chico81 

Hello all,

I picked up a Serotta today! I bought it from the original owner, who had it custom made when he lived in PA, he thinks around 1985 or so. It has Columbus SL tubing and a Cinelli BB, plus a nearly complete Dura Ace 7400 groupset (minus the RD). I can’t find a serial number on it anywhere though! Does anyone know what model or year this is?

From the photos on CL, it looked to be in great shape, only a few paint chips, which look easy enough to repair and touch-up. The seller was also adamant that the bike has never had “accidents or crashes” both in the ad and on the phone. However, once I got it home, I noticed that something seemed just a bit off. Looking closely, the fork seemed a bit too steep, and then I felt just a bit of a bulge on the underside of the downtube, right where it meets the headtube lug... (see photos) nothing major, but it’s there... it’s a shame! Such a beautiful bike!! Is it still safe to ride? Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!!

P!N20

I can't really pick up a bulge in the photos, but I'll take your word that it's there. Does it still track OK? Very nice bike, loving the panto'd stem.

The cable routing on top of the bottom bracket seems a bit out of date for '85, but maybe it was the customer's request?

xiaoman1 

Ian,
I see a slight variation but can't tell if its the light or some minor damage, how is the fork rake?
If there is no fork damage and it tracks right I would not worry much...damage seems minor,(if really there) if it truly bothers you a good frame builder may be able to tweak it back for you...I don't think it requires removal of the tubes...IMHO it's not that bad.
Best, Ben

chico81 

I also love the stem! Here is a closeup. I think a couple of things are making me think it is pre-1985. The stem has “Serotta cycles” pantographed on the stem, but most Serottas I’ve seen have only “Serotta” on them. Also, it has Campy hubs. Perhaps the original bike had Campy components that were switched out for dura ace in the mid 80’s? I also read that Richard Sachs provided Serotta with the “playing cards” pantographed embellishments for the fork, super cool!

chico81 

Thanks for the reassurances, Ben. I believe I may be over analyzing it. I haven’t been on a decent ride yet because I’ve been on baby duty today, but I’m sure it will track just fine when I take it out this evening. If not, I’ll take it into my LBS and ask them for a second opinion.

P!N20

Looks like it has the pre-'84 Dura-Ace logo on the front, too.

3alarmer 

...a bulge so slight that you can barely see it, visually, should not affect steering and handling much, if at all. The fork ends put the front wheel in a certain position with regard to rake and trail, and also in relation to the plane of the frame and rear wheel. So I imagine if it's hard to see, the practical results of any change in the head tube angle will be minimal.....and so will the results with regard to handling. If the paint is not creased or flaking, it might very well be some artifact from original frame construction. Just guessing, I can't see it or feel it here.

smontanaro 

My Medici had front-end issues. I originally noticed it after I built it up and noticed the brake pads were toed in on one side, but toed out on the other. I had the fork straightened at RRB, but the down tube ripple was so slight, Ron said not to bother.

seypat

The first time through the pics, I thought there is a slight TT bend at the head tube lug. Not a bad one, though.

chico81 

Thanks for the input 3alarmer. I was able to take the bike out for a spin this evening, and it rides beautifully. It is stable, tracks straight, and isn’t twitchy at all. In fact, I think I have found my new favorite ride! I think I was just over analyzing things, maybe a little buyer’s remorse, or just perhaps just looking for reasons to kill that “new bike high”? Haha!

Now, I just have to determine what year and model it is

thanks again everyone for all of your information!

-Ian

chico81 

Forgot to mention in the last post. The bike rides sooo nice, but the rear derailleur on the bike is kind of a sloppy dog. I’m thinking about replacing it with a spare dura ace 7700 short cage RD I have on hand. The rest of the components, including the shifters, are dura ace 7400, is the 7700 RD compatible? I would like to use it until I can track down a 7400 RD to complete the groupset.

Last ride 76 

I have noticed on some frames, and verified with a straight edge...not a bulge of the tubing but a slight indent of the tube at the lug, almost as if the tube had to be crimped in a tiny bit to fit inside the lug. If anything that's sort of what I think I might see in the side view. There's no failure issue I see, though I could be wrong. Send it up here and I'll tell you in a few months. I'd love to see how different my Colorado Legend CR with it's Colorado Concept Tubing rides from yours. BTW, my Serotta is my new favorite too. I'm a little bit embarrassed, and haven't told any of the others.

joesch

Nice find, I found a similar frame that ...
Im building up a Serotta Colorado Legend TG frame and not sure what size 102mm vs 111mm is needed?
Posted same question in the mechanics section.

retrofit

Nice Serotta! If still concerning, I would take it to an LBS that still works with vintage steel and have them check the alignment of the frame, including whether the front dropouts are in alignment with each other.

Triplecrank92

Having never experienced a wreck (knock on wood) nor purchased a prior-wrecked bike (to my knowledge - double knock on wood), I'm probably a little uninformed on this subject matter. However, if the bike took a hit from the front, wouldn't the down tube be crimped in on the bottom as opposed to having a bulge? I would guess that you could take a caliper and measure the diameter around the top tube from various positions and see if there is any variance that would show/prove a bulge.

BTW, nice bike. I have a '95 CSI that is a very nice handling ride.

chico81 

Why the embarrassment? Is there a stigma to Serottas? What could be wrong with a beautiful handmade bike? The craftsmanship on my new bike is superb! I’m new to Serotta, but I now consider myself a convert

Triplecrank92

There’s nothing wrong with a Serotta, but of course I might be a little biased. (Plus, I’ll add that I’m not a dentist or doctor.) I would assume this is similar to the stereotyping of owning a BMW and therefore one must be a “certain type of stuck up” personality. However, I loved my E30 convertibles when I had them. They are a wonderful driving cars in the purist sense, sort of like a Serotta. I just had to wait 30 years before I could afford either of them

79pmooney

Those shifters are friction, aren't they? If so, they should work just fine with just about any derailleur. Using the same wheel, freewheel/cassette, there shouldn't be so much difference in cable pull that your shifter cannot handle the range, small cog to big. Give it a try. You've got nothing to lose. (Edit: to swap derailleurs, unscrew the lower idler pulleys. Easier than breaking the chain unless it's already quick-linked or is 5/6-speed and may be even then.)

Ben

rccardr 

To properly index those shifters with an RD, you will need to use a 7400, 7401 or 7402 derailleur.
7700 will not index correctly, it uses a different cable pull.
Those hideous brake lever hoods can be replaced with Rustines hoods for Campagnolo Record levers, fit perfectly.

Nice Serotta!

chico81 

Haha! I had no idea. That being said, the house I got the bike from was quite impressive, and there WAS a beemer in the driveway... however, I was lucky enough to get the bike from the original owner for a very reasonable price, and he was a very nice person who was more than happy to discuss the bike’s history with me. I’m kind of happy I went into this without bias, and I thoroughly enjoy the way it rides!

chico81 

Thanks for the link. I ended up requesting a membership there so I could see photos and links. I was able to find a 1985 catalog scan, and the “Club Special” model closely matches my bike, particularly the panto’d fork crown, brake bridge, and seatstay caps. The original owner told me he had the bike custom made for him, so perhaps he requested to not have the model decal installed and to have the stem panto’d with “Serotta cycles” to reinforce the custom aspect of the build.

Unfortunately, I could not find catalogs for other mid eighties years, but I’m okay with it being 1985’ish

joesch

Is the fork on this frame intended for gravel? Not a road fork and I should probably replace since Im building this as a road bike? question about pic in #15 post

Charles Wahl

The lugset, dropouts, yellow "highlights", Columbus SL tubing, braze-ons and decals all look like a Club Special frame that I own; but the brake bridge, pantographed stem, fork crown & seat stay caps, and (bonus!) "spats" on the inside of the fork stays under the crown are different. I'd say '82-'84 or so, but something a grade higher than the Club. Mine has a Portocatena rear dropout (came and went in the late '70s - early '80s), so since your'n doesn't, maybe later rather than earlier.

I think it's strange that the bike doesn't seem to have a serial number. They typically began with the last two digits of year.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/131757...57625715601457
My frame is large (63 cm cat), built with a mix of SL and SLP (heavier gauge), and along with a Guerciotti SLX frame from 1984 are the two frames I have with the "most fastidious" construction detailing from the '70s or '80s. The Serotta also happens to be the heaviest frame I have in comparable size, excepting a non-double-butted one, while the 60 cm Guerciotti is almost 500g (over a pound) lighter.

3alarmer 

...there are a lot of unicrown forks on road frames. They got popular at a particular point in time. I know nothing about your particular fork and frame, but you'll open up a can of very large worms if that's the original fork and you attempt replacement.

The Golden Boy 

Remember, at the time- a unicrown fork was a marvel of technology.

There was also a lug made to create the general look of a unicrown fork- but with the safety of the lug because the technology wasn't quite trusted.

Within a VERY short time it was the standard.