Columbus KL yes or no?
 

54cm frame w/ a flat fork crown. Spiral helix in the fork steerer.

Frame 1749g
Fork 722g

Based on that information alone, do you think its Columbus KL tubing?

I am going to vote yes but only if your a lightweight and your not going to make this an everyday rider. Any pics of the frame?

My '86 "Murray" has a KL top and down tube, the tubing wall thickness is VERY thin, so be careful of dents.

I was under the impression you're asking if the tubing is Columbus KL based on the weight and characteristics of the tubing.. Maybe clarify the intention of the poll

Based on weight only.....

Some time ago I did a comparison on weights of a couple bikes I have.

The first is a 58cm Colnago Mexico I believe it's a '78 or '79. I believe this frame is KL tubing. The second is a mid-80's Raleigh Team USA 753 Ilkeston built frame. Edit: The Raleigh frame is 60cm.

The Colnago frame when measured still had the cups in the head tube, and the bearing race on the fork. So you would have to subtract for that. And also for the size difference between a 54 and 58cm frame.

Weights came out as follows:

Mexico Frame: 1874 g
Mexico Fork: 726 g

753 Frame: 1866 g
753 Fork: 694 g

I don't know if this helps but it's at least another data point.

Personally, I never use weight in an attempt to determine tubesets. There's such a variation in the weights of lugs, BB shells and other fittings, especially when you consider how much some manufacturers pare them.

Having said that, it is a very light frame. To the best of my knowledge, KL did use the patented steerer with helical reinforcements. KL used a traditional single butted seat tube but with a 0.1mm thinner wall than SL, so you nay be able to discern the difference via seat post diameters. Are you sure it's Columbus?

100% sure. Seat post is 27.2mm and I was mistaken, it does have the spiral helix steerer tube.

I voted yes, without fully understanding the question/poll. Sometimes I'm just a sheeple. ;)

What's not to understand? Based on the frame size and weight, do you think its Columbus KL tubing?

I'm here just for the post count. lol. Though I'm still a rookie and hearing about this KL tubing is completely new to me.

My view:

The frame could well be a mix, the fork to me is pretty close to my 55 CTT Super's fork, so it might be SL.

Remember guys, forks got built, sent out for chrome and paint... and they had little or no identification.

The frame is lighter than my 55 CTT Super, but not by a large amount. MY best guess is some is KL and some is SL, like the seat tube, and who knows what else.

Other tubing manufacturers had helical ribs in the steer tube, e.g. Tange and Vitus.

+1 and to have this thread marked for further reading...

Again, no question it Columbus with 100% certainty.

Here's a thread on another site about a Colnago Mexico. Photo in the last response shows a frame weight of 1737g for a 53cm frame.

Another data point.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/ret...st4338189.html

Not KL, imo. That is nearly 5.5 pounds frame + fork, in a medium size. Too heavy. Seat post should also be 27.4 for KL. Two big strikes....

I have a 61 cm. 1980s KL TT frameset. Right around 2400 grams, bare frame + fork. (Just weighed it, with headset and both brake calipers attached, at 2800).

Your frameset is most likely SL, I would say. Could be a mix of SL and KL, though, perhaps? Does it have a legit KL tubing decal?

The published weight difference between a KL tubeset and an SL one was about 250 grams. (1675 vs. 1925, probably a 'small' set?).

For reference my Nuevo Mexico is purportedly partially KL, at least the top and down tubes and weighs near exactly 5lbs for the frame and fork size 56x55 ctc. My SL Somec also a 55cm also weighed 5lbs, but had thinner more worked lugs and an internal crown fork.

For many years, Columbus decals did not designate the specific tubing type; only that it was "tubi rinforzati garanatiti, acciaio speciale" (guaranteed butted tubes, special steel).

My KL frame clearly & proudly sports a KL decal. Weight of this Colnago says it's not KL. Seatpost size says it's not KL. I also have a KL tubeset, which came with a KL decal. This is the dark-blue Colnago, right? That has (what is left of) an SL decal, not a KL decal, as far as I can see.

Only the seat post size points to it not being KL, based on the weight alone it's too light to be SL. I think its a frame made from KL with at least an SL seat tube.

So maybe it's Record tubing?

Definitely not!

Jim, your 54 cm (alledgedly KL) frameset weighs more than my 61 cm (definitely KL) frameset, ergo, it's not KL. Simple math. Your frameset was made with SL. Small possibility that it has one or more KL tubes, but frankly, I doubt it....