Alimo - Dutch Benotto sub-brand (70-80s)

non-fixie · Feb 6, 2022

That is one of the Miki-built frames. It seems those all came with Shimano 600.

SuperSid · Feb 6, 2022

non-fixie said:
That is one of the Miki-built frames. It seems those all came with Shimano 600.

Can you tell me more about those framesets? What tubing were they made with?

SuperSid · Feb 7, 2022

The Miki frames seem to be made with Hi-tensile steel tubing, the claimed weight of 10.3 Kg isn't that much heavier than the 10 Kg I weighed mine at.
https://cyclostyle.com/union-sapporo-1982

non-fixie · Feb 8, 2022

SuperSid said:
Can you tell me more about those framesets? What tubing were they made with?

I don't know what tubing was used, but a 26.8mm seat post suggests something better than Hi-ten, at least for the seat tube.

The ad you posted is correct about the high quality finish. The ones I have seen had all held up very well. Nice chrome and paint.

That includes one of the frames I own. The decals are gone, but the Union head badge is still there:

non-fixie · Feb 10, 2022

Forgot to mention this: they are nice frames to ride. Really nice. The set-up pictured above didn't add anything to my other racing bikes, so I decided to follow another route with this frame, and build it up for touring. That turned out rather well. Especially on fast descents this proved to be a formidable frame.

The same frame in "faux Alex Singer" guise a few years ago in Tuscany:

SuperSid · Feb 10, 2022

non-fixie said:
Forgot to mention this: they are nice frames to ride. Really nice. The set-up pictured above didn't add anything to my other racing bikes, so I decided to follow another route with this frame, and build it up for touring. That turned out rather well. Especially on fast descents this proved to be a formidable frame.

The same frame in "faux Alex Singer" guise a few years ago in Tuscany:

Lovely build! Looks really comfortable. There was an old school cyclist in my cycling club in the 80s who had a bike that looked just like that, he went all over the place on it.

non-fixie · Feb 10, 2022

SuperSid said:
Lovely build! Looks really comfortable. There was an old school cyclist in my cycling club in the 80s who had a bike that looked just like that, he went all over the place on it.

Thanks.

I don't want to venture too far off-topic, but the combination of a French fit, short top tube and short wheelbase makes for a comfortable yet lively ride experience that I really like. Kind of a best of both worlds thing.

SuperSid · Feb 10, 2022

Alimo bikes were so random, I still can't work out a timeline of all the variants I have listed in this thread.
There don't seem to be as many of the Maki built Alimos about, some have the oval Benotto style head tube sticker while others have a house shaped blue and chrome sticker.

I thought that these Maki Alimos were called Alimo Nuovos but that label existed on the Benotto framed bikes, I wonder if the Maki bikes were the last Alimos produced or the first.

It would be great to find someone who worked for the brand.

SuperSid · Mar 11, 2022

120€ For an Alimo E - British frame
https://www.marktplaats.nl/v/fietse...sen/m1815287465-retro-vintage-alimo-racefiets
It looks mostly original but the sticker placement looks like a Friday afternoon job