Colnago Arabesque Gentleman Sport Bicycle 1980s

When it comes to classic bicycles, a Colnago Arabesque is undoubtedly a must have for any collector. Very hard to find, the original Arabesque models might be the most well-finished bicycles that Colnago has ever manufactured.

Their production started around 1984 to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the company: Ernesto Colnago wanted to create a bicycle which would be a milestone, both for himself and for the bicycle industry.

By looking at the lugs, it is simple to understand where the name "Arabesque" comes from. Those "arabesque shape" lugs were made by Rauler and actually remind of Gloria Garibaldina bikes, an Italian company Ernesto Colnago worked for when he was young.
As for the tubing, the Arabesque was built in different versions both with Columbus SL tubes and specially profiled Colnago tubes (the latter ones being the ones of the Nuovo and Esamexico models).

The frame became so popular and legendary that for 2016, Colnago started to produce a number of reproductions from a stash of leftover lugs. But unfortunately their reproduction looks like (and essentially is) just a "normal" Colnago Master with special lugs. It somehow lacks the elegance of the originals.

This Colnago Arabesque Gentleman Sport Bicycle is simply a breath-taking beauty from the mid 1980s. The frame and parts are in a really great condition, which shows that it has been ridden rarely. This piece of cycling history comes directly from Italy, where it belonged to a famous bike shop in Milan.

The frame of this Arabesque was built using a round Columbus SL tubing which with their humble anthracite paintjob contrast the "Arabesque" lugs nicely.

But what makes this Colnago even more unique is the astonishing setup as a sports bike with mudguards and a rear rack. The whole built has something so particular, that we had to add a catalogue picture to actually prove that this is how it was meant to be built.

There is nothing more to say about this masterpiece. One of the rarest (small series) produced bicycles: for true collectors!