New Find: Cool Steel Bianchi MTB
12-09-17, 03:52 AM
#1
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Bikes: Bianchi Rekord 839, Francesco Moser 51.151, a red Olmo, Raleigh Team Panasonic, Bianchi SL470, Gazelle Superieur
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Bianchi MTB (EDIT: link to 1996 Austrian catalogue)
EDIT: Mystery solved! Here is a link to the 1996 Austrian Bianchi catalogue. This bike is the SL470, on page 30:
https://www.rennrad-news.de/forum/at...96-pdf.440144/
Greetings, everyone!
Yesterday I brought a new bike home: a Bianchi MTB from the 90s. It's got Deore LX and XT parts that work flawlessly. The only thing that I had to replace was the headset, wich was loose and had the nut missing. I also swapped the tires with a pair of Schwalbe Fat Franks to make the bike street friendly and, by the evening, I got the chance to see how it rides. I was at the bike shop changing the headset and being really late to a evening with my family and some friends in the other part of the town. I started a spirited ride trough 11 km of traffic-jammed city. This bike is a lot of fun! I think I had my tongue stuck out for half of the ride. Dodging cars stopped at lights, jumping curbs switching from road to sidewalk – the bike turned me into a old fat hooligan.This morning I took some steps into identifying it, but I haven't got far yet. While looking at the pictures in the ad I thought it was a Bianchi Nyala, judging by the Superlugs and the paint colour. But now I'm not so sure anymore. It's made in the EEC (European Economic Community), so it might be a pre- 1993 model, as the EEC turned into EC (European Community) in 93.
Here are some pictures. If you have any clue about this model, I'd be very curious to hear it:
https://www.rennrad-news.de/forum/at...96-pdf.440144/
Greetings, everyone!
Yesterday I brought a new bike home: a Bianchi MTB from the 90s. It's got Deore LX and XT parts that work flawlessly. The only thing that I had to replace was the headset, wich was loose and had the nut missing. I also swapped the tires with a pair of Schwalbe Fat Franks to make the bike street friendly and, by the evening, I got the chance to see how it rides. I was at the bike shop changing the headset and being really late to a evening with my family and some friends in the other part of the town. I started a spirited ride trough 11 km of traffic-jammed city. This bike is a lot of fun! I think I had my tongue stuck out for half of the ride. Dodging cars stopped at lights, jumping curbs switching from road to sidewalk – the bike turned me into a old fat hooligan.This morning I took some steps into identifying it, but I haven't got far yet. While looking at the pictures in the ad I thought it was a Bianchi Nyala, judging by the Superlugs and the paint colour. But now I'm not so sure anymore. It's made in the EEC (European Economic Community), so it might be a pre- 1993 model, as the EEC turned into EC (European Community) in 93.
Here are some pictures. If you have any clue about this model, I'd be very curious to hear it:
Last edited by seboros; 07-02-18 at 11:08 PM.
12-09-17, 05:16 AM
#3
Senior Member
Great looking Bianchi! I was going to say Grizzly but I’d expect to see a decal. I thought the 470 on the top tube was a solid lead but my search turned up nothing. Super cool bike regardless, have fun with it!
12-09-17, 07:05 AM
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I can’t add much other than I believe Superset was Bianchi’s high end steel for a while. By mid 90’s I think a high end mtb would have a suspension fork. Good looking bike with a slick looking geometry!
On a side note, could you post a pic of your Moser? I have a 51.151 in Columbus SL with spray on graphics. I’ve seen a lot of the 51.151 around but none like mine in Columbus. Sorry for the diversion.
On a side note, could you post a pic of your Moser? I have a 51.151 in Columbus SL with spray on graphics. I’ve seen a lot of the 51.151 around but none like mine in Columbus. Sorry for the diversion.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
12-09-17, 07:14 AM
#5
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Very cool bike!!! Congratulations!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
12-09-17, 07:25 AM
#6
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Bikes: Bianchi Rekord 839, Francesco Moser 51.151, a red Olmo, Raleigh Team Panasonic, Bianchi SL470, Gazelle Superieur
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Thanks for the thumbs up!
12-09-17, 07:30 AM
#7
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If you need to see a certain detail, just let me know. I wasn’t aware Moser also had spray-on graphics. Mine are definitely decals. Maybe thet’re not quite the same vintage? What components does yours have (mine has basically a Shimano 600 tricolor groupset)?
12-09-17, 07:57 AM
#9
Senior Member
That's a pretty nice ride! Does it actually use a threadless headset, or did you add a threaded/threadless converter stem?
The Fat Franks look great, too.
The Fat Franks look great, too.
12-09-17, 08:19 AM
#11
Senior Member
I appreciate the OP's comment regarding pre-1993 based on the EC vs. EEC decal, however, unless it has been rebuilt, the components suggest otherwise. Shimano didn't introduce parallax hubs until the 1995 model year and those V-brakes weren't offered on XT until the 1996 model year. Also, while threadless headsets were available in the very early 1990s they weren't being very widely spec'd pre-1993. The serial number may provide a clue to the actual year. Barring that, you can always start checking component date codes. If they are span more than a year, it has likely been rebuilt.
Being European model complicates the identification for most members. It wouldn't surprise me if 470 turns out to be the actual model name.
Being European model complicates the identification for most members. It wouldn't surprise me if 470 turns out to be the actual model name.
12-09-17, 08:59 AM
#12
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Thank you, T-Mar. I was not aware of any of the details you provided. Mind you, this is my first vintage mtb and I know almost nothing about mtbs in general (are they all this much fun?). The serial number on the bottom bracket is A598732. The crankset is FC-M563 Deore LX. I can't find a code on the brake arms, but I'll check back if I discover something. Most likely it's an European model indeed. All the information I find searching for Bianchi SL 470 comes from German, Finnish and Italian buy&sell online ads.
12-09-17, 09:12 AM
#13
Senior Member
Based on the serial number, I'd say it was a 1995 or 1996 model. That FC-M563 is actually the model number. The date codes are a double alpha character, stamped on the back, in a 3-4mm font. For locations and decoding see Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating
12-09-17, 02:36 PM
#14
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Based on the serial number, I'd say it was a 1995 or 1996 model. That FC-M563 is actually the model number. The date codes are a double alpha character, stamped on the back, in a 3-4mm font. For locations and decoding see Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating
12-09-17, 06:15 PM
#15
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I can't add anything useful, but just wanted to comment on the great tires. I'm getting a set of them this week for an 80s MTB street build.
Oh , and I love the sticker that declares the fastback stays are 'vibration dumping'. Funny phrasing.
Oh , and I love the sticker that declares the fastback stays are 'vibration dumping'. Funny phrasing.
12-09-17, 08:16 PM
#17
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I like the awkward English on the warning label.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
12-09-17, 09:35 PM
#19
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Never seen or heard of a Bianchi MTB before. Looks like a nice piece - get on and ride that thing! I saw a Sekine mountain bike this fall, another first. Who knows, maybe a Marinoni MTB in my size will appear begging to be bought.
12-10-17, 05:38 AM
#20
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12-10-17, 12:06 PM
#21
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Marinoni did offer ATBs. However, the few I've seen, including my 1991, were contract manufactured.
12-10-17, 01:33 PM
#22
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Spaghetti Legs, nice red Moser! You can find a few pictures with mine in this thread at the bottom of page 2.
If you need to see a certain detail, just let me know. I wasn’t aware Moser also had spray-on graphics. Mine are definitely decals. Maybe thet’re not quite the same vintage? What components does yours have (mine has basically a Shimano 600 tricolor groupset)?
If you need to see a certain detail, just let me know. I wasn’t aware Moser also had spray-on graphics. Mine are definitely decals. Maybe thet’re not quite the same vintage? What components does yours have (mine has basically a Shimano 600 tricolor groupset)?
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
12-10-17, 10:39 PM
#23
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Thank you! Do tell us how you like the Fat Franks. I think they’re a blast on asphalt.
