1986 Atala MTB - info request !?!

[stumpjumper1990]

Hi,

This one was offered to me, but I don't know anything about it.
Anyone any idea or information? Much appreciated!

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Elev12k]

It looks old, distinctive en quite original to me. In case a sympathic asking I would probably go for it.

 

[stumpjumper1990]

It looks old, distinctive en quite original to me. In case a sympathic asking I would probably go for it.

My thoughts exactely! What do you think is a sympathic asking price?

 

[novekili]

Nice gruppo but nothing decent has ever come from Atala. The only hope is that the one at issue might be a rebranded frame.

 

[stumpjumper1990]

Nice gruppo but nothing decent has ever come from Atala. The only hope is that the one at issue might be a rebranded frame.

It made you look, though!

Back in those days Atala made some nice frames, or you disagree!?!

Here's the 1987 road catalogue!

 

[novekili]

Sure I looked, you asked for info, and I know the brand.

Dunno anything about road bikes, I'm speaking about MTBs. Being Italian, I know Atala very well. Try to think about Huffys.... Atala is the Italian version.

The frame you have there might be a rebranded American one. Italian MTB frames made before 1992 were real rubbish, apart from Scapin and Grandis. They had road geometries, short top tubes, and overbuilt construction.

I understand the bike you have there is quite charming, just don't pay it too much; how much would you pay for the gruppo? Well, whhatever the sum might be, add 40 Euros for the frame. Or come to Italy and try and find one for free...

 

[Elev12k]

The nice round sum of 100 euros?

It is blue colar level bike. Nothing ueberfancy, but MTB ranges of this kind of brands weren't simply very wide at that time. There is a Brooks (Professional, I think), some chrome and I it could be I see Campag 1010 drop outs. Not a minty. The front mech is for sure ready for replacement. Of course there could be and probably will be, as Nove already mentioned, shortcomings in design, but what do you expect from a 1986 MTB? MTBs of this era you will not find at every corner of the street overhere. There is not a lot to choose from and you could also argue that the quircky design choices add to its attractiveness, as it is distinctive and reflects how the Italians thought about MTBs back than.

 

[novekili]

No intention of being polemic here, I just think you might be interested in the philosophy of Italian framebuilders...

So, back when we were young, Italians thought:
1 - We are Italian and can't learn nuthin' from a bunch of American hippies (heard a well known frame builder say something similar)
2 - Road bikes are fast, so Mtbs, to be fast, must be made as road bikes.
3 - Stones are hard, thus tubes must be half an inch thick.
4 - Lugs have worked for 100 years, welding has no sense.
The kind of attitude that got them so late into the business of building of decent MTB frames, an art that Colnago hasn't learnt yet (and that Pinarello has luckily decided to abandon).

My 1989 Ibis looks 10 years ahead.