Battaglin Portofino, "Oversized Steel Road Bike"

[Burnette]

https://bikerumor.com/2019/02/20/battaglin-portofino-gives-modern-look-to-worlds-first-oversized-lugged-steel-road-bike/

Maybe if I seen in a different color I would like it more, but as is, visually, it's a hard pass for me.

Looks aside, I wonder how it rides.

[Hilltopperny]

I kind of like the color. The only thing I'd change is the lugs and chrome treatment on the stays would be stainless instead. I certainly wouldn't mind trying one out.

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[MoparPorsche]

I like the frame, not sure I am digging the fork though.

[fignon's barber]

Wonder how much that tank weighs.

[vincenz]

I was toying with the idea of getting a Marosticana last year. Their prices are reasonable for the quality of their work from what I can see in pictures. Not sure how I feel about the oversized tubes with lugs though on this one though.

[Tickdoc]

meh. I think the color doesn't do it justice.

[Mzilliox]

Wonder how much that tank weighs.

my guess would be similar to other oversized tubeset bikes. Im not really sure whats special about this other than a pretty beefy downtube. Im not sure the tubes are much more oversized than Pegorichie for instance.

id ride it

[XXtwindad]

https://bikerumor.com/2019/02/20/battaglin-portofino-gives-modern-look-to-worlds-first-oversized-lugged-steel-road-bike/

Maybe if I seen in a different color I would like it more, but as is, visually, it's a hard pass for me.

Looks aside, I wonder how it rides.

But then, of course, I'm biased ...)

[Hilltopperny]

my guess would be similar to other oversized tubeset bikes. Im not really sure whats special about this other than a pretty beefy downtube. Im not sure the tubes are much more oversized than Pegorichie for instance.



id ride itI picked up one of the Power+ framesets and the HSS tubes are beefier than any other steel tubes I've ridden or seen before. The top tube is shaped as well.

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[slambers3]

Not a huge fan of the lugged oversized look. Some of their other offerings look pretty sweet

[XXtwindad]

https://bikerumor.com/2019/02/20/battaglin-portofino-gives-modern-look-to-worlds-first-oversized-lugged-steel-road-bike/

Maybe if I seen in a different color I would like it more, but as is, visually, it's a hard pass for me.

Looks aside, I wonder how it rides.

Forgot to mention...I really like the colors as well. Earth tones. The bike reminds me of Fall, which is my favorite season.

[mktng]

thats cool....
but i still prefer the slimmer profile of more traditional lugged steel bikes.

still a really nice bike though.

people buying it likely dont care about weight. if they did. they wouldnt even consider something like this :P

[Clancy]

Couple of thoughts...

Being custom, any color combination, lug detail could be picked.

Italian fashion is often a few seasons in front of American acceptance.

That Stephen Roche limited commemorative frame is very nice although the inlaid diamonds are a little over the top - see above sentence.

[Clancy]

But then, of course, I'm biased ...)

Don’t recognize the headbadge/builder. Nice work. By who?

[Seramount]

pretty underwhelming...

ghastly fork and don't do brown.

[unterhausen]

I like the color, but I would probably have a inexplicable desire to stop for coffee if I rode it.

It would look stunning with stainless stays. It does look heavy, and probably is.

[prototoast]

That fork looks like the Sarto fork, which seems to mesh much better with their carbon frames.

https://www.sartobikes.com/en/products/lampo_164.html

Personally, I like a lugged oversize frame in concept, but the HT/DT/Fork junction on that looks kind of weird. If I had designed it, I think I would have designed it for a straight 44mm HT and external headset.

[XXtwindad]

Don’t recognize the headbadge/builder. Nice work. By who?

A-Train. Out of Minnesota. The last one. Now called "Northern Bikes."

[KarlC]

......... Personally, I like a lugged oversize frame in concept, but the HT/DT/Fork junction on that looks kind of weird. If I had designed it, I think I would have designed it for a straight 44mm HT and external headset.

This 100% !

I really like this frame, but I really like Retro-Mod.

:cool:

[merckx]

I'll bet that frame planes like a brick****house.

[Burnette]

Forgot to mention...I really like the colors as well. Earth tones. The bike reminds me of Fall, which is my favorite season.

The dark frame color against the polished lug draws the to the downtube and there it looks like lig and tube don't belong together.

I would like to see it in a light color, like Sage or Celeste, I think it would make that junction look more cohesive.

[Burnette]

I'll bet that frame planes like a brick****house.

You made me lol!

[93KgBike]

I'll bet that frame planes like a brick****house.

Does that mean it does or doesn't?

I find that only my unbridged chain-stay Ciöcc really planes. All the bridged chain stay frames I own respond noticeably less so.

I can't tell from the photos whether the chain stays on the Portofino are bridged or not. But if they are not, all you need to be is strong enough or heavy/enough and it may.

I love the chocolate/brass color way.
https://www.bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Officina-Battaglin-Portofino_modern-oversized-lugged-steel-road-bike_complete.jpg
WOW!

The website shows this also:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55acb9d1e4b0ab3015ee20c9/58daa76d3e00bea0cbc26bf1/58daaeac1b10e3e2a235ce13/1490726574489/IMG_5367-Modifica+Web.jpg?format=2500w
ok too.

[XXtwindad]

I'll bet that frame planes like a brick****house.

Yeah, that's pretty funny. My frame is not exactly a skinny whippet. One of the local mechs (who only rides carbon everything) picked it up and called it an "art bike."

I'm not sure he meant that in a flattering way, but I'm cool with that. I paid for the uniqueness, not to compete in races. I'm sure anyone who purchased the Battaglin has the same implicit understanding.

[SoCal Al]

I have a standard triangle Power+ Battaglin that was custom built last year, has about 2,500 miles on it now and it's an amazing bike. Originally I wanted the Portofino in the red/white/green color scheme (see the last pic above) but since this was my first custom bike and first time purchasing so far away I was a little hesitant to spend that kind of money (they've adjusted pricing since then). Beauty's definitely in the eye of the beholder and Battaglin will paint it anyway you want but like one previous poster said about weight- you're not buying this bike because it's 15 lbs (although mine's 18lbs with pedals). I can say with confidence that the rid eis superb and it descends like crazy! No hesitation to recommend the company or their product. The craftsmanship is of the highest quality.

[spacemen3]

Looks killer to me. It's begging for a -17 stem, though. :beer:

[cnighbor1]

OK I passed along some of the comments to Alex Battaglin for his enlighten
no names of course included

[FlashUNC]

I'm sure it rides great. The downtube/headtube/fork lug junction is just a bit weird aesthetically.

[Jef58]

Llewellyn had a project similar to this a while back. He fabricated the lugs for the HSS tubing which must have been a labor of love for the client regardless of profit. In the end it was an elegant build typical of the brand. Aesthetically, TIG welding looks better to me than lugs on this size tubing. In the end, another choice of how a bicycle frame can be built...which is all good.

[sailorboy]

looks like an express trip to toe-to-wheel overlap city on that thing.

[54ny77]

Gorgeous!

[SoCal Al]

looks like an express trip to toe-to-wheel overlap city on that thing.

Yep, I can attest to that but was able to catch it in time. You adapt to it pretty quick though!

[wallymann]

i think it's pretty sick!

[colker]

It looks like the builder was in doubt if building a traditional lugged steel or an oversized welded steel or maybe a carbon bike. So he opted to do everything. It looks as pretty as Frankenstein. :eek:.

[mhespenheide]

As already mentioned, it's not really fair of them to claim that theirs is the "first ever steel bike to be built with true oversized lugs". Llewellyn did it last year with their Colossus model, profiled here:
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/08/bikes-of-the-bunch-llewellyn-custom-bicycles-lugged-colossus/

[Burnette]

As already mentioned, it's not really fair of them to claim that theirs is the "first ever steel bike to be built with true oversized lugs". Llewellyn did it last year with their Colossus model, profiled here:
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/08/bikes-of-the-bunch-llewellyn-custom-bicycles-lugged-colossus/

Wow, the red paint on that bike is fantastic. It looks wet and the flakes make it pop.

It looks too good IMO, I would fear every pebble I rode by and a part of me would die with the first rock chip to that gorgeous paint.

Love that bike, sans the curved seat stay.

[SoCal Al]

As already mentioned, it's not really fair of them to claim that theirs is the "first ever steel bike to be built with true oversized lugs". Llewellyn did it last year with their Colossus model, profiled here:
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/08/bikes-of-the-bunch-llewellyn-custom-bicycles-lugged-colossus/

True but Battaglin built the Portofino model 2-3 years ago, this is a new colorway but the tubes & lugs were worked out a while back.

No matter, chapeau's to both and the other artisans that build these types of rides.

[Kyle h]

Has anyone ridden one of these and care to give some feedback? Blacksmith has one on sale in my size and it’s tempting.

https://www.blacksmithcycle.com/collections/frames/products/battaglin-portofinno

[huck*this]

Has anyone ridden one of these and care to give some feedback? Blacksmith has one on sale in my size and it’s tempting.

https://www.blacksmithcycle.com/collections/frames/products/battaglin-portofinno

I have also looked at that one. and was ready to smack the buy it now button but. That stack is super loooooow, for me anyways.

Stack 524
Reach is good at 380

[sleepyfelix]

Not a fan of oversized tubes in general. But I think they could have done a much better job with the colour palette and clashing fonts all over the place

[Kyle h]

I have also looked at that one. and was ready to smack the buy it now button but. That stack is super loooooow, for me anyways.

Stack 524
Reach is good at 380

It’s pretty close to my Peg 51 which is 535/375 which I’m running with a 110 -17 stem. Waiting to hear back from Blacksmith on HS stack height to see how close it’ll be.

Edit: 10mm stack height for HS. A 100 -6 stem with a 5mm spacer gets me just 5mm short on reach but good on stack. Hmmm.

[MoparPorsche]

Saw bike at Blacksmith and if it had been anywhere as close in size to me as it is for you that bike would be gone. "5mm" How Allen Iverson say, "We talking about 5mm!!! 5mm!!!"

[earlfoss]

I think it looks great, I'd love to ride one! My only (small) criticism, is with the geometric graphics. Moots, Firefly, and Mosaic kind of already did that? I bet it rides great.

[flying]

Not a fan of oversized tubes in general. But I think they could have done a much better job with the colour palette and clashing fonts all over the place

You know with the resurrection of steel in recent years tube size is something I really wondered about.

With the new steel often being so oversized I wonder if it is anything near what we remembered as a steel ride quality?

Of course it will not be as springy due to size but I wonder if even the damping is still there once size gets so big? Or is it more like an old style Cannondale now?

[zmudshark]

Wonder how much that tank weighs.

1850g for rim brake version, or about two C64's.

[Kyle h]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49994107478_a5ceac6ef8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jaNSoj)

Getting closer to reality. Decided to go Red AXS shifty bits and brakes, Campy Chorus crank, cassette and chain. Will get a Deda Superleggero cockpit to finish.

[XXtwindad]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49994107478_a5ceac6ef8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2jaNSoj)

Getting closer to reality. Decided to go Red AXS shifty bits and brakes, Campy Chorus crank, cassette and chain. Will get a Deda Superleggero cockpit to finish.

Damn! That looks beautiful! Can't wait to see how it turns out! And, let me know when you're ready for a "Brother from Another Steel Mother" ride :)

[bicycletricycle]

Uglier than all the other carbon forks?


pretty underwhelming...

ghastly fork and don't do brown.