jamesdak 

So I picked up this bike a few months ago. Was a repaint but I'm not sure of the model, year, frame tubeset, etc. Not a big deal because it's a beautiful bike with a sweet ride now but I am curious.



If I understand correctly, this serial number indicates a 1988 bike?



This cluster seems to vary per model:



Basso dropouts not Campagnolo:



Dual water bottle bosses and pump peg, these are not on all models





Rear Triangle details may help the ID:





Anyway, not too concerned with value as this is a keeper. I just like know for sure what I have with all my bikes and my research has not given me a definite answer on this one.

DMC707

My Ciocc has the same tubing decal- the general consensus when i posted about it long ago was that it was likely an SL or an SL TreTubi frame, due to the age and 27.2 post size

Mine has recessed brakes though so may be a bit newer than your Basso

Beautiful bike and color, btw

Bianchigirll 

Beautiful! I think calipers may post date frame but isn't it a Gap frame. I have a '90/91 pamphlet, in Italian, that says the Gap is SL/SP. the colors are different though.

Bianchigirll 

..lll

jamesdak 

The Gaps did come painted similar to this. I've found some were the only real difference is that my chainstays are painted. There is a tiny chip in the chainstay that shows it's chrome underneath. Still I seem to find minor differences with each Gap I look at.....

Some examples:


Basso Gap Record - Vintage Velo

198? BASSO "GAP" - INTRODUCTION

If the serial number does mean it's a 1988 it'd might be easy to figure this out if I could find a 1988 Basso catalog but no luck on that so far.

T-Mar

This is difficult due to the fact that it has been repainted and possibly had fittings added. However, we can rule out a Loto ans Ascot, which leaves a Gap, at best. Certainly, it is decaled as a GAP but the GAP had a front derailleur tab at least as early as 1983 and didn't get upgraded with a 2nd set of bottle bosses and a pump peg until 1986. There is also the possibility that it is Arenaccia or Paris-Roubaix, around the time that Basso transitioned between the two models but that would mean the Columbus decals are correct. So before we proceed further, we could use some facts like the seat post size and whether or not the fork uses a Columbus steerer with the five helical ridges on the inside, at the bottom.

Drillium Dude 

Basso also went hog-wild (as did most Italian framebuilders) from the mid 80s and into the 90s with the fade/onionbag graphics. This is fairly straightforward, has a fully-sloping aero fork crown and FD braze-on, so I'd say it's right around 83 to 85. Probably a Gap.

Being picky here, but your rear dropout adjustment screws are in backwards. The spring should butt up against the back of the DO on the inside, and that screw slot should be inside, butting up against the axle. Also, I have to ask: how much of that post is in the frame? Looks like barely an inch! I'd hate to see this beauty damaged if that thing decided to lurch during a ride.

Absolutely stunning bike you have there

DD

jamesdak 

LOL, I hear you on the dropout screws. Most pics are from the day I brought it home. Those are fixed. It appears the bike was repainted and then slapped together with this groupset. Little things like the reversed screws are part of why I question what it really is. Wonder if it's a lower end model painted to look like a Gap. I only got a few shakeout rides on it before winter arrived. Freewheel and rear cassette were also replaced.

The seat post is longer than some of my other Campagnolo ones. As you see it in the first picture the seatpost is right at the minimum line at the lowest curved point of the seat tube. I thought I was going to have to replace it at first but it's spot on for my height to BB center fit.

It's is sweet looking and the few rides I got were quite nice so that's a big plus no matter what.

jamesdak 

Ok, so the seat post is 27.2. I don't see any ridges inside the steerer tube. But it's really grimy up there I need to clean it out to say for sure.

If it helps, this is 54 CM bike and weighed 23 lbs even as in this picture:

T-Mar

Weight really doesn't help. Even if it's only tretubi SL there would only be about 0.5 lb difference versus full SL.

jamesdak 

OK, I finally got a answer back from Basso themselves. This is a 1988 Basso Gap and the color was Rosso. So like I originally suspected the repaint is the original color but they painted over the chrome chainstays. They may have been in bad shape because the chrome caps on the fork are no in great shape either. So while I still haven't found the specs for this year it's at least partially Colombus SL. How much seems to vary by year and size as best I can tell so far.

Maybe this helps verify that the first digit in the serial number truly is the year of manufacture too.

Now to start digging for the full specs on a 1988 Gap, LOL!

T-Mar

Unless there was market variation or it was a custom order, I still have reservations about this being a Gap. In the past couple days I've been through my old magazines and retail catalogues and have uncovered Gaps for every year between 1983 and 1991, except 1986 and 1988. All of them had a front derailleur hanger. Certainly, a front derailleur hanger was standard on most Italian brands of this era and level. However, it was one of the things that was omitted, as a cost concession, on mid-range models and I've seen several Basso Paris-Roubaix of this era with clamp style front derailleurs.

I don't know what you're looking for in terms of specs but during this era Basso were available as framesets, so you could build it with any 1988 group. Regarding tubing, given the size, a Gap would be full SL, unless it was custom ordered. Some of the larger sizes used a mix with SP in the chain stays and down tube, while the very largest sizes were full SP.

jamesdak 

The FD hanger had me digging all day too. Everyone one I could find other than mine had one. Yet Basso wouldn't provide an answer until they got the serial number so I had to believe they were accurate and honest. Everything else pointed to a Gap originally other than the painted chain stays.

Then I got smart and took a really close look at the bike. Finally...

If you look at the seat tube were the FD clamp is you can see what appears to be the remains of the brazing for the FD hanger. I took a pic from the top with my cellphone where you can see part of what I'm talking about. More apparent underneath the bottom of the current clamp on but couldn't get a decent shot. So, somewhere along the way the FD hanger was removed for some reason.



If I had noticed that originally along with the spot of chrome I can see under the paint on the chainstay I probably wouldn't have questioned this at all. Lessons learned, LOL!

I too imagine it's all SL based on the other references I can find but it's be cool to locate the actual factory literature on a 1988 just because. No big deal though.

Now on to the Bob Jackson, it's my only other mystery bike, LOL!

billiano

The only reasonable explanation is that the braze on piece was cut off from the frame to have a more stable belt on FD

Spaghetti Legs 

Well I spent a few minutes comparing yours to my ‘84 Gap and then realized this is a 2.5 year old thread!

Anyway FWIW, and since I put the time in, my Gap has the same lugs, dropouts, fork crown and brake bridge but differs in that it has an FD tab, 3 top tube cable guides, chrome chainstays. Also just one set bottle cage mounts.

jamesdak 

Well, you can see what appears to be the remains of the FD tabs under the clamp, someone may have cut if off before the repaint.

The chainstays are chrome under the paint. Enough rock chips on it now to see that. Later 80s would be when we started seeing two bottle cages too. But even though Basso Id'd it as an 88 Gap I'd still point out concerns about authenticity if I ever sold this to some one. Of course that's not going to happen cause this ol' girl is so smooth out on the road.

jdawginsc 

nomadmax 

Or they wanted/needed to run a junior gear chainring that a braze on FD hanger wouldn't reach.

HPL

Proper photos forthcoming, sorry.

I'm looking at selling my Basso "Gap" bike; brown frame/fork, white decals w/black lettering. Frame and parts condition is about 8 out of ten. Very, very little rust, chrome is great. Columbus "SL" frame/fork. Full Camp "Super Record" group except brake levers and pedals; levers are being changed to match group and pedals will be end up being Camp "Superleggera" model if pedals are fitted for sale. Front derailleur tab, DT bottle bosses, chrome/panto crown, Camp dropouts (I believe front and rear). Saddle can be of period vintage if fitted for sale (San Marco "Rolls"/"Concor", Italia "Turbo", etc.) I need to remeasure the frame, but I believe it's about 56-57cm (c-c) seat tube. No damage other than minor scrapes. Leather wrapped bar (I believe it is an Ambrosio), Specialized stem. I will post all specs: tube sizes, crank length, stem length (fairly short), etc when verified. I will post photos of it here once I dig it out from behind the project bikes, etc. I have not messed with it for 2 years so I think it's time to find a more frequent user. Frame, although big for me, is still a comfortable ride; the stem is fairly short (80ish cm) so I'm okay on it, but it might need to be changed for a longer reach. Not a cheap purchase years ago, and it's been rebuilt, tuned, and cleaned. Serial number dates to 1984, hubs date '84. I believe the RD, and cranks are also date code for 1984. I figure around $500 minimum as is (no pedals/saddle). Any ideas on it without a good photo. I have not referenced the vintage bike sites or Ebay/CL; all asking prices are generally inflated and don't help much.

I realize that it is hard to value without photos, but it is a very decent bike ready to ride when pedals and saddle are installed. I do not want to part out, complete bike only (give or take saddle and pedals).

Thank you all for your help.

T-Mar

A Gap should be full SL, yet you didn't find the helical ridges in the steerer tube. Sometimes they can be hard to detect due to poor forming, corrosion, etc. I'd be pulling the fork and checking for the Columbus dove logo on the outside of the steerer tube. If you find that, then it's full SL and definitely a Gap (with the front derailleur hanger removed).