How ugly is this?
 

In a different thread, I showed this trash-picked, little, and heavy Bianchi that came my way over the weekend:


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8a4ce9f0d.jpeg

In my stash I had an equally low-end fork that had the right sized steerer and compatible threading with the Tange headset I had in the bin. Took a little straightening in my jig, but should be good to go:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8a5b9b1e.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a361bbff2.jpeg

So how ugly is this orange in contrast to the Celeste? Should I respray it dark blue to match the lettering? Black? Decoupage?

Actually, it's kinda cool, in a bizarre sort of way.

Character!
Paint the rear triangle orange. (or at least the dropouts and "socks.")
Brent

Since it's going to be a Frankenbike, why not let it look like a Frankenbike? (And I use the term affectionately.)

I would ride it as is.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c568cfb2d.jpg
How about yellow...

Those lugs make me think this was originally a mountain bike frame, correct? Never seen lugs like that for a steel bike.....usually seen lugs like that for a Carbon/Steel or early aluminum frames in the 1980's when they bonded tubes together (see Raleigh Tecnium 400 series bikes).

It’s OK if you accessorize with one of these


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7ed291672.jpeg

St. Patrick's Day bike?

Yeah, the lug work is similar to Kabuki/Bridgestone/C.Itoh and other Japanese-made bonded steel frames. Kind of a surprise that Bianchi did this, too (it has a Made in Italy sticker). The wheels you see fitted are 700c, so I don't think it was intended as an MTB.

That is clearly exactly a Bridgestone/C.Itoh/Kabuki and was given Celeste paint and decals, nothing makes me think this ever was a legit Bianchi. If in doubt, tell us the serial number. Depending on the original model if this is a "Submariner" it could have stainless steel tubes, but those "lugs" are cast aluminum.

There's ugly (which I know firsthand) and then there is needlessly ugly.
At least find some chrome paint for the fork, so as not to insult celeste too much.


But it is your free frameset.

Ooh, that would be interesting, wouldn't it! I can call it my "Bianchi."

Those look like the lugs on a Bridgestone Kabuki Submariner:https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2d72b7c966.jpg

The lugs were injection cast around stainless steel tubes.

Is it just me? Does that fork look bent to anyone else?

I'm with unworthy1. I have a Kabuki with exactly those "lugs" even the little fitting on the BB.
A magnet will tell you what's aluminum and not, eg. my "Superlight" has alum. lugs, top and down tube, stays,
but steel seat tube, and a steel threaded insert in the alum. BB.

Second that on the fork.

That was my second thought, immediately after 'interesting colors'.

Hopefully its the angle of the pic or the angle of how the fork is temporarily placed in the head tube.

I'm with the group saying it's not a Bianchi. I've never seen any Bianchi, road or mountain, lugged like that. I'm also in the group that thinks that fork may be bent.

3rd here...

NICE looking frame here! I myself have not seen this Bridgestone model.. So it's SS tubing??

Did you get a free bowl of soup with that? Looks good on you though.

That would have been nice. I did come with a set of SR bars and stem, Weinmann brake levers, and SunTour stem shifters. I might have preferred the soup.

On the fork, yeah, steerer might need some tweaking still.

On the tubing, it's not a Submariner. The tubes are solid gas pipe, not SS. Kabuki made a bunch of other models with those lugs, and this might be one of them.

Edit: Looks like the Skyway model might be the most likely candidate.

The original 29'r.

If not going to dedicate it as a fixed frame MTB, then I would throw on either (a) path-racer style bars or (b) flat bars with some bar end extensions for more aggressive riding

It would be interesting if this was somehow re-badged as a Bianchi by someone hoping for a premium on the used market. But to go through all that trouble to then throw this away?