compiled research for the steel-loving tifosi: colnago master/mxl family tree

[wallymann]

looks like an early master, definitely well before 1997! closer to 1987, especially seeing those heavily crimped chainstays.

further...while it does have 2 sets of bottle bosses, it lacks internal brake cable housing to be a master-piu. seat-cluster and rear dropouts do not match the master-olympic/light.

Originally Posted by velogeek.be

This is mine, waiting to be equipped. I think it's a first generation Master, with external cable routing, although in most photos the cable glands are above and not below the tube. It was repainted by the previous owner. Is there a serial number that would allow me to identify it with certainty?

[velogeek.be]

I just discovered this site: http://labibleduvelocataloguescolnag...-1989.html?m=1

The right fork appeared in 1989, and this year's catalogue shows a model with hexagonal tubes very similar to those in my frame: ESA Mexico.

I'm a little confused, and no serial number to confirm!

[paredown]

Originally Posted by wallymann

looks like an early master, definitely well before 1997! closer to 1987, especially seeing those heavily crimped chainstays.

further...while it does have 2 sets of bottle bosses, it lacks internal brake cable housing to be a master-piu. seat-cluster and rear dropouts do not match the master-olympic/light.

Thanks--I was reluctant to post, since the combination of elements did not fully jive--I certainly don't recall an early Master with the top tube cable guides on the side like those, but I did notice the seat cluster detail did look like an earlier frame.

I guess it's possible the guides were redone before the repaint?

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Cycling Fool

Thanks for this great thread. I've always wanted a colnago but back in the early nineties I had to "settle" for a Pinarello Montello (vintage mid 80s) in Spumoni paint. This thread helped me figure on what I was looking for. Finally finished the build up today and went for a quick ten miles 😀. Per Laura at Colnago it's a 1996 in AD4 finish.

The black Campag stuff looks awesome on that frame..NICE rig!!

[GonaSovereign]

Originally Posted by paredown

Late generation Master--late 90s to 2000s when they switched those cable stops to the side of the top tube (you will see them in the same location on the CT1/2 (titanium) if they are original.

Serial may be on the face of the rear dropout.

That's pre-1996. The seatlug design changed to this kind around then. The seat stays slot in, as opposed to being brazed on. Here's the newer one:


Edit: someone beat me to it, but I'll leave this up b/c it's a nice pic.

[wallymann]

definitely not an esa-mexico. late 80s master.

Originally Posted by velogeek.be

I just discovered this site: http://labibleduvelocataloguescolnag...-1989.html?m=1

The right fork appeared in 1989, and this year's catalogue shows a model with hexagonal tubes very similar to those in my frame: ESA Mexico.

I'm a little confused, and no serial number to confirm!

[velogeek.be]

Originally Posted by wallymann

definitely not an esa-mexico. late 80s master.

Thank you all. I'll post some pictures when it's ready to ride!

[wallymann]

guys...i moved this content to a single, easily-updated PDF file

[pstock]

helpful thread.
I have a colnago up for sale and the potential buyer has asked me what the year of production is. I have no idea. I just enjoy riding the thing. But rather than get into a fight with him (does year matter?) I thought I'd seek guidance here.

mine is an odd one. because it lacks so many decals and features one might expect of a production Colnago, I wonder if It might have been repainted at some point. if it was, it was well done and nicely dressed up with the black Colnago lettering.

I was trying to follow the original list of features by era but got stumped.

this cable routing for instance enters underneath the TT but exits on the top.

the fork is carbon with a carbon steerer, but I can't know if it is original.

anyone know what the E204 stamped on the rear dropout refers to?

PS. no wisecracks please about the bit of shim showing at the seatpost lug. My seatpost was slipping.....

[wallymann]

master-olympic/master-light -- voila!

rear dropouts with integrated cable-stop is the key detail.

re: fork -- if indeed CF, 0% chance that it's original.

Originally Posted by pstock

helpful thread.
I have a colnago up for sale and the potential buyer has asked me what the year of production is. I have no idea. I just enjoy riding the thing. But rather than get into a fight with him (does year matter?) I thought I'd seek guidance here.

mine is an odd one. because it lacks so many decals and features one might expect of a production Colnago, I wonder if It might have been repainted at some point. if it was, it was well done and nicely dressed up with the black Colnago lettering.

I was trying to follow the original list of features by era but got stumped.

this cable routing for instance enters underneath the TT but exits on the top.

the fork is carbon with a carbon steerer, but I can't know if it is original.

anyone know what the E204 stamped on the rear dropout refers to?

PS. no wisecracks please about the bit of shim showing at the seatpost lug. My seatpost was slipping.....

[Bob Boberson]

sorry for the horrible image but here is my Master.

[Kleist]

This is mine Master X-Light :-) One of the best bikes I have ever had.

[gngroup]

Here’s one I no longer own. Built with NOS Dura Ace 7400.

[paredown]

If we're sharing--two shots from when I was still trying to figure out sizing...

The first is an '80s Master Piu, Decor paint. I started the R&R by getting the fork rechromed, but decided it was too big for me. The second is also an '80s production late Super with the 'retinato' (fish scale) paint that I picked up NOS... that I decided at the time that it was too small. (If I still had it now I would build it up....)

[X Light]

Have this Master X Light with Ceramicspeed krank bearings. Dura Ace 7700. Painted front fork - not chromed. Any body know what year this could be from ?