jerrymcdougal

So, I'm shopping around for a vintage lugged steel frameset and have narrowed my search down to a few different frames that have caught my eye.

I will be hanging a black 9sp 105 gruppo with Ultegra DR's on it.

The Bianchi:
1. Will most likely have to be a Ebay Find. (havent found the specific frame yet)
2. Most likely Celeste
3. Willing to spend under $200 (so nothing too high end)
4. Anywhere from 1970-late 90's
5. Must be Reynolds or Columbus or equivelent

Early Davidson:
1. From a local collector
2. Original White with Gold decals
3. Near mint condition
4. Unknown model (been a while since Ive seen it)
5. Not sure on the Tube set. I sent him an email.
6. Asking price under $200

Early Trek
1. From same local collector
2. Early Silver Brazed type
3. Hasnt been painted yet (straight from the factory, never built up!!)
4. Would require a dip (light surface rust from raw finish) and was thinking about a black or white flat powdercoat to complement the black 105 gruppo.
5. Again, not sure on the tube-set as of now. But Im sure its quality.
6. Asking price under $100!
7. No decals or headbadge.

So, what would you go with? What has more charachter, what would you say is the more unique frame? I'm having troubles deciding. Also, any aditional facts you guy happen to know about any of these frames (even though my descriptions are quite vague atm) would be VERY helpful.

-Jerry

megatherium

for what it's worth...i'd choose the davidson. i had a mid-80's impulse that rode beautifully. the craftsmanship was exemplary. mine was built from tange (prestige...i believe). i regret selling it.

ga_mueller

I have an '87 Davidson "Challenge". Not custom, but same builder and similar specs as "Discovery" or "Impulse", which were the custom offerings. Very beautiful workmanship. Compared to my wife's '85 Trek 600, the Davidson has far better workmanship. As far as tubesets go, my Challenge has Tange, while the Trek is 531. Personally, I'd take the Davidson at the same price point. YMMV.

You can look at a 1984 Davidson catalog here.

vpiuva

I was going to say the Davidson until you said silver brazed on the Trek. But that frame I think I'd rather paint as original, so maybe I'm back at Davidson.

cyclotoine

Davidson.

cudak888 

Ah, I don't know why, but I'd go with the Trek. I love those late '70s Treks - don't know exactly why.

Take care,

-Kurt

unworthy1

First choice: Davidson.
Get the Trek, too, can't hurt to have a back-up and if you have to sell either one you'll probably get your money back.

marqueemoon

I have a Davidson and love it. Trek would be 2nd.

jerrymcdougal

Great, lots of help guys! Ive kinda been eyeing up the davidson. I just may snatch the Trek too. No votes for the Bianchi? I must admit I do like the idea of hand built. (davidson, trek).

Wildwood 

If this is a bike you intend to ride, buy the one that fits.
A bare lugged frame with no headbadge - how to you know it's a Trek, is the serial number conclusive?

Walter

At least around here Davidsons are pretty rare. I'm not sure if I've ever seen one "in the flesh" so to speak. Assuming fit and everything else is equal that's where I'd go.

A completely NOS Trek is interesting too. Can you get decals?

lotek 

Davidson, hands down.
The trek is nice also but is gonna cost more in terms of paint etc.
At the price your talking about the only Bianchi you're gonna find is
going to be lower end (limited) maybe a Campione but nothing special.

Marty

tuz

Take the Trek, and send me the Davidson
Hehe.
I'd go for the Davidson, and the Trek, assuming they fit. Both handbuilt in the US!

jerrymcdougal

I'm good friends with the collector, he is pretty well respected, so I trust him. I can definitely tell its silver brazed from looking at it. I guess I could check the serial to be 100% sure.

jerrymcdougal

To be honest I had never heard of Davidson before he took me on a tour of his collection. The frameset is my size too.

Im sure I could get decals on Ebay. Shouldn't be too hard. hopefully.

unworthy1

Just to share a little tale: there's a guy here in NoCal who's retired and spends most of his time and money adding to an enormous collection of fine lightweight bikes. He has everything: Paramounts, Masi, Pogliaghi, Colnago, you name it! And he rides them all, they're not just garage queens. I met him when I went to buy a chrome fork for an Italian build-up and was treated to a quick tour of his collection. With all he had to choose from, the bike he rode the most?
A Davidson (and he had more than one Davidson to choose from, too).

caloso

Davidson, definitely.

jerrymcdougal

Wow, Im really glad I posted here. I was originally swaying away from the Davidson, since I didnt know much about them. Now, after more research and hearing from you guys, I think I know what I want. The Davidson of course. If I happen to be swimming in cash at the time (ha! Im still in college) I may pick up the Trek too.

Anyone have any more links for some more info on vintage davidsons?

-Jerry

bikingshearer 

I have trouble believeing that you would ever be sorry with a Davidson in your size for $200

BTW, here's the current website: https://www.davidsonbicycles.com/html/home.shtml

jerrymcdougal

I really wasnt familiar with davidsons until now, so I didnt know what I was looking at really. It seemed like a real nice frame though, so it stuck in my head after the collector game me the tour. He had quite the collection I tell ya. WOW! I think he had 4 Masi's, 2 3Renshos, a handfull of old reynolds 753 Looks, and many many other amazing bikes. Around 30 maybe. All handbuilt. I was drooling the whole time!

Skip Magnuson

The Davidson!
A year ago I attended a talk by Davidson at the Seattle Bike Expo. He builds Ti, Steel, Aluminum, and Boron custom bikes. When asked what bike he would ride on a tour, he stated that if he were riding from Canada to Mexico he would choose a steel bike as it could be repaired at just about any garage if it needed it. If you get a chance visit Elliott Bay Bicycles (Home of Davidson Handbuilt) in Seattle - very interesting shop.
Cheers, Skip

Six jours

You're not likely to find a very good Bianchi for under $200. Nobody loves Bianchi more than I do, but they built a LOT of crap, and in your price range, that's almost certainly what you're going to end up with. (Without meaning to offend any enthusiasts of low-end Bianchis...)

Silver brazed Treks are nice, no doubt, and that's a very fair price, but it obviously is going to require some work. Regardless of how much you spend and how perfect you make it, it will never be as nice as the

Davidson.

Has anybody else mentioned the Davidson yet?