Bike Check: Lettuce-San’s Cinelli MX.1
This is it! One year later, it's finally a wrap of my coverage of the Shuhari collection. And because I'm keeping the best for last, this is by far the coolest bike I rode while I was there. In fact, I looked really hard to get one for myself since the day I tried it, but you could say that the price is definitely a significant barrier to entry.
The Cinelli MX.1 belongs to the very exclusive category of vintage BMX bikes whose value has skyrocketed tenfold over the years. Designed with the goal of being the lightest BMX on the market at the time, the project was given to Andrea Pesenti, the same man behind some of the most iconic Cinelli Laser designs.
For some reasons, the MX.1 was built using tubing that, by all accounts, you should never use for a BMX. Early models featured light, thin tubing with no gussets for reinforcement, making it more of a stylish cruiser than a serious race or performance bike.
The MX.1 was also THE bike that no-one had as a kid since it was significantly more expensive than a GT or a Redline at the time. The Italian craftsmanship was costly, and racing something like this would have been a serious baller move. Also… this one is gold with silver parts but you could have it with Campagnolo gold components as well.
Like I just said, available as a full bike with Campagnolo headset, crankset, hubs, and super thin 20” tubular tires, or as a frameset, the MX.1 was here to look good on your way to get your coffee, but that’s pretty much it.
You could opt for different rims to accommodate larger tires, but why would you? Just look at this thing! It radiates pure 1980s Italian style! I recall Letuce-San mentioning that he specifically wanted the version with thin tires so he could fit a Campagnolo brake caliper onto the frame.
Finally, take a second to appreciate this set of V-bars, strapped to a heavy Pro Neck II stem, as well as a sky-high seatpost, providing you with the perfect position for some light commuting, and automatically granting you a filthy amount of street cred.
This was, by far! My favorite Non-Track bike of the year, and you should check your uncle or dad's garage to see if they have one for me.
Like seriously…I really want one
🎞: Kodak Gold (Expired)
📷: Nikon F100
📍: Shuhari
