BenGeldreich

Hello BF community! I hope this finds you all well!

I just purchased my first Bianchi off craigslist. I'm trying to do a bit of research to find out what model and year the bike was made and if it's a Japanese or Italian frame.

Here are the some photos.

I have the serial number but would prefer to not post that. Is there a Bianchi serial number sheet where I can cross reference mine. I can't seem to find anything via google.

Also anyone have any recommendations on what to use to polish and clean up the paint. I will do a search for this now, but thought I'd check with this community first.

Thanks
Ben

Kevindale

I'm not sure why you would be reluctant to post the serial number. Just so you know, there are people here actively building a Bianchi serial number database -- I suspect it would be considered poor from to use their painstakingly gathered data without making your own contribution.

Also, the photos are very small the way you're presenting them. You might consider putting them on a photo hosting site and linking to the photos there. Sorry that I'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to Bianchi, so I can't help with the ID.

Edited to add: there are a lot of Bianchi catalogues online that you should be readily able to find. From what I can see of the photos, I'm guessing you have a bike from the 1970s, so you might start there.

merziac

Very poor form, coming hat in hand and holding out at the same time.

BenGeldreich

Thanks Kevindale!

I guess I was reluctant ... I've never shared a serial number of any kind online and I guess that's just something that I'm not used to doing. Excuse the naivety.

Thanks for letting me know that people are building a Bianchi database! I had no idea as I mentioned in my post, this is my first Bianchi. I'd obviously be happy to contribute.

The serial number is: BS353379

Hopefully the photos turn out better. I am sharing a google photos shared album. Let me know if it works.

https://goo.gl/photos/Cqs9qYi22XKUkQ399

I'm still looking through old catalogues for matching decals and a white Bianchi. As of right now I still am not sure what year or model this bike is.

Thanks
Ben

T-Mar

It's definitely a 1983, Japanese manufactured frame, so the Campagnolo equipment is not OEM. Based on the frame attributes, it is probably a Limited. Check the seat post diameter. A Limited typically used 27.2mm

BenGeldreich

Thanks,

Mmm ... i just found this image in a 1983 catalogue. It has Campenello parts. Looks a lot like my bike. Ill measure the seat post diameter to confirm.

https://saarf00.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/0214.jpg

T-Mar

The catalogue image is for a bicycle with a Columbus tubeset and these were made in Italy. You serial number indicates a Japanese manufactured frame. To verify, remove the fork and check for the tubing manufacturer's name on the steerer tube. The Japanese frames were of this era were typically made from Ishiwata tubing.

Kevindale

The catalogue derailleurs also look like different Campy derailleurs than you have. The catalogue shows and states Campagnolo Nuovo Record, while you have a Nuovo Gran Sport RD and I'm not quite sure which FD that is, but it's not NR. Most of the other bits don't seem to match the catalogue description, either.

This archeology and detective work is a lot of the fun of these bikes -- that, and the riding. You quickly find that T-Mar has a tremendous depth of knowledge and information.

Oh, and welcome to the forums!

zukahn1 

Depending on the market around this time Bianchi sold offered sold variations of the limited with lesser Campy or nicer Japanese components. Based on color and decals this bike likely came with Japanese components to match the frame and is a 83/84 like T-mar says. This bike has a mix of none original components the Campy stuff is a generation older and basically not as good as it would have stock, but likely a bit more value wise. None of this effects the fact that it is very nice well equipped bike that should ride great. As presented it's worth about $300-350.

Bianchigirll 

I can tell from the pic of the seat stay that your bike is nothing the same as the catalog link because it has no cartouche on the stay cap.

Can you post some more pics? What kind of dropouts does it have? Is there a B on the down/head tube lug?

BenGeldreich

Thank you all for the comments.

I disassembled the bike to clean the frame and have a closer look. I don't see any marking inside the frame after removing the front fork. I have yet to remove the crank and bottom bracket as I don't have access to the needed tools yet.

The seat post diameters are as follows,

ID: 26.37
OD: 32.55

I've added a few more specific pics to a google shared album which can be found here.

https://goo.gl/photos/Cqs9qYi22XKUkQ399

If you would like to see any more specific photos let me know.

I purchased the bike for $250 (Canadian). So I feel like I got a great deal. My Pinerello frame recently broke and I will be using the Pinerello components on the Bianchi.

I wish I did this investigative work for my Pinerello when I got it. Maybe I would have seen the damage to the frame earlier.

trailangel

The "Diameter Of The Seat Post".

BenGeldreich

Hahaha ... my bad! The outside diameter of the seat post is 26.34.

The seller stated that he had to special order the seat post stem as it's a rare size. Not sure about that as this is the first seat post I've measured

T-Mar

Most seat posts have the diameter stamped on them, but if you measured it correctly, that is quite a small post, down into hi-tensile steel territory.