jamesdak 

Somehow yet another bike has wound up in the house. Just got home with this. I'm thinking it's a Super from the second half of the 80's but really don't know. Love to hear from the experts on this.

Haven't really gone over it to well yet but it seems to be in pretty good shape. Paint does have more than it's share of blemishes but from a few feet away it looks great. The chrome was good though and part of why I decided to snag it.

Ignoring the decals and going by the frame details to ID it. 2 water bottle braze on mounts, cloverleaf on BB, cloverleaf on downtube lug, spindle shaped brake bridge, chrome chainstay on drive side with no engraving, Colnago dropouts, then the chrome fork with the C cloverleaf on top, and the cutout triangle on the fork.

Just a 56 stamped on the BB but the size is actually smaller. I'm getting a 54.5 ctc top tube and a 54 seat tube.

Sporting Campagnolo 6 speed friction setup of some sort.

Decals look too good compared to the paint so I suspect replacements.

Some quick point and shoot pics to show some details. I'll get it cleaned and sorted out then do a proper shoot.

Probably won't touch it tonight. Lower back has been a mess since I got back from a 50 miler today. Dang old age!!!



As I picked it up. Another set of Look Delta pedals I won't use, LOL!

Rear dropout

BB, cutout, spindle brake bridge

Flat, not scalloped, someone's touched up the white paint

Fork details

Painted lugs, only the one cloverleaf

3alarmer 

.
...you, too, can be an expert.

jamesdak 

Yep, went there and to another timeline site as well as the 1988 catalog at Bulgier.net. That's how I figured later 80's.

bikemike73 

Cables that run under the BB indicate 80s
looks to be in very good condition
congratulations on great pick up!!!!

jamesdak 

Ok, been digging around a bit . 11 inside a square on the crank arm is supposed to be a 1985 date code.

Which then led me to this:



And then looking at Velobase the parts are looking like Victory to me so I think this may be a pretty good guess. Still digging....

But.....I've got a pump peg....hmmmm......

Old Fireleg

Based on the shape of the seatstay’s cap, I would narrow down the production date to 1983-85. The forkcrown is likely to cut another one year out of this. So I think it could be '84 -'85.

SJX426 

I have estimated mine to be about 1983, based on RD PAT of 83, and is the Superissimo variant. The difference between mine and yours is the pump peg and the second water bottle mounts on the DT. Note the location of the DT decal and the missing Columbus decal. We share the same fork with the exception of the paint.
I wonder if this is an older respray with added peg and bosses.
1983 Colnago Superissimo on Flickr

jamesdak 

Hopefully I'll dig into the Colnago after this morning's ride and discover more. Going to have to source yet another nice silver seatpost for this. The Campagnolo one it came with is about an inch too short. I was actually online two days ago looking and man everyone seems to be out of regular old silver 27.2 seatposts, at least the nice ones. Plenty of Kalloy but no RItchie's, Nitto, etc. Have to dig deeper or hit Ebay I guess.

Is that 56 stamp on the BB truly supposed to be the frame size? If so, how did Colnago measure because to me this is a 54 all day long and a small 54 at that.

As noted SJX426 I too wonder if it's a respray. I'll research the shape of that pump peg more and see if all 4 bottle braze on's match. It looks sorta like to layers of paint on the BB. The guy I got it from had a paint shop mix up some touch up paint for it. They told him it was a two stage paint on it. Was that normal? I'd think the color coat and then clearcoat as normal but IDK.

Anyway.... back to my coffee. Gotta wake up so I can get another long ride in. And decide what to take. Trying to rotate through them all right now. Nothing like having a 10 day break from work and getting to ride as much as you want just when I cool spell comes in.

This was two morning's ago, great temps and crystal clear skies.


My "other" Y-Foil. Had finally finally found the right missing screw for the shifter and was back out on the road with it. As much as I love steel these Y-Foils are fast as hell and comfortable.

SJX426 

I don't think it has any significance that anyone has found. Could be the builder number or some other designator. Mine is
P8011012 on Flickr
My ST measures 56 ctc, which is too small for me, hence the insert line showing on the post and having a Brooks saddle with the sit surface further from the rails than other saddles.

The other drop out has USA
P8011015 on Flickr

Spaghetti Legs 

Colnago sizing is seat tube center to top measurement so a Colnago 56 jibes with your other measurements. Supers have crimps on the inside of the chain stays but I’m not sure if that persisted into the late 80’s. I think the catalog pic you posted is the answer. There was one like yours listed on eBay for 2-3 years straight with a BIN of $1249. It’s gone now, but I seriously doubt it sold at that price.

Campagnolo Victory came out same time as C Record, 1985, so I would peg yours as an ‘85 or 86. I have a Basso with same tone Saronni Red paint and if you need touch up, I found the Testors red metal flake spray enamel a really good match.

The Golden Boy 

You're going to have to start locking your doors... next thing you know, all these random bikes are all gonna come in, start eating all your cereal, watching up your TV and making long distance calls to Italy...

Erzulis Boat 

They still measure that way. Ordered a brand new Colnago Master frameset from Italy a few weeks ago, and had to order a "bigger" size to get the correct one.

jamesdak 

I'll remember that about the paint. When I saw this Colnago I was like, "Hey, that's the same color as my Basso.


The Basso is a repaint and in much better condition than the Colnago. Except for the chrome....

jamesdak 

LOL, the problem is they all live inside already.

jamesdak 

Well just spent a couple of hours messing with this. Having to realize that I did a stupid and most likely overpaid. I think I saw a red Colnago and just lost my head, LOL! Oh well, that just means it better really ride nice.

The amount of grubbiness in every crook and cranny is astonishing for such a nice bike. And the abuse to the paint, jeez! I mean I take care of my stuff but I also ride the heck out of it. It's not that hard to take care of the good ones while still using them as to be expected. This one obviously had little to no love over the years.
Simple things like the squeal of all four dry bottle cage screws as I took them off, heartbreaking. On this note though. All 4 mount holes do match. Don't know if that really means anything or not.

I didn't find any additional marking on the bike. For sure no engraved Colnago in the chainstay. No serial number or anything else. All dropouts marked Colnago but no other marking on it. I did use my usual Mequiars #7 on the paint after cleaning it. There's enough of a deep rich shine to tell that at one time it was a really nice paint job. I love count though of how many spots have been touched up. I did find a local guy who did a great job fixing some areas on my Wayne Evan's bike. Maybe this will get a repaint done the road too.

Components all seem fine, didn't find any glaring issues. Cosmetically they do show their age. Totally forgot to look for any more date stamps. Missed a notchy front hub yesterday too. Seemed ok yesterday on the bike but when I had it off today it's catching at one spot once the rotation slows a good bit. Hopefully nothing that a simple service won't fix but I won't know until I open it up. The rear had just been rebuilt with a new axle so no worries on that. If I like the ride of this I'll be chasing after an old tubular setup for it anyway.

Probably done with it for today. My fastest 40 miler of the year this morning on the old Maillot Jaune just caught up to me. No more energy to stand out in the garage working on this. Still need to clean up the rear wheel, hit both wheels spokes with steel wool, then lube 'er up and put it back together for a test ride. Still needs a better degreasing of the parts but I want to get some miles on this before I really dig into it.

Oh, and the pump peg. Out of all my bikes I've only got two that looks like that. Seems more of a chain holder braze on than what I'd consider a normal pump peg.

SJX426 

jamesdak Let un know your impressions after your first ride.

jamesdak 

Will do! Hopefully that will be tomorrow. As luck, or bad luck, would have it another bike I've always wanted to try showed up locally at a good price right after I got home with the Colnago. So yesterday afternoon a 1991 Miyata 914 SE wound up in the house. It's got all the original 600 Tricolor parts and unlike the Colnago appears to have lived a much better life. So I'm hoping to get them both sorted today after my ride. Then I'll split tomorrow's ride between them

It may be weird but I'm actually more excited about the Miyata. Have never had one and to score one of their top frames has me stoked!!!

22lbs 9 ozs, close to catalog spec.


Some paint damage but she polished nice. Components all appear to have been recently serviced. Only real issue seems to be a gummy rear brake. A STB race frame, oh yeah!!!!

xiaoman1 

I will leave my doors unlocked but not sure if I will have the visitors J.D. has!

James,
Congrats on another great find....I wonder what all of the Lemond's will think of it, joining your stable....
Best, Ben

The Golden Boy 

Could you please get some pix of the DT Miyata decals? Yours appears to be doing the same thing mine did (pieces of letter separated from the letter), and I couldn't figure out how/why- without the decal appearing to be damaged.

jamesdak 

Sure, I'll shoot some tomorrow. What I noted on the DT was what looked like clear coat dried and flaking off for some reason. It looked better after hitting it with some Mequier's #7 .

8 non-stop days of riding with a total of over 350 miles has caught up to me today. Just don't feel like taking the bike out into the heat to shoot it right now. Haven't touched it or the Colnago today. But I do have my Grail Bike about ready to "reveal".

RobbieTunes

I have a ‘85 Super and it’s similar, same fork. Mine has a much different paint job, but...Colnago, so go figure. I will check the other features.

uncleivan 

83-85 should be correct. Braze on front derailleur, no script on the chain stay. Pretty sure that was only 82. The colnago victory is is a Super with the victory groupset. The numbers on the rear drops have something to do with importing them. Others have no numbers. It may be a repaint, but I own a mexico from about the same year. It has double bottle bosses and a pump peg. Also the high seattube decal placement. I'll have to post pics,.... even hesitated to answer, but I'm not in an area with wifi at the moment.

Old Fireleg

Hi jamesdak,
I felt your frustration with Colnago. You have a bit of an extreme moods. Yesterday I saw a ’82 -83 Pinarello Super Record with original painting with a pump peg (same chain holder style) and two bottle holders. For Pinarello, this is also not period correct. And yet it exists, I say with original painting. It is conceivable that until the conical pump peg appeared (at Pinarello ca.'87) this was applied, in the case of Colnago, perhaps at the extra request of an customer. I wouldn't worry about the serial number either. Then look at the forktube once, if the 56 is hit there, you can rest assured. Anyway, Colnago doesn’t usually indicate the frame size on the frame at the time, if I remember correctly. The chainstay COLNAGO engrave has already been abandoned by ’85 -86, as uncleivan wrote here above me. So, keep your head up!

Road Fan

They're calling their friends - count on it!

jamesdak 

Well, still hacking away at this as time permits. Works been a bit crazy and then we got nailed by a crazy windstorm yesterday. Oh, and friend dropped off a pretty nice 1988 Miyata 312 that I'm going to sort out for her. Guess it's been sitting for around 15 years.

Today after work I decided to see if some Continental GP4000s II 700 x 28 tires I had around would fit the Colnago. Plenty of room in the front surprisingly and I'm happy with the space at the back. Tightest spot is under the rear brake and I can get more clearance there with some adjusting. I really need to see if I have a wider rim 6 speed rear wheel around though. The wheels on this are mismatched and the rear is thinner. That "recently serviced" rear wheel proved to have totally trashed rim tape on it. Luckly I had some Velox around to throw on it. The more I dig into this one the more I know I screwed up. But if the ride is good I'll forgive my stupidity, LOL!

Oh and the front hub was just really nasty dried, grimy grease. Cleaned it up, relubed it all, and it now feels just fine once I got the adjustment right.

Pics from after the tire work.

Looks good....as long as you don't get too close.

Plenty of room all around here.

Good space by the chain stays but closer under the brake right now. That is overinflated on purpose though to worse case it.