Vintage LeMond frame question

[Walter]

I have an NOS, never ridden LeMond frame and fork in the Z colors that still has the paper sticker on the on the bottom of the seat tube saying "Made in Italy." It is Columbus SL tubing.

Were the Billato Bros. the only Italian builders of these frames back in the day?

[Hindmost]

Does it have a Ten Speed Drive decal underneath at the base of the down tube?

[Walter]

Does it have a Ten Speed Drive decal underneath at the base of the down tube?

It does not.

[Walter]

PS: I got this frame off of ebay from Australia if that makes any difference.

[LouDeeter]

Scapin built some Lemond frames, but Billato probably built yours if it is an original Z painted frame. That would be my educated guess anyway.

[Hindmost]

So, it wasn't imported into the USA by TSD Imports, it is made with SL (unlike the TSD Imports Malliot Jaune made with TSX.) This increases the probability it was an earlier version (possibly increases the probability it is non-Billato?)

I am not an expert. We are working with little info here. Images of decals and frame details might help.

[rccardr]

Pretty sure Billato made all of the triple fade 'tribute' Lemonds after his '89 TDF win, but they were available in SL, SLX or TSX. Different prices based on tubeset. Mine is a NOS TSX but came through TSD.

As a side note, some are blue/yellow/red (blue top) and others are red/yellow/blue (red top). Not sure if that's related to the tubeset or random, or what.

[Walter]

I have some hi res images I will downsize and post.

Thanks for all of the info thus far.

[Walter]

Some photos of the frame

[Walter]

one of the fork

[Walter]

Trying again...this time with the attachment

[Big Dan]

I would say Billato. I had a LeMond Gan GLX and it looked very much like that.

[Hindmost]

Interesting images. The decals look to be the last versions.

Your bike has a "Ventoux" decal on the left chainstay. The Ventoux model offered by TSD Imports in the US was made with Chromor tubes. The Zed paint was offered only on the higher price-point model. The Ventoux had the decal on the toptube, front right.

BTW, very cool bike. Chrome dropouts, etc.

[oliver1850]

OK, How about this one? Model, builder, tubing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GREG-LEMOND-USA-FRAME-AND-FORK-60-CM-CAMPAGNOLO-BB-COLUMBUS-DROPOUTS/152272890275?_trksid=p5411.c100167.m2940&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140131123730%26meid%3D1d6b1d13d7ed438492a 50aedef7c04c0%26pid%3D100167%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%2 6sd%3D142230111677

[Hilltopperny]

OK, How about this one? Model, builder, tubing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GREG-LEMOND-USA-FRAME-AND-FORK-60-CM-CAMPAGNOLO-BB-COLUMBUS-DROPOUTS/152272890275?_trksid=p5411.c100167.m2940&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140131123730%26meid%3D1d6b1d13d7ed438492a 50aedef7c04c0%26pid%3D100167%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%2 6sd%3D142230111677

I'd say billato based on my old giordana Spica. This one is more than likely tsx tubing. Same routing, bb, brake bridge, seat stays and lugwork:beer:

[ultraman6970]

This dude got a really interesting frame, if NOS, even better.

I had one, and the biggest problem with lemond is that there is no consistency in any of the pre trek era production. IMO there is no way to know because IMO there was no guidelines to follow, even some frames were fully chromed underneath, other ones were not, some where just half, other ones did not have chroming at all. Same with the fork crown, some were like aero, other ones were sloped with sockets, some were engraved other ones not.

The only ones that are easier to spot are the ones built in Nevada, no more than 20 were made and were all white and black and the differences are more evident.

But from the italian made ones? The two known manufacturers (bilatto and scapin, probably even others ones we dont even know) pretty much got whatever they had around and built the bikes with that, painting so far I know was made here in the states thats why they used those decals that match the color of the frame, decals are not transparent. The only ones Ive seen with transparent decals are the nevada made ones.

I like a lot columbus SL, it is a nice tube that I like more than 531.

[ultraman6970]

Forgot this... if the op can get a record C crankset and delta brakes, with a campy 10 or 11 groupset that bike will look like a million bucks!

[rccardr]

so...as previously mentioned back on page 1 of this thread, I also have a NOS Team Z colorway Lemond frame. Bought it from a forum member, along with a matching new, uncut front fork. It apparently had a few minor chips in it when he acquired it, so he had Joe Bell do a chip repair, wet sand and clear coat. I have the receipt for that, and the price was, well, enough to make me gulp. It's stunning, but has not yet been built up.

At the time, was under the impression it was a TSX frame, but close inspection shows there are no grooves in the seat tube near the BB. Nor is there either a Columbus or a TSD sticker. Mine might be a Euro edition, but at this point am assuming it is probably SL, which is fine with me as SL makes a fine riding bike.

Also am pretty sure that the ones that are red on top and use the brighter, almost flouro paint colors are 92's. The late 90's and 91's seem to use a darker color palette and are a darker blue on top.

Another giveaway seems to be the lack of a date on the TDF portion of the seat tube decal. I've viewed a '92 LeMond catalog and the seat tube decal looked the same as mine.

Hope this helps someone.

[oliver1850]

I'd be happy to learn it's SL and Billato built. Wish it was three color fade though. Unfortunately Deltas are not in the budget.

[Hilltopperny]

I'd be happy to learn it's SL and Billato built. Wish it was three color fade though. Unfortunately Deltas are not in the budget.

I'm just about positive that the white Lemond is Billato built, but not sure of the tubing.