Robur 1956
#1
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Robur 1956
Hello , here my final restoration. This bike is branded "Robur" (cicli robur were founded by the owner's son of torpado).
In this particularly restoration i chosed to keep more original as possible , saving more parts as possible and even keep the frame with a naked feeling.
All parts were dismounted , the rusty layer has been removed and then lubed and mounted again. Now everything works fine. (even the chain that were rigid as a piece of wood now is articulated).
The frame has been cleared with a metal brush , after the big chunk of rust are gone i used a polishing tool with a non-aggressive disk to remove as much patina as possible and then i coeated with "ferrox" a rust converted i found in a store for around 6$.
Reading here and there seems that product is the more recomended for manteining a bike original , since the original paint is not there anymore and painting again even with a matching color results into a lose of his originality.
The saddle was cured with vaselline oil and gained a bit of flexibility , but the color became much better (more dark brownish). The handlebar tape i used is a just a normal fabric strip (measured 200 x 1,5 cm / 78x 0.59 inch) wplus a twisted rope at the end near the stem.
For the cable housing i chosed to use a modern housing with the plastic removed to match the look of the original (the original were a lot similar to the vespa's cable housing but not matching totally). I decided to make the housing in this way because 20$ only for the housing seems a bit too much for me.
The bike has a serial number (damn i forgot to take noted) but into the bb axle there is a number "56" , reading online seems to be the exact date of the bike, i don't think is the measure because it is very small.
Before starting working on the bike i was thinking that the year were near 1940 since the levers are pretty uniques (probably they are not matching too) , Even the components describe a bike not more into the '40 than the '50.
The saddle , the brake levers , the groupset and the single chainring (even the quick release) are confirm of that but i can't argue with the '56' , maybe the bike was assembled in this way or the owner (or maybe the seller) decided to swap a few parts , but for me the correct year is from 56.
Tyres are just a cheap vittoria tubular i took on decathlon , not matching the rest of the bike but i like anyways for the tan line.
Wheels are also cleared and restored (with the help of a professional) they came up pretty straight eccept for a little flat spot on the front but when you are using the bike you will not notice at all (maybe someday i'll find a rim in a better shape) .
The bag is not matching , i found into at came out from a bike-lot , i decied to put in the frame and since then i left on the bike just because is soo unique and seems almost matching.
Feel free to judge , wich part do you like and wich not. What i should replace or modify , every comment is very appreciated.
Here the video presentation of the bike
Here the full playlist of the restoring almost step-by-step.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...vldyt-mqxgGtqX
BUT the bike is not done , i'am working to make a functionally replica of a few parts (bottlecage , pump and pedal cages with the same style of those already equipped in similar bikes). This is an example LINK
PS: i'm not selling the bike , but if there is any expert will be nice to know the value in this state. @Moderators , don't move the tread into the "Appraisals" section. This tread is oriented to present the bike , the value itself is just a curiosity a part.
In this particularly restoration i chosed to keep more original as possible , saving more parts as possible and even keep the frame with a naked feeling.
All parts were dismounted , the rusty layer has been removed and then lubed and mounted again. Now everything works fine. (even the chain that were rigid as a piece of wood now is articulated).
The frame has been cleared with a metal brush , after the big chunk of rust are gone i used a polishing tool with a non-aggressive disk to remove as much patina as possible and then i coeated with "ferrox" a rust converted i found in a store for around 6$.
Reading here and there seems that product is the more recomended for manteining a bike original , since the original paint is not there anymore and painting again even with a matching color results into a lose of his originality.
The saddle was cured with vaselline oil and gained a bit of flexibility , but the color became much better (more dark brownish). The handlebar tape i used is a just a normal fabric strip (measured 200 x 1,5 cm / 78x 0.59 inch) wplus a twisted rope at the end near the stem.
For the cable housing i chosed to use a modern housing with the plastic removed to match the look of the original (the original were a lot similar to the vespa's cable housing but not matching totally). I decided to make the housing in this way because 20$ only for the housing seems a bit too much for me.
The bike has a serial number (damn i forgot to take noted) but into the bb axle there is a number "56" , reading online seems to be the exact date of the bike, i don't think is the measure because it is very small.
Before starting working on the bike i was thinking that the year were near 1940 since the levers are pretty uniques (probably they are not matching too) , Even the components describe a bike not more into the '40 than the '50.
The saddle , the brake levers , the groupset and the single chainring (even the quick release) are confirm of that but i can't argue with the '56' , maybe the bike was assembled in this way or the owner (or maybe the seller) decided to swap a few parts , but for me the correct year is from 56.
Tyres are just a cheap vittoria tubular i took on decathlon , not matching the rest of the bike but i like anyways for the tan line.
Wheels are also cleared and restored (with the help of a professional) they came up pretty straight eccept for a little flat spot on the front but when you are using the bike you will not notice at all (maybe someday i'll find a rim in a better shape) .
The bag is not matching , i found into at came out from a bike-lot , i decied to put in the frame and since then i left on the bike just because is soo unique and seems almost matching.
Feel free to judge , wich part do you like and wich not. What i should replace or modify , every comment is very appreciated.
Here the video presentation of the bike
Here the full playlist of the restoring almost step-by-step.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...vldyt-mqxgGtqX
BUT the bike is not done , i'am working to make a functionally replica of a few parts (bottlecage , pump and pedal cages with the same style of those already equipped in similar bikes). This is an example LINK
PS: i'm not selling the bike , but if there is any expert will be nice to know the value in this state. @Moderators , don't move the tread into the "Appraisals" section. This tread is oriented to present the bike , the value itself is just a curiosity a part.
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Neat bike. I'd agree with 1956, or there abouts. The 56 on the BB spindle is a date stamp.
I think it is interesting that a bike out of Padova is using components from Torino instead of Milano. 40s/50s Italy was very localized. In addition to the Ambrosio stem/bars and looks like rims, the pedals are from a company called Ucco out of Torino. I had a pair once, see pic below. Also, if you look long enough, you may find a Robur saddle, I had one on those too.
Ucco Torino Pedals 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 042 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 045 by iabisdb, on Flickr
I think it is interesting that a bike out of Padova is using components from Torino instead of Milano. 40s/50s Italy was very localized. In addition to the Ambrosio stem/bars and looks like rims, the pedals are from a company called Ucco out of Torino. I had a pair once, see pic below. Also, if you look long enough, you may find a Robur saddle, I had one on those too.
Ucco Torino Pedals 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 042 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 045 by iabisdb, on Flickr
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#4
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Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: South Italy
Posts: 1,015
Bikes: BMC SLR01; Cannondale Trail; Lot's of project and vintage bikes..
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
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Neat bike. I'd agree with 1956, or there abouts. The 56 on the BB spindle is a date stamp.
I think it is interesting that a bike out of Padova is using components from Torino instead of Milano. 40s/50s Italy was very localized. In addition to the Ambrosio stem/bars and looks like rims, the pedals are from a company called Ucco out of Torino. I had a pair once, see pic below. Also, if you look long enough, you may find a Robur saddle, I had one on those too.
Ucco Torino Pedals 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 042 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 045 by iabisdb, on Flickr
I think it is interesting that a bike out of Padova is using components from Torino instead of Milano. 40s/50s Italy was very localized. In addition to the Ambrosio stem/bars and looks like rims, the pedals are from a company called Ucco out of Torino. I had a pair once, see pic below. Also, if you look long enough, you may find a Robur saddle, I had one on those too.
Ucco Torino Pedals 1 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 042 by iabisdb, on Flickr
1948 Frejus 045 by iabisdb, on Flickr