anilv

Hi all,

I have just gotten an old Legnano and figured this would be a great place to get more information.

The seller told me it was a Gran Premio. At first I was a bit sceptical as it did not have an inside seat post bolt but a few of the components led me to think that it was legit.

1. Frame.. paint is beat up but its straight with original paint, the chrome on the fork tops has degraded but I really don't want to paint this bike. so will probably deep clean it and live with it for a while. There is some rust, especially on one side of the forks. It has Campagnolo drop-outs on front and rear. No frame number either on the top of seat-post or BB.

2. Original stuff fitted to bike
a) Legnano head bearings (main point that made me think this was an original)
b) Front and rear hubs with Legnano script and Campagnolo skewers. (At the time of purchase I did not notice the Legnano branding)
c) Regina 5 gear freewheel
d) Ofmega BB (is this original?).
e) Weinmann brake levers (with tyre removal release in the levers)

3. Non-original stuff fitted
a) Taiwan sidepull brakes
b) Non-branded crank
c) Sakae seat post
d) Cheapo seat
e) Japanese bars
f) No brand handlebar stem
g) Sun-tour shifters
h) Shimano RX100 FD
i) Shimano Exage RD
j) Recent 650 rims of unknown brand.
k) Cheap pedals

4. Other stuff thrown in with purchase
a) Original Legnano Cranksett but without the larger chainring.
b) Campagnolo Valentino Extra RD
c) Campagnolo Valentino FD (seriously worn on the guides)
d) Pair of Wienmann brakes
e) Campagnolo shifters

The bike rides straight and I wont be doing much more than a deep clean but I will probably swap out the crank set for a Shimano 600 Arabesque I have somewhere and perhaps try on the Campagnolo Valentino and see how that works.

Questions -
-Anyone have any ideas on where to find the frame number? I've seen reference to the head tube.. is it inside?
-I'm thinking a Campagnolo Nouvo Gran Sport would suit the bike and be period correct..what do you guys think?
-Did Ofmega make cranks for Legnano?

Will post some pics one I hit 10 posts.

Anil

cb400bill

Pic Assist - https://www.bikeforums.net/g/picture/21489313

anilv

Thanks for putting up the pics Bill!

oneclick 

Looks like a real Legnano from after they moved the seatpost bolt. Show a close-up pic of the down-tube logo, it was stencil-painted and repro decals look different.

I weighed a 53cm Corsa, same size it looks like, stripped bare frame was 5 lbs dead, fork was 1 lb 11 oz, if yours is the same size and weighs less it's at least the GP frame.

EDIT: and if you're not wanting that three-arm crankset, I would be.

Big Block

https://condorino.com/
spend some time on this site.

T-Mar

The frame does look like a mid to late 1970s Gran Premio, though I wouldn't rule out a Special, given the Legnaono branded headset and swaged crankset. For a Gran Premio, I'd have expected Campagnolo (Nuovo) Gran Sport. The seat post diameter may provide a further clue.

satbuilder 

Agreed. This is the place to go for all things Legnano. There is also a FB group called "Biciclette Legnano Fans" that you may find helpful.

juvela

-----

many years back wrote to Bozzi with an inquiry regarding replacement transfers

got back from them a very nice letter with a set of replacement transfers

included was a card/single model brochure illustrating the Gran Premio model of 1976, and it was indeed kitted with the Campag NGS ensemble

so if cycle a model from as late as this date would expect it to be something below the Gran Premio

[launch time for NGS road ensemble was 1974]

-----

RustyJames 

Yay! Another Legnano owner! Welcome and you will discover a wealth of info from some of the folks here. My bike is also a hodgepodge of components but the Shimano RD and SR post on my bike work dandy and that’s good enough for me.

randyjawa 

I recently picked up this old Torpado. The crank set is yours, if you want it...



I also have a NOS set of Legnano rings, same offer as above...

RustyJames 

randyjawa If our friend above doesn’t want your cranks I would be VERY interested.

anilv

Oneclick.. will post pic of the downtube shortly. I don't plan of stripping the bike anytime soon so knowing the weight will have to wait, will just ride it and enjoy it while I figure out what to do and source parts. I really want to keep the crankset and Ofmega BB as this is original to the bike.

T-Mar, the seat post is 26.5mm.. what does this mean?

Hi Randy.. The crankset on the Torpado would be for an early 60s bike right? Re the NOS chainrings.. the rings for the crankset I have would be aluminium.. If you have these I would like to discuss further.


Thanks all for the feedback.
rgds
Anil

oneclick 

The Corsa I weighed almost takes a 26.6, and 26.4 goes in easily.

OD is 28.6, so 1mm walls, which implies straight-gauge tubing.

The older a bike is the more likely it is to have the wrong size post in it, which means the clamp area is also likely squeezed. Check for that and measure again.

T-Mar

It means you don't have a Gran Premio, as by this era that model was Reynolds 531 DB and would have used a 27.0-27.2mm post. Your post indicates a lower level model, with a plain gauge tubeset. For this era and level, Bozzi, the Legnano manufacturer, typically used Falck tubing and the post size is consistent with their plain gauge tueset. Based on this additional information, my leading candiate for the model would be a Legnano Special.

anilv

Hi T-Mar, I have been in communication with Mark (Condorino) and his view is that it is a Mod. 54 with Falck tubing (as you rightly determined as well) from the late 70s/early 80s.

Thanks for your input!
Anil

randyjawa 

Perhaps I confused with the picture. The cranks are not for sale. They are mounted on my own Legnano and presently fitted with Simplex rings. Sorry about any confusion that I might have caused...