[CR]Now:Masi steering Was:Masi serial number

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2002 17:33:22 -0700
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: "'classicrendezvous@bikelist.org'" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <5A87C7A3FE84774ABDC7854FC005D1A5089861@xch-nw-21.nw.nos.boeing.com>
Subject: [CR]Now:Masi steering Was:Masi serial number

David Frost wrote:
> (cut)
> Masi's reputation for quick/twitchy steering has been previously described
> on this forum, but something about the combination of BB drop,
> chainstay/wheelbase length, weight distribution, etc. seems to work better
> than my measurements would imply.
>
> Looking through Mark Bulgier's collection of Masi catalogs shows that fork
> rake was reduced in later California bikes, and perhaps the head angle was
> also reduced.
>
> I remember my '72 Italian 60 cm Masi GC as being reassuringly stable, but
> perhaps that was the enhanced reflexes of my youth. Or did Italian Masis use
> different geometry?

I have/had three Masi GC (plus a 3V) and I wouldn't describe the steering as twitchy or even particularly fast. But all my bikes are 56 or 57cm c to top seat tubes. Pretty much the absolute average size bike, I would guess. The large and small Masis feel differently that the average size Masis?

Chuck Schmidt
SoPas, SoCal