Genuine itailan steed

matt-h

Hi,
while currently in the market for a new roadbike, i have take to the idea of an italian bike.
I think its the romance of an italian bike and history that interests me.

Are there any genuine itailan bikes out there now?
I thought i read somewhere that companies like Colnago, De Rosa etc all have the frames made in the far east.
I really lack the histry of the bicycle manufacturers having only been 'into' cycling for 2 1/2 years
Thoughts?

Matt

arran77

I think that perhaps some of the more 'high end' offerings from the likes of De Rosa and Colnago will be made in Italy but as you suggest a lot are made in the far east, I know that my De Rosa R838 comes from the same factory as some other 'brands' using the same design.

If you want proper hand-made in Italy I guess you need to go for custom made steel road frame builders like Pelizzoli.

jordan_217

Tommasini and (possibly) Legend are made in Italy.

matt-h

Ok, does this mean that these are out of reach for most cost wise?
Also, how many of these bikes are built up in the italian factories after getting the frames back for the far east?

Just trying to paint a picture in my head of VFM with regards to name/presige/marketing

Matt

giant_man

Has to be Legend, you can't get much more Italian imo .....

trek_dan

Basso framesets are still made in Italy, you can get some reasonably good value completes from Wiggle at the moment if thats what your after (obviously not as good value as the big American brands or Ribble for example though).

smidsy

Basso (nothing to do with Ivan).

They are still made lovingly with care in Italy (just down the road from Campagnolo in fact).

Frames can be had for less than £1000 in the sales and whole bikes for under £2000.

Doh above post beat me to it :roll:

styxd

Get a Pegoretti

t4tomo

Bianchi frames are made in Taiwan and the bike is assembled in Italy. Anything of any volume production will have its frame made in the far east somewhere.

thegreatdivide

And just because it's made in the Far East doesn't mean it's cr4p. I'll wager my original Wilier Cento Uno is a much better build than an Italian made Basso ;-)

Velonutter

All Colnago Masters are still made in the basement of Ernesto's home.

All C59 & EPQ's are made at the factory in Italy, the M10 is made in the Giant Factory and finished in Italy, the CX-1 and CLX etc. are made and finished at the Giant Factory under Colnago's supervision and they are beautifully made.

majormantra

Sarto?

www.sartocycles.com/

diamonddog

MajorMantra wrote:

Sarto?

http://www.sartocycles.com/

Planet X Mondo is a Sarto frame I believe.

86inch

My De Rosa Milanino frame was hand-made in Italy! Definitely not a high end price, but high end finish. Its a top-notch frame IMHO.

LegendLust

jordan_217 wrote:

Tommasini and (possibly) Legend are made in Italy.

No possibly about it. I've been to the Legend factory and all their frames are handmade by Marco and his small team

smidsy

thegreatdivide wrote:

And just because it's made in the Far East doesn't mean it's cr4p. I'll wager my original Wilier Cento Uno is a much better build than an Italian made Basso ;-)

I bet it is not.

arran77

smidsy wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

And just because it's made in the Far East doesn't mean it's cr4p. I'll wager my original Wilier Cento Uno is a much better build than an Italian made Basso ;-)

I bet it is not.

Fight, fight, fight

on-yer-bike

Don't Giant own Colnago?
I think the OP wants the romance of an Italian frame. I suspect a good Taiwanese frame builder is every bit as good if not better than an Italian one. If you want steel buy a Pegoretti and be prepared to wait.

ugo.santalucia

I am Italian and got over it... I've just got delivery of a steel frame made in Taiwan... :shock:

If I could afford Italian, I would probably buy a Tommasini Tecno, but I can't so I don't bother

smidsy

arran77 wrote:

smidsy wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

And just because it's made in the Far East doesn't mean it's cr4p. I'll wager my original Wilier Cento Uno is a much better build than an Italian made Basso ;-)

I bet it is not.

Fight, fight, fight

No, not at all. No point..he is wrong

matt-h

Definitely lots to think about.
What I don't want is to pay a premium for something that is not what it first seems

I certainly do not have the finances to buy something completely custom made

Matt

thegreatdivide

smidsy wrote:

arran77 wrote:

smidsy wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

And just because it's made in the Far East doesn't mean it's cr4p. I'll wager my original Wilier Cento Uno is a much better build than an Italian made Basso ;-)

I bet it is not.

Fight, fight, fight

No, not at all. No point..he is wrong

How many Grand Tours and World Champs did your frame win outright (or by default) eh? Left hook!

Not to mention cope with the mega watts of Alez Jet.

diamonddog

matt-h wrote:

Definitely lots to think about.
What I don't want is to pay a premium for something that is not what it first seems

I certainly do not have the finances to buy something completely custom made

Matt

Just go and try some bikes within your price range, whether they sound Italian or not is of no relevance as long as they ride well and you like them that is the main thing.

bobones

B'Twin Triban 3 frame is made in Italy. Or there's always one of these "100% Made In Italy"

menthel

My Condor Italia is made in Italy!

t4tomo

arran77 wrote:

smidsy wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

And just because it's made in the Far East doesn't mean it's cr4p. I'll wager my original Wilier Cento Uno is a much better build than an Italian made Basso ;-)

I bet it is not.

Fight, fight, fight

Lets get 1980's Fiats and Alfa Romeo's into this argument if we are going to hint at Italian Engineering

ugo.santalucia

t4tomo wrote:

arran77 wrote:

Lets get 1980's Fiats and Alfa Romeo's into this argument if we are going to hint at Italian Engineering

Still plenty of those around in Italy... not many Rover left running round here though...

smidsy

thegreatdivide wrote:

How many Grand Tours and World Champs did your frame win outright (or by default) eh? Left hook!

Not to mention cope with the mega watts of Alez Jet.

How does that even start to assist with your argument?

The reason that Basso has not won any Grand Tours has nothing to do with their bikes and everything to do with not giving them away to the pro teams who happen to ride in those tours.

They have great success at a variety of levels in various countries, just not in that limited setting that you describe.

Small family company v major conglomorates is the only point you have raised.

KO I think

thegreatdivide

smidsy wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

How many Grand Tours and World Champs did your frame win outright (or by default) eh? Left hook!

Not to mention cope with the mega watts of Alez Jet.

How does that even start to assist with your argument?

The reason that Basso has not won any Grand Tours has nothing to do with their bikes and everything to do with not giving them away to pro's to ride.

Small family company v major conglomorates is the only point you have raised.

KO I think

You've still not explained why your Italian made bike is better than an Italian bike made in the Far East?

smidsy

thegreatdivide wrote:

You've still not explained why your Italian made bike is better than an Italian bike made in the Far East?

I do not have to, you were the one who claimed that the Far East bike was better than the Italian one without any substance.

Using your argument Laborghinis are crap compared to Mercedes, just because Merc happen to be in F1.

Miklosh

I believe that the Bottecchia Emme 2 and Emme 695 are both made in Italy.
Bottecchia's are prettty rare too ( not that I am biased )