Bianchi Randonneur - Restoration Advice - Parts and Sanity Check
 

I have owned this beautiful Bianchi Randonneur 18 speed Touring Bike with Front and Back Alloy racks for over 30 yrs since new. Frame is double butt Mangalloy frame and Mangalloyfork. I recall I paid $400 early 1980's. That is about $1000 today.

Rode this bike daily. while attending college. It has been sitting decades. I want to sell it as-is or restore it. Sitting in storage without environment control has made rubber parts in need of replacement.

Restoring it is sentimental a bit because it represents my youth or Yutes" (as they say in "My Cousin Vinny (4/5) Movie CLIP - Two "Yutes" (1992)" time stamp1:50). My past dream of touring Europe on bike is no longer on my bucket list. Ha ha. However I still might want to restore it for fun and then sell it ior keep it to ride. Opinion, would it be best to sell it as is, may be put tires on it (which are shot) or restore it and sell it? Sentimental or not you have to let go of your "Yutes" sometimes. Ha ha.

What are these worth? On eBay one is for sale $749.99 with no front/rear alloy racks, but does include shipping (guessing about $150 min). Just curious. Are they semi-rare collector items?. Are these bikes valuable? Not trying to get rich. However I do need to disposition this bike as I have 3 bikes. Either fix and ride or let her go. No way does she deserve to be landfill. I want it to go to a Bianchi enthusiast who will restore her. Any suggestion on how to market. Again shipping now a days is $150 to $200 (although I could break it down, wheels, seat, handlebars and get the box smaller to save some money).

If I restore it I need vintage parts, like gum rubber around the brake handls, cables, tires, tubes, handlebar wrap. What are some of the best web sites to buy general parts and spacific Bianchi parts? Should I consider a RESTO-MOD ? Meaning upgrade with new hardware, brakes, index shifter, derailleur, gear set? It would no longer be vintage but a mix. I think this frame is high quality road bike.

The appraisal forum might be a better place and if it has sentimental value you might try riding it.

Let's start with a picture! I'd love to see it myself, I like these older utility type of bikes.

If you dont intend to ride it, you'll probably spend more money restoring it properly than it's worth, so probably selling it as-is would be your best bet. I know if I buy a vintage bike, I want to use my own tires, bars, saddle, etc that is to my preferences, so I would prefer to buy an unrestored bike and do that myself.

I regret selling my Randonneur. Easily one of my favorite bikes.

i would love to do that one over...

is it the cobalt blue one like mine? ARX drivetrain, SR Apex cranks, Araya Suzue hubs, DiaCompe brakes/cantis?


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fea99b74f.jpeg

Awesome pic!

I would fix it and keep it. Build it the way that makes you happy. If it were me I would want it the way it was when I was young.

Easy to fix and rebuild. We can talk you through the options.What it might be worth to some random stranger is not the right question. The right question is what is it worth to you. If you love the bike (and you clearly do), fix it up and ride the heck out of it.

Is that a Mazda GLC in the background......?

That photo really speaks to simpler times. great capture!

"For sale on ebay" means ASKING, not selling. Never use asking prices for valuations. Use sold prices. Sold prices have been between $250 and $400.

Restoring your bike to SELL is a non-starter, you will never get your money out it. Restoring to RIDE can be a great idea, if it fits you well. Generally, supplies can be bought most cheaply on ebay, and then Amazon. Or get used parts from a co-op (typically the cheapest option).

I have had a few oddball items to sell on ebay. One was a McDonald's restaurant plaque. Someone was asking $4,000 for an identical plaque. I sold mine for $325. The one at $4,000 never sold. But it did make mine look like a BARGAIN, so I thank that seller! Sales history showed $250 to $350 max.

I sold my old college bike, had been moving it around coast to coast for 40 yers. But in the end, it didn't fit and I had much better bikes that did fit.

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...I cannot emphasize this enough: If you want to sell it, do not "restore" it. It will just cost you money you will not recover in the sale. They are wonderful bicycles, good all-arounders, in the sport touring tradition. I do not know who made them for Bianchi, but they did a good job. Here is one I reworked here, that I ride sometime, mostly in the winter when it rains here and I need fenders. If you like riding it still, and are up to the restoration, just do the work, keep it, and ride it.
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https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c080cc5fbe.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...62dd8aeddf.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d39088cc99.jpg

It surely was a Good Little Car (GLC)

Thanks! Definitely 1981-82 wears...I knew I had those Avocet touring shoes...which were awesome by the way.

What’s great about the Randonneur is how it rode...it was every bit the loaded touring bike, yet take off the racks and it was a sprightly ride (rode it in the PCM twice).

I would imagine it would make a great get around and do anything bike including gravel.

Yup -- nothing like a sport touring bike.

My brother, sister and I all learned to drive (stick) in one of those, and I'm pretty sure it was the first, and only, car my father ever bought brand-new. That thing took a ton of abuse, and still made it to somewhere around 300k!

I know that certain Bianchi Randonneurs have a bum fork. There's a recall: Bianchi Recall Forks On "Randonneur" Bicycles | CPSC.gov

They are still honoring this recall. You won't receive a fork, you'll rather receive a whole new modern bike.

First to EVERYONE.... Thank you. As an old Newbie to the forum I really appreciate all the great replies.

Piff I called Bianchi and talked to Bob at Bianchi today. I sent an email this morning and he called me back and emailed a short time later. I called him back and we talked. I do not have the "B" mark on the fork crown (that I could see). That means it is subject to the 1990 recall.. He mentioned Bianchi will give me credit on a new bike! 32 yrs later they still warranty this frame ad fork. Pretty cool. Also he said he has never heard of an issue with these forks. As a touring bike with front and back racks I wonder if it could be overloaded. Something triggered the recall. It could have affected 1 bike or 1000. Who knows. The fact I rode it so much and nothing happened might be a good sign (or luck). I could put new tires and go ride. These forks, material, angle makes them unique. They just don't exist, no NOS, Bob said if it is not a "B: Fork he encouraged me to get them out of circulation. I'll have to see what kind of deal I can get. He said discount not free. I looked at the prices of Bianchi Gravel Bikes and I saw $4000.... So likely no new bike in my future. I have plans for my money and a new $4000 bike discount or not is not on the agenda. .

I wonder (1) How many there were compared to the rest, (2) How many are still left, (3) What bike they would give you.

I would think it would be relatively easy to keep a few hundred steel canto-bossed forks in stock and cut them to length when needed!

First to EVERYONE.... Thank you. As an old Newbie to the forum I really appreciate all the great replies.


Piff I called Bianchi and talked to Bob at Bianchi today. I sent an email this morning and he called me back and emailed a short time later. I called him back and we talked. I do not have the "B" mark on the fork crown (that I could see). That means it is subject to the 1990 recall.. He mentioned Bianchi will give me credit on a new bike! 32 yrs later they still warranty this frame ad fork. Pretty cool. Also he said he has never heard of an issue with these forks. As a touring bike with front and back racks I wonder if it could be overloaded. Something triggered the recall. It could have affected 1 bike or 1000. Who knows. The fact I rode it so much and nothing happened might be a good sign (or luck). I could put new tires and go ride. These forks, material, angle makes them unique. They just don't exist, no NOS, Bob said if it is not a "B: Fork he encouraged me to get them out of circulation. I'll have to see what kind of deal I can get. He said discount not free. I see Bianchi is still and expensive brand, but they do have some bikes in the $1000 range.\

Per my comment to Piff. there are no forks to be had.according to Bianchi. The Randonneurs had unique forks, both in material and angles. They just don't have any. Whatever is out in the World is it. The forks are rare.

My info mainly comes from this post on redd.it: old.redd.it.com/r/xbiking/comments/sj0qjh/my_bianchi_fulfilling_xbiking_duties_today/

This forum doesn't allow direct links to redd.it. Just get rid of the period after "redd" in the url and the link should work. Seems to me if you play hardball you should be able to get a whole new bike!

I’m pretty sure if your fork was going to fail it would have... but if you want a replacement, here’s another solution if it is a keeper. I had one of the non B ones, but too long ago to remember...(sold it in1988).

Several members do great framework. They could take a fork, add bosses and set the rake. Or a local frame builder to you.

Or hit up Andy Gilmour for a fork. You’re in SoCal, he’s in Tucson. Great frame builder and he had a line of forks hanging on the wall in March.

One option is to keep it and modernize it. Spread the rear to 130mm, get some new wheels, derailleurs, and modern shifting brake levers. A step up in comfort and ease of use, allowing a wider gear range, too. :thumb:

gmcjetpilot I’ll go against the grain, a bit, but I would say “sell it”. It sounds like you have dropped the sentimental attachment and there is someone that would love to have a bike like yours. I’ve bought bikes from people with stories like yours and I lavished far more love and care on the bike than they did in 30+ years.