In a message dated 5/18/2006 2:20:49 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Ted writes:
What I wpuld like to see is that the bike would identified in an easy to find, external, inobtrusive location as a REPLICA. 30 years from now most of the spinners both verbal and physical will either be senile or in cyclist's heaven, and who's to know? It may keep honest people honest and minimize deception to the uncogniscenti who may not have access to archival material. Would seem the honorable thing to do. Wouldn't want some naughty person misrepresenting things, would we now? Ted Ernst Palos Verdes Estates, CA
I agree, some sort of unobtrusive replica decal or stamp would be nice, but in the case of this particular bike, the serial should suffice since it does not replicate any older numbers. The leading letter is reminiscent of the early Ranch and San Marcos serial number scheme, but the next two numbers are "06" rather than 78-83, so that's enough of a tipoff for most, I would think, that this is a later frame.
First thing most serious Masiphiles do is upend the bike and look at the BB (sorta like lifting a puppy's tail I guess) so there's no way this one's ever going to pass for an "original" (even if it were to get a totally spot-on period repaint) to anyone who takes a peek. Granted, Masi USA and Italy employed a lot of confusing BB stamps, but if one is not familiar with the various numbering conventions used on Masis over the years, a few minutes searching the web will usually tell you what's what.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA