Apr 16, 2009 Hi, I have recently acquired a Bianchi frame. It is baby blue with a shimano dreailer and sakae crank arm. The serial number in DS484284. I can only assume the bike is from the mid to late 80's but was wondering the same thing as many others, which is if there is a web site, catalog, book that would tell the tale of the frame or bike as a whole.
- Bianchi Vintage Bikes Serial Numbers
- Bike Serial Number
- Bicycle Serial Numbers Lookup
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(This post was substanically edited/updated on 5/8/14.)
I have a bike frame of unknown lineage.
What is known:
- The serial number under the bottom bracket is IS513786. This fits with the serial numbers for Japanese made Bianchis.
- The frame has Shimano EF rear dropouts that are stamped with 'IJ'. That means they were made in October 1984.
- Although I can't be sure that the fork is original, the steering tube has 'Tange.5.I' and a 'J' and 'S' in a circle stamped on it. Also, the crown race was originally JIS sized.
- I got the bare frame, not the complete bike, and the paint is not original.
The dropouts were made in late '84 and we now know that the last two digits of the serial number do not represent the year. (E.g., this'89 Japanese Bianchi has a serial number ending in 86.) So the frame is likely from a '84 or '85 Bianchi (since the dropouts were made late in '84).
FWIW, I've posted pictures below; I've made sure to point out things that could help identify the frame (braze-ons, lug style, etc.). I've tried to arrange the pictures with the most identifying characteristics first.
FWIW, Here is a similar looking, but not identical, 1986 Bianchi Brava. (That Bianchi has the chainstay cable stop on the underside, while my bike has the cable stop on top.)
(I posted this information on a couple bike forums a few years ago. If you want to see what people said, here are the links to the two threads on bikeforums.net and roadbikereview.com.)
The bottom of the bottom bracket, including the serial number. Also note that there is a chainstay bridge.
The front of the headtube front. Note that the lugs have points in the middle (unlike some other Japanese lugs from that era).
The Shimano EF rear, drive-side dropout. Note that there are no eyelets. The date stamp is on the back side, so it is not shown.
The top of the seat stay cap has a flat surface and has nothing written on it. (Some bikes, like high end Miyatas, have curved caps and/or the company name cast into the caps.)
The head tube has a pump peg.
EDIT: The whole frame:
The side of the bottom bracket:
Bianchi Vintage Bikes Serial Numbers
The frame's downtube shifter mounts:
Bike Serial Number
The seat stays have a chain hanger.Edit: it's hard to see, but the chainstay cable stop is on top of the chainstay -- not below it.
The fork:
2 Answers
I think i may have the answer to your question. I believe your bicycle is a Takara. This is currently my girlfriends bike, and i have attached some photos. The only things that do not match up are: 1) The front of the head-tube does does not have pointed lugs.
The format of the serial number is the same as certain models of Katakura Silk.
The Katakura Silk serial numbers tend to be stamped on the lower seat tube, non-drive side.
The lugs, seat stay caps, fork crown and dropouts match the Katakura Silk.
Some of the Katakuras were chrome finished, some were white, and possibly other colours.
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Italian-manufactured Bianchi bicycles hold a special place in the heart of many a bicyclist or bicycle aficionado. Italy is bicycle mecca, and several famed builders, such as Pinarello and Colnago, share Italian panache with Bianchi. Italian Bianchi bicycles are quality-built machines proudly manufactured in Italy; however, as do many other cycling manufacturers, Bianchi outsources many entry-level cycle frames from Taiwan.
Bianchi Celeste Green
Bianchi celeste green is nearly as famous as Bianchi bicycles. Bianchi has used this color for several decades, and most high-end quality Bianchi cycles were available or were only offered in this color. Celeste green is a light, but not pale, shade of sea-foam green. Cycling legend Fausto Coppi rode aboard a celeste Bianchi, according to the Bianchi website.
Bianchi Lugged Frames
Bianchi bicycles were commonly available in high-quality lightweight lugged steel frames; however, Bianchi now designs bicycles using many different metals and tube sets. Bianchi manufactured racing machines and machines for average cyclists as well, reports the late Sheldon Brown, noted bicycle authority. Lugged bicycles have sculpted metal lugs at the tube joints of the headset, seat and top tube, and bottom bracket areas holding the tubes together.
Italian Equipped Bianchi Bicycles
Quality Bianchi bicycles were often equipped with expensive Italian bicycle racing components. Campagnolo shifters, cranks, derailleurs, brakes, hubs and headsets were installed as original equipment on Bianchi racing machines the past several decades. Many low-end Bianchi cycles are equipped with less costly components from Shimano, a large Japanese bicycle component and fishing reel manufacturer.
Bianchi Dealer Assistance
Many bicycle shops have existed for some time, and most bicycle shops loyally sell the same brand for many years. Bianchi dealers are excellent stores of information about old or classic Bianchi bicycles. Many dealers keep archives of the catalogs most bicycle manufacturing companies release every year. The information in these books may prove invaluable to a person trying to track down an exact Bianchi model name and year.
Bicycle Serial Numbers Lookup
Possible Serial Number Identification
Bianchi Serial Numbers Model
Several bicycle manufacturers, including Bianchi, use serial number identification and have done so for many years. Most companies press a series of numbers and letters in the metal surface on the bottom of the bicycle bottom bracket shell. Some bicycles have numbers pressed into the inner surface of one of the rear frame dropouts. Contacting Bianchi with the serial number of the bicycle may allow for model or year identification.
F.I.V. E. Bianchi S.p.A. Via delle Battaglie, 5 24047 Treviglio (BG) Italy 39-0363-3161 bianchu@bianchi.com
Bianchi Serial Number Decoder Number
Bianchi Serial Number Decoder Lookup
- bicycle image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com