squishy654

Someone recommended this forum for getting information about a bike found up in my father's garage. Apparently I need 10 posts to show you pictures of it.



""Benotto
Italy
Guiseppe Pelá frame?
670cm or 22'
1960s or 1970s?
different front wheel?
mid-grade
Campagnolo parts


-=The story=-
I was told it was a friend/roommate of my father who cheated with his girl in the 70s and my father chased the guy away and the bike was left. He has dementia now so I can't get the details, but it sounds like an interesting story. He was living near the SF bay area back then. He kept it through 3 different moves and eventually put it up above the garage for decades. He didn't ride but knew it might have been something because special because it was once prized.

I'm a stroke survivor in Sacramento and rode and raced MTB but I can't ride a normal bike now and ride a recumbent trike. I would refurnish or restore this and ride it but I would fall over. I still don't have an exact date or know if it was all original parts or a mishmash built back then.

It would make a good project for someone and I don't know if I should clean and/or restore it yet.

""

Homebrew01

Welcome ! Pic assist from Album.

Homebrew01

Erzulis Boat 

I think it's cool. I'm a sucker for some bikes like that.


I got this bike for free. A bunch of elbow grease, and maybe $140.00 invested got me this. Working on bikes keeps me out of trouble.
I'd be all over that Benotto.

juvela

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date estimate from what can be seen in photos: ~1968

wheels are mis-matched so at least one is a replacement

you could check their hub dates by removing the axle locknuts which have a date marking on their inner face

would expect that one shall be quite close to suggested date -



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Homebrew01

It's a lot of work to restore. If you're not planning to keep it, I think best to sell it "as is" to someone who wants it.

repechage

The rear derailleur may be toast, the rotation stop has been overwhelmed. But still useful for parts. It is a Project. I would consider it if at hand.
should ride well. Top of the line headset and rear dropouts (slightly bent on drive side)

randyjawa 

Spending time, effort and cash seems like a poor idea to me knowing that I could not ride the bike. That old Benotto is a great candidate for restoration but restoration can be expensive and does not, necessarily, increase the monetary value of a bike. Were the bike mine (and I wish it were), I would sell it "as found" and ask a pretty penny for it.

That said, it was the OP's dad's bike and a higher end one, at that. For sentimental reasons alone, the bike is worth keeping. I would make sure that it was cleaned up but allowed to retain its used patina, which helps to tell the story of the bike and rider. To that, add this...

It is fun to restore bicycles! I love the activity and, these days, it is not all that important to me that I ride what I restore, or in most cases, refurbish. This given to me for free old Torpado was a hoot to restore but I hate to admit that what I spent restoring the free bike, cannot be recouped. No one will pay what I had to invest to get this...


to look like this...


And I don't even ride the Torpado, thanks to the serious go fast gearing the bike offers...

Mr. 66

I would not restore, just clean and rebuild. That should cleanup well. I would wipe it down with motor oil, WD 40, windex on a rag to start the cleaning frame. I agree and do think the rear derailleur has something wrong.

squishy654

I'm actually making progress, it's been kinda fun unraveling the mystery. This what I've gathered so far, any help would be appreciated:

Benotto - Entre 54cm (1955-60), Italy (built by Guiseppe Pelá?) High-end race bike when new
Different front wheel, replaced with a cheap one at some point before 1980, grip wrap in 80-90s
Crank: Magistroni Senor 3-Arm Crankset: Cottered - Simplex 50/47t Half Step 1950's?
FD: Campagnolo gran sport from 60ies?
RD: Campagnolo Nuovo record v2 (60ies) or v3 (70ies)?
Brakes: Universal Mod. 61 - since '61?

juvela

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thank you for the update!

saddle pillar appears NITOR

pedals appear Sheffield Corsa

stem looks as though it may be an Ambrosio Champion

Sr. L. Senior's wedgebolts are seeking attenzione as his arms be out of registration




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randyjawa 

Yup, that's what I said. Restoring, or more appropriately in my case, refurbishing vintage bicycles is FUN! That said, I have a great rider and I could care less if I ride the old school steeds. I always test ride any bike that I build, for sure, to ensure that everything is working perfectly then, who knows. This sits on display where no one will ever see it, except me...


And this one is going to be parted out soon. Selling bikes in Thunder Bay is darn near impossible. Shipping costs to anywhere are very high. With that in mind, better to part out and find new homes for all the bits and pieces...


How about a NOS take off Legnano cottered crank set and matching bottom bracket...


Anyway, this was my rider but I gave it away to a family member in the Spring of this year...


And I replaced it with this, just my size Marinoni and extremely well fitted with quality components...

John E

Front wheel thefts and crashes were pretty common (still are, I guess).
Gran Sport front derailleur could be from mid-to-late 1950s -- there should be at date code on it somewhere. The rear derailleur should have some sort of date code (mine says PAT 80).
52-49, 51-48, 50-47, and 49-46 were very popular 3-tooth half-step ringset combinations through the 1950s and well into the 1960s. I really like those aluminum Simplex 3-bolt-to-6-bolt adapters, but minimum ring size is 45T.
Universal 61s were good brakes. I don't know when they first came out. Centerpulls in general are mostlly a 1960s and 1970s item.

juvela

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John -

the chainset's Juy Y-adaptors are the steel version and issue from Juy d'Italia



note the "Brev. Int." marking

examples from Juy France bear a differing mark



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here is a Daniel Rebour rendering of the frame's fork crown -


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AdventureManCO 

randyjawa you are getting rid of your Legnano? Whatever will become of it? This isn't the Legnano, is it? Or it's equal? I Still miss the old 10 speeds website.

randyjawa 

In post #15 I was asked if I am getting rid of my Legnano. Yes, everything except my two Mariinoni road bikes and my Devinci mountain bike will be kept (not to mention all those boxes full of vintage components). I might even let the second Marinoni go also, not sure yet but the purple one is a keeper...





I also have a Specialized Sirrus, a Carlton Capris, a Quintanna Roo and a Terry style Norco. I am getting older and the last thing I want is for my bikes to end up going for $20 at a yard sale.