Bianchi retro fake or legit?
08-05-22, 08:55 PM
#27
Thrifty Bill
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At the $100 price point, you usually don't find anything decent in the vintage road bike area, both of these look to be worth the price. Do they fit you? Have you ridden either?
I've owned a dozen Nishiki Internationals over the years, I've got one right now. So I am not a Nishiki hater.
Tip, the best deals on bikes either do not last long enough to get an answer to "hey is this one a good deal?" as there are knowledgeable buyers EVERYWHERE, every town, every state. Or its an obscure brand most people have never heard of. NIshiki and Bianchi are well known. Anything Italian gets a premium, and Celeste, another premium. That does not mean it rides "better". Its just the market puts a higher value on them. My best deal this year was on a Mikkelsen. Apparently, no one in Las Vegas had heard of that brand... It sat on FB marketplace for two months. 2000 miles away, so I couldn't get it until I was traveling through the area.
Bike obviously does need some work. That is true for most vintage bikes. WHO does that work determines in the end whether it was a good deal or not.
Last edited by wrk101; 08-09-22 at 07:32 AM.
08-07-22, 06:27 AM
#29
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This looks like an early ‘80s lower end European model, judging by the light mounts on the fork and seat stays (they might be a lock). I think this might be one of the bikes Bianchi had contract built by Chordia or something like that. It looks like it needs a little TLC but for $100 and some elbow grease you’ll have a nice run about.
If you want a serious bike for training and group rides that Nishiki might be a better choice
If you want a serious bike for training and group rides that Nishiki might be a better choice
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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08-07-22, 07:46 AM
#30
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I doubt anyone would to go the expense/effort of taking a bike of that level and repainting/decalling it to make it a fake Bianchi, but I've been known to do some pretty economically unwise things in my day.
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08-08-22, 11:05 AM
#31
Senior Member
Are you kidding? Of course it's a real Bianchi. It's a fully lugged frame w/pump pegs & cable stops welded into the frame. And, authentic graphics. I love the fenders. That bike would be absolutely fantastic upgraded to a pair of Velo Orange Tourist handle bars. Be good. Have fun.
08-11-22, 03:11 PM
#32
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08-11-22, 08:41 PM
#33
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I'm not a Bianchi expert, but I've seen similar Bianchis come through the shop including the color and decals. In good riding condition I could sell that bike for $180 in Phoenix, but the new tires alone would cost $40 to $60. Whether it's worth $100 mainly depends on (A) how much you like it, and (B) whether you have to pay a bike shop to do a bunch of maintenance, or whether you can do it yourself.
The International is a good 1980-ish frame, but it looks like the setup has been pretty significantly altered and I can't evaluate from that photo.
Edit: I see it is Bianchi week and there are several Bianchis listed in this forum with similar color and decals. So I guess it would be easy to counterfeit, but I agree with previous posters that the frame is decent and making it into a fake Bianchi would not generate much extra value.
The International is a good 1980-ish frame, but it looks like the setup has been pretty significantly altered and I can't evaluate from that photo.
Edit: I see it is Bianchi week and there are several Bianchis listed in this forum with similar color and decals. So I guess it would be easy to counterfeit, but I agree with previous posters that the frame is decent and making it into a fake Bianchi would not generate much extra value.
Last edited by albrt; 08-11-22 at 08:51 PM.
