Bluebirb

Hello Wonderful Forum,

You all know a lot about bikes. I don't.

I need help figuring out the year and model of my beautiful red, 53cm, Bianchi. I am having trouble uploading pictures directly to this post but I have added pictures in the album if anyone can take a look and help. I do see a serial number and I think it reads either 53C1622 or 53C1S22. I changed the groupset because the old one was rusted and beat but everything else is as I found it.

Any feedback and help is much appreciated!

Thanks,
Bluebirb

T-Mar

Based on the serial number, in conjunction with the styles of the Bianchi logo and CdM decal, I believe we're looking at 1993-1994. The Columbus decal has a red border, so it should be either SBX or TSX. During this period the upper end Bianchi in the USA market had model names that were typically a combination of the tubeset and component group. For instance, a Bianchi with Columbus TSX and Chorus would be called a Bianchi TSX Chorus.

Bluebirb

Thank you so much! It is am SBX I checked on the sticker.
​​​​​She's a great bike, I've ridden her all up and down the canyons in LA for years. However, I moved to NYC and no longer ride this bike. I want to see it but unsure of what to price it at. Deciding between my local.bike shop and eBay. Does anyone have any recommendations.for pricing? Many thanks!

jpajya

I know Corto has since found the SN and resolved the country of origin question regarding his wife's Eros, but thought I'd add a photo that might help with resolving his question on the lack of a "Made in" decal. I've added a photo to my album, showing the "Made in Taiwan" metallic sticker on my '92 Eros, with the sticker located on the front of the headtube, at the bottom. (Bike was also purchased new in Northern CA, and like his wife's bike, the LBS dealer sticker is at the bottom of the DT.)

minispdrcr

Hello all. Just wondering what you can tell me about this bianchi?

T-Mar

The serial number, in conjunction with the frame features, indicates 1988 Itaslian amnufacture. The tubing decal appears to be Columbus SL, indcating an upper end model. Those graphics weren't used on the N. American models where I live and I typically see them on English and German models, though they may also have been used in other European countries. The components appear to be a mixed bag of Shimano and Campagnolo. The brakes definitely post date the frame. Given the foreign market and mixed componets, I can't positively identify the model, as they could vary from country to country. However, in the USA, this frameset was used on the Mondiale and Super Leggera,

Pacsiah

Hello all! just looking to pin down more info on my newest frame.
certainly a Giro model(decal) prob from 87ish(colorado springs 86/87 decal), Columbus SL decals but SLX ridges in fork tube?, Reparto Corse decal(!?), script Bianchi panto on seat stay cluster, "raised" B on headtube lug? braised on front derailleur, Gipiemme dropouts, one chrome chain stay.
BB serial numbers- 22746 / T I 6

cheers n thx!

Pacsiah

...very similar to the immediate post above mine, just some different decals.....

T-Mar

It is a 1987 Bianchi Giro manufactured in Italy duing late 1986. The Colorado Springs Campione Del Mondo decal was used in both 1987 and 1988 model years but your frame has the rectangular, 1987 version. The 1988 version was round. The serial appears to be I.6 22746, which I believe represents September 1986. Bianchi typically started building the new model in early September, after the World Championships. The "T" appears to a random damage mark prior to painting.

The tubing is Columbus SL and SP, During this era, Bianchi used heavier gauge SP in the down tube and chain says, to stiffen the bottom bracket region. Bianchi used the Superset designation to describe this dual gauge constuction.

The helical ridges inside the bottom of the steerer tube pre-date SLX by decades. The Columbus steere rtubes with these helical ridges was used on SP and higher tubesets. Circa 1982, builders were experiencing problems wit the new Camapgnolo front derailleur hangers. Columbus incorporated the ridges into SL and SP seat tubes to add more material and mitigate these issues. Riders reported a slightly stiifer bottom bracket and Columbus subsequently incorporated the ridges in the BB ends of the down tube and chain stays to create SLX and SPX for 1984.

A 1987 Bianchi Giro would originally have been equipped with Shimano New Dura-Ace.

Link to OP's photo album: https://www.bikeforums.net/g/user/187200

Pacsiah

Great info T-mar, thankyou!!

minispdrcr

It was identified as a 1988 Specialissima

You are right. I am in Poland and that's where i found this one.

francophile 

I'm just adding this into the mix. Picked this Eros up from GW this week at a very fair price. This is after giving it a well-deserved bath. I'm repacking and recabling it, then sending on its way to its new home with a very small rider.

I think the serial suggests a '92 model (1991 November) made in Hodaka (H1K 04 7 0x). I gotta tell you, I agree fully with Bianchigirll this is a fabulous paint job. I'd love to have this on another bike my size. Overall, just very aesthetically pleasing, candy-like. Still has the original Bianchi tires on it?

Gid1999

Recently acquired what I think is an early or mid-80s Nuovo Racing. I cant post a picture but the serial no. is 2D12934. Thanks!

Bianchigirll 

Beautiful. They were nice bikes and early adaptor of the “racing triple” although it wasn’t called that in ‘92. We sold a few of these which was interesting because they $600+/- and by ‘92 most recreational riders were buying nicer MTBs and hybrids under 500.

Bianchigirll 

Hello and welcome to the forums. Tell us more about the bike. What parts are on it? Is there a tubing decal? I presume it is Celeste?

you can upload pics and we can look in your album to check it out

T-Mar

It's slight older. Your frame was manufactured early enough in 1982, that it would be a 1982 model. It's definitely Italian manufacture but I can't tell if it has the dropoput eyelets that we typically see on the Nuovo Racing model. The deralleurs have obviously been replaced. The crankset looks like it may be a Campagnolo Gran Sport and the brakeset appears to be some model of Modolo but I can't make positive identifications from the photo. A black finish on a 1982, Italian manufactured model would point to a Campione del Mondo or Super Leggerra. The fork crown and crankset looks more like the former but I wouldn't expect Modolo brakes. Please confirm the brand and model of the crankset and brakes, the seat post diameter and whether or not the dropouts have eyelets. It should be one of the tretubi Columbus SL models.

T-Mar

Yes, it's a 1992 model manufactured by Hodaka of Taiwan in November 1991. This is corroborated by the decal style, which changed between the 1991 and 1992 model years. Enjoy your new acquisition!

francophile 

In this case, it's with its new owner at its 'forever home' to be ridden and enjoyed, hopefully to see a full new life. Based on wear, it didn't seem this one ever really had much of a life. I suspect the original owner may've used it a few dozen times, then it bounced between garages as it was moved over the years.

Interestingly enough, it landed with the wife of a band I particularly like that's issued a recent release w/Sub Pop. I recognized the buyer's name when they reached out. It's definitely a small world!

merziac

6 degrees

waffleboy01

Add one more to the library....

picked this up the other day. It had been converted to a single speed.

I figured it had been repainted but the Bianchi logo is for sure painted on and not a decal. But that is IT, no other decals. Yes, it is a Celeste

Nice stamp on the top tube (83 5) which I assume means it was made in 83? There is a stamp on the other side as well that says "417"

The drops are campy the bottom bracket is campy. The seat post is campy. The headset is Campy. I think C record? Levers C Record. Handlebar bits Cinelli

The rest of the bike was a mixed bag of stuff (nothing special)

I am interested as to what I actually have. Is it a Specialissma? What is left of one?

I can't post photos yet but I promise to reply and get my count up! She's going to be a looker once I get her fixed up

EDIT - I think I used to post here with another username? But it's been ages

Bianchigirll 

Welcome to, or back, to the forums. A painted head badge? Are they any stamping on the frame or fork?

you can up load photos to you gallery and we can see them whilst your getting you post count up

T-Mar

It does sound like like a 1983 Specialissima frameset, as Bianchi typically only used the the dual number year indicator on the full SL/SP frames during this era. Photos will provide confirmation. Of course, these frames could be built with a number of different component configurations, resulting in different model names.

waffleboy01

aha! That's clever. The album is bikeforums.net/g/album/23055404

There are NO DECALS as you can see, just the BIANCHI tube script. I got close up to that with a magnifying glass and it's clearly paint. I asked the guy I bought it from if he took the other ones off just for aesthetics? But he said he got it that way

It's straight, the chrome is good. Looked great even with the grab bag other components.

Gid1999

[QUOTE=T-Mar;22282519]It's slight older. Your frame was manufactured early enough in 1982, that it would be a 1982 model. It's definitely Italian manufacture but I can't tell if it has the dropoput eyelets that we typically see on the Nuovo Racing model. The deralleurs have obviously been replaced. The crankset looks like it may be a Campagnolo Gran Sport and the brakeset appears to be some model of Modolo but I can't make positive identifications from the photo. A black finish on a 1982, Italian manufactured model would point to a Campione del Mondo or Super Leggerra. The fork crown and crankset looks more like the former but I wouldn't expect Modolo brakes. Please confirm the brand and model of the crankset and brakes, the seat post diameter and whether or not the dropouts have eyelets. It should be one of the tretubi Columbus SL models.

Hello and thanks! It does not have eyelets on the dropouts, and the brakes are Modolo 'America'. I believe European models of the same bike had Modolo 'Flash', and I suspected it was simply a branding choice, since the calipers on these two brakes appear almost identical. I will measure the seat post and get back to you. The cranks are Ofmega, although once again I believe, but will also double check this. I am also unsure if the paint colour is original. Up close it appears to have been repainted (some what poorly), although parts of the frame might be original paint (the rear triangle look has a clearly higher paint quality than the downtube). The old girl has definitely seen some use and rebuilds over the years.
Edit: The chainring bolts and axle nuts are stamped 'Ofmega', but there is precious else to go on in terms of markings on the crank arms themselves.

Gid1999

I have responded to T-Mar in this thread with some additional information. The bike is black, and another reason why I believe it was (in whole or in part) repainted is the lack of decals. The only decal is on the downtube, and the groupo is a random mishmash (Shimano RD and FD, Tiagra and Dura-Ace respectively. Furthermore it has Simplex Retrofriction downtube shifters, Modolo America brake calipers and levers, and it had (i have since replaced it) a 5 speed freewheel of Italian manufacture. It also came with the original 700c Ambrosio wheels. Unfortunately the bearings were shot on those, and finding new cups has been a challenge. The search continues! Any info is appreciated!
Edit: A final piece of information is that this bike was found in Canada, if that is of any help.