1984 Colnago
Arabesque
53cm center-to-center
seat tube
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Issued in honor of Colnago's 30th
anniversary in 1984, the Arabesque is one of the most sought after
Colnago models. Exact production numbers are not known, but it was
only in production in 1983 and 1984, in limited numbers. Most of the
Arabesques were sold as framesets, while a very limited number were
sold as complete bikes with a specially pantographed Campagnolo Super
Record gruppo. The gruppo incorporated 7 or 8 solid gold Colnago clubs
(depending on which type of seatpost was used, round or aero; round
posts had one gold club while aero posts had two), and the Arabesque
frame had two of the same gold clubs inserted in the seatstay caps.
Complete Arabesques with the matching 30th anniversary gruppo, as
shown in the brochure above, are the most desirable Arabesques, and of
course the most difficult to find. An example like the one in this
auction, with the complete 30th anniversary gruppo, with most of its
original components, and with period-correct replacement of consumable
parts (such as the Vittoria tubulars), all in excellent condition, is
a rare find indeed.
This bike was owned by an elderly
gentleman in California, who used it sparingly and gently for a short
time. It was stored for many years when the gentleman wasn't able to
ride anymore. Eventually his grandson inherited the bike and he had it
refreshed at his local bike shop, with the intention of riding it.
Modern tubulars were fitted, as well as a modern cork handlebar wrap,
and a modern chain. The grandson only rode the bike a couple of times
and then he in turn put the bike into storage. About a year ago he
offered me the bike, knowing that I would do my best to restore it to
its rightful glory. And so I tried and the result is what you see.
When I received it, the entire
bike was dirty and dull, but fortunately the paint and decals were in
exceptionally good condition. The chrome showed superficial rust,
apparently from humidity during storage, but I was able to remove most
of it, and the chrome is now very shiny. Up close you can see remnants
of the rust in some spots, but from three feet away the chrome looks
almost perfect. I enjoy doing this kind of work so it was a labor of
love, but it was still a tremendous amount of work. It is in fact the
most labor intensive refurbishing I've ever done, but I think the bike
deserved it. And in the end, the result was more than satisfactory. I
hope you agree.
All of the components, except for
the tires, the bar wrap, and the chain (and possibly the gum hoods and
the cables/housing), are original to this bike. Twenty-nine years they
have been together, the components and the frameset! That in itself is
remarkable. And to find them in such good condition (like-new almost),
makes them that much more special.
I replaced the modern tires, chain
and bar wrap with correct Vittoria CX/CG tubulars, a Regina CXS chain,
and Ambrosio Bike Ribbon bar wrap, all of which are NOS and period
correct. The Vittorias tires are not just period-correct, but they are
in fact the exact same tires that complete Arabesques originally came
with. And needless to say, these Vittoria tires, in NOS condition, are
extremely difficult to find.
Given the originality and great
condition of the bike, the correct replacements I made, and the
careful refurbishing I performed, this bike may very well look just
the way it looked when it shipped from Cambiago, Italy in 1984 -
almost a perfect time-capsule. There aren't too many old bikes that
can make such a claim.
I have a lot of photos in this
description (105 to be exact). And intended only for hard-core
bike porn junkies, there is a
link at the end for an additional 56 photos.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful
bike. As always, I welcome all your comments.
Ray Dobbins
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Frame
material: Columbus SL (Gilco design)
Seat tube: 53cm.
center-to-center
Top tube: 54cm.
center-to-center
Head tube: 11.7cm. end-to-end
Stand-over: 78.8cm. to top of top tube
Stem:
95mm
Bar:
40cm center-to-center
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Complete Arabesques came fitted with San Marco Rolls
saddles. The one on this bike is an unusual version, with
distressed brown leather. It has developed an elegant patina,
and I think it looks beautiful on this bike.
Date code is 1983. Without a doubt this is the
original saddle.
Unique lug design and solid gold club encrusted in the
seatstay cap.
The decals on this are in amazing condition.
The only decal that didn't survive was the Columbus decal. It
was completely gone so I replaced it with a modern reproduction.
The stem looks like new.
The cap on the stem is not original, it is one that I
improvised from another cycling component. If you can guess what
it is, I will include an ALE water bolttle for free.
The Colnago-engraved bar is a not a common component. In this
condition, it is practically a rarity.
These levers come polished from the factory. It's worth noting
that I did not customize any component on this bike with after-market
polishing. Whatever you see polished, came that way from the
factory.
Shield-logo hoods would be correct for 1983-84 brake levers, but these
are in such good shape that I suspect they were replaced at some
point. They are genuine Campagnolo hoods though, not replicas.
Vittoria Corsa CX...a great tire.
The Ambrosio logo here is silk-screened, not a decal. That's why
it is partially faded.
The chrome looks great from even three feet away.
But if you inspect it closely, you'll notice the stains left by the
superficial rust which I removed. I'm not a chrome restoration expert, but I think
this is as good as this chrome can be cleaned up.
These spots are practically invisible from anything
more than three feet away.
The hubs are pantographed Record hubs, 32 hole front
and back.
The distinctive and much admired Arabesque lug design. The chrome is good on
the top headlug but the bottom headlug is a little rough.
How flashy are those shifters? Colnago was bling
before bling was born.
No lifting, no peeling...the condition of the decals is
nothing short of amazing. If you
know old Italian bikes, you know what I mean.
Mexico style crankset with 172.5mm arms 52/41 rings
(that's not a typo; the small ring is a 41).
Notice how clean the teeth are. They show hardly
any use.
The toe straps are riveted! Very old-school, very
cool, and very definitely original equipment on this bike.
Even these little decals, which are notoriously
fragile, are intact. It amazes me.
These chainstaly decals are a little faded, but they're
all there.
Notice that the Regina CX chain has a unidirectional
design. The inner plates have deep cutouts to allow easier
shifting into the bigger cogs.
Second generation Super Record calipers came out in 83.
Vittoria Corsa CG in back for better durability.
The CX is very hard to find...the CG is near impossible to find.
A 4 inside a circle is the date code for 1984.
A very special bike. I hope you enjoyed it.
If you want to see more photos this bike, click
here.
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Created 813/2013