What did I just buy..? Newbie who bought first bike, claimed to be a Cinelli
04-18-20, 10:11 AM
#26
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Please don't feel too bad. You did luck out and get a pretty good looking bike which did not cost an arm and a leg. That said...
I have acquired a lot of vintage bicycles, over the years, and made many many mistakes doing so. Once, a few years ago, I darn near shelled out $125.00 CND for what was represented as a Canadian built Cyclops, was really an Apollo Grand Sport, a nice enough bike but not at all comparable to a Cyclops.
This is the fake Cyclops that I almost bought (sadly, unbeknownst to me, a good friend got sucked in and bought the bike at the same yard sale). I should add that my buddy was very disappointed when I broke the unfortunate news to him (as you can see, he did have a hand in this)
I have acquired a lot of vintage bicycles, over the years, and made many many mistakes doing so. Once, a few years ago, I darn near shelled out $125.00 CND for what was represented as a Canadian built Cyclops, was really an Apollo Grand Sport, a nice enough bike but not at all comparable to a Cyclops.
This is the fake Cyclops that I almost bought (sadly, unbeknownst to me, a good friend got sucked in and bought the bike at the same yard sale). I should add that my buddy was very disappointed when I broke the unfortunate news to him (as you can see, he did have a hand in this)
. Or rather, I can't identify why my bike is considered so much better by only looking at the components.Well, I guess I was lucky then haha.. Could have gone a lot worse as you all can hear.
04-18-20, 01:29 PM
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The photos are a little dark. I don't see either the Cinelli seat cluster or the Cinelli fork crown. Forks can be replaced, but the seat cluster is suspect.
04-18-20, 02:37 PM
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Solved it by buying some red reflective tape, making it safer both from theft and for me when it's getting darker. Win-win.
Thank's all for the comments and knowledge
Thank's all for the comments and knowledge
Last edited by signat; 04-18-20 at 02:45 PM.
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04-18-20, 03:18 PM
#29
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I think an important clue to its ID is the way the fork and stay ends are finished. I have seen that before, just forgot where. 
The ring on the front wheel is for an IKU computer, BTW.
The ring on the front wheel is for an IKU computer, BTW.
04-18-20, 03:31 PM
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A light just came on somewhere in the back of my befuddled brain: those ends are typical for BaCo (BAtifoulier & COllas). Check out this thread.
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04-18-20, 03:47 PM
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A light just came on somewhere in the back of my befuddled brain: those ends are typical for BaCo (BAtifoulier & COllas). Check out this thread.
04-18-20, 06:17 PM
#32
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Just so you know: you have a very nice bike on your hands. BaCo built bespoke bikes for professionals, Miko-Mercier and Puch-Wolber being two teams that come to mind. They also made small series for Lejeune, DBS and others.
This Lejeune, built with Reynolds 753, belonged to the late world pursuit champion Roy Schuiten and was featured on these forums before, in this thread:
This Lejeune, built with Reynolds 753, belonged to the late world pursuit champion Roy Schuiten and was featured on these forums before, in this thread:
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04-18-20, 11:36 PM
#33
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Note to self: Keep an eye open for $250 claimed-to-be Cinellis.
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04-19-20, 08:26 AM
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Just so you know: you have a very nice bike on your hands. BaCo built bespoke bikes for professionals, Miko-Mercier and Puch-Wolber being two teams that come to mind. They also made small series for Lejeune, DBS and others.
This Lejeune, built with Reynolds 753, belonged to the late world pursuit champion Roy Schuiten and was featured on these forums before, in this thread:
This Lejeune, built with Reynolds 753, belonged to the late world pursuit champion Roy Schuiten and was featured on these forums before, in this thread:
Hehe, I don't recommend this strategy! Beginners luck I guess
04-19-20, 12:49 PM
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I think it's worth what you paid for it. It would be for me, if it were my size. As for resale value, that would depend entirely on you local market situation and your ability to find someone who'd be interested in a BaCo frame in that size.
04-19-20, 09:08 PM
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Thank's all for the comments. This is truly a welcoming community and I've learnt a ton by just reading all your answers.
I feel a bit better than I did before I made the post. And again, I still like the bike very much and it does feel like decent quality. I'm still not sure what I'll do with the stickers, I don't know, I feel a bit uncomfortable with having them on, and I feel a bit ashamed of riding around with something that is clearly a fake. But again, really appreciate all the energy you guys have put into helping me in such a short period of time. It's cool to see Really excited to get into the game, just need to make sure that I also let my body rest a bit between the tours, especially now in the beginning!
I feel a bit better than I did before I made the post. And again, I still like the bike very much and it does feel like decent quality. I'm still not sure what I'll do with the stickers, I don't know, I feel a bit uncomfortable with having them on, and I feel a bit ashamed of riding around with something that is clearly a fake. But again, really appreciate all the energy you guys have put into helping me in such a short period of time. It's cool to see
Really excited to get into the game, just need to make sure that I also let my body rest a bit between the tours, especially now in the beginning!
04-20-20, 08:25 AM
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Whatever it is, and I agree it is no Cinelli, it seems to be a quality frame. It ticks a lot of boxes for me. I like window lugs and it appears to have been constructed out of quality tubing. If it fits, it should provide a very nice ride. Personally, I would never want a bike to have Cinelli decals if it wasn't a Cinelli. Like wearing a fake Rolex is uber cheesy. If all I can afford is a real Timex, then that's what I'm gonna wear.
Enjoy the bike! It looks like a quality piece.
Enjoy the bike! It looks like a quality piece.
04-20-20, 09:26 AM
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I hear ya
This one is more akin to a Movado or a top shelf Seiko in comparison to the Rolex, but I know what youre saying
In the early 90's, I beat the snot out of my first bike, a nice little Bridgestone MTB. Tons of rock chips in the paint and I felt like a refresh was in order.
A Bridgestone on its own is worth preserving, and I wasn't trying to counterfeit anything, but I sprayed it celeste green and the only decals I could find quickly were MArin decals, ---
So I had a Bridgestone in Bianchi colors with Marin decals --- lateral moves all the way around , but it served its purpose
04-20-20, 10:10 AM
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I have found a lot of weird little headbadges on eBay from China from Chinese makes that appear to be small makers that only did domestic sales. I got a couple that I planned on putting on a no-name frame I was planning on repainting and putting waterslides with my name on them instead of decals. Ended up deciding that was all way more work than that frame was worth, but there are some really cool headbadges out there if you want to try to put something fun on your bike.
04-20-20, 10:11 AM
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I have found a lot of weird little headbadges on eBay from China from Chinese makes that appear to be small makers that only did domestic sales. I got a couple that I planned on putting on a no-name frame I was planning on repainting and putting waterslides with my name on them instead of decals. Ended up deciding that was all way more work than that frame was worth, but there are some really cool headbadges out there if you want to try to put something fun on your bike.
04-20-20, 10:19 AM
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Exactly. That's why I wanted some little obscure headbadge from China. It was going to be a keeper. I didn't want someone to think it was something it wasn't just wanted something to make it unique that I thought was pretty.
04-20-20, 12:24 PM
#43
1/2 as far in 2x the time
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Welcome.
If you were sold that bike as a "Cinelli", you were ripped off, but you got reasonable value, for getting sold a fake...
You say you thought the original seller was trustworthy?
The nice thing is the frame does not look damaged, and whoever converted it into a single speed, left the unused fittings alone. No Cinelli here, except the stem, and maybe the handlebars. Pretty looking lug work.
Ride it, safely. Cheers, Eric
If you were sold that bike as a "Cinelli", you were ripped off, but you got reasonable value, for getting sold a fake...
You say you thought the original seller was trustworthy?
The nice thing is the frame does not look damaged, and whoever converted it into a single speed, left the unused fittings alone. No Cinelli here, except the stem, and maybe the handlebars. Pretty looking lug work.
Ride it, safely. Cheers, Eric
Last edited by Last ride 76; 04-20-20 at 12:35 PM.
04-21-20, 06:53 PM
#44
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Welcome.
If you were sold that bike as a "Cinelli", you were ripped off, but you got reasonable value, for getting sold a fake...
You say you thought the original seller was trustworthy?
The nice thing is the frame does not look damaged, and whoever converted it into a single speed, left the unused fittings alone. No Cinelli here, except the stem, and maybe the handlebars. Pretty looking lug work.
Ride it, safely. Cheers, Eric
If you were sold that bike as a "Cinelli", you were ripped off, but you got reasonable value, for getting sold a fake...
You say you thought the original seller was trustworthy?
The nice thing is the frame does not look damaged, and whoever converted it into a single speed, left the unused fittings alone. No Cinelli here, except the stem, and maybe the handlebars. Pretty looking lug work.
Ride it, safely. Cheers, Eric
Nice bike, fake graphics. I bought a bike with incorrect application of Cinelli transfers, but we both knew it was masquerading.
04-21-20, 08:30 PM
#45
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I really like this simple fix makes the bike look a lot better and doesn't break the bank why pay $200 for repaint when you din't even know what the paint should be when $10 of stickers will work. As for ID the crank looks to be 80's Spidel /Stronglight so a 80's Lejeune or Motobecane not sold in the US could be likley matches as said.
Last edited by zukahn1; 04-21-20 at 08:39 PM.
04-23-20, 02:15 PM
#46
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Au sujet de BaCo -
-----BACO
Romainville
Cadreur des années 70 de la région parisienne, Baco est la contraction de deux noms, Batifoulier et Collas.
La marque fabriquait plus de 2500 cadres par ans, surtout des cadres de course.
Le Bon Coin
-----
Romainville
Cadreur des années 70 de la région parisienne, Baco est la contraction de deux noms, Batifoulier et Collas.
La marque fabriquait plus de 2500 cadres par ans, surtout des cadres de course.
Le Bon Coin-----
05-01-20, 11:39 AM
#47
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That's a great looking bike. It looks likes a newer version of the frame I have which is a great riding bike. Be careful though as you may become addicted to weird french bikes
