Hello,

Does anyone recognize this frame or have any idea what model/year it is? The serial # is 9110050.

Here is the whole frame: https://www.flickr.com/photos/2610295...57626335401181

Here is a link to all of the pictures I've taken of it so far: https://www.flickr.com/photos/2610295...7626335401181/

Thanks in advance!

Hey Brandon, welcome to Bike Forums and C&V! You should go ahead and post the photos of the Japanese mystery bike that you sent me, I never got the chance to this weekend.

Can't help you with the Basso tho.


Scott

Is it Cromor tubing.

1992 Paris-Roubaix perhaps.

https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/

Yep - it is Cromor according to this sticker:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2610295...7626335401181/

I think you've found it! Thanks for your help!

I would have said a Basso Coral - saw one once and you'll find plenty of pictures on the net - and strangely the chromor listed as P-R in the bulgier catalogue has actually Coral written on the top tube. Don't know if that's American branding or maybe a change of model name just then (in '92)?

Any thoughts on it being a '91 as the first two digits of the serial # are 91?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2610295...57626335401181

I have a '97 Basso Viper but it's not here, unfortunately. Can't check the serialnumber before friday. Would seem logical though.

I raced two different Basso's of similar vintage. On one, the "B" and "O" fell off on one side of the down tube. So I removed the "B" and "O" on the other side to have a matching set. I'd get lots of "nice ASS" compliments all the time.

Anyway, very nice find -it looks in great shape. I'd say it is a '91-92 Paris Roubaix. What are your plans for it?

[QUOTE= What are your plans for it?[/QUOTE]

hahaha - awesome...

As for plans - umm... As my "title" says - I'm a total newbie. I don't even own a road bike. I grew up in the '90s riding a Scott and Iron Horse mountain bikes. Haven't really ridden anything since... 2 weeks ago I got spring fever, happened upon a bike on CL (that I will be starting a different thread about) and am now weighing my options of fixing that bike up or building up the Basso.

My dad found the Basso frame has bequeathed it to me with the hopes that I will build it up. My go-to outdoors pastime is hiking and I understand the difference that quality gear can make over crap gear. With that in mind, when building this bike, I have to first research my options for what will fit the bike and then consider my options with regards to what I need vs. what I can afford etc... As the picture says, it was originally equipped with Shimano Ultegra and Campagnolo Athena parts. To be honest I have no experience to judge the quality of these parts vs what is currently being made that may fit and what I vintage I can find - so again, I'll have to balance the opinions of others with my wallet and what is available.

Cromor is butted Chrome-Molly tubing that is seamed (made from flat bar) rather than seamless tubing found in the more expensive steel tubesets. It should make for a stiff frame that is just somewhat heavier than the better steel frames of the day. I wouldnt get too focused on "restoring" the bike with a particular specification of vintage components. Such frames were often sold as bare frames for the owner to build up however they saw fit. A "restoration" with eithor Athena or Ultegra components is not such a notably collectible bike that it would really be worth any more than the sum of the components. If you actually intend to ride it (as opposed to just hang it on a wall and stare at it), I say just build it up with whatever decent quality components you want and can afford for it, and it is fine if they are somewhat newer.

GrayJay - Thanks for the advice - what about the aspect of parts actually fitting the frame? How will I know what fits what?

ie: will this stuff fit? https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:B:WNA:US:1123

The component fit considerations you will need to know are;

Diminsion between rear dropouts. 99% likely that a 1992 bike is 130mm so is designed for a 8-speed (or higher) casette hub. All road bike casettes made for 8-speed or more use same 130mm width. MTB are 135 width and older 7-speed hubs are 126mm. Use an 8-speed (or more speeds) casette road rear hub.

Bottom Bracket threading, could be Itialian treading since it is an Italian frame but manufactures were also starting to somewhat phase out Italian thread in favor of English (ISO standard).

Most likely the frame headtube is sized for a 1" steer tube fork. You can use either a threaded headset and fork OR a threadless fork and Aheadset. Might be good idea to check ID of headtube to verify sizing. Stem must be matched to the thread or threadless fork choice.

Seatpost diameter must be matched to frame seattube ID. Cromor frame should take a 27.2mm post which is the defacto road bike standard but it never hurts to measure and verify before buying a post.

Frame will need a front derailler suited for braze-on fitting attachment (not a FD that clamps around the entire seattube).

The rest of the components from most any grouppo made in the last 25 years should fit fine to your frame. Nothing proprietary about rear deraillers, cranksets, shifters, brakes that would preclude using them on this frame beyond with the above forwarnings.

Thanks for the help - I'll post as things progress or I have further questions.