Benotto Pista Modelo 1700

Right this is a project that is about midway through. I bought the frame off @peter_v for a fraction over £200 which included a Campagnolo Pista headset and BB. However the fork, while Benotto, was a road fork, so was drilled and serviceable but I've wanted to swap it out for a while. This was its first incarnation, I got a lovely front wheel offa eBay, Campagnolo Record hubs and aero Omega Strada Hardox rims, but it's proved a ball ache as I just can't find a rear to match it.

The other bits and pieces was stuff I had in parts bin and off other bikes. Shimano aero seat post, Campagnolo Pista cranks, 3TT stem and Nitto bullhorns. The rear is a good wheel, Miche Primato and Rigida, but doesn't suit the frame IMO, so a new rear wheel is a priority, but I am considering a wheel set from @TM, Omega Vs and sheriff stars. Also have a Nitto Jaguar and track drops I use:

So been searching for a matching rear for a while, and kept my ears open for a fork, eventually buying one offa the forum which I was told was an Olmo. Steerer was too short so I had it replaced for a longer one by Argos in Bristol.

It was too long but easily cut down with a hacksaw and filed. As you can see the work they did left the top as raw metal and rest with silver paint.

On a phone so just wanted to post that to get it on here. So the plans for the build are: black saddle and black bar tape, keeping my eye on classified for the saddle, and I'll use the same tape but in black (Cinelli Coleada). As for the fork not sure where to go, I have toyed with the idea of painting it black from the crown lugs down. I'm also considering polishing it and getting it really shiny, but no idea how to go about that yet, so any advice welcome. Just about convinced myself to buy the Sheriff Stars wheelset, although if anyone has a suggestion for the rear I'd welcome them. Oh the pedals are MKS NJS, probably the best pedals I have ever used.

Uber-tight clearances on the rear. With the road fork I had a 28 on the front, and with the new fork the clearance was a proper rizla width, but rubbed when I actually got on it, so I swapped the 28 for the 25 on the back.

Really pleased with the fork, and the build in general, looking for suggestions where to take it next.

Cool looking frame. The fork fits the frame surpassingly well. Matching rear wheel would be sweet, too bad it's so hard to find. Best option may indeed be getting a complete set.

I think the saddle is a bit too modern for the build, but that's personal taste. Comfort is probably more important in this department.

Edit: Seems we posted (almost) at the same time, so disregard my saddle comment haha.

Yeah I'm quite into modern saddles! Black Romin would be preferred. And yes the fork works really well. Hard to find vintage steel track forks, the fork itself cost £60, the getting a longer steerer another £65 but I think it really works well.

Sanded the rest of the paint off the forks, and polished them up a little with some wire wool, liking the results, the shiny steel raw look may be the way to go, unless someone thinks my idea of painting them black is better?

looking good! black fork and matched black wheels would look ace

That combination of champagne-colour and blue is so stunning.

I've slapped on a black Flite and it's currently got bullhorns on. I've also bought some black Caleido tape to wrap the track drops in. And the eternal search for a matching rear wheel continues. I'll take some pics, the Flite really works with the build. So a vote for painting the forks black?

So a vote for painting the forks black?

My vote goes to leaving it chromed.

but it is not chromed as it is. the chrome is gone around the crown and need coating in that area at least.

if you paint the fork black you should paint the stays black too, that can look pretty good.
otherwise rechrome fork.

It's not actually chromed, it's just sanded to bare metal atm, and there are variations in that, I think from the heat of welding a new steerer column in. Any today I have mostly been wrapping bars:

To match the new saddle:

Need that rear wheel badly to complete the build.

The fork has never been chrome! It had a weird silver paint on it and the crown was bare steel. Current thinking is to polish it up and lacquer, or paint the legs black and shine up the crown.

Wish I had something more constructive to say but I'm not keen on the black fork thing.
Its a no from me.

Yeah, what's wrong with how it currently looks? I dig it. Matching wheels and ride the crap out of it.

Great project so far. My 2p is get the forks chromed, would be a worthwile investment I think to the overall value and aesthetic of the frame.

Similar wheel to the front would indeed make this perfect. Lovely build.

i think matchy forks would be lush. for me, it needs a horizontal stem/-17 degree and older saddle would be nice too. wicked frame tho. quite jel!!

Ok inspiration for black forks come from this pic when I had the road chrome forks on it:

Not sure I can be bothered chroming, just means the bike off the road for too long, I like the raw steel look, esp after a better polish. I may be buying these wheels for it:

But still searching every day for a matching rear.

Thanks for the compliments on the build btw, feel it's coming together well, thought the saddle worked, not period enough?

Flite looks fine on it, period saddles are much bulkier. maybe a Concor (or nicer/lighter looking yet, a Kashimax ) would suit it best if you want it to have a saddle from that era

I thought about a Concor like you say find them too bulky, the Flite was a good compromise. Kashimax I haven't tried, does look good and narrower than the Concor

Cooling on the idea of Sheriff Stars and tubs, I need wheels that can pound the Tarmac and they are something that be used on the track. So considering instead the Miche Pistard wheelset as something solid but dependable to commute on while I search for the elusive matching rear, which I fancy I'll have to get built by sourcing NOS parts, or close to that. Not ideal but a short term solution

Sherrif stars are indeed known to break. They aren't very good with road use. Miche Pistard's are cheap and strong. If you desticker them they will look pretty good in a frame like this.

you don't want the matching rim I pm'd you about? just paint the braking surface, respoke the rear and you're all set