Fausto Coppi - Should I or not ........ ????

[MichaelB]

Well after the bad decision to sell the Cinelli Proxima frame that I managed to snaffle for a bargain, I have on and off, been on the hunt for a classic steel frame to add to the bike store.

After many false starts, bargains missed, ridiculous prices asked, I managed to potentially find a top shelf frame. Almost.

It's a NOS Fausto Coppi Reparto Corse, made with Columbus Genius tubing, and complete with Coppi pantographs on the brake bridge, BB shell and sloping fork crown. Meant to be approx. 1996 vinatge.

Looks the same as this one Coppi Reparto Corse on eBay US, but in a bright red frame and white decals (or Yellow + Black).

The size available is a 585 C-C Seat tube, and 580 C-C Top Tube with a 180 Head Tube. BB is Italian, and spacing is 100/130.

The Seat tube is comparable to my fixed gear bike (570 C-C) and Argon18 (600C-C).
But the TT on the Fixed is 575 C-C, and on the Argon its 570 C-C.
Head tube on the Fixed is 146mm, and on the Argon18 is 185mm.

I don't have a concern re the Seat tube or Head Tube measurements, but the 10mm longer TT has me wondering a little.

The price is pretty good (a bit more than what the eBay one sold for), so need some advice/feedback. If he had the next size down (thought he had, but stock records were wrong ), otherwise I would have it already.

Thoughts ?

If anyone is interested, he has 2 in the size listed above (F+F), one without forks, and some in the next size up. PM me if interested.

Cheers

Michael B

[im_no_pro]

Sounds like a good project.... what will you do with it once you get it?

[MichaelB]

Build it up and ride it .....

Concern is that with the longer TT, I'd use a shorter stem, and that may have issues.

Frame is on the envelope of bigger than ideal. But as I'm a beggar, I can't be too fussy.....

[Chaderotti]

Unspoken BNA Rule/Fact/Custom #38
"Don't bother asking 'if I should' or 'if it can be done'... As there is only one reply in the world of BNA members"

[brauluver]

I don't have a concern re the Seat tube or Head Tube measurements, but the 10mm longer TT has me wondering a little.



Thoughts ?



Cheers

Michael B

Oh Man what a dilemma

10 mm doesn't sound much, but extrapolated out over your arched spine it my require a shorter or higher stem setting?

I've seen it said that it's easier to make a small frame large than a large frame small with stems,seatposts etc...

you'd really need to try out a rolling bike with these measurements to know for sure.
Wouldn't be that hard to flip if it's too big ,surely

[rustychisel]

Oh you dirty naughty tart... of course you should, maybe.

Fausto Coppi, 'The Heron', the greatest of the campione, perhaps. Okay, so the frame bears no relationship apart from sold-on naming rights, but really, do you have to ask?

As you're probably aware, old school frames were commonly larger by a tad than current designs, utilising a quill stem of shorter reach than would be considered 'normal' these days. Mostly, it's trend. Ride a 57cm TT with 120mm stem, ride a 58cm TT with 110mm stem, pas de problem, monsieur. Work the seat tube numbers and you'll see what I mean.

[I have my peepers on a mates Vetta f & f in red and chrome Columbus SLX. Pervy, what?]

[il padrone]

You are stressing over a 10mm difference in top tube? For a Fausto Coppi bike?

Mate, get it. That 10mm difference will be immaterial, unless your current head stem is less than 90mm. Otherwise just set it up with a 10mm shorter stem and then you'll be sweet.

57cm bike TT + 110mm stem = 58cm bike TT + 100mm stem

[Rockford]

He has questions marks in the title as if he is asking a question that involves a Fausto Coppi frame...is that like dividing by zero?

[blkmcs]

I saw someone riding a Fausto Coppi bike on Monday and all I can say is YES you should!

[Mulger bill]

YES! YES!! YES!!! OH YES!!!!

Damn that's too pretty not to be snapped up. If the fit don't work I doubt you'd lose money by onselling.

Shaun

[MichaelB]

I hear ya all.....but....

To ride the 580 TT, I'd need a 90mm stem.

Ideally, if it was a 570 TT, I'd have pics bragging all about it.

I don't have any of the other running gear except that I could use my Mavic Open Pro handbuilt wheels and just snaffled a nice Honey Team Pro Brooks from Wiggle.

Would need the groupset (just noticed the thread re 25% off the older Ultegra gear (yummy) and bars/stem to get running.

Yes, it could be onsold easily again I guess.....

[il padrone]

I hear ya all.....but....

To ride the 580 TT, I'd need a 90mm stem.

That should not present any problems

[MichaelB]

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!

The torment.

Almost pulled the plug on the Ultegra order....

Thinking thinking .....

[Zynster]

Sorry, got to this thread late.

As a current owner of a Coppi, all I can say is DO IT! I am very happy with mine.

[im_no_pro]

Build it up and ride it .....

Ok, fool be me for not being specific. I meant what sort of build, but you have sorta answered that anyways now.

Oh, and +1 to its 10mm, just get the bloody thing. If you end up hating it that much (yeah right), shouldnt be too hard to flip it as already mentioned.

[MichaelB]

The build specifics are more along the lines of a 10sp groupset, likely to be Shimano as then I have greater flexibility with the wheelsets etc.

Not to be a specific retro build, but more enjoy a nice frame.

Head and financial brain says no, but heart says yes.

Just found out I passed my Masters Degree, so it could be a nice pressy to me

Key will be to check existing stem length on the fixed gear bike.

[tripstobaltimore]

congratulations, treat yourself!

[Zynster]

Not to be a specific retro build, but more enjoy a nice frame.

I had the same idea, and used all modern components. Works a treat. I get people asking if it's carbon due to the fillet braising. Mine also has a custom paint job, which makes it even more distinctive.



Go on. You know you want one.

[daacha]

*** What a stunner ***

[Optimus Verto]

Congratulation on you Masters!!!

Re: Ultegra on Italian bike

Do you have to go Shimano? large hands, die hard fan etc...
In my opinion these thin tubing race frames look really lame with huge and clumsy Shimano shifters. And also, classic drops are more suited for these type of builds, actually for any than ergo or other variations of drops.

Re: Price

How much are they, $1,000? No sure, but if they are that is way to much for a second hand frame. It has been mentioned few posts above that the frame has nothing to do with Faustino Coppi apart from bearing his name and being made in Italy. I believe you could get yourself a titanium frame made for that type of money.

Check this link out they have wide range of these frames you can even choose colours.
http://www.matuzmaster.hu/en/


All in all the frame quality is exceptional and I personally would love to have one of them. DO IT if you like it.....

[il padrone]

Zynster, that is what could be described as one hot bike!

[MichaelB]

Zynster - the frame exactly incl. the decals. Forks are steel rather than carbon.

Optimus Verto - The frame is NOS (New Old Stock, not built up). Asking price is $800. Shimano would be as I have wheelsets already that I can use. I would use Classic drop bars as that is what I have on my other bikes, and am used to Shimano shifters.

The frames I am looking at are Red with white decals, or Yellow with Black decals, same layout as Zynster.

Almost made a decision not to go with it, but looking at the beauty above, haven't quite got there yet. Red/White with Honey Brooks Team Pro and leather bar tape is looking sweet ...

[Zynster]

It has been mentioned few posts above that the frame has nothing to do with Faustino Coppi apart from bearing his name and being made in Italy.

They don't put the name of Italy's 'Il Campionissimo' on any old frame. These are a quality item made by Masciaghi in Italy. Believe me when I say you don't take the Coppi out for a ride without attracting lots of attention.

[Chaderotti]

It has been mentioned few posts above that the frame has nothing to do with Faustino Coppi apart from bearing his name and being made in Italy.

They don't put the name of Italy's 'Il Campionissimo' on any old frame. These are a quality item made by Masciaghi in Italy. Believe me when I say you don't take the Coppi out for a ride without attracting lots of attention.

+1
in the LBS there was a red coppi leaned up against the counter, the second my Dad laid eyes on it he knew what it was.

[Optimus Verto]

I do admire these frames for their quality, don't get me wrong. At one stage I was interested in one myself. It was quite a surprise to realise that Faustino Coppi has not much to do with Masciaghi manaufacturers. He used to race Bianchi.
I think there was also another manufacturer which used 'Coppi' as name for their bicycles before Masciaghi brothers did.