regisphilbin

I'm looking for more information on this Bianchi Volpe. It's a Lugged Steel Bianchi, made in Japan, that looks like it has 6s accushifters but the 7sp(?) Suntour XC Expert parts on it. Sort of a mish mash of parts..Anyone know what year frame model this is? Thanks! It has the "superset II" double butted tubing as well....I'm thinking that these japanese Bianchi's are quite rare but not sure if thats the case...

wrk101

I would look for the date codes on any parts you think are original. That is somewhat difficult on this bike, as it appears many of the components have been changed. Best bet might be the brake levers and calipers. If you are really interested, usually the fork steering tube is dated (of course, you have to pull the fork to find it). It has an early 1990s look to it.

I would not consider a Volpe rare. It was their bottom end touring bike that they have made for years.

roccobike

I agree with Bill that it is probably not rare, but let's imagine that it is. There's no added value if it's rare based on it being manufactured in Japan. When it comes to Bianchi, there are two factors that add value above a comparable bike made by another manufacturer. They are: If the color is Celeste and "Made In Italy", in that order. I wish the asian manufacture helped because my early Campione would be worth more, but it's not.

unworthy1

2 small nits to pick: The graphics on this one sure seem to be earlier than '90s (to my foggy memory), but I hope Bianchigirl jumps in here with her extensive catalog file to confirm the date.
I seem to remember seeing my very first Volpe in the late '80s, maybe around '86 or '87, and that's what this reminds me of.
2nd point, back in the early production this model was designed and marketed as a Hybrid-Cyclocross bike, and back then many people had no idea what CX was so it became a kind of tool to educate novices about what a non-competition CX bike could do. This pic shows the cable routing where you'd want it for CX bike use: up on the TT and away from where you carry the frame on your shoulder and where mud collects.
I bet if you measure the BB height you'd find this to be higher than a typical road bike, and the geometry generally not "touring" like.
I really think they're great bikes, but the market for them is pretty small...so "rare" doesn't equal "valuable" except to the right guy or girl.

regisphilbin

i also thought they're entry level but then i saw these on ebay and they went for a lot more than I would've though...

110507196016 = $720
110510348671 = $711

Any reason why these would go for so much?

wrk101

First, its the same bike, that sold twice.

Second, often ebay makes no sense. I have given up trying to understand ebay.

Third, it is a lot different than your Volpe. It has a lot better components, better build parts, and so on.

But it still went high. That's the same ebay where I bought a pristine, all original, spotless Trek 620 for $113..


+1 Your bike really looks more like a hybrid than a touring bike. May well be late 1980s. A real touring bike would have double braze ons on the rear (one for fenders, one for a rack), braze ons for a front rack, etc.

For someone looking for a deal on a modern touring bike, you can get a Novarra Randonne for $799 (with member coupon), and then get 10% back as a member dividend, putting it at the price of the 13 year old Volpe just sold on ebay. And the REI bike comes with a lifetime, unlimited warranty.

regisphilbin

the auctions above are for two different bikes from the same seller. One is purple with RSX/Ultegra 8s/Araya, the other is Green with RSX/105 8s/MA2. Yes..to me it seems like this is more of a cyclocross/hybrid too...

Anyone know when they stopped with the lugged frames and went with the TIG welded variety?

Bianchigirll 

Hello Regis how is Kelli? beautifule '90 Volpe looks like a big one too. unworthy1 got most of it just right! the Volpe first came out in '86 (see Sizzling Peach below) it was basically designed as a cross/touring/randonneurer/comuter and Bianchi started calling it the original Hybrid several years later.

aside from the barcons this one looks and sounds pretty stock. it came with Commamd shifters, those weird looking butterfly looking thingsm but otherwise the XCE was stock.

as far as this being "entry level" that like most discriptive terms it means lost of thinge to many people. since the Volpe was the bottom of the line for the 'cross bikes from Bianchi it could be considered entry level. however the "level" this entered on was about 575$.

rare is another broad term. certainly since these 'quirky' bikes filled and niche market there were not as many produced as say a Alfana or Virata (aka limited) or Advantage. so it is less common to start with. since it is so versitle I would guess most owners simply hold on to them longer as well.

as for a '90 Volpe getting 711 on ebay wow! that is alot and the seller duped the bidders/buyer into thinking it was something it is not.

I hope you enjoy it they are great bikes.

regisphilbin

Bianchigirll

Thanks for the info...The frame is too big for me so I was looking into selling this bike. I checked out prices on Ebay and got the 2 listings i mentioned...I was trying to figure out what it was about those bikes that made them as desired as the price indicated....

hencio

This is very interesting stuff. I've been trying to ID my volpe for the past year since I got it as a frame only. I have no idea the year but is probably from the 90's. It has an odd blueish purple/sea green paint scheme and shares some features with this red volpe. All 3 cable stops run up top, no stops for downtube (guessing it had barcon shifters too) and also has stops for a top pull front D. I have different graphics and no pump peg.I built it from spare parts and have been using it as a commuter for the past year. If anyone can help ID I'd be most appreciative.

Bianchigirll 

Hello Hencio welcome to the forums. nice looking Volpe, judging from the color and decals it looks like a '92/93 both were the same color. they had suntour components and yes barcons.

since these were somewhat cyclocross bikes the cables are routed along the top of the TT to make it easier to pick up and port the bike.

hencio

Thanks Bianchigirll. I have always thought early 90's as well, but I've seen photos of 92 and 93 models and they don't have the triple stops on the top tube and have a bottom pull front d. I've also never seen one without the logo on the seat tube like mine. What I do know is that mine was made in Taiwan. Do you know if they produced the volpe in multiple versions/countries?

poodlefrenzy

Appreciative of this info--I have TWO 1990 Volpes ("his and hers," 19" and 21") I bought awhile back that I'm thinking of selling. I wonder if anyone has an idea of what they are worth. A photo of one is attached. Both are in near-original condition, with the butterfly shifters, etc. Paint is really clean. One has a replacement rear wheel, a nice Matrix. Both have Terry saddles in good condition. I was thinking maybe $350 each. Does that sound about right?

bargainguy

More like $175 ea. in my area, with needed wear items replaced, tuned & ready to go. Less if not in that condition.

Any road bike struggles to get > $300 in my area if it doesn't at least have brifters. Exceptions for better tubing bikes from well established European marques and made in Europe. Your bike has the Bianchi name but was not made in Italy. Nothing wrong with the Japanese Bianchis, but they just don't have the same resale value.

I had a similar era Forza a few years ago which sold for about that price.

poodlefrenzy

Thanks. I should have mentioned they'll be sold at our shop's annual used bike event. We don't sell any adult bikes under $200 and I'm pretty sure these can go for $300-350 judging by what else we've had in used this season, but we'll see what my coworkers say. The Twin Cities is a strong vintage market. At $175 I'm better off selling parts!

Bianchigirll 

So are you looking for advice or advertising?

Not that I need another Volpe but I wouldn't mind picking up that 21" but I wouldn't pay much over $200 maybe $250 for it.

poodlefrenzy

Was looking for advice! Trying to decide whether to sell the pair at our event, keep them as rentals for my Airbnb guests/Spinlister (so far only getting about $75-100 a summer per bike, have 3), or keep the 19" and put straight bars on it to be a more attractive rental and sell the butterfly shifters for $75 on eBay... I would do $250 in cash, sure. Our sale gives sellers store credit. Need to thin the herd, tired of the clutter around here!

eldrhex

Ooooo dopeness, That's one awesome bike!

poodlefrenzy

Great news: the 21" Volpe sold for $295 (I removed the vintage Blackburn rear rack and swapped out the rare Nitto Dynamic II stem for an ordinary SR stem). It was gone 2 hours after our sale began!

The 19" needed a bit too much work to get ready in time for the sale, will probably throw on some straight bars and make it my other rental bike. Thanks to everyone for your input!

JBHoren

I'm the guy who bought your bike, but I didn't run across this thread until yesterday! "With a bit of a mind flip, you're into the time slip"

Still riding it for sport and transport. There have been changes made... evolution, as well as normal wear 'n tear. Here's a link to its page on Velospace: https://velospace.org/node/20863

Same crankset, different freewheel, upright handlebars and taller stem (Nitto "Albatross" and "Dirt Drop 10", respectively).

It was worth the cost of buying... and shipping to Fairbanks, AK. When I left there, I disassembled and packed it, sent it via USPS (w/o any damage!) all the way to South Florida... and at a very reasonable price, as well.

zukahn1 

I have had two different bikes with that component group so I can date it as 88/89 maybe 90 since there was some carryover which was the last year these had the nice lugs and the end of the time frame they mixed 6/7 stuff on lesser mid level. Great bike If I had one in that shape the price would be NFS it just won't sell for half what it worth as nice vintage rider..

T-Mar

I can corrobrate that poodlefrenzy's former bicycle is a 1990 model. The logo style is incorrect for 1988-1989. What is interesting about the Volpe from this period is that Bianchi were using three different sources, two in Japan and one in Taiwan.

Bianchigirll 

This is a 9 yo thread that was resurrected because someone apparently bought the OP's bike