I am considering an older De Rosa frame. Can one of the fine folk here ID this frame?:
89516

Is that real?

Is that real?I hope so!

Someone has a full mail box!

.....

Thanks caterham,

Now I'm just waiting for the deal to go through. It may take awhile. If there is any way I can get it, I certainly will. As you know, I am fond of the blue bikes.

Love your Cinelli, someday I may go modern, but for now I am quite content being stuck in the 80's:D

The decalling,fork crown, bbkt, chainstays ,brakebridge,chroming specifics,etc would make this beauty a very desireable DeRosa Professional SLX from about 1986/87. By 88/89 Ugo had reverted to his classic Microfusion Italiana flat crown and gone to a cast bridge and installed a pump peg on back of the headtube.


What is microfusion? I heard Colnago invented it.

What is microfusion?

Pressure die-casting


I heard Colnago invented it.

incorrect. Colnago invented the gawdy paint job

incorrect. Colnago invented the gawdy paint job
+1
http://www.microfond.it/microfusion_metal_injection_moulding.htm

Pressure die-casting




incorrect. Colnago invented the gawdy paint job


Well said.

The most over-rated bikes ever.

Well, The beautiful Ugo Blue De Rosa has been sold, but not to me, unfortunately. I found it on this site:
http://www.matuzmaster.hu/matuzmaster2_derosa.html
The owner is very accommodating, and speaks good English. He has some beautiful bikes, as well.

Caterham, what you say is very interesting given that my SLX was identified as an '85 by DeRosa based on the "serial number" (such as it is), and yet it has several characteristics that you attribute to the later models.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/KnfWldingSpaniard/IMG_4285.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/KnfWldingSpaniard/IMG_4292.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42/KnfWldingSpaniard/IMG_4288.jpg

Granted, the frame has been restored, so the decals, chroming, and braze-on cable guides are not period correct, yet judging by the fork, brake bridge, and the pump peg behind the headtube (present, not shown), you would catagorize it as an 88-89?

Thanks for your input!

Hi Maestro,

First off, I'm not a deRosa historian.Just a long time owner that's observed changes to the frames over time-in particular from the mid 70's to the early 90's when the model range expanded.

Keep in mind also that the italian builders of the time were mostly smallish operations - regular model year differentation really didn't exist per se. Instead, the bikes evolved slowly and sometimes seemingly sporadically with the availabilty of components and fashion whims. Framesets were fabricated one at a time rather than as production runs and there was some leeway for customer/distributor input. My own frameset from 1979 was a semi custom order in a half size increment.

To my knowledge, DeRosa did not apply serial numbers to his creations until sometime *after* the move into the factory location (88?) .Prior to that time, any Alpha-numeric markings on the bottom bracket shell appear to be only code stampings to identify that particular btm bkt shell's tube angles and not dating /serial number info .

Fork crown selection and chroming details vary a great deal during the entire span of the 80's. The first sloping crowns were introduced with the limited edition Linea Aerodynamica's in 1980 and appear *most commonly* during the first half of that decade and then he *mostly* reverts back to the classic flat track crown style- no doubt with pressure from his distributors to ensure that DeRosa's have an unique aesthetic apart from the Merckx bikes of the time.



For 1986, he "officially" introduces his Microfusion Italiana "bridgeless" btm bkt shell.

1986 catalogue pic-
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/de_rosa-86/3.jpg

In 88, the trademark "Diamante" chainstays dissappear in favor of a more conventional oval crossection ( again returning in the 90's).
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s269/caterham1700/derosa011.jpghttp://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s269/caterham1700/AJbudrikkipicsnvid327.jpg

Also take notice of the seatstay cap logos in the 86 vs the 88 catalog pics. The earlier versions have the DeRosa script written lengthwise/longitudinally, whereas later versions have a vertical orientation.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s269/caterham1700/derosa010.jpg


1988 catalogue pic(35 anniversario)-
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/de_rosa-88/anniversario-left.jpg

1988 colours( note both flat & sloping crown variations and tube style brake bridges)
http://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/de_rosa-88/colors-a.jpg


In 89, the traditional tubular rear brake bridge is "officially" replaced by the cast unit.Flat fork crown becomes "standard"(No Am.)

89 Gita catalogue-
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s269/caterham1700/derosa015.jpg


So as I see it, your lovely classic DeRosa Professional SLX would mostly likely appear to date from 89/90.
best,
k

Special thanks to caterham and toomany bikes for their guidance.

http://lh6.google.com/jhollosy/Roed2EPqCwI/AAAAAAAAABw/x5rhWwQNDS4/s800/P6300193.JPG
http://lh6.google.com/jhollosy/Roen0EPqCxI/AAAAAAAAAB4/Bg7Ta5E0byM/s800/P6300196.JPG
http://lh4.google.com/jhollosy/Roep_kPqC1I/AAAAAAAAACY/n0b-1eyAjkg/s800/P6300205.JPG
http://lh5.google.com/jhollosy/Roepq0PqC0I/AAAAAAAAACQ/FLDU7_IFG7s/s800/P6300210.JPG
http://lh4.google.com/jhollosy/RoesikPqC5I/AAAAAAAAAC0/zYMJ8_n1d7g/s800/P6300211.JPG

Looks great, z!
Love the pantographed TTT record 78 stem.
So whaddya think of her?

best,
k



suggestion- veloflex pave's in the natural sidewall for a more sophisticated ride, and visually lighten the appearance of the wheels.

mr k,

Best ride ever! I will order some tires this week. Actually I have 3 sets of tubulars that I am going to tet compatability with the 7 speed. I even have a set with REAL Vittoria CX/CG's on them. They are laced to 7400 DA 6 speed hubs. I've made 7 speed work with 6 speed, Now I have to try to make 6 speed work with 7. I do have a set of GL330's coming this week that are 7 speed, but I'd really like to try the GEL 280's with the Vittorias on it.

I've been busy with junk finds, check out this thread on a crusher rescue:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=315676

.....

I have it mostly apart, I'm thinking of sending all the pieces to you!