To restore or not to restore: Late 1980's Bottecchia
08-19-22, 10:54 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by J_Chickles
i would toss the Suntour stuff in a box and say "free to whoever pays shipping" .....
Even the Spring and Cyclone stuff was decent and has longevity.
08-20-22, 09:43 AM
#27
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First step is to take a step back and ask yourself, “Am I really going to ride this?” A lot of people pick up cool stuff, especially free, and it just sits in their garage. Probably because deep down they really don’t like it enough to spend the time and money to fix it up.
If you are not going to use it, get it in rideable condition and sell it. Don’t spend a ton on it. It isn’t a rare highly collectible bike.
If it is a bike you actually “want” to use, and nearly everything is in good condition, then restoring/swapping components will probably be worth it. You probably can’t buy a new bike for what you invest.
For most people who are honestly excited to fix up and ride a bike, worth is not the first question, but it is the smart question to curb the enthusiasm.
John
If you are not going to use it, get it in rideable condition and sell it. Don’t spend a ton on it. It isn’t a rare highly collectible bike.
If it is a bike you actually “want” to use, and nearly everything is in good condition, then restoring/swapping components will probably be worth it. You probably can’t buy a new bike for what you invest.
For most people who are honestly excited to fix up and ride a bike, worth is not the first question, but it is the smart question to curb the enthusiasm.
John
08-20-22, 03:37 PM
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Pictures of these bikes are making me feel even shorter than I am...
08-20-22, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by J_Chickles
nice bike
given the Campagnolo crankset and brakes - which is either Victory or Triomphe - it probably was originally all Campagnolo --- one of the former owners must have replaced to get better indexing
i would toss the Suntour stuff in a box and say "free to whoever pays shipping" in the sales section and find some Campagnolo shifting bits and brake levers. Rims match and they appear to be Campagnolo hubs too , although from an earlier era i think -- also seatpost - probably 26.8 so slightly more difficult to source a nice Campy post, but not impossible at all
The bike is clean for a dump find for sure ! $200 on ebay for some appropriate shifters, derailleurs and levers plus another $60 for tires and you'd have a real classic !
(Or - just get the tires, re-grease all the bearings , polish it up and ride it till your brain melts -- people used to run mismatched parts kits all the time BITD )
given the Campagnolo crankset and brakes - which is either Victory or Triomphe - it probably was originally all Campagnolo --- one of the former owners must have replaced to get better indexing
i would toss the Suntour stuff in a box and say "free to whoever pays shipping" in the sales section and find some Campagnolo shifting bits and brake levers. Rims match and they appear to be Campagnolo hubs too , although from an earlier era i think -- also seatpost - probably 26.8 so slightly more difficult to source a nice Campy post, but not impossible at all
The bike is clean for a dump find for sure ! $200 on ebay for some appropriate shifters, derailleurs and levers plus another $60 for tires and you'd have a real classic !
(Or - just get the tires, re-grease all the bearings , polish it up and ride it till your brain melts -- people used to run mismatched parts kits all the time BITD )
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08-20-22, 07:19 PM
#31
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by hazetguy
That's like setting aside a Ferrari for a Chevy Chevette.
and since the bottechhia is for sale, why are you concerned about what to do with it?
and since the bottechhia is for sale, why are you concerned about what to do with it?
i don't know what direction i will take with the bottecchia. listing is not the same as selling.
08-20-22, 08:35 PM
#32
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...one of those bicycles is not your size. If you are selling the Bottecchia, don't do anything to it. You won't recoup your money. And there's a good chance you might break something, taking it apart.
...one of those bicycles is not your size. If you are selling the Bottecchia, don't do anything to it. You won't recoup your money. And there's a good chance you might break something, taking it apart.
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08-20-22, 10:09 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
A link to it was posted here: eBay / CraigsList finds - "Are you looking for one of these!?" Part II
now whether it being advertised in an online marketplace, with a price, actually constitutes it being "for sale" or it just being a publicity stunt is, i guess, up for debate.
now whether it being advertised in an online marketplace, with a price, actually constitutes it being "for sale" or it just being a publicity stunt is, i guess, up for debate.
... $750 is ambitious pricing for a project bike, but I really have no clue about the ebay marketplace.
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08-21-22, 09:07 AM
#34
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
A link to it was posted here: eBay / CraigsList finds - "Are you looking for one of these!?" Part II
now whether it being advertised in an online marketplace, with a price, actually constitutes it being "for sale" or it just being a publicity stunt is, i guess, up for debate.
now whether it being advertised in an online marketplace, with a price, actually constitutes it being "for sale" or it just being a publicity stunt is, i guess, up for debate.
08-21-22, 09:08 AM
#35
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
... $750 is ambitious pricing for a project bike, but I really have no clue about the ebay marketplace.
08-22-22, 11:37 AM
#37
Junior Member
Originally Posted by SurferRosa
Crankset: Triomphe
Calipers: GS
Brake levers: ?
Got any free stuff of your own to offer? I love Suntour.
Calipers: GS
Brake levers: ?
Got any free stuff of your own to offer? I love Suntour.
LOL - actually i probably do ! Since my fleet is predominately Campagnolo equipped, a lot of other stuff just sits in bins unused and unloved. Thought seriously about putting a box together for one of the "mystery box challenges" i saw on here
08-22-22, 11:43 AM
#38
Junior Member
Originally Posted by Murray Missile
That is a 1990 ADR Replica with the 1989 Tour De France Team paint Scheme, there were 4 levels to the replicas, the is 2nd to the bottom, the lowest level had a painted fork. Except for possibly the saddle and pedals it has all its original components. Yes, the Suntour Radius shifters and derailleurs are original to the bike, hubs are Gipiemme.
i learn something new every day
08-22-22, 01:28 PM
#39
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Originally Posted by rwh63
I’m not running an eBay ad.
08-22-22, 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by J_Chickles
I have to assume that you are correct, -- and if so , what a bizarre OEM parts mix (The Suntour stuff that is -- wouldnt be too crazy to see a Gipiemme and Campy mix on a low-mid level bike though
i learn something new every day
i learn something new every day
Check out the specs page of the 1990 catalog here.....1990 Bottecchia Catalog
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Last edited by Murray Missile; 08-22-22 at 02:05 PM.
08-22-22, 03:19 PM
#41
Junior Member
Originally Posted by Murray Missile
You guys' are a tresure trove of knowledge ! and for you to remember a 9 year old post is impressive !
Bridgestone used to spec bikes with a mixup of components too, - so much so that one might think it a "Frankenbike" also or a parts bin special if he/she didnt know better. But PEterson had opinions on what he thought should be on there and specce'd accordingly when he could , as the story goes
08-22-22, 04:24 PM
#42
Junior Member
Originally Posted by hazetguy
$750. see post 35 in this thread. clearly you need to work on your investigating skills. 
Thats a stout price for an Aelle Trtubi bike that literally needs everything gone through --- the FB marketplace pics also show that the wheels arent really up to snuff either. Corrosion at the spoke eyelets point to storage in a possibly damp environment.
08-22-22, 04:35 PM
#43
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Originally Posted by J_Chickles
You guys' are a tresure trove of knowledge ! and for you to remember a 9 year old post is impressive !
Bridgestone used to spec bikes with a mixup of components too, - so much so that one might think it a "Frankenbike" also or a parts bin special if he/she didnt know better. But PEterson had opinions on what he thought should be on there and specce'd accordingly when he could , as the story goes
Bridgestone used to spec bikes with a mixup of components too, - so much so that one might think it a "Frankenbike" also or a parts bin special if he/she didnt know better. But PEterson had opinions on what he thought should be on there and specce'd accordingly when he could , as the story goes
You give me WAY too much credit LOL, I did research on the bike when it first appeared in C&V which included a search for Bottecchia catalogs and this is some of what came up.
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08-22-22, 04:55 PM
#44
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
$750... clearly you need to work on your investigating skills.
08-23-22, 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by rwh63
new here, and did not see a bike restoration section, so thought i would throw out my question into the general section.
i have a late 1980's Bottecchia that was a dump find. it has been a wall hanger for the past year. i have never done a teardown and rebuild. not sure the bike is worth that effort for me. this bike seems to be a mid-range model. campy/suntour components mostly. appears all original, overall in pretty good condition.
for those that regularly dabble in rebuilds (or restoration, though in my mind that means returning it to original condition), what kind of time, materials, costs should i expect to face. i'm not new to tearing things apart and doing maintenance, just never on a vintage bike.
please feel free to comment on the bike itself as well.
i have a late 1980's Bottecchia that was a dump find. it has been a wall hanger for the past year. i have never done a teardown and rebuild. not sure the bike is worth that effort for me. this bike seems to be a mid-range model. campy/suntour components mostly. appears all original, overall in pretty good condition.
for those that regularly dabble in rebuilds (or restoration, though in my mind that means returning it to original condition), what kind of time, materials, costs should i expect to face. i'm not new to tearing things apart and doing maintenance, just never on a vintage bike.
please feel free to comment on the bike itself as well.
08-23-22, 02:46 PM
#46
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by J_Chickles
Thats a stout price for an Aelle Trtubi bike that literally needs everything gone through --- the FB marketplace pics also show that the wheels arent really up to snuff either. Corrosion at the spoke eyelets point to storage in a possibly damp environment.
08-24-22, 06:14 AM
#47
Junior Member
Originally Posted by rwh63
this thread is NOT an advertisement for this bike, and i don't want to see it shut down. it was meant to give a newbie some ideas about the bike and whether it should be restored to some degree. i have had PM inquiries, and did decide to toss it on Facebook MP in the interim. why not? if i am not going to restore it, i would like to give someone else the opportunity to do so. as for "value", that is very individual and subjective. i found this recent Ebay sale that somewhat is applicable. frame only, no components. it tells me something. someone selling one item ultimately only needs one buyer. https://www.ebay.com/itm/28450227172...p2047675.l2557
well, knock yourself out hoss
11-11-22, 02:24 PM
#49
Full Member
The paint and stickers look nice IMHO (it looks nicer and has better components than the Bertin 'm doing )and if anything worth doing a functional resto. Clean, polish and replace the consumables and ride it.
I haven't done a rebuild overhaul in a long time but the bike I found happens to be in my size and after 35 years as a mechanic I miss fiddling. Id say go for it.
I haven't done a rebuild overhaul in a long time but the bike I found happens to be in my size and after 35 years as a mechanic I miss fiddling. Id say go for it.
11-14-22, 06:17 PM
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My $.02 is that there’s nothing to “restore” as much as go over it to make it mechanically sound. Bottechia was my racing bike in the 80’s. They also did a bad chrome job on some frames so the down tube would fail at the head lug. I got a replacement after mine broke and rode it until I got old and fat and couldn’t sell it for more than $250 and that was with a higher grade of Columbus tubing. One of the best overall handiing road bikes for me back then. It’s a good bike if it doesn’t have the self destructing chrome job.
