At the very least Masi is paying homage to the style of its past. I really don't expect any production bicycle company to ever again make a truly hand-built frame. Hence this is probably as close as they will come; considering price points and the skill of their existing labor pool. It ain't like it used to be; but its nice to at least give some consumers an option to buy lugged steel from a recognized brand.
Nick Zatezalo Atlanta,Ga
I think it's cool that these bikes are being made too but I think your disappointment about the construction refinements are an example of comparing apples to oranges. I don't know but I suspect that these frames, if they ever come to market, aren't going to be priced as supreme works of framebuilding. These will most likely need to meet a price point and the amount of labor in the frames will parallel that. I suspect these frames will be on par with the typical Italian "workman style" we have come to know as opposed to the "no holds barred style" that's prevalent in what are considered the "finer" frames of our time. Like the lugs or not, I think it's pretty cool that Masi inspired, new Sachs lugs might adorn Masis.
Curt Goodrich
Minneapolis, MN