I received my Gianni Motta Personal 2001R from Matteo today. It was very well-packed and protected and in new old stock condition, just as Matteo advertised it on this list. He even shipped the Motta to me before he received my payment (thanks Matteo!). I have yet to have a transaction on this list that wasn't a pleasant experience...what a great bunch of folks we have!
As to the Motta, it reminds me why I love buying and riding and admiring these older lugged steel frames. This is a beautiful pearlized white with green, red, blue, and yellow vertical fades at the bottom of the seat and down tubes. This one has chromed stays and fork, with the Motta logo cut into the brake bridge, fork and rear stay dropouts, head tube lug, and fork crown.
Just to show even older lugged steel frames can take a place with the hi-tech marketing of today ;-), this Motta has the "TransTork" shaped seat stays. These stays, according to the Motta brochure on Bulgier's great site, "reduce deflection during sprints and steep hill climbs thereby transmitting more torque to the rear wheel." What a deal!
I know this Motta probably doesn't fall in the category of high-end craftsmanship that can be had today from some of the great frame builders, but there is something about older frames like that just appeal to me. I don't even get all of them built up, but I just have a hard time passing them up when I see them available.
I have really tried to like the newer non-steel, non-lugged, threadless headset 1 1/8" headtube frames that seem to be the only ones available at bike shops near me or in catalogs. I am sure they are much lighter and are great frames, but something just hasn't clicked for me.
I have gone as far as owning a Steelman SR525, which is steel but is not lugged. It is a very nice looking and riding bike, but for me there is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than the beauty of these older Italian frames, or the modern work of the keepers of the flame.
I appreciate the opportunity this list affords me to share my interest in older lugged steel frames...thanks to all of you and especially Dale for making it possible.
Frank Phillips
McAlester, OK