tronnyjenkins 

I thought I knew a bit about Bianchi bikes. Turns out I don’t know anything about the stuff from about 98 (minus Pantani)- 2005. Haha.

Would anyone happen to know any details as to this frame? Obviously the components are mehh 105 Shimano 8sp. I’m not sure if the bike was equipped like that as a Bianchi model. I’m thinking it’s more likely the local shop sold the frame and built it up. (See the mismatched shift levers).

Just thinking of upgrading my wife’s ride.
Thanks!

KonAaron Snake 

Obviously BG is pretty authoritative when it comes to more modern Bianchis. I've seen ti bianchi's before, but the ones I've seen were usually painted. I THINK I remember reading that Litespeed made them, at least at certain points. If it's priced right...why not?

Generally, I'm a believer in sticking to "the big guns" with titanium, and have found that ti frames vary more in ride quality than steel. I've had a few contract built Litespeeds over the years...mostly MEHHH.

Spaghetti Legs 

I helped a friend find a good CL deal on a Ti Bianchi with 9 speed Ultegra. She's been riding it for 2-3 years now and loves it.

ryansu

I think you need to send up the @bianchigirl signal

tronnyjenkins 

I should have clarified I already bought it. So I can provide more pics and all if needed.

Thanks for sending the BG signal, haha.

markjenn

This frame looks IDENTICAL to my mid-90's Litespeed Natchez. The "TITANIUM" sticker on the top tube is also the same, but is applied rearward near the seat tube on the Litespeed. I like mine well enough and it has been durable.

- Mark

Wildwood 

Serial number format might ID the manufacturer.

My comment is that 'If it fits?', assuming no frame or fork issues, then it is certainly is worthy of an upgraded drivetrain/shifters. My reasoning is that the shifter replacement seems due to usage (not a minor crash or something) given the worn appearance of crank arms and chainrings. Does it need new grease everywhere? You mentioned 'bike shop likely built-up' - and that would be kinda sloppy unless dictated by a customer.

Here's a new 3X8 drivetrain group from Microshift. Campy would be nicest for wife, right?

https://www.microshift.com/en/product-category/road/r8/

tronnyjenkins 

Thanks!
After the suggestion that it looks like a Litespeed, I searched Bianchi and Litespeed together and found this old thread. Seems it probably is a contract frame. I’ll go through all the bearings and let my wife try it out.
She’s riding a low-ish end Bianchi Alfana (Super Set 2) right now with 7 speed RSX. No show stopper, but she does like the pearlescent celeste and it works for her amount of riding. We shall see if “Ti” turns out to be king in this case.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ase-chime.html

Choke 

I agree that it looks like it was built by Litespeed, given the bullet shaped chain and seat stays. FWIW they also built Ti frames for Basso and Eddy Merckx.

KonAaron Snake 

And Look, Lemond, Ciocc, and probably many others. From what I've seen, their work on their own branded frames was usually neater than what they did for others, and I'm not a fan of the result when a brand says here...make our geometry frame from titanium.

unworthy1

Cannot offer any opinion on the ride quality, but that welding looks "spot-on"!

tronnyjenkins 

Does anyone know what kind of fork that is or how I can identify it in person?

markjenn

I don't know, but most lower-end Ti Litespeeds of this era had either a Kinesis AL or Look carbon fork. They didn't look anything like your fork. So I'd venture it is something spec'ed by Bianchi to separate the frame more from its Litespeed origins. Or possibly the fork has been replaced since new.

Good luck with your research.

- Mark

Bianchigirll 

Sorry I am late to the party, surprisingly for late Nov the stone and gravel business is still very busy, plus my notification emails go to the spam folder for some reason.

Bianchi and Bianchi USA had some interesting offerings in the mid to late '90s.

OK does this have a tubing sticker? According to the Bianchi USA catalogs in '96 and '97 Bianchi offered a Ti SS2 road and mountain frame, I guess as a budget option to the MegaTube frame. It was unpainted and sans fork in '96 and with a Time fork in '97.

The '96 just says Bianchi 3/2.5 Ti tubing with SuperSet 2, split wire cable routing, vertical dropouts, dual bottle mounts, peg and alloy seat clamp

The '97 says Ancotech 3/2.5 Ti tubing SuperSet 2 configuration, clamp on FD, semi-verticle dropouts. split wire, dual bottle mounts, and peg. Time carbon fork option.

Looking at the catalog pics the only difference I see in the two, aside from the fork, is an American flag on the '96 so perhaps that is the year they were built by Litespeed.

KonAaron Snake 

BG - any idea who built the megatube variant?

Bianchigirll 

I believe they were sort of the same some by Litespeed and most by Bianchi or someone else for them.

RobbieTunes

My '96 Classic (Lynskey signature) has the US flag, a Kestrel EMS fork, with the yellow fade scheme, but with rack eyelets on the rear. Go figure.

I've seen OP's fork before, and I'm guessing an aftermarket swap was done. I think it's a Look, and from the 96 era, but hard to imagine no branding on it, which, for both Look and Litespeed, and likely Bianchi, would be under clear coat.

The TT "TITANIUM" decal is identical to Litespeed's.

My basic guess is a Litespeed frame build, by Lynskey or Tisch, with a fork from Look.

I share Aaron's sentiments, somewhat, on spec-built Ti's,, as there was a pure marketing motive behind some. Riding a Merlin or Seven or Lynskey an confirm that. My choice in that spec market would be a Douglas Precision Ti or the Panasonic model.

If OP's wife can get past the lack of celeste, it's likely a winner. Even with Shimano.

Ronbo Fomby

Your mystery fork is a straight leg Alpha Q.

KonAaron Snake 

The Panasonic one was a beauty, but I think it was cp ti...

There was a ti zunow posted once that I’d bet was built by the same entity that built the Panasonics. They also had ti forks, which is/was unusual.

Choke 

I don't think I've ever seen a titanium Look or Ciöcc.

DiabloScott

Can confirm Ciocc Titan was a thing.

KonAaron Snake 

I owned a ti look...polished ti. Looked pretty. A lot of the TSD brands had a contract built ti frame.

jc031699

I acquired this exact frameset. For the curious, that is an early model Zipp aero fork, says the steerer affixed label. Cheers-