Possible Colnago 'Maxim' mountain bike?
 

Hi all, May I ask if anyone can possibly help me identify a bike I have just bought please. I tried to add pictures of it to the Forum, but until I send in 10 Posts I am unable to do so!! At this point all I can therefore do is give the Frame number in the hope that someone could tell me if it's in the same sort of numbering 'system' ,or the opposite!! So - - 5172694.
Any suggestions please? Richard

Try posting our pictures in an image sharing album and posting the link here.

Sounds like a shweeeet bike, does it have a fun Colnago paint job? Post pictures when you can! You can upload them to your BikeForum's photo album and have other members upload them to this thread.

There Is No Try...
 

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4cfbe1f483.jpg

OP's Album

This appears to be a very basic/entry-level mountain bike from the early 90s built up with a random mismatch of components.

I have looked at the photos in the OP's album and there is nothing there to suggest that the bike has anything to do with Colnago

OK,will have a look into how to do that with the photos. Meanwhile the 'query' certainly seems to have caused some discussion - one person reckons that 'all' Colnago maxims had straight front forks - but there is one on Ebay that has similar 'Curved' forks! So- - ?? Other than that no-one seems to be able to answer the query about Frame Numbers yet - - surely a Key point,one way or another?? Would 'entry level' bikes utilise the DeoreDX levers - were they not expensive back then - they certainly are to buy secondhand now!
One person elsewhere tells me that the frame 'ovality' may be the wrong 'axis' so that will be the next thing to check when I can get back to where the bike is currently stored. Another key point!
No-one has also been able to confirm/deny that the wordnig on the front forks saying 'Maxim', is a possible 'yes' feature or a 'no' one!
All very confusing!!
Thanks Guys, Richard

If you Google
Colnago mtb
you will turn up a number of images and links to images that show what Ernesto was attempting.
some were OK.
in the vast vast number almost without exception things were done to the frame to brand it Colnago in the metalwork.

Hi allk once agin! I have just looked again at the messages and the one from "Machinist42" has a llink at the bottom called OP's ALBUM - - and in there are all 12 pictures I had previously sent in so you can perhaps now see why I was hoping mine might be a Conago!!! Richard

Unfortunately, I am not seeing a Colnago Maxim in OP's photos. The biggest lead I have for it NOT being a Maxim is the lack of rear derailleur hanger, something that I do not believe would be skipped. The maxim decal is particularly confusing, but as you mentioned, I am not finding any examples with a similar fork.

Colnago MTBs
 

I had a 1987 Colnago Master Ibex MTB: Shimano Deore XT SIS gruppo, special Columbus Gilco tubing and so on.

eBay photo

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b3b1c5ee6.jpg

Custom stem and Ernesto Colnago signature panto'd bars.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...69929b295a.jpg

I changed the bars and stem for upright riding.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d187eedc30.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...734792d0fc.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7b2e6afc5b.jpg

1987 Flyer showing 2 color options with Shimano Deore XT and Campagnolo Euclid gruppos. Check out that RD protector and Campy sheriff's star style high flange hubs.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...478891da2d.jpg

This was ABSOLUTELY the worst handling bike I've ever owned. On or off road it handled like a twitchy, squirrely bad mannered crit bike! Living proof that the Italians didn't have a clue about MTBs, at least not in the early years of production. It seemed like they were late to the party and trying to cash in on the high end MTB bonanza!

It weighed a TON too, my guess was about 30+ lbs.

These pics are from the 1988 Colnago catalog showing curved forks with a hybrid geometry. More like a touring frame than a MTB.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9f6a6e5ce4.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...39263341c8.jpg

For yuks, here's Cinelli's attempt at making a MTB! Check out the springer saddle!

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e8159f6a6.jpg

verktyg :50:

lol

i still want it

Very well spotted regarding the missing rear hanger mounting. Thank you, R

This is why I say it's a random mismatch of components. Someone probably built up an old frame with whatever random parts they had laying around. Those levers never would have been matched up from the factory with a 200gs rear derailleur. There are other similarly low-end parts on the bike as well, such as the steel seatpost and bolt-on rear wheel.

Sorry, I know you probably got excited upon seeing that "maxim" decal but it's a pretty generic term that was probably used by another manufacturer. No high end bike from that era would use a cheap stamped dropout with no derailleur hanger- that's the dead giveaway on this frame.

Ah well! Looks like the enthusiasm was misplaced. Nice few moments though!! Thanks, Richard

That bike is a comical pile of garbage. The frame is made from 'gas pipe' steel. Welds are among the ugliest you will see. How the name Colnago got associated with that POC is impossible to understand. It was likely originally sold as a Millenium or some other box-store brand.

BTW it's not 'missing' its derailleur hanger - the frame is of the low-cost type that requires a derailleur with a built in hanger, or a 'claw' type adaptor.

Point 2: While OP's bike has ugly welds, all the examples of actual Colnago MTBs don't even have welded frames - they are lugged/brazed construction.

I hope the OP didn't pay too much for that thing.

As far as Italian MTBs are concerned, supposedly the 1985 Marathon and early 1990s Team were pretty darn good...

I sort of want a Basso Aspen.

These are a a couple that I found on the Googles. They don't look like the OP's bike.
https://www.retrobikefranken.de/imag...s/IMG_1043.JPG
https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads...724-204430.jpg

Dayum, those are the ugliest Colnagos I'll ever hope to see. They don't even seem to be quality. The Italian attempts at MTBs seem to have been quite pathetic.

DD

For a time in the USA the high end road bike market crashed. I’m sure it was felt in Italy.
the response to whip up something I’m sure was strong from a survival perspective.

Thanks Eric F - - those are very interesting shots. One 'expert' assured me that the Colnago frames were 'never' welded only lugged - so hope he see these photos!!!! Also these two frames are'nt ovalled horizintally as was suggested earlier. They look just about circular as does mine. However, I am reconciled that the one i've found isn't a Colnago, which is a shame!
One thing I did see is that you have (had?) a 2001 Conago in your 'owned' list - could I ask what the frame number is for that please? No-one has yet come up with nay info on what sort of numbering system the company might have used.
Thanks again, Happy Riding,
Richard

Do have a look at the photos that Eric-F has sent in!

Eye-Talian MTBs
 

"They don't look like the OP's bike."

They don't look like Colnagos either! :lol:

Not every 'Nag was built in the master's stable....

They look like mid range Taiwan made frames but Ernesto didn't go there until 2006.

verktyg :50:

If Ernesto still owned the biz, those are extortion worthy.