I bought this bike yesterday. The guy I bought it from said that it is a Moser. He had it chromed a few years ago, so none of the decals, tubing stickers, or headbadge remain. The dropouts are not labeled. The serial number is L751166. It measures 55 cm ST and 55 cm TT. The seatpost is Campy 27.2 mm. Can anyone confirm that this is a Moser, or something else?

Components:
FD: Shimano 600
RD: Shimano 600
Brake Levers: Shimano Exage Sport
Brakes: Shimano 105
Hubs: Shimano 105

hmmm...can you confirm it has Italian BB threading, and the does the steerer have internal rifling? It had a head badge, don't think most Mosers did. I haven't seen many without any panto on the forkcrown or stay caps, and that semi-wrap stay treatment also doesn't look "Moser" to me.

Not unlike a "Moser" I had many moons ago but am not an expert so not sure if it is one,many knowledgble ppl in here who I,m sure will help you out,all I can say is "How much did you pay for it ? and "boy its nice" !

IMHO , upon reflection, frame looks 70,s with a 80,s replacement fork !

I paid $160 for it. The ad said $200 firm for now, but it had been up for about a month. I asked if he'd take $180 for it and he said, "Hell, I'll let you have it for $160." I guess it helps that we ride with the same cycling club, just on different days. And thanks, it's gonna polish up real nice!

I think its late 80's. It has 6 speed indexed shifting and a biopace chainring. Also, the brakes have recessed nuts.

well those are short DOs and without portaCatena holes, so it's more like '80s, but it would be nice to see a sharp pic of one to try to ID the make (apparently not Campy or GPM).

I'll check this evening. Would a late 80's Italian bike still have an Italian threaded BB?

Yup

Two sets of bottle bosses, shifter bosses, a pump peg and recessed brake fittings but no FD derailleur indicates late 1980s to me. Components are from that period too, though I would have expected 7 speed with thee Ultegra derailleur. Is that a rivet hole in the head tube or just a reflection in the chrome?

That is a rivet hole in the headtube from a headbadge. I didn't get a chance to check the BB threading.

OK, sorry to drag my old thread but, I think I may have figured out what it is. I think its a 87/88 Schwinn Circuit. The lugs and dropouts look the same. It has 2 rivet holes in the headtube that coincide with a Schwinn headbadge. It has a Tange Aero fork.

Does anyone have a photo of a Circuit bottom bracket for comparison?

My frame actually broke the other day while I was riding. The downtube came unbrazed the BB lug. I met with Hans Schneider, a local framebuilder in Huntsville, TX, this afternoon. He said it was definitely Japanese and looked like a Panasonic, but Panasonics have a sticker, not a headbadge. Were the Circuits made by Panasonic?

AFAIK, the Circuits from that period were made in Greenville, MS...but I'd do an archive search and check for older Schwinn catalog scans to confirm that.

and the Italian BB threading?

It has a british threaded BB.

Broke? Hydrogen embrittlement from improper chroming?

-Kurt

The lug cracked on the outside of the cutout, it can be ground off. Really the brazing just failed. I compared it to a Schwinn Tempo yesterday and I'm even more convinced that it is a Circuit because of the 27.2mm seatpost and aero fork. Hans Schnieder told me that he would have to replace the whole tube for it to be fixed properly, which would be at least $200.

So, in anyone's opinion, is this frame worth spending a couple hundred dollars on to have it repaired?

It fits me like a glove; it's fast and comfortable. What should I do?

$200 for tube replacement, and well over that to rechrome it?

Nope. Easier to source out another all-chrome, lugged frame.

-Kurt

I think you answered your own question.

IMNSHO how it fits and rides is most important.

Well I would probably have to go the paint route and forget about the chrome. I think he said the $200 would cover paint, but that might only be for the downtube and not the entire frame. The ride is what is most important to me.

Does it have aero seat stays? I can't tell for sure in your pictures. They should start off round and end up flattened halfway to the brake bridge and round out again near the dropouts. If the frame is a Schwinn it would definitely be a Circuit since it was the only model with aero forks and stays.

As far as I can tell all Circuits were made in Greenville and essentially as 2 models: 1987 which was paired with Suntour Sprint (pre-indexed), and 1988/89 paired with Shimano Sante. 88/89 featured full chromed forks but otherwise remained the same.

FWIW my very early production Circuit (June 1986) BB s/n is SF6-----. My dropouts clearly have "Tange" stamped into them.

So I had the frame repaired. Hans Schneider replaced the downtube with a piece of True Temper OX Platinum tubing. He said there was hardly any brass holding the tube in place. He was surprised it lasted 20+ years. I painted the headtube, downtube, and BB metallic black. I just finished with everything a little while ago. I'm super excited and can't wait to take her for a long ride.

Bike looks awesome, but that frame looks identical to my 86 Cilo Tange 2.

I think that's an awesome and creative way to save the rest of the chrome. I hope it rides just as well after the repair as before!

Very clever