can anyone identify my bike?

[chrisff2]

Hello - I am new to this site. I bought a road bike on ebay in the summer that had been refurbished by the seller and I am trying to identify it.
This is a picture of the bike before it was resprayed:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/DSC00142.jpg

and here are some pics of it as it is now:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121007-00162.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00172.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00176.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00177.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00178.jpg

Forget about the Colnago badges - they are not real. What I do know is that the tubing is Columbus, but I do not know what type. It is a lovely frame. The original crank and brakes are still on the bike - it is Shimano and the bottom bracket is a square taper.

I am toying with the idea of having it powder coated, but I would like to know what it was before I do this. As can be seen from the 'before' pic, the frame was a 'Mirage.'

Any help would be appreciated. BTW, I cannot find a frame number, or any stamps or engravings on forks or any other part of the frame.

chrisff2

 

[gds58]

The 'Mirage' was a model produced by the French company 'Motobecane' way back in the 70's and possibly even earlier. It is likely that this may have used Columbus tubing but more likely Reynolds or Vitus tubing so it may be a bit of a mystery this one. Either way it looks like a beautiful frame and is most definitely worth restoring to it's former glory. Motobecane were the very first French company to use Japanese components namely Shimano so it's a tricky decision as to what groupset would be most appropriate for it. Personally I'd go for some old Campag' but it might be more costly to source good stuff.
Hope this all helps a bit.
Graham

 

[clockhammer]

can't offer any advice on the frame etc.... just wanted to say nice job on the bike, well done

 

[chrisff2]

The 'Mirage' was a model produced by the French company 'Motobecane' way back in the 70's and possibly even earlier. It is likely that this may have used Columbus tubing but more likely Reynolds or Vitus tubing so it may be a bit of a mystery this one. Either way it looks like a beautiful frame and is most definitely worth restoring to it's former glory. Motobecane were the very first French company to use Japanese components namely Shimano so it's a tricky decision as to what groupset would be most appropriate for it. Personally I'd go for some old Campag' but it might be more costly to source good stuff.
Hope this all helps a bit.
Graham

Hi thanks for your reply. Yes, I have seen the machine you mention - and a brochure that advertised it, but I am not sure you are right. The chap I bought it from assured me that it is columbus tubing. The real giveaways are the internal cable nacelles in the crossbar. I have a feeling it might be an Italian frame. Anyway, thanks again for your response. chrisff2

 

[chrisff2]

can't offer any advice on the frame etc.... just wanted to say nice job on the bike, well done

Thanks, wish I could take the credit but the guy I bought it from did the respray - he used ordinary car paint and said he always does this, but I am thinking about a powder coating for it. Regards chrisff2

 

[wisdom]

That is a nice frame.
As said before its definately worth getting powder coated.
Very nice bike and a nice job by whoever did it.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi Chrisff2. The original paint job was really quite stunning,why don't you consider having it done again.and done properly with a Stove Enamelled finish?
C&G Finishers in my home town of Liverpool are still doing refinishing in the old way and not with car paints.
They are very very reasonable in the pricing and I have often wondered why some people pay the really really silly money that I here of.
When I saw the original image that had been posted I thought that it might have been a Gitane from the 70's but the Mirage reference has shown it not to be as pointed out.
It is however possible that it is not genuine and has been re-born as a "Flight of Fancy" by someone that wanted what his financial means could not have supported.

 

[chrisff2]

Hi Chrisff2. The original paint job was really quite stunning,why don't you consider having it done again.and done properly with a Stove Enamelled finish?
C&G Finishers in my home town of Liverpool are still doing refinishing in the old way and not with car paints.
They are very very reasonable in the pricing and I have often wondered why some people pay the really really silly money that I here of.
When I saw the original image that had been posted I thought that it might have been a Gitane from the 70's but the Mirage reference has shown it not to be as pointed out.
It is however possible that it is not genuine and has been re-born as a "Flight of Fancy" by someone that wanted what his financial means could not have supported.

Hi Rooster
thanks for the info, I might consider that, never thought of going that route. i will look them up.
chrisff2

 

[mickle]

Those multi coloured paintjobs represent a very unfortunate period in bicycle paint job history. Nice frame though. Worthy of a nice bit of enamel.

 

[chrisff2]

Those multi coloured paintjobs represent a very unfortunate period in bicycle paint job history. Nice frame though. Worthy of a nice bit of enamel.

Mickle

I am inclined to agree - just one colour will do for me. I think racing bikes were never more beautiful than the steel frames of the late 70's and the 80's - it's got to be steel for me. I just like riding steel bikes. Some things have changed for the better - I had the gear changers on the down tube when I got this one - blimey, how did we ever get on with that?

Thanks for the post.

Chrisff2

 

[SportMonkey]

Hello - I am new to this site. I bought a road bike on ebay in the summer that had been refurbished by the seller and I am trying to identify it.
This is a picture of the bike before it was resprayed:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/DSC00142.jpg

and here are some pics of it as it is now:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121007-00162.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00172.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00176.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00177.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/66557703/bike pics/Lisburn-20121021-00178.jpg

Forget about the Colnago badges - they are not real. What I do know is that the tubing is Columbus, but I do not know what type. It is a lovely frame. The original crank and brakes are still on the bike - it is Shimano and the bottom bracket is a square taper.

I am toying with the idea of having it powder coated, but I would like to know what it was before I do this. As can be seen from the 'before' pic, the frame was a 'Mirage.'

Any help would be appreciated. BTW, I cannot find a frame number, or any stamps or engravings on forks or any other part of the frame.

chrisff2

Not that it helps you any, but this is the same frame but with different forks, which means you'll be chasing two bike brands that are hard to find info on: http://www.lfgss.com/thread16135.html

 

[chrisff2]

Not that it helps you any, but this is the same frame but with different forks, which means you'll be chasing two bike brands that are hard to find info on: http://www.lfgss.com/thread16135.html

Hello Sport

Even before I opened up the link I knew what the pic would be! I found that picture a few weeks ago and you are right, it is exactly the same frame (except built for a giant) as mine. The motif (the parallel lines on the crossbar) seem reminiscent of the design in the original paint job on mine. I have looked everywhere for pictures of Bluschke frames, but it seems that is the only one they ever made..... I wonder if the frame maker made frames for more than one company? It seems definitely to be a European frame and, as I said, the guy who resprayed it said it was definitely Columbus tubing. Thanks for the post.

chrisff2