin black? In the US the only black SLX frame I can think of was the ‘90 Giro with Campagnolo Athena group.

This bike is in the UK and has been from new.

It has a made in Italy decal on base of seat tube and serial number is on bottom bracket.

opposite the serial number on the other side of bottom bracket it is stamped 9.F

The chrome underneath I don’t understand. Why paint over it?

Black was a Satin Black.

Based on the serial number, it is a 1989 model. However, even when we do get pictures, we may not be able to identify the model given your UK location, as most members are only familiar with the USA market models, which were often different from those offered in other markets. At beset, we may only be able to provide the cleset USA model.

Pending pictures, is there any tubing decal? What are the brands and models of the major components?

Regarding the chrome, if it's pitted, many owners find painting to be the easiest way to deal with it.

Thanks.

i would add a picture but site will not let me until I have done is it 10 posts?

i could then add picture of frame, bike, and forks stripped of black paint.

thanks.

You can’t post pics as a security measure but you can upload them, via the little picture icon, and them one of could look for the help post them.

so are there components on the bike?

Cannot upload as it says url not available until 10 posts done.

Will not upload.

really frustrating.

As I suspected, it's an Argentin livery but may not be factory applied. Bianchi augmented the 1986 Sammontana-Bianchi team bicycles with black forks, head tube and stays. That fall, Moreno Argentin won the World Championship road race in Colorado Springs on a Bianchi and the celest & black colour scheme became officially known as Argentin, in honour of his victory. The team bicycles continued to use this livery through 1988 and Bainchi celebrated the victory by placing a 1986-1987 Campione del Mondo decal on all 1987 and 1988 models and offering some models in the Argentin livery.


However, I'm not aware of any 1989 models with this livery. It's always possible that it was offered in Europe but seems unlikely since even the team bicycles had dropped it. Also, if they were going to paint it, I doubt they would have done extensive chroming underneath. If the chrome wasn't meant to painted over it will be highly polished. Chrome meant to be painted over will have lots of fine scratches but an owner may roughen up display chrome in order to paint over it.


As for the model, it does appear to be a 1989 SLX model, as it has the correct serial number, Gipiemme dropouts and investment cast lugs. An X-4 model of this era would typically be TSX tubing and use Campagnolo dropouts. However, to verify that it is SLX, the bottom bracket should be removed and insides on tubes checked for five helical ridges.

In 1989 there were three SLX models in the USA, the Mondiale, Superleggera and Giro. The bicycles were identical except for the components and amount of chrome. I can't identify the components from the non-drive side photo but they've obviously been replaced to an extent, as it has era incorrect dual pivot brake calipers. Regardess, it has more chrome and different decals than the USA models, suggested something unique to Europe or the UK and complicating identification for most members, who are primarily USA based.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...49617358b.jpeg

Many thanks.

Can anyone tell me the year this bike was made in? Bianchi Brava, black, Simano 105 groupset, serial number LS604950. Thank you all!


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b85026bc7.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c4596415d.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d80ac0af.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...55298b30e.jpeg

The presence of the rectangular 1986-1987 Campione del Mondo decal indicates a 1987 model. This was the only model year to employ this decal in its rectangular format. 1988 models also used it but in a round format. It signifies Moreno Argentin's victory on a Bianchi at the 1986 World Championships in Colorado Springs on September 6. Building of the new models for 1987 would typically start around this time. As indicated by the serial number, the frame was built in Japan during December 1986.

Very helpful. Grateful thanks!

Bianchi 'S' fork engraving
 

This is my first post on the forum, so thank you in advance for considering my question. I don't seem able to upload a photo at this stage, probably because I've not contributed before.
I am interested in buying a vintage celeste Bianchi in need of attention which has the fork tops engraved either side with an 'S' and two arrowheads towards the outer edge like this: < S >
I believe it may be an 'interesting' model but does anyone recognise this feature?
The bike has a well-weathered Campagnolo headset, shifters and Nuovo Gran Sport rear derailleur, Huret front derailleur, Stronglight crankset, Dual Sprint pedals and Universal brakes (so a bit of a mix).
At some point the frame has been repainted but it really needs doing again. There is no sticker to identify the tubing used. Frame number starts '2D'.
It has been suggested the 'S' might stand for Specialissima but I'm not sure if that's accurate. Any pointers gratefully received.

Need to identify
 

Hi,

I recently almost literally stumbled upon a classic steel frame set in pretty dang good condition. I fledgling mechanic, I've always been averse to carbon frames (perhaps for no good reason) and had been really excited to get a quality steel frame. I found a decent conditioned, decent looking Bianchi for a good price in my size and grabbed it up. The more I learn about it to understand what I have, it seems a) that I have something pretty special and B) There are a lot of people in the same boat who are frustratingly close to identifying their Reparto Corse. This thread seems to be the most informative of anything I can find. I'd like to get her riding again, showing her a lot of love. I think that first though, my "ocd" makes me want to know exactly what she is, and what she is supposed to be. Unfortunately all I have is the fork and the frame, no components of any sort. Fortunately, it seems like its quite a nice frame!

Thank you so much in advance. Your collective knowledge has blown me away just reading through some previous responses. Below is what i know and some photos. (as soon as I am allowed)

Thanks,

- very excited newbie


What I know:

Paint:

• Celeste Frame (and Chrome Fork/Chainstays/Braze-on)
• Chrome: Chain stays, Fork Crown, Front and Rear Dropouts and Front Derailleue Braze on

Tubing: TSX Tubing. ( does this mean X4? Does it mean 1988-1991?)

Decals:

• Dark Blue Bianchi with Gold outline on Down Tube
• Stickers: Columbus TSX, Made in Italy on Seat Tube above BB, Black Reparto Course Bianchi on Chainstay
• Bianchi Crest on Headtube. (Not Panto. So not X4?)
• Eduardo Bianchi Autograph on top tube
• No Bianchi Decals on Seat Tube. ( The most similar frames I find online, all have seat tube decals)
• No World Champion Decals

Bottom Bracket:

• English Threaded BSA68
• Stamped with 55 (size?) and H 175 (serial number?)
• Does not have Centenario (85) emboss.
• Does have a triangle cutout in the lug on the downtime (Investment cast?)

Fork:

• Unicrown Columbus EL chrome fork
• Campagnolo drop outs

Other Frame:

• Curved Profile Brake Bridge, Bianchi on both sides, not script (1988-1991?)
• Internal Cable Routing ( 1988 or later?)
• B embossed on lugs on side of Bottom Bracket
• B embossed on lug where head tube and down tube meet
• 130mm chain stay distance between drop outs
• 27.2 Seat post
• 1" threaded Fork

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...69446f3fe.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f02a022d1.jpeg
TSX tubing
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fa2dad7e8.jpeg
H. 175 Serial number? No 85 Centenario
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5b6005ed5.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a596c2a3.jpeg
Seat collar
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d6ef68c74.jpeg
The most similar frames I can find have a bianchi decal on the seat tube. This one does not.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9eceb7b93.jpeg
Chain Stay Sticker
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a43f4486e.jpeg
Not Pantographed Head badge. A sticker
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3bfd47a9b.jpeg

Hello Moshin. I can't believe no one replied to this. I think the best candidate for your beautiful TSX frame is a '92. The '92 catalog shows the TSX frame to in the same state as yours with minimal decals. An english BB shell would certainly put it in the '90s. The catalog simply list it as TSX and it was offered with Campagnolo Athena 8spd with Ergo shifters.
Hope this helps.

Omg Thank you so much! I am super eager to build her back up. Your knowledge is beyond impressive ! Is there somewhere you can recommend that I can read more about this model, bianchi catalog or otherwise?

Thank you again!!

Hello! It's a been a while! Says I last logged in in 2012... Ok, so 8 years have passed, what did I miss? hahaha... Multiple pages of Bianchi's!
Well, I'm back again, because I have another Bianchi that needs identifying! I believe it's a Japanese frame, becaue of the serial number on the bottom bracket, and I'm in Canada. Has 'Bianchi' stamped backwards on the BB as well. Serial number is 23904 on one side, and either 1.9 (or 6.1) depending which way you want to read it. Thanks in advance!

Italian models having serial numbers on the seat lug only occurred during the Piaggio era of the early 1980s. In the late 1980s, the Italian models started using the bottom bracket shell. Your bicycle definitely has an Italian manufactured frame. I'm assuming that the '1' is actually am 'I', which would make it a 1989-1987 or 1989-1990 model. Typically, it would be the former but we've seen cases where careless Bianchi employees have reversed the sequence.

Bianchi S/N did not include model indicators. To determine the model and which of the two scenarios fits best, we'll need more information and preferably pictures. Start with a list of the components and a description of the Bianchi logo style.

Can I add my purple SX to the serial numbers in question? I think it's a Japanese made '86 based on the opinion of one of the BF experts Bianchigirll but at the time she expressed that opinion I didn't have the bike and just shared the craigslist ad. All components are Shimano 600 tricolor. Serial is AS690645. Does the 2 under the serial have any significance?
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0bf21e31ee.jpg
Is there a link to Bianchi catalogs?

Thanks !

The subject frame was manufactured during January 1986 by Bianchi's Japanese contractor. Based on the year, Japanese manufacture and colour, which appears to be Metallic Violet, it should be a 1986 Bianchi Limited. These were originally spec'd with Shimano New 600EX, so any Shimano 600 Ultegra (a.k.a. tri-colour) would be upgrades. A good resolution, drive side photo of the entire bicycle should allow us to verify the identify.

The '2' would appear to be a cavity number or some other identifier related to manufacture of the bottom bracket shell itself.

Edit: I've seen reported 1986 Bianchi catalogues on several different sites but they all appear to be the from the same partial catalogue, which is a misidentified 1988 edition.

Thanks T-Mar !

The downtube shifting was upgraded to Sach's brand brifters and they work great, so there have been upgrades it looks like
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...53bb69384d.jpg

It's not a Bianchi 1986 Limited but a substantially rebuilt 1986 Bianchi Sport SX, which was three models below the Limited and 11th in Bianchi's 15 model road lineup. The model name is clearly visible on the top tube. It's a good thing that I asked for the photo! The colour is Orchid, another purple tone used by Bianchi.