DeRosa NEO-PRO? DeRosa quality????????
HwkeyeDr2B
Here's a touchy/sensitive topic...
anyone have any negative experiences with their DeRosa's? I WAS recently
interested in buying a DeRosa until a reliable source advised against it
due to thin finish (esp in the clear coat), and subtely incorrect tubing
measurements!!! anyone else have problems with the paint chipping down to
the bare metal too easily or with easy rusting, or have discovered that
their bike was subtley out of alignment due to one of the stays being
subtely too long? This is not an isolated case either... I've heard/read at
least 4 experiences like the ones above... Of course, i've still heard
countless more in favor of DeRosa's... I just wanted to get a sense as to
whether this was a widespread problem or even a problem at all... Also, if
anyone has any thoughts, comments, or experience w/ the DeRosa NEO-PRO
(columbus genius OS tubing) they'd be greatly appreciated!!!
please advise...
thanks!!
ed : )
Pete Ruckelshaus
I have found the finishes of many Italian frames (including a DeRosa I
once owned, but also older Colnagos, Rossin's, etc.) to be less than
durable, but the ride quality of many of these frames greatly outweighs
the delicate finish. In an effort to improve their finishes, several
Italian manufacturers send their frames to the US primed, and then have
a better quality color coat added here. If I remember right, Tommassini
and Giordana do this, and I'm sure there are others. Bottom line? It's
a bike. It's going to get chipped. Go to your local auto parts store,
find a good color match of touch-up paint, and just ride the damn
thing. Otherwise, just get your frame repainted in the off-season by
Fresh Frame, CyclArt, or a similar high quality painter - most of them
can match color and decals perfectly.
Pete
Morten F. Bertelsen
HwkeyeDr2B wrote:
>
> Here's a touchy/sensitive topic...
>
> anyone have any negative experiences with their DeRosa's? I WAS recently
> interested in buying a DeRosa until a reliable source advised against it
> due to thin finish (esp in the clear coat), and subtely incorrect tubing
> measurements!!! anyone else have problems with the paint chipping down to
> the bare metal too easily or with easy rusting, or have discovered that
> their bike was subtley out of alignment due to one of the stays being
> subtely too long? This is not an isolated case either... I've heard/read at
> least 4 experiences like the ones above... Of course, i've still heard
> countless more in favor of DeRosa's... I just wanted to get a sense as to
> whether this was a widespread problem or even a problem at all... Also, if
> anyone has any thoughts, comments, or experience w/ the DeRosa NEO-PRO
> (columbus genius OS tubing) they'd be greatly appreciated!!!
>
> please advise...
> thanks!!
> ed : )
In spring I got my new Derosa Casanova (Columbus Brain). A very nice
bike, with exstremely good feeling. However, I the painting is not the
best, but I think the quality of the frame is still very good. I don't
think there are any problems with the tubing. Considering rust, I have
experience some close to the crank.
da...@erinet.com
>Here's a touchy/sensitive topic...
>
>anyone have any negative experiences with their DeRosa's? I WAS recently
>interested in buying a DeRosa until a reliable source advised against it
>due to thin finish (esp in the clear coat), and subtely incorrect tubing
>measurements!!! anyone else have problems with the paint chipping down to
>the bare metal too easily or with easy rusting, or have discovered that
>their bike was subtley out of alignment due to one of the stays being
>subtely too long? This is not an isolated case either... I've heard/read at
>least 4 experiences like the ones above... Of course, i've still heard
>countless more in favor of DeRosa's... I just wanted to get a sense as to
>whether this was a widespread problem or even a problem at all... Also, if
>anyone has any thoughts, comments, or experience w/ the DeRosa NEO-PRO
>(columbus genius OS tubing) they'd be greatly appreciated!!!
Ed:
I've got a '94 DeRosa Professional SLX frame and the only problem I've
noticed was the red Italian paint tends to chip easily. The
primer/undercoat is white, so chips in the red finish are very
noticable. But, I ride the bike a lot, and chips happen. The
undercoat seems to be pretty durable so rust is not problem.
As for the other problems you mentioned, haven't noticed a one. The
frame is very well made. The attention to detail and brazing quality
is first class. It was checked for alignment when I got it -- right
on. I haven't had any reason to check it since then. I've noticed
that the geometry is a bit different than Bianchi and some other
Italian frames I've seen, but the bike rides very well. I think old
Ugo has his feces well correllated.
.................dave hamilton
Paul Begley
HwkeyeDr2B (hwkey...@aol.com) wrote:
: Here's a touchy/sensitive topic...
:
: anyone have any negative experiences with their DeRosa's? I WAS recently
I have a 1988 DeRosa I bought recently. Its a *wonderful* bike. The fit and
finish of the frame and components are very, very nice. The bike rides like
a champ. Its not a 'current' DeRosa, but after 9 years, the finish is still
OK (few chips, particularly under BB, etc.). I have heard some people
recommend getting some of the Italian bikes re-finished (clearcoat) at
a US shop (Spectrum in PA is one I spoke with about stretching my rear
to accomodate 8-9 speed hubs).
After close inspection of the bike, I have found a small patch of rust on
the fork lugs, none on the frame, and as noted by others, the base coat on the
frame is white. I have a digital camera and could send you some snapshots of
various parts of the frame.
I am not a 'bike snob'. I am an engineer by training and formerly rode
a Fuji Finest (mid-70's - was stolen in the mid-80's), a Specialized and
a Pugeot bike (all steel). The DeRosa is the nicest ride and the best made
bike I have owned.
I am not a Campy freak (although the engraved DeRosa Campy cranks are *very*
cool - almost artwork) and I may go to Japanese STI (don't tell anyone), but
the Campy stuff is very nice in fit and finish and works flawlessly after
nine years.
There is also a guy who wrote an article on his experience buying two
italian frames while on his honeymoon in Italy (DeRosa and Colnago). He
attributed the paint issues to Italian environmental laws, but was not
put off by the finish of the bikes and was very satisfied with both his
frames. An interesting aside was the difference in how he was fitted for
each frame and how this biased the fit and feel of the bike.
The URL is http://gramercy.ios.com/~lam1002/italy1.html
Hope this helps.
-Paul
Propeloton
I have owned 6 of them and still have three....a Giro, a San Remo, and a
1973 Replica....they are without doubt the finest riding framesets I have
ever seen...I have been in the bike business for 15 years and would sell
only DeRosa and Masi, if I could....The paint is not like many American
jobs but the paint on Serotta's are 'chippy' too.
If you buy one have whoever builds it treat it with "Framesaver"
OBTW-I hope it fits you....longish toptyube and slack seatube...very
Italiano