Modern Classics
#1
Modern Classics
What is the sickest looking and riding steel, classic looking, lugged bicycle that is being made today? Could be custom or mass produced, cheap or expensive, modern edge threadless + CF fork or die hard quill-stem classic.
I'll start it off with the inevitable Colnago Master-X:

And Cinelli Supercorsa:
I'll start it off with the inevitable Colnago Master-X:

And Cinelli Supercorsa:
#3
Bianchi Goddess


Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,874
Likes: 4,118
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Max if I wanted to do so where would I go to order that Cinelli? is Cinelli still building steel bikes? also is it just me or does something look odd about it?
As for goodlooking modern steel bikes.... the newest steel bike I have actually ridden is my '09 Motobecane Fantom Uno so I can't speak of ride quality. as for styling and classicness I'll say most any steel bike in the shop from the humble tigged (or whatever) trek 520 to the stalwart Bianchi Volpe to the Dolomite or the sexxy peacock colored Colnagos. I just love the classic lines of steel bike. the smooth lifeless (or should I say souless?) cookie cutter carbon bikes are nice to look at but they all seem to be the same.
As for goodlooking modern steel bikes.... the newest steel bike I have actually ridden is my '09 Motobecane Fantom Uno so I can't speak of ride quality. as for styling and classicness I'll say most any steel bike in the shop from the humble tigged (or whatever) trek 520 to the stalwart Bianchi Volpe to the Dolomite or the sexxy peacock colored Colnagos. I just love the classic lines of steel bike. the smooth lifeless (or should I say souless?) cookie cutter carbon bikes are nice to look at but they all seem to be the same.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 159
From: Kalamazoo, Mi.
Bikes: Sam, The Hunq and that Old Guy, Soma Buena Vista, Giant Talon 2, Brompton
People here are bound to complain about.the top tube slope,but I love my Hunqapillar.


It's just an incredibly comfortable ride.
Marc
It's just an incredibly comfortable ride.
Marc
#5
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,031
Likes: 2,106
From: NW Ohio
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-1977 Univega Grand Rally, S LTD, 1973 Sears Free Spirit 531, 197? FW Evans
Mercian. https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/
#6
#7
Here is a partial list of Italian modern steel,
Ablocco
Basso
Bellesi
Bianchi
Carrera
Casati
Cinelli
Ciocc
Colnago
DeRosa
Guerciotti
Masciaghi
Masi
Moser
Olmo
Pegoretti
Scapin
Somec
Tommasini
Torelli
Viner
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 4
From: Collegeville, PA
Bikes: Ruckelshaus Randonneur, Specialized Allez (early 90's, steel), Ruckelshaus Path Bomber currently being built
Yeah, for an across-the-product-line classic vintage look, nobody beats Rivendell.
Had I the cash to spend, I would look at a DeRosa Neoprimato in red, with an all-alloy Athena groupset. A supercorsa would be my next choice.
Had I the cash to spend, I would look at a DeRosa Neoprimato in red, with an all-alloy Athena groupset. A supercorsa would be my next choice.
#10
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,492
Likes: 269
From: STP
I used to feel bad about not being able to get my hands on a Vanilla.

Not so much anymore, as I'll get around to one eventually.
After riding a Kirk Terraplane two summers ago, I decided to start saving for one.

I'll finally have the $$$ to place an order in the spring.
...and after NAHBS, another builder came on the radar for me.
Chris Bishop.
He had a silver touring bike that was my hands down favorite at the show, aside from a bike from Dave Kirk and a Signal.
Chris Bishop though, just has a special flair.
For example, I can't imagine a nicer looking track bike/Pista.

So many other outstanding "classic" American builders like Chris Kvale, Curt Goodrich, Bruce Gordon, Roland Della Santa, Mike Zanconato, Martin Tweedy, etc.
The list seemingly goes on forever.
Modern classics?
I don't know, I just dig 'em!
Photos from their sites, but I wish they all were mine.

Not so much anymore, as I'll get around to one eventually.
After riding a Kirk Terraplane two summers ago, I decided to start saving for one.

I'll finally have the $$$ to place an order in the spring.
...and after NAHBS, another builder came on the radar for me.
Chris Bishop.
He had a silver touring bike that was my hands down favorite at the show, aside from a bike from Dave Kirk and a Signal.
Chris Bishop though, just has a special flair.
For example, I can't imagine a nicer looking track bike/Pista.

So many other outstanding "classic" American builders like Chris Kvale, Curt Goodrich, Bruce Gordon, Roland Della Santa, Mike Zanconato, Martin Tweedy, etc.
The list seemingly goes on forever.
Modern classics?
I don't know, I just dig 'em!
Photos from their sites, but I wish they all were mine.
#12
Decrepit Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,488
Likes: 92
From: Santa Rosa, California
Bikes: Waterford 953 RS-22, several Paramounts
I think my Waterford RS-22 falls into that category.
Last edited by Scooper; 09-24-11 at 09:39 PM.
#14
Fat Guy on a Little Bike


Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 15,946
Likes: 371
From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
Scooper's Waterford defines that category IMO.
I don't think the Cinelli or Colnago are classic at all and I honestly don't think either will be desired down the road. My reasons are:
1. Neither bike is tearing it up on the market and I don't think teenagers are dreaming about them. Classics are the bikes teenagers see, can't afford and remember the rest of their lives.
2. To me both of these bikes are stylish "retro" pieces aimed at the folks like us...guys who grew up in the 80s and dreamed of a Cinelli. They're really not much different than the re-release of Schwinn Krates - it's nostalgia, and nostalgia isn't classic to me.
I think the trend is that if people want steel, they want hand made customs or they want workman like function (Surly)...these are just recreations of what people wanted 20 years ago. I'd rather have the bike I wanted 20 years ago personally...it's cheaper and real. If I want new high end steel, I'm going to get it from Waterford, Kirk, Serotta...etc. If I want an everyday steel bike, I'm getting a Jamis, Surly, etc.
I don't think the Cinelli or Colnago are classic at all and I honestly don't think either will be desired down the road. My reasons are:
1. Neither bike is tearing it up on the market and I don't think teenagers are dreaming about them. Classics are the bikes teenagers see, can't afford and remember the rest of their lives.
2. To me both of these bikes are stylish "retro" pieces aimed at the folks like us...guys who grew up in the 80s and dreamed of a Cinelli. They're really not much different than the re-release of Schwinn Krates - it's nostalgia, and nostalgia isn't classic to me.
I think the trend is that if people want steel, they want hand made customs or they want workman like function (Surly)...these are just recreations of what people wanted 20 years ago. I'd rather have the bike I wanted 20 years ago personally...it's cheaper and real. If I want new high end steel, I'm going to get it from Waterford, Kirk, Serotta...etc. If I want an everyday steel bike, I'm getting a Jamis, Surly, etc.
#15
You can still get a frameset, custom or "off the peg", from Bob Jackson, of course.
https://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/custom.php
https://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/default.php?cPath=28
https://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/custom.php
https://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/default.php?cPath=28
#16
"Chooch"
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 2
From: Prairieville, Louisiana
Bikes: Late 1990s Ciocc Titan
https://www.pelizzoliworld.com/products/corsa-gp/
Still built in Giovanni "Ciocc" Pelizzoli's shop in Curno, Italy.
Still built in Giovanni "Ciocc" Pelizzoli's shop in Curno, Italy.
#18
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,492
Likes: 269
From: STP
...and gorgeous!
FWIW I couldn't care less if folks like Colnagos or not though.
I rode the tires off an Extreme Power this summer, and it is far and away the nicest racing bike I've ever ridden.
By far.
Hardly classic styling, but entirely wicked in its own right.
FWIW I couldn't care less if folks like Colnagos or not though.
I rode the tires off an Extreme Power this summer, and it is far and away the nicest racing bike I've ever ridden.
By far.
Hardly classic styling, but entirely wicked in its own right.
#19
Rivendell just grates on a lots folks, in this section of the forum. The bike does ride great IMHO ( I am biased). I find it very comfortable and am trying to get myself enough miles in to really do it justice.
#20
Scooper's Waterford defines that category IMO.
I don't think the Cinelli or Colnago are classic at all and I honestly don't think either will be desired down the road. My reasons are:
1. Neither bike is tearing it up on the market and I don't think teenagers are dreaming about them. Classics are the bikes teenagers see, can't afford and remember the rest of their lives.
2. To me both of these bikes are stylish "retro" pieces aimed at the folks like us...guys who grew up in the 80s and dreamed of a Cinelli. They're really not much different than the re-release of Schwinn Krates - it's nostalgia, and nostalgia isn't classic to me.
I think the trend is that if people want steel, they want hand made customs or they want workman like function (Surly)...these are just recreations of what people wanted 20 years ago. I'd rather have the bike I wanted 20 years ago personally...it's cheaper and real. If I want new high end steel, I'm going to get it from Waterford, Kirk, Serotta...etc. If I want an everyday steel bike, I'm getting a Jamis, Surly, etc.
I don't think the Cinelli or Colnago are classic at all and I honestly don't think either will be desired down the road. My reasons are:
1. Neither bike is tearing it up on the market and I don't think teenagers are dreaming about them. Classics are the bikes teenagers see, can't afford and remember the rest of their lives.
2. To me both of these bikes are stylish "retro" pieces aimed at the folks like us...guys who grew up in the 80s and dreamed of a Cinelli. They're really not much different than the re-release of Schwinn Krates - it's nostalgia, and nostalgia isn't classic to me.
I think the trend is that if people want steel, they want hand made customs or they want workman like function (Surly)...these are just recreations of what people wanted 20 years ago. I'd rather have the bike I wanted 20 years ago personally...it's cheaper and real. If I want new high end steel, I'm going to get it from Waterford, Kirk, Serotta...etc. If I want an everyday steel bike, I'm getting a Jamis, Surly, etc.
Also, Cinelli is one of the first companies to use stainless. And while the die-hards here insist upon lugged construction, in reality, lugs only offer a different aesthetic, it is not "better". Instead of being a slave to the past, Cinelli looks to current trends and brings steel bikes forward with their XCR, whick I personally would consider a modern classic.
#22
www.theheadbadge.com



Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,997
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From: Southern Florida
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
#23
Get off my lawn!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,035
Likes: 118
From: The Garden State
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
Hetchins or Bob Jackson with Vibrant Stays tops my list but for the time being I'm enjoying a 2010 Raleigh Clubman ( Oh the horror!)
#24
Fat Guy on a Little Bike


Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 15,946
Likes: 371
From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
I can't say about Colnago, but I will stick my $0.02 about Cinelli. No, they don't have a huge market share in the US. But they are a pretty big hit with the hipsters. They are targeted with the RVCA, Mash and Gazzetta. Cinelli is a major sponsor of the CMWC and the ECMC. With this, Cinelli is targeting the early adopters, something that will give them the reputation as leaders and will keep their bikes desirable for some time.
Also, Cinelli is one of the first companies to use stainless. And while the die-hards here insist upon lugged construction, in reality, lugs only offer a different aesthetic, it is not "better". Instead of being a slave to the past, Cinelli looks to current trends and brings steel bikes forward with their XCR, whick I personally would consider a modern classic.

Also, Cinelli is one of the first companies to use stainless. And while the die-hards here insist upon lugged construction, in reality, lugs only offer a different aesthetic, it is not "better". Instead of being a slave to the past, Cinelli looks to current trends and brings steel bikes forward with their XCR, whick I personally would consider a modern classic.

#25






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