Welcome to the forum. The subject bicycle is a 1989, Canadian market, Bianchi Brava, which was a lower, mid-range model. These differed substantially from the USA market Brava. The latter were manufactured in Japan, using Ishiwata 022/024 tubing and the component group was SunTour GPX.The Canadian version was manufactured in Italy, uses Columbus Cromor tubing and a Shimano New 105 group.

Columbus Cromor and the Ishiwata 022/024 mix are about equal and while the Japanese frames tend to have better workmanship, it is a Bianchi, so the Italian manufactured frame with Columbus tubing will have more prestige with a C&V crowd, especially when it has a traditional fork crown and the USA model employed a Unicrown.

I also give the edge the Canadian Brava in the component department. GPX and New 105 were direct competition for each other and while GPX was the first SunTour group with decent indexed shifting, it still wasn't up to the standard set by New 105. Also, Shimano won the indexing war, and it's far easier (and cheaper) to find replacement Shimano SIS components than SunTour. Accushift.

The photo is fuzzy but obvious replacement include the saddle, pedals and handlebar tape. The single pivot New 105 brake calipers look like they have been rpelaced with later, dual pivot models. The rear derailleur doesn't look quite right either, though that could be the due to light reflection. I don't recall these coming with a black seat post and given how much this one has been jacked-up, it would appear to be a longer replacement. The stem and possibly the handlbar may also be replacements, though I'm not sure. Better photos would help determine which components are OEM, if that is of interest to you. Photo assist...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6ad273d9f8.jpg

First Bianchi
 

Hi All,

First time poster and bianchi owner. I have managed to get hold of what seems to be quite an old bianchi. The serial 554902 is on the front of the frame. It is the classic celeste green. Apart from one sticker which says tubi calibrati 1-20 and a few stickers there isn't much else to work out when or where this is from.

Also it's suffering from a bit of rust so I am thinking of getting it repainted if anyone has any thoughts on that.

The Calibrati decal indicates an Italian manufactured, entry level model with hi-tensile steel frame. The S/N number format and location is typical of a Chiorda product, and would place it circa 1985. I assume you're in Europe as the N.American models of this era and level typically came from Asia.

Hello! I am relatively new to vintage cycling. I am researching the history on a Virata frame and (I believe) it’s Shimano 600 tri-color components. The bicycle is disassembled. Appears to be original celeste with Tange decals. Guessing 1992. Serial# JS110086 on BB. I am most interested in verifying that the Shimano components would have been appropriate. I have been looking high and low for a Bianchi catalog from that period. Any help would be appreciated.

1992 Bianchi USA catalog


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6fe0479ad.jpeg

This is terrific! Thank you! Now I am curious how Virata’s components compared to its other siblings that year. And its geometry. Are these catalogs available?

Welcome to the forum. Your frame was contract manufacturing in Japan during October 1991. That's late enough in the calendar year, that it is almost certainly a 1992 model. That year, it was 4th in a 10 model road line in the USA market, but it was the top Asian built model. The MSRP was $1,100 US. Bianchigirll has already supplied the specs for the models above and below the Virata but here are the 1992 geometry charts.https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d30f6eef6d.jpg

Wow. 1992 was a bit of a guess on my part. Thank you for the confirmation! The components do align with the catalogue down to the saddle. I am very pleased and can’t wait to get it back on the road.

Bianchi Veloce, Not Vintage, Year Unknown
 

I just purchased a 51cm Celeste Bianchi Veloce with 9x3 cranks and a carbon fork. I’m guessing it’s newer than a 1997 Veloce I had (chromoly forks, double chainring).

There is no serial number under the bottom bracket as a plastic cable guide is there.

Under the down tube, there is sticker with the numbers - 72017277X (serial number?).

Stickers:

Fork - Bianchi engineered carbon

Down tube - Bianchi, Campione de mondo

Top tube - Veloce, Cromolite reparto corse

Seat tube - Bianchi

Chain stay - Bianchi reparto corse, Handmade in Italy

Seat stays - Bianchi

I think Cromolite started around 2000, as my 1999 catalog doesn’t show it but the 2001 poster/catalog does, but sadly mine is torn at the Veloce part.

any pics?

Veloce 9 speed, if OEM, would place it 1998-2003. However, that can be narrowed somehwat based on component changes, particularly to the brifters...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...89ef417b9c.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6105a809c2.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...40fdf310fd.jpg

Pic Assist - https://www.bikeforums.net/g/picture/24910375

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...79e32d14f.jpeg

The presence of Xenon levers are interesting. 9 speed Xenon co-existed with 9 speed Veloce during 2002-2003. However, the 2003 specs for the Bianchi Veloce bicycle states an aluminum frame and the 2002 specs call for Veloce brifters. Consequently, the brifters would appear to be replacements. The rear derailleur shown in the photo album is the 2001-2003 Veloce model but the since the frame is steel, that would indicate the subject bicycle should be either a 2001 or 2002 model.

Thank you for the info! There are no decals (sorry I called them stickers) about the tubing. I tried uploading some photos but I was at the 5 posts, in 24 hours, limit.

Thanks for narrowing down the year! I never heard of Xenon before. I thought Veloce was the entry level group for Campy. Also, the stem and handle bars are Deda Zero with awful blue bar tape😝

What do you make of this? Definitely looks like a repaint, I’m thinking ‘85ish possibly Asian built. Maybe the seattube bottle cage was hacked on during paint?


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5939693e.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9fab754b1.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5b72d8b1.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...975dcaed0.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c7c0bcdee.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...489d32fca.jpeg

I agree, it appears to be repaint. It's definitely a re-decal. Who would put a fork decal on a down tube? lt looks like Japanese manufacture to me. However, if so, it's one of the better Japanese models. My initial reaction was a circa 1984 Limited, with an bottle mount added, so we're not far off from each other. I think the brake calipers may be OEM. If you can get the serial number, that would go a long way towards establishing the year and model.

The seller hasn’t replied yet, no I’m not buying it. He’s calling it a Specialissma and asking 1400 :roflmao2:

This certainly looks like a Asian built serial 61101882

The serial number is indicative of a Taiwan manufacture during Novermber 1986, which is late enough in the calendar year that it should be a 1987 model. This late, I would have expected a pump peg and cable routing under the BB shell for a model with a forged dropout and recessed brake nuts.

The other possibilty would be a European model manufactured in 1986 by Chiorda. This nicer than any Chiorda or 1980s Taiwanese Bianchi that I've seen, though it's no Specialissma. Did the seller say where the serial number was located?

I didn’t ask. He claims the paint and decals as well as the brakes are original.

As I stated earlier, I thought the calipers might be OEM. They look like Dia-Compe N-series. A quick look at the 1987 catalogue shows the only model with Dia-Compe brakes to be the Premio, which was spec'd with QS500N. The Premio was also available in turquoise. I had a quick look back though my S/N database and found another (modified) Premio which is probably from the same production batch, as the S/N is 61102075. The frame characteristcs are an excellent match (see attached photo). If you want to see more, check out post #1151 of the Show Off Your Bianchi thread.

So, it does appears to be a 1987 Premio with OEM paint and OEM Bianchi decals. Of course, repalcing the Tange Infinity decals with Columbus and calling it a Specialissma is fraudlent. However, of more concern to me is the Columbus fork decal where the 1987-1987 Campione del Mondo should be. It makes me wonder if the bicycle had a front end impact and the new decal was intended to hide some paint cracks?

While the Premio was a nice, upper entry level bicycle, given the possibility of a damaged frame, I won't offer any more that what you consider to be a fair price for the Dura-Ace drivetrain and wheelset.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9bb5add2e3.jpg

Is this where I post to connect with other bianchi owners? Or is this just for ID'ing only.

This thread might better suit your purpose: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...hi-thread.html