Reynolds 531 

I dont recognize the seat stays like that. Lots of sketchiness, but I need this fork for another Colnago, and the headset parts are a bonus.
I do think i barely see a clover on the DT lug. I am also intrigued by the "racing" dropouts with no eyes. These are the only pics I have.




Any ideas are appreciated.

jet sanchEz

The frame is not likely a Colnago, the wrap-around seatstay treatment was more of a British thing. Maybe a Raleigh or Dawes?

The fork is in nice condition and probably worth about $200 since it comes with a headset.

CliffordK

odd, it looks like that frame has been sold 3 times for $100 BIN.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-col...e/312954998268
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-col...e/312958743131
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-col...e/312967999979

Can you get better photos of:I have to agree with @jet sanchEz, the fork is probably genuine, and if it doesn't have hidden damage (bulged or cracked steer tube), then it is probably worth more than your $100 purchase price. However, the frame does look very questionable.

Colnago has had a couple of seatstay end caps, but doesn't use wrap-around seatstays. There are usually some points on the head tube lugs. Can't see "clovers" clearly in any photos. And, that is mighty crude finishing under the chrome.

Mid-range Falcon?

pah

wrap around seat stay looks like a Bo Jackson

Mackers

That steerer tube looks awfully short for that headtube

Reynolds 531 

I looked at that. It does appear, hopefully, that the crown race is not pressed or not one there.

Remember, I am dealing with people who display their wine collection on the kitchen counter.

CliffordK

Your crown race is up maybe 1/4" to 3/8". Your adjustable race may be up another 3/16 to 1/4". So, you may have another 1/2" of steer tube length.

I don't see any sign of the steer tube in the adjustable race. Also, you are missing spacers (optional), and a lock nut (NEEDED).

Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Headset Dimension Crib Sheet

It is quite likely that Colnago uses a 27.0 crown race.

An ISO headset may include a 26.4 crown race.

Anyway, you are tight. If you choose to build it up, you may look for a short stack headset.

Personally, I wouldn't choose to intentionally mislabel a frame.

Reynolds 531 

Thank you for the advice.

No I don't intend to mislabel the bike, I would never do that. I am buying it this way, from the box-wine connoisseurs, for the heck of it.

I need the fork for another bike, at a minimum,
and when I figure out what this frame is, <<<<(That is the fun part) I will do something with it. Maybe even give it to my kid along with a derailleur, if he gives me back my single speed that he is *****ing about.

As far as the fork goes, I do have a Colnago frame home for it.

And regarding the lock nut. You are 100% correct. As far as I know the correct locknut for that headset is very tall, but I have some Campagnolo MTB headsets that have beautiful thin locknuts, and are Italian thread.

26.4 crown race not pressing onto 27.0....genius, I bet you're right.

DMC707

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking too !

pah

Bo knows Colnago's!

Bianchigirll 

zukahn1 

Cant't say ,much for positive others here are much better at this from pics. From the pics I can tell the braze on's are likely after market not as well done as the rest of the frame and not ideally placed plus I would expect a higher end frame with a front DR tab to have bottle cage mounts and nicer under the BB or internal cable routing. A detailed pic of the under side of the BB may give some clues as to maker..

Reynolds 531 

UPDATED with more pics:

I finally went and picked this up. I cannot believe the original seller didn't include some of these details. There are some incongruencies, to say the least. Any help is appreciated.

Overview. Clover looks like a real Colnago clover (three circles not all exactaly the same size)

DS dropout. No serial number on other side, which also says Colnago. No fender eyes.

The only numbers I can find on the frame. 57.

Seat cluster shows signs of repair and/or rechrome?

repechage

Curious, very curious.
lower headlug cutout looks hand crafted. By the time Colnago was using eponymous branded dropouts, the clover was cast in the lower head lug. What brand are the front dropouts?

Drillium Dude 

OP, I think your frame is most likely a Colnago 88 or 89XL. My first Colnago, and it was a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure based on a couple things. One, the nondescript BB shell with plastic guide. Two, the seatstay caps - that was the one thing I hated about mine (well, that and the fact there was not cutout in the shell, nor in the lower headlug - more on that) - look identical to what is on your frame, well, at least from the angles I'm seeing. Your fork is identical, with the C and clover on the shoulders and the short stiffening tangs cast into the crown vice being separate pieces. My brake bridge was a little different - to me, it had a Star Wars TIE fighter look to it since the middle was a ball and the arms were a diamond shape in cross section. Lugs were short and lacking any extra curls or cutouts, and that's the major difference between yours and mine. Mine did not have a cutout in the lower head lug. But it had everything else on yours, including the two top tube cable guides and Colnago dropouts.

Yours has obviously been repainted, but I'd go one further and say it was chromed, then repainted - and I think the FD braze-on was added when it was refinished.

Here a few pics of an 88XL I found on Flickr. Tell me what you think!









DD

Reynolds 531 

seat stays are the real oddball

odd seat stays, rudimentary cable guide (only two)

recessed rear brake nut / mount, looks Colnago -ish

Reynolds 531 

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate this help.
I am truly impressed by your knowledge.

Now, I just have to pick out a color!
This may be a good retro brifter bike, except the chrome clashes with carbon. So hmmmm.

jdawginsc 

Interesting odyssey you have taken here. I love a risk-reward story. Did Colnago farm out framebuilding for some of their low mid-range guys? I know Colnago Sport is a different story altogether.

DD's picture shows tre-tubi sticker, so I imagine the rest is gas pipe type?

zukahn1 

Yes they did farm stuff out both high and lesser around this time but kept it Italian around this time the quality of even true ones is just not no where near some of the nicer bikes from few years earlier or layer.