spedrunr

$3 fenders and a retro Tri-spoke (just b/c it's white )

spedrunr

Yeah, I know the "cool guys" make fun of the stem shifters, safety brake levers and "dork" discs, but let's be honest, the stem shifters are quicker to get to than down tubes and they're right behind bar end shifters as far as accessibility. The safety brake levers were mostly put on mid/low end bikes, but they really are "safer" albeit they don't have the power.

spedrunr

Bianchi + In and Out Burger.....classics

spedrunr

I'd keep the stickers, it's original and is reminiscent of that era. I know that we all love the traditional Bianchi bold lettering but this is retro cool IMHO

spedrunr

This is my favorite color (next to Celeste of course)

skillasw

Just put together a few weeks ago - Mid 90's Bianchi TSX w/ Record Headset, Athena shifters, Chorus Crankset, RD, and seatpost, Centaur BB, 8 speed 'letter' cassette (something really satisfying about the 'curchunk' when shifting), sachs/sedis chain, Veloce FD and monoplanners (the chorus ones sadly didn't leave enough tire clearance), Omega 19 rims w/ Vittoria Corsa, Triomphe pedals, ITM Europa 2 bars, eclypse stem. This ride is super solid!

Kentonk

Here it is all built up. It rides and shifts great! I spread the frame to 130mm, it'll take a 10 speed hub. I also modified the 11 speed cassette to fit onto a 10 speed freehub. I'm saving the 105 parts for another frame. I like having a 'modern steel' bike with STIs, and an all classic one with that era components.

spedrunr

OEM stickers included. include the before pic for a nice contrast?

malcala622

hot dang!!! This is a sweet looking Bianchi. I've still yet yo add a red Bianchi to my stable

spedrunr

I stopped into a Play It Again Sports store that was closing and got bitten by the Celeste bug back in 2003. Picked up this Frankenbike with all kinds of components but I liked the patina and minimalist vibe. Changed out the wheels, seat, stem and bars. Any officianados able to tell me the year and or model (guessing 80's?). Still my favorite ride to date.

T-Mar

The Bianchi decals are the 1988-1989 version, but the chromed chainstay points to 1989. The decal on the front fork is from an SLX/SPX or TSX tubeset. However, Bianchi did not catalogue a TSX model (in America) during this period.That should make it an SLX/SPX tubeset,which was used on the Mondiale, Super Legerra and Giro. However,I don't see any components representative of these models and replacement tubing decals are readily available, so to verify SLX/SPX you'll need to remove the bottom bracket and check inside the ends of the tubes for the helical ridges indicative of these tubesets.

spedrunr

Thanks T-Mar, If I get really ambitious I will open up the bottom bracket although I should inspect/grease it since it's never been done since I acquired it.

What does SLX/SPX designate, the type/quality of tubing? The tubes seem really small in diameter and it rides real smooth but not mushy.

Oh, I just answered my own question

Columbus SLX and Other Steel From the 80's

Bianchigirll 

Can you post as better pic of the seat stay caps? Are they engraved or does one simply have a decal on it? IMHO the fork doesn't quite seem to match the frame. I believe the '88 SL and '89 SLX frames had Bianchi script engraved on the stay caps while the Cromor frame did not. Same for the forks, the SL/SLX bikes had the eagle stamped on the crown while the CroMor frame has a smooth crown with an B decal on it.

It doesn't matter cleaned up it should be a great looking bike and excellent rider. If you have some I'd try swapping out those Mavic wheels for some regular 32 or 36 spoked wheels and see how it rides.

IAmSam

FWIW my '89 mountain (or should I say all-terrain?) bike has the same Bianchi decals as spedrunr's...

Bianchigirll 

Those decals were used in the '88/89 model years in the US, '87 in Canada I believe. and on the 'leftover' Italian rode bikes into '90. I believe your Grizzly MTB is an '89. Sadly and much to personal dismay the day my '90 Proto went to the paint shop this style was the only decal available

spedrunr

The seat stays have decals v. panto'd, and it actually came with these non-OEM Matrix(?) laced w/Dura-Ace hubs. Hence the Franken-bike designation right?

Bianchigirll 

T-Mar

A frankenbike is a bicycle with replacement components that do not match original specifications. Generally high wear items such as tyres, chains, brakes pads and cables are exempt. From what I can see, none of the components on your bicycle appear to be original.

The new photo clearly shows an investment cast seat lug, which was not used on the American market 1989 Cromor model (i.e. Campione d'Italia). Nor did that model have the chromed chain stay. Barring possible foreign market variation, which is always a consideration with Bianchi, the critical frame characteristics match the American market SLX/SPX models. Of course, the only way to know for sure, will be to remove that bottom bracket and check inside the ends of the tubes for the helical ridges..

BTW, the crankset on your bicycle is Campagnolo Triomphe, not Campagnolo Victory. Triomphe was the group below Victory.

3speedslow

Matrix was the in house brand for Trek wheels. Good quality.

spedrunr

I hereby dub thee T-Mar and Bianchigirl official Bianchi Forensic Scientists (BFS). I knew that most of the parts were probably not OEM but to find out that NONE of them are? The original owner(s) really went to town on either replacing or upgrading right? I loaned the bike to my 20-something nephew and he changed out the 1) handle bar, stem and levers because he liked the Bianchi decals. The Tektro brake levers (low end?) came as a package deal

2) I changed the seat (Forte titanium railed) and don't remember what I did with the original or what it was.

3) what is the "aero" seat post? is it a replacement and is it low, middle or high end?

4) I'm amazed that either of you can tell what model the cranks are, there doesn't seem to be any stamping but I assume the shape, spider or other details scream Victory!

5) 105 index shift levers and RD seem to be a more "modern" upgrade(?)

6) 600 FD(?)

7) The brake calipers are Shimano SLR, were these from the era, I'm guessing not(?) I can't seem to find any google info on these. Were they middle of the road (no pun intended) calipers?

Thanks again for taking the time to share you vast knowledge and expertise. I have much to learn and hope I'm not being redundant.

(i'm a little embarrassed that the close-up picks reveal all the dirt and grime)

spedrunr

Thanks for the info 3spd!

T-Mar

1) assuming that it really is a 1989 SLX/SPX frame, the only component that might be OEM is the seat post.

3) "Aero" refers to a seat post that is not round along its entire length but incorporates a narrower aerodynamically profiled section to decrease aerodynamic drag.The actual benefits are questionable given the turbulent airflow in region, caused by leg motion. Campagnolo seat posts of this are are difficult to distinguish,at least for me.

4) The crankset doesn't scream"Victory" but "Triomphe". These are definitely the lower Triomphe crankarms, based on the spider shape.

5) The rear derailleur and shift levers are 1990+ Shimano 105SC. Campagnolo's Syncro index system of the very late 1980s did not perform nearly as well as Shimano's SIS and changes to SIS were common.

6)That appears to be a 1988+ Shimnao 600 Ultegra front derailleur (and headset). They were good value in an upper mid-range price bracket but didn't particularly stand out in any aspect over other offerings of their era.

7) The brake calipers are 1987-1989 Shimano New 105. This was Shimano's first SLR brakeset, which removed significant amount of friction, allowing the use of lighter return springs. Compared to other brakesets of the era, they had better modulation and a lighter feel, while providing excellent stopping power and utilizing trendy aero cable routing for the levers. Despite being a mid-range, they were by far the best value in a brakeset when they were released and were a common replacement, even for Dura-Ace and Record brakesets.

vlicon

I bought this Bianchi Trofeo, new, out of the box in 1990. It had been sitting in the shop for about 5 years, so I date it about a 1985 model. I finally got the cash to scrap all the Japanese components and switch to Campy. A fine bike to ride when I need to express my Italian DNA.

spedrunr

Thanks Tmar, you've saved me a ton of time and google searching. Seriously, do you have this knowledge stored upstairs or do you have pics, data bases, catalogs etc?

CodyP

there are some great looking Bianchis here. I had a chance to buy one from a retired bike shop guy. He had that bike dialed but apparenlty I didn't want to spend the extra $25 over my budget that he was asking for. This was about 6 years ago and I still kick myself for not buying it.