1985 Masi (Milano) 3v Volumetrica

Masi (Milano) 3v Volumetrica 1985

Purchased on eBay on 26 September 2008. Back on the road 8 October. Paint work damaged in August 2009 and sent for repainting in January 2010. Finally returned in October 2015 (!) and back on the road 5 December 2015 in time for this machine 30th birthday.

Restoration
This was purchased as a complete machine with what are believed to be all original components comforming to factory specs of the time of build (November 1985). In remarkable, almost NOS condition, none of the components show even the slightest wear with the Regina-CX chain still coated with factory cosmoline, hubs packed with original Campagnolo grease and the stitching on the leather bar wrap still pristine white. The unmarked Mavic GP-4 rims still had what must have been the original, perished Clement Seta tubular tyres with almost no tread wear. The only flaws are paint chips on the frame more associated with storage than use.
The original paint used on these early Masi 3v models is appalling both in terms of finish and quality and the deteriorating paint was subsequently damaged by contact with tape. The original red frame was repainted in another stock Masi livery of pearlescent pale blue owing to problems duplicating the original red. The handlebar set changed out at the same time to Cinelli Criterium ‘bars and black Cinelli 1R stem with white tape to emulate the 3v featured in a 1985 review of the machine.

The Ride
In advance of all the wild enthusiasm if not adoration of all things Masi, it was somewhat of a disappointment to find them all true. The first one-hour ride right out of the shop convinced me. The Masi 3v is pure sex on two wheels, a ride that's intoxicating in its responsiveness, stiffness and confident cornering, climbing and acceleration which one expects in a real racing bike and is achieved in this like no other. By no means the lightest machine of my collection or its era, it just rides like one or better. I like the stiff, almost harsh ride and shodding her with 10 BAR, 19mm Tufu tubulars chose to emphasize rather than mitigate the unique character of the machine. Assolumente perfetto.

Frame
Material: Special straight-gauge 0.7 mm Swedish chromoly oversize tubing made by Isidoro Rezze, Excell Tubes, Lyon, France. Top tube dia. 1 ⅜”, seat and down tube 1 ¼”, fork blades and chain stays 24 mm and seat stays 16 mm
Finish: (repaint) Pearlescent light blue with yellow accents, chromed right chainstay, fork crown and dropouts, European market decals.
Size: seat tube 63 cm (c to t), 59.5 cm (c to c) top tube 58.5 cm (c to c)
Chainstay length: 40 cm (c to c) 16 ¼”
Bottom bracket height: 7 cm 10 ⅝”
Wheelbase: 99 cm (39 ⅝” (c to c)
Angles: 75.5º head 74º seat
Fork offset: 1 ⅜”
Rear spacing: 126 mm
Lugs: Hi-Fi investment cast Masi internal
Fork Crown: investment cast flat crown Masi with chromed cap
Dropouts: Masi copies of Campagnolo 1010/B forged
Braze-ons: downtube shifter bosses, one pair water bottle bosses on down tube, brake and cable guides, front derailleur boss.
Serial nos: on underside of BB shell: 280 KR63 8511

Components
Rear derailleur: Campagnolo Super Record no pat. date
Front deralleur: Campagnolo Super Record braze-on
Gear levers: Campagnolo 1014 with Campagnolo clamp
Chainset: Campagnolo Super Record Strada, 42t x 53t, 172.5 cm cranks, stamped 4 in circle (1984)
Bottom bracket: Campagnolo Super Record with steel spindle, Italian thread
Headset: Campagnolo Super Record Italian thread
Stem: Cinelli 1R, black, new logo, 125 mm
Handlebars: Cinelli no. 65 Criterium, new logo, satin anodised finish, 40 cm, Benotto white pearl cellotape, Campagnolo bar plugs
Brakes: Campagnolo Super Record side-pull short reach with script “Campagnolo”, recessed Allen bolt fitting
Brake levers: Campagnolo Super Record with original Campagnolo shield hoods
Seatpost: Campagnolo Super Record, 27.2 mm, single-bolt
Seat binder bolt: Campagnolo
Saddle: Concor Supercorsa
Pedals: Campagnolo Super Record with titanium spindles
Toeclips and straps: ALE black anodised alloy clips and ALE toe straps
Rims: Nisi Sludi mod. 290 36-hole sprint rims (700c x 18mm, 290g)
Hubs: Campagnolo Record 36-hole low-flange with Campagnolo curved-lever quick release skewers
Spokes: 3x 15 gauge single-butted stainless steel
Freewheel: Campagnolo alloy 13-18t, six-speed
Chain: Regina CX
Tyres: Tufo Jet-Pro 19 mm sew-ups
Accessories: REG black alloy bottle cage and Masi bottle
Weight: 22.4 lbs