Old Pinarello Frameset...

[The Gnome]

I have a 1990 Pinarello Asolo Frame with Campy chorus on it...as I respect alot of folks opinions out here on this sorta stuff...was wondering what you guys thought about it's worth, if any. I know some are buying older frames but have no idea if this frame and gruppo is even worthwhile to try to sell. The frame is in good shape as is the gruppo, tho I would guess I put about 30 thousand miles on the thing before I retired her...right now it just hangs in my shed...anyone have any ideas whether it might be worthwhile to move it on to someone else or just let it stay there as it might no be worth the bother...

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I have a 1990 Pinarello Asolo Frame with Campy chorus on it...as I respect alot of folks opinions out here on this sorta stuff...was wondering what you guys thought about it's worth, if any. I know some are buying older frames but have no idea if this frame and gruppo is even worthwhile to try to sell. The frame is in good shape as is the gruppo, tho I would guess I put about 30 thousand miles on the thing before I retired her...right now it just hangs in my shed...anyone have any ideas whether it might be worthwhile to move it on to someone else or just let it stay there as it might no be worth the bother...

You could part it out and sell it on ebay if the grouppo is in good enough shape. The frame isn't worth much, if I remember correctly the Asolo was built with Reynolds 531 tubing, which was one of the best available in the early 70's, but not for a frame built in the 90's. Another thing going against you is corrosion, low grade steel tubing and the off-chance that you may live in a rust belt that salts the roads, or near the ocean is also a minus too. If from the US West and NW as long as it's not near the ocean, S, SW, and Rockies yes, Midwest no way, East Cost no way. Same geographical rules apply for buying used cars as with vintage steel bikes, not to say there's no sick collections of steel in the rusty places, but they're either very low miles or from somewhere else.

The true test of any vintage steel frame that is worth any kind of real money is a surgical video probe of the inside of the tubes. I bought a '94 Masi 3V from Massachusetts about six years ago and it only lasted one season before the drive side chainstay gave out on me because it was rusting from the inside, even though the outside and what I could see of the tubes from the inside was mint. Took a hacksaw to the stay right down the middle of the bend revealed a deep rust spot about the size of a quarter. Caveat emptor.

 

[The Gnome]

Hey, thanks for the advice and knowledge RDV...I think you are certainly right via the frame...I rode the bike for twelve years or so in Belgium...not the dryest of climates and then it has sat out my my shed here in Vermont for the last ten years...so I wouldn't want to pass it on to someone via the rust that certainly must be hidden inside as you say...the asolo was cromor and if I remember right rather low on their scale anyhow...maybe I will just take off the gruppo which is in nice shape and put it out there on ebay...either whole or in peices for folks to pick thru......I am not really concerned about money; rather, just maybe moving it on to someone who does want to do the retro bike ect...no point of it just dying a slower, unseen death in my shed...thanks again...one last question if I might: any notion of how to tell if the gruppo is chorus or athena? I thought it was chorus but then again my memory isn't so great with details from twenty years ago...there are no markings...

 

[krebs303]

Check out this site it may have the info your looking for
This site is all about rear derailleur gears...
DISRAELI GEARS



Here is a thread
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=573008

 

[fatsprintking]

Just keep it as a comfy training bike. Its worth is not much but it will be good for just scooting around on.

My colnago of a similar vintage is tops for longish rides with a bit of dirt thrown in. These era frames usually let you get 28mil tyres on if you are keen and she will still roll along pretty sweet if straight.

As RDV4 says, rust is the enemy and just sitting in the shed is not always good if the last time you rode it it got full of water, but for a good trainer, she would be sweet. I just spray fish oil in every orifice once a month on mine and she seems to be going well with rust.