Banani Track

Thought I better start this current projects thread, if for no other reason, to get Chrisbmx116 off my back. Haaa.

I got the frame in the photo below from Chris, after he bought it thinking he it would fit him. It didnt...

We thought it was a Ciocc, judging by the decals and the fact that it looks pretty similar to one, but after stripping the paint from the frame I found that the serial number was not that of a Ciocc... Following a bit of research and help from this forum I came to the conclusion that it could actually be a Banani. Which is/was a Danish builder.

I still have no actual clarification that it definately is a Banani, but I'm going with that for the time being. Looks pretty similar.

Thus far i've stripped the paint to find a large amount of chrome on the rear end, that I'm gonna keep exposed for the most part, plus fully chromed forks, which are also staying that way.

I'm intending on doing a home renovation job, with rattlecans. Which could prove to be a disaster as I'm notoriously impatient. Watch this space.

Here are a couple of pics during stripping.

Next step is to start painting!!

or you could leave it a lovely chrome :)

Yeah I'm leaving as much chrome as possible! Keeping the forks chrome and just painting what isnt chromed on the frame.

About time! I look forward to seeing the bike I bought you progress...

Shuttup chris.

Ok, here's a pic, first layers of primer going on. I did another coat after this, should have enough in the can for one more. Then light sanding before applying main colour, then laquer...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1551762/Ben's%20Ciocc/priming.JPG

Masked off the back end to keep as much chrome as possible, including the full drive side chain stay.

Looks pretty smooth thus far, this current weather is definitely making spraying easier, than my usual rush job on a rainy and damp winters evening.

Odd colour primer and you have missed loads of bits.

Do it blue.

If you knew anything about paint Chris, you'd know that you need to match the primer to the top coat colour. Red topcoat requires red primer.... I hate blue bikes.

Those missed bits are bits i sanded off.

Interesting. Chris buys bikes that's too big for him. That's new.... ;)

Do it BLUE!

Ha, yeah wierd lad that Chris. Body dysmorphia (sp?) or something.
Nah, not blue, do not like.

Has it got a frame number?

Ha, yeah wierd lad that Chris. Body dysmorphia (sp?) or something.
Nah, not blue, do not like.

Reverse t-rex syndrome.

Banani is still in business in Copehagen albeit only a bike shop nowadays. Lillebror doesn't build bikes anymore.

If you find a serial number then give them a ring.

Yeah I found a serial, I emailed em a bit back with it, but got no reply. Maybe ill give em a call from work, rack up their phone bill rather than my own. Ha... I'll post a optic of the serial tomorrow.

To be a real Banani, the serial has start with 'BA', followed by a number of numbers and then a single letter. The numbers will be the productionnumber, while the last letter determines age.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_bicycle_VIN-system

Banani sounds like a wind-up! Italian banana. Wierd.

Agreed.
Each time I look at it I want it to be yellow

Do it red with white lettering. Ode to Denmark!

Yeah I'm doing it red!

Here is a photo of the serial, definitely looks like it is a Banani, thanks for the link JesperXT!

Looks to have been built by Banani in 1978.

Which would make the Dura-Ace 7500 stuff that's going on it, just about period correct.

Yeahhhhhh!

The frame is almost certainly built by the son of the founder Bendt Nielsen aka the Banana, Sverre, known as 'Lillebror' (little brother). I'm not sure, but I think he stopped building frames a few years ago, so no real Bananis are made anymore...

As the italians say, no banana

Jesper is correct, Lillebror isn't building frames anymore, he should though. I'd pay for a one off Banani. Great find Chris! Is it a 56?

Banani should have decals from that era me thinks.

We assumed it was a Ciocc, until I stripped the paint back and investigated a little further.... Prefer the idea of it being a Banani than Ciocc now anyway, a little rarer I'd assume. :)

It's a 58.5
Chris was defo punching above his weight (leg length) with this one! Glad he did.... haaaa.