Help identify this Pinarello?

nimchimpsky82

Hi all

I may be interested in this vintage Pinarello, as I like the Spartan look and need the large frame size :



However, in order to avoid paying stoopid money for it, it would be helpful if I knew a bit more about it. I have asked the seller about the tubing, but they say they don't know. I was slightly surprised by that, as I suppose I would have expected some sort of badge on the frame.

Any help will be much appreciated

Will

Monty Dog

I can see the gold Columbus sticker on the top of the seatube - should help ID the frame too. Looks like DuraAce 7400 parts too - so mid-1990s, could be an Asolo?

nimchimpsky82

As for the sticker, indeed -- have asked the seller to have a good look at it...

DuraAce definitely; see below. Will do a few google searches for the Asolo -- interesting name; presumably not tested on an English speaking audience --, tx a lot!

carrock

I wouldn't be hustled into paying over the odds as there can't be that many people actually tall enough to ride it.

And few of them will be cyclists seeking a vintage Pinarello.

FransJacques

They all had the same look in those days: Asolo, Montello, Treviso. It seems to be a higher-end model b/c the caps on the top of the seat stays look like they're chromed. If it's Thron or Cromor or Aelle it's slag metal. If it's TSX, SL, SP, SLX, ELOS then hey what the hay.

Get more pix.

In the meantime check out these pix: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 8&t=114681 (thanks to Retrobike who are always good for a walk down memory lane)

FransJacques

Sorry Monty but mid-90s for 7400?

I have a 1986 Team Miyata that already had 7 speed 7400 on it. My first bike.

Hampsten won the Giro in 88 on 8 speed 7400. They added the spindly cranks and first gen STI in 1990.

7700 was introduced in 1995 in the peloton for a 1996 public release.

cougie

Is there a head badge ? It could just be any old frame with pinarello stickers on.
Massive frame.

cougie

http://www.lejog4amr.co.uk/pinarello/montellos.shtml

Any use ?

nimchimpsky82

All very useful, thanks so much!!

The seller has now got back to me to say that the sticker on the seat tube says SLX. This would seem to make a Montello more likely. The brake cable clearly also goes through the top tube. However, there's no sign of GPT logos on top of the fork...

The frame is massive indeed, but then I'm almost 6'7", with an accordingly freaky inseam length of 98cm...

nimchimpsky82

Get more pix.

I will. Having followed up on the links suggested here I am planning to ask for photos of:

1. the head tube, head-on (decal may help identify the year)
2. the section of the down tube where the DA selectors are attached (again, there may be a decal that could narrow down the vintage)
3. top of the seat stays, where they are brazed onto the seat post, which on a Montello should probably have GPT logos
4. underside of BB, to see if there's a serial number and the name Pinarello

Will keep you all posted!

ugo.santalucia

Giving names to the frames is a rather modern thing, it might be it was a Pinarello race frame with no name.

nimchimpsky82

Thanks Ugo I'll see what the additional photos I've asked for reveal about the bike's possible identity... or absence thereof!

Interestingly, I've just stumbled across another freakishly large-framed option. Even more mysterious this one:








I *think* this is a late 80s Racing Feather, but could be wrong... AFAIK Van Tuyl mainly got his stuff from elsewhere (especially Andrea Pesenti) then sold it under his name.

The seller describes it as having Columbus SLX tubing, which is obviously nice. In addition, Shimano 600 (2x7 indexed; a bit less nice), Mavic wheels (type?) and a Rolls saddle (might be original, but I'm not bothered). Curiously, the seller states that the bike is a Koga Miyata -- perhaps to attract buyers (as more people will have heard of Koga than VT), or maybe because there's evidence that they built this one?

Bearing in mind these uncertainties (I will ask the seller for more info) I'd be curious to know what sort of value this bike might have, and how it would compare with the black Pinarello. Asking price for the VT is £275. Condition is described as good though not perfect, with a few small blemishes in the paint (visible especially in the two last pics) and some small pits in the chrome that a good polish would sort out; no actual dents or scratches. The Pina is a good bit more expensive by the way...

nimchimpsky82

Quick update on the Van Tuyl: the seller did indeed use the term "Koga Miyata" to get more people to view the advert. Quite possibly Italian made then.

FransJacques

So that's where the name came from! Van Tuyl resurfaced in 1999- 2000 when a lot of mid-range mega-tubed alu bikes came on the market. You could see them on the back pages of Cycling Weekly and if you went to a Balearic or Canary Isles training camp, several guys would be on them (that or Principia or Monoc if anyone remembers those).

I must say, to my untrained eye, in the picture of the fork crown, the blades look like they're bent rearwards as if they were in a head on crash. Caveat emptor innit...

nimchimpsky82

FransJacques wrote:

I must say, to my untrained eye, in the picture of the fork crown, the blades look like they're bent rearwards as if they were in a head on crash. Caveat emptor innit...

Wow, interesting and disconcerting idea... Curious if anyone else sees this too?

I've now got some more photos of the Pinarello to help answer the question: Montello, yay or nay?








It seems to me that the answer has to be nay... We get the GPT logos on the seat stays, but not on top of the BB. Also, the bridge between the chain stays is un-Montello-like The seat tube says Treviso so it could just be that... Yet Trevisos AFAIK had Columbus SL tubing, not SLX. Also, did Trevisos ever come with chrome seat and chain stays?

Whatever the model, the sticker on the headtube does suggest an early 80s build, compare http://www.lejog4amr.co.uk/pinarello/montellos.shtml

Thanks very much for any suggestions you may offer!

crankycrank

FransJacques wrote:

I must say, to my untrained eye, in the picture of the fork crown, the blades look like they're bent rearwards as if they were in a head on crash. Caveat emptor innit...

Looks bent to me as well.

rolf_f

crankycrank wrote:

FransJacques wrote:

I must say, to my untrained eye, in the picture of the fork crown, the blades look like they're bent rearwards as if they were in a head on crash. Caveat emptor innit...

Looks bent to me as well.

Can't see it myself - neither can the bit of paper I put on the screen to see if they aligned. The picture is far from straight side on which hardly helps. I wouldn't call that one without looking down the head tube.

Besides, as long as the frame is straight I wouldn't loose any sleep at all over the fork crown. I bent a pair of forks at the crown on my Dawes. Had them straightened at Woodrups and rode probably 10000 miles on the bike before someone did a right turn across my path. Frame was written off - top tube, down tube, head tube, head tube to top tube lug - all bent. Fork straight and undamaged!

nimchimpsky82

Thanks very much all. I've contacted the seller to see if we can arrange a viewing. Would it be easy to spot any potential crash damage? Would I basically look down the HT and see if the fork is in line with it?

rolf_f

Centre line of the head tube should follow through the centre line of the forks (the leading edge of the fork tapering back and the trailing edge tapering forward). Probably worth doing a quick search for other things to look for (eg the technique of running string from one rear dropout to the other, around the head tube, and marking the point where the front of the head tube is reached to make sure that the frame is symmetrical and riding it no handed on the flat to see if it doesn't like going in a straight line) when buying an old bike.

nimchimpsky82

Thanks v much Rolf ! Hadn't heard of these diagnostics but I can definitely see that they may help!!