Columbus Max Appreciation

Bianchi Proto MAX on ebay-kleinanzeigen.de: https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/bianchi-proto-columbus-max-frame-neu-nos-stahlrahmen/1626997549-217-1124

Super pretty but super expensive.

Still looking?

May I please ask knowledgeable connoisseurs on here if this is a Max frame. Vetta from 1980s, top and down tube ovalised as Max, but 'badget' as SLE, of which I never heard off. Search results have thrown out Ellittico (ovalised), some claim it is Max, some it is pre-Max...

Any thoughts?

P.S.. Must declare that I will put it on sale her on the forum, so do not want to miss-lead potential interested party.

Thanks in advance

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Email to Columbus may get you somewhere? - info@columbustubi.com

Cheers, will try that, although have phoned them already (I do speak Italian) and whoever answered had as much info as I do :)

Some similar chat here but doesn’t really shed any light

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1116351-bike-identification-eddy-merckx-mlx-columbus-sle.html

Really nice frame though

Probably easiest to start with what parts of the frame aren't Max:
Seatstays
Chainstays
From looking at the photos you've provided I'd also say that these tubes probably aren't Max (based on the amount of bb shell you can see outboard of the tube junctions):
Seat tube
Down tube (also based on the lack of any obvious ovalisation at the junction with the ht)

So (IMHO) tt only is a Max tube, although usual caveats apply as diagnosis made from photos only.

The tube dimensions of the Max tubeset are easily found online, you are in a much better position to measure what you have and make a decision based on that.

Yes I seen that chat already, does not help not having images apart from the same Cinelli bottom bracket shell, unicrown fork too.

Found this and talked to seller, no luck there either. Nice bike.

Thanks for comments. Both down and top tube are defo ovalised, perhaps not seen well from pics. Not same measurements as Max, as circa 25/32 mm (tool needs new battery).

Mistery tubing remains mistery.

@Foreigner65

Columbus SLE is apparently reshaped SL 'Ellittico'

from a google translate of an Italian forum thread - https://www.fixedforum.it/forum/topic/56218-vetta-columbus-max-tg-55-cc-vendosmembro/?page=2

'I am writing to you because I also had a top bike with elliptical tubes and the same "elliptical" sticker. Apparently the tubes are not MAX, but columbus SL worked from the top like the max .. I had confirmation by writing directly to Taverna, I glue the email:

" the frame was produced between 1986/1988, the pipes are certainly Columbus SL (check that the seatpost measurement is 27.2mm (with a caliber)) the oriented ellipse processing was done in the company inspired by the Columbus MAX and MINIMAX piping series.

etc...

For any clarification I am available.

Best regards

Antonio Taverna "

https://steel-vintage.com/vetta-ellitico-classic-road-bicycles-from-late-1980s-detail

It is Vetta's own custom Columbus tubing.

From other searches of these frames it seems the unicrown forks are likely EL

(I have so much work I should be doing...)

Ha thanks Matt, great investigation work and sorry to taken you away from your day time job ;)

Much obliged.

no problem, looks about my size ;)

have you got photos of it with the forks?

You have PM with pics

It’s lovely but sadly a little too big - GLWS! 👌
Potentially up @JeremyDaval ‘s street?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lisbikes/

Is that replica stuff?

Alexey Bubryak (Lis) made this amazing piece last year.
.. I am not sure what you mean but a lot of the design features are obviously not his own but in line of his former fellow Russian framebuilders.

I meant in a kinda cynical way that it's not built as a pursuit bike, but just to look like one. But you're right, I should appreciate the craftmanship and behold the beauty of it.

for sale here (not mine):
https://www.2dehands.be/a/fietsen-en-brommers/fietsen-racefietsen/m1667956775-sportivo-monobridge-frameset.html?previousPage=VIP
Check out his Basso as well.

Only 30 km from my place...

You must be on your way then, curfew or no curfew.

So much potential!

I have my Merckx Max road bike and an Olmo Max OR mountainbike (to be restored). That should do. 😊

Don't be so ridiculously sensible :)

I know. But I just shifted my Ultegra groupset from my Master to my Corsa Extra (Columbus Max so can post it here 😁) because I lack funds for a new groupset so buying this frame makes no sense. It never does but right now even less.

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