Battaglin World Champion 87 – Classic Steel Road Bicycle – Campagnolo Chorus – 1980s

History:

The birth of the Italian cult brand dates back to 1981, when company founder Giovanni Battaglin retired from professional racing following his legendary double victory at the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. In his hometown of Marostica, he founded a frame manufactory destined to revolutionize racing through innovative geometries.

The absolute banner year for the brand arrived in 1987: Irish cycling pro Stephen Roche dominated the peloton on a Battaglin bike for the legendary Carrera Jeans-Vagabond team, capturing the rare Triple Crown—simultaneous victories at the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the Road World Championship in Villach. To honor this historic triple triumph, the workshop launched its flagship model, the World Champion 87. To this day, this series embodies the absolute zenith of Italian craftsmanship in professional steel frame building of the late 1980s.

Description:

This masterful Battaglin road bike is built upon what was then the non plus ultra from Italian tubing manufacturer Columbus: the SLX tubeset. Crafted from Cyclex steel, this double-butted tubeset features a construction with five spiral reinforcements inside the bottom bracket zone and the main tube ends. This design drastically increases torsional stiffness during powerful sprints without adding unnecessary weight. The frame boasts exclusive details such as investment-cast lugs with engraved Battaglin logos, a beautifully shaped brake bridge, and a fully chromed, characteristically curved Columbus fork. The deep aubergine-metallic paint finish is accented by classic world champion stripes on the top tube.

The mechanical specification consists of a period-correct, matching Campagnolo Chorus groupset of the groundbreaking first generation. This elegant groupset is distinguished by the iconic finish of its exquisitely polished aluminum components. The rear and front derailleurs operate with mechanical precision and are controlled via classic Campagnolo Syncro down-tube shifters. A visual and aerodynamic highlight is the fitted Campagnolo Vento wheelset, whose deep-section aluminum V-profile rims give the bicycle an aggressive, streamlined look. It is fitted with Michelin Dynamic Classic tires, whose traditional tan sidewalls harmonize perfectly with the gleaming rims. The steering center features a classic Cinelli stem and the ergonomically shaped Cinelli Touch handlebar, providing excellent aerodynamic riding positions.

Condition:

Used. The road bike has undergone a full revision in the Goldensteelcycles workshop as part of a premium restoration. The Columbus SLX frame was checked on an alignment table for exact geometry; it is structurally completely intact and absolutely free of cracks, dents, bends, or deformations. The deep purple paint finish was chemically cleaned and preserved with a three-layer Carnauba hard wax sealant. All first-generation Campagnolo Chorus components were completely disassembled, cleared of old gummed-up residues in an ultrasonic bath, and machine-polished to a high gloss. The Campagnolo Vento system wheels have been trued and run perfectly round. Every single mechanical bearing assembly—including the bottom bracket, the headset, and the refined Chorus hubs—was degreased, meticulously inspected, repacked with high-quality hub grease, and adjusted to run perfectly smooth without any play. The bicycle shifts, brakes, and rides like on day one.

Details: