Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Vintage steel bike colors (what do you think looks best)

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Vintage steel bike colors (what do you think looks best)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-27-22, 07:10 PM
  #1  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 2,048

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1126 Post(s)
Liked 1,988 Times in 717 Posts
Vintage steel bike colors (what do you think looks best)

Certain vintage cars look best in a couple of colors, and stupid in others, Example, Alfa spider in red = good. Alfa spider in black, not so much. Some are based on their racing teams, some I based on the catalogues they produced.

When I think vintage (pre 1980's) steel, some are obvious, like Bianchi and celeste. Help fill in this list, and feel free to debate

Bianchi = Celeste
Raleigh = Blue mink/silver
Legnano = pistacchio green
Frejus = light lime green
Colnago = burgundy
Cinelli = champagne gold
Masi = white/red
Olmo: = white/blue
DeRosa =
Merckx =
Etc etc etc

Last edited by Robvolz; 08-27-22 at 07:15 PM.
Robvolz is offline  
Old 08-27-22, 07:18 PM
  #2  
smd4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,900

Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3579 Post(s)
Liked 3,001 Times in 1,816 Posts
Cinelli = silver.
smd4 is offline  
Likes For smd4:
Old 08-27-22, 07:26 PM
  #3  
rccardr 
aka: Dr. Cannondale
 
rccardr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,753
Mentioned: 234 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2159 Post(s)
Liked 3,476 Times in 1,220 Posts
The answer is yes.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
rccardr is offline  
Old 08-27-22, 09:15 PM
  #4  
mackgoo
Senior Member
 
mackgoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: San Clemente
Posts: 669

Bikes: 87 Bianchi X4, 95 Bianchi Ti Mega Tube, 06 Alan Carbon Cross X33, 74 Galmozzi Super Competizione, 64 Bianchi Specialissima.

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 557 Times in 170 Posts
Galmozzi, orange. Because that's what I just Did.

mackgoo is offline  
Old 08-27-22, 11:12 PM
  #5  
Kabuki12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,476
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 2,311 Times in 1,292 Posts
Motobecane Team Champion=orange
Kabuki12 is offline  
Likes For Kabuki12:
Old 08-27-22, 11:30 PM
  #6  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,132

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4534 Post(s)
Liked 6,444 Times in 3,706 Posts
Originally Posted by Kabuki12
Motobecane Team Champion=orange



Amen, one of my favorites of all time, then and now. I should get my azz in gear and build this frame up.
merziac is offline  
Old 08-27-22, 11:34 PM
  #7  
Kabuki12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,476
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 2,311 Times in 1,292 Posts
^^^ sweet!
Kabuki12 is offline  
Likes For Kabuki12:
Old 08-27-22, 11:45 PM
  #8  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,132

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4534 Post(s)
Liked 6,444 Times in 3,706 Posts
Originally Posted by Kabuki12
^^^ sweet!
Ive had this frame since early on in my tenure here, our venerable Obrentharris delivered this frame to my door on a camping trip that came near my place when I also found out he is another Merz fan.

Overhauled one of these for a friend years ago and was already a huge fan from when they were new as well.
merziac is offline  
Old 08-27-22, 11:47 PM
  #9  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,132

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4534 Post(s)
Liked 6,444 Times in 3,706 Posts
Merckx/DeRosa = Molteni orange.
merziac is offline  
Likes For merziac:
Old 08-28-22, 01:51 AM
  #10  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,132

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4534 Post(s)
Liked 6,444 Times in 3,706 Posts
Paramount

merziac is offline  
Old 08-28-22, 01:57 AM
  #11  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,669

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3917 Post(s)
Liked 6,535 Times in 3,243 Posts
Originally Posted by Kabuki12
Motobécane Team Champion = orange.
Motobécane Grand Record = Red/Black

... with Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleurs/shifters.
SurferRosa is offline  
Likes For SurferRosa:
Old 08-28-22, 02:13 AM
  #12  
Robvolz 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 2,048

Bikes: several Eddy Merz (ride like Eddy, braze like Jim!)

Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1126 Post(s)
Liked 1,988 Times in 717 Posts
when I think of either motobecane or Peugeot, I think white.
Robvolz is offline  
Likes For Robvolz:
Old 08-28-22, 02:30 AM
  #13  
merziac
Senior Member
 
merziac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,132

Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2

Mentioned: 269 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4534 Post(s)
Liked 6,444 Times in 3,706 Posts
Originally Posted by Robvolz
when I think of either motobecane or Peugeot, I think white.
Realy, white Moto?

PX-10 yes, of course.
merziac is offline  
Likes For merziac:
Old 08-28-22, 03:30 AM
  #14  
P!N20
Senior Member
 
P!N20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wurundjeri Country
Posts: 2,479
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1086 Post(s)
Liked 1,910 Times in 935 Posts
Originally Posted by merziac
Merckx/DeRosa = Molteni orange.
Always liked blue De Rosas



Pinarello = red

P!N20 is offline  
Likes For P!N20:
Old 08-28-22, 04:53 AM
  #15  
gearbasher
Senior Member
 
gearbasher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sitting on my butt in front of a computer
Posts: 1,589
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 466 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times in 397 Posts
Gios: Blue
gearbasher is offline  
Likes For gearbasher:
Old 08-28-22, 05:02 AM
  #16  
oneclick 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,839
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1116 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,339 Times in 790 Posts
Anything Italian in red & white & green:




From what I remember reading at the time, frame of Reynolds tubing and pressurized - not for strength but to detect cracks in the joints.
oneclick is offline  
Old 08-28-22, 06:06 AM
  #17  
markk900
Senior Member
 
markk900's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,664
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 484 Post(s)
Liked 648 Times in 346 Posts
Originally Posted by oneclick
Anything Italian in red & white & green:




From what I remember reading at the time, frame of Reynolds tubing and pressurized - not for strength but to detect cracks in the joints.
I agree having owned numerous Italian motos; however for the record the MHR was painted in Castrol colours as the main sponsor; not Italian national colours.
markk900 is offline  
Old 08-28-22, 06:11 AM
  #18  
markk900
Senior Member
 
markk900's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,664
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 484 Post(s)
Liked 648 Times in 346 Posts
Originally Posted by Robvolz
when I think of either motobecane or Peugeot, I think white.
You did say “looks best” not “what is most common”…it may be heretical but I am not a fan of white Pugs…..they had so many other great colours available that white seems so pedestrian- even if that was the colour of the team bike. Personal favorites are the Blue, the Lime Green, and Purple….
markk900 is offline  
Likes For markk900:
Old 08-28-22, 06:22 AM
  #19  
75lechamp 
Full Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 344

Bikes: 1975 Motobecane LeChampion (silver lilac), 1974 Motobecane Grand Jubile (red/black); 1975 Motobecane Team Champion (orange); 1982 Pinarello Professional (Exorcist Green); 1974 Raleigh Professional MkIV mink blue, 1974 Motobecane Grand Record blk/red

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 103 Post(s)
Liked 750 Times in 172 Posts

Second the Gios!
75lechamp is offline  
Old 08-28-22, 06:28 AM
  #20  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,738

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 157 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2339 Post(s)
Liked 5,164 Times in 1,819 Posts
Originally Posted by markk900
You did say “looks best” not “what is most common”…it may be heretical but I am not a fan of white Pugs…..they had so many other great colours available that white seems so pedestrian- even if that was the colour of the team bike. Personal favorites are the Blue, the Lime Green, and Purple….
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  
Likes For jamesdak:
Old 08-28-22, 07:02 AM
  #21  
Kabuki12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,476
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 2,311 Times in 1,292 Posts
Pinarello= red
Kabuki12 is offline  
Likes For Kabuki12:
Old 08-28-22, 09:19 AM
  #22  
Pompiere
Senior Member
 
Pompiere's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 3,446

Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 2011 Jamis Quest, 1980 Peugeot TH8 Tandem, 1992 Performance Parabola, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-S LTD, 197? FW Evans

Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 541 Post(s)
Liked 1,038 Times in 533 Posts
Fuji in Rainbow Blue, as in the America, and Teal Green, as on the Touring Series V.
Pompiere is offline  
Likes For Pompiere:
Old 08-28-22, 09:24 AM
  #23  
branko_76 
Senior Member
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,753

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 703 Post(s)
Liked 678 Times in 423 Posts
There are lots of great colors for vintage steel bikes. Some, not so great, I don't like the Bianchi Celeste, it's too precious
branko_76 is offline  
Likes For branko_76:
Old 08-28-22, 09:29 AM
  #24  
branko_76 
Senior Member
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,753

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 703 Post(s)
Liked 678 Times in 423 Posts
The purple Peugeot looks great but I think it has more to do with the graphics than the actual color
branko_76 is offline  
Old 08-28-22, 10:56 AM
  #25  
jamesdak 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,738

Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,

Mentioned: 157 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2339 Post(s)
Liked 5,164 Times in 1,819 Posts
Originally Posted by branko_76
The purple Peugeot looks great but I think it has more to do with the graphics than the actual color
Funny thing is I let that one go a couple of years ago as I pursued my "nostalgia" Peugeot.

I think I just finished it up a couple of minutes ago and the bike sure does not have the visual impact of the purple one.

__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
jamesdak is offline  
Likes For jamesdak:


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.