New bike day! Piaggio or is it?
10-13-23, 04:37 PM
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New bike day! Piaggio or is it?
Had the opportunity to pick up an interesting old racing bike today. It was listed as a "Piaggio".
I have never seen a Piaggio branded bicycle outside of Bianchi, and this one sports a Reynolds 531 decal which seems out of place for an allegedly Italian make.
Add to that what appears to be a Bridgestone logo on the bottom bracket shell and I'm not sure what I picked up.
The rear dropouts are campy, front fork looks to be a replacement. In true racing mutt fashion the bike has campy wheels and cranks, dura ace derailleurs, and suntour shifters and brakes. 🤣
So... Any clues to what the true make/history of this steed might be?
I have never seen a Piaggio branded bicycle outside of Bianchi, and this one sports a Reynolds 531 decal which seems out of place for an allegedly Italian make.
Add to that what appears to be a Bridgestone logo on the bottom bracket shell and I'm not sure what I picked up.
The rear dropouts are campy, front fork looks to be a replacement. In true racing mutt fashion the bike has campy wheels and cranks, dura ace derailleurs, and suntour shifters and brakes. 🤣
So... Any clues to what the true make/history of this steed might be?
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10-13-23, 05:22 PM
#2
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Owner’s name? That is a weird one. Worth the admission to see if all of those different brands work together...
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
10-13-23, 06:54 PM
#4
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Is that a Bridgestone logo on the bottom bracket shell (second photo)? Also, that serial number looks Japanese.
Scott Peterson
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Scott Peterson
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10-13-23, 10:17 PM
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Just checked the seatpost and it is 26.8mm. Fits like a glove too which makes me suspect it's not Reynolds tubing. Isn't that 531 logo a 70s style anyways? Seems a bit early for this particular bike's construction style.
10-14-23, 10:51 AM
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How common is that method of clamping the seat post? I have never seen it before.
10-14-23, 12:44 PM
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Hard to tell in the photo, but is the head badge a decal or is it metal? It looks like the Piaggio logo. The number mount indicates it may be a team issue frame.
Is that a gold C-reord crankset? And everything else looks to be Dura Ace 74xx.
I've definitely seen a seat cluster like that before, but I. Just. Can't. Remember....
Is that a gold C-reord crankset? And everything else looks to be Dura Ace 74xx.
I've definitely seen a seat cluster like that before, but I. Just. Can't. Remember....
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10-14-23, 01:32 PM
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That's an interesting frame. The gold C Record cranks would have had me sprinting over to buy that 
.
The seat cluster isn't that rare, C&V regulars should recognize that as similar to the way Bruce Gordon made his frames.
I have a Serotta made for Performance that is also done that way.
The Bridgestone logo on the BB is strange, and yes that serial number looks Japanese. Anxious to hear what others have to say.
Cool bike though, it's got a number tab so that means it fast.
.The seat cluster isn't that rare, C&V regulars should recognize that as similar to the way Bruce Gordon made his frames.
I have a Serotta made for Performance that is also done that way.
The Bridgestone logo on the BB is strange, and yes that serial number looks Japanese. Anxious to hear what others have to say.
Cool bike though, it's got a number tab so that means it fast.
Last edited by velomateo; 10-14-23 at 01:45 PM.
10-14-23, 02:19 PM
#9
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Oddly enough it only has one gold c-record crank. The left side has been replaced with just a standard c-record arm.
10-17-23, 06:42 PM
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Anyone recognize or can read this sticker on the top tube? It may mean nothing but you never know. I'm still looking for something that compares to this frame.
10-17-23, 07:21 PM
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Google Lens shows "maintenance" and "safety" but it's having a hard time making some of it out. I'll ask one of my Japanese co-workers when I'm back in to work next week if I think about it.
10-17-23, 08:15 PM
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10-17-23, 08:17 PM
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The head tube lugs and bottom bracket cable routing are pretty distinctive I think. Maybe they offer additional clues.
10-17-23, 09:21 PM
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Interesting bike! I like those head lugs.
The head lugs and bottom bracket shell have a certain family resemblance but the seat lug looks like it was adopted.
Brent
The head lugs and bottom bracket shell have a certain family resemblance but the seat lug looks like it was adopted.
Brent
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10-18-23, 02:37 AM
#16
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order system bikes. I remember seeing it in one more handmade brand while browsing auctions but I can't remember which one it was right now. Never seen a Bridgestone with that type of seat cluster. I have seen a lot of custom order Bridgestones with that type of stamp on the BB shell though. Maybe this is a custom order one? Headtube lugs are the same as my Bridgestone keirin bike I think. As for the BB bracing, this is the same style as my Zunow. I have also seen this on a few Steelies on Japan auctions. If I remember correctly they have been all customs as well. Hope this helps!
Last edited by LeSexyFishorse; 10-18-23 at 02:40 AM.
10-18-23, 12:00 PM
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sure is a weird-o and has several "custom" touches that point to a one-off.
The number tab may mean nothing more than it was made for the Benelux market, where such a tab is commonplace on "racing bikes".
Even if just for the poseur racers.
Did you find this in Milwaukee? I sure doubt it was made locally, but no idea if Bridgestone ever had a such a frame in their European line...that's where I'd be searching for more info. I think both the 531 sticker and Piaggio branding are red herrings.
I think headlugs and BB shell are perhaps a "known boutique JP brand" maybe Takehashi?
The number tab may mean nothing more than it was made for the Benelux market, where such a tab is commonplace on "racing bikes".
Even if just for the poseur racers.
Did you find this in Milwaukee? I sure doubt it was made locally, but no idea if Bridgestone ever had a such a frame in their European line...that's where I'd be searching for more info. I think both the 531 sticker and Piaggio branding are red herrings.
I think headlugs and BB shell are perhaps a "known boutique JP brand" maybe Takehashi?
10-18-23, 12:48 PM
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this bike is so cool. The paint job had me like "ooooo" and then the B'stone logo on the bottom bracket had me like "ahhhh".
looking forward to learning more about it and seeing it fixed up or restored.
looking forward to learning more about it and seeing it fixed up or restored.
10-18-23, 01:19 PM
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Did Bridgestone sell its bottom bracket to other builders, like Cinelli did?
10-18-23, 02:58 PM
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The most obvious difference I see between the Panasonic seat cluster and the current bike is that the Panasonic is socketed for the seat stays.
Brent
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10-18-23, 10:14 PM
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But stranger things have happened, right?
