Bike Check: Kobayashi’s Cinelli Laser
The Cinelli Laser has long held cult status, spotting one is always an event, and I’m always happy to take a few pictures. Its owners tend to fall into two distinct camps. On one side are the historians: riders who can recount every detail, from the year it was built to who raced it, complete with archival track photos, results, and sometimes even medals. On the other are the “connoisseurs”, drawn simply to its striking presence, content in knowing it is a Laser, and that alone is enough. There is a subtle flex in saying, “I know what it is, even if I don’t know where it’s been.” But in the case of Kobayashi-san, however, the story sits somewhere in between.
Kobayashi understands the inherent value of owning a piece like this yet has no real intention of putting it to use beyond its role as a show bike. The story traces back nearly 40 years, when his father purchased it directly from Shimizu Cycles, then Cinelli’s official retailer in Japan. What makes it even more remarkable is its condition: from the near-pristine dropouts to the overall finish, there is little to suggest it has seen much time on the track at all.
There is a wide range of Lasers out there: team-specific machines, prototypes, one-offs, and of course the versions that were made available to the public. It was not easy to pin down exactly which one this was, but with help from Amy Danger, a.k.a. @adangerpdx, we settled on a variant of the Cinelli Laser Nuova Evoluzione. It may be a later model, judging by the fork as well as the head tube gusset, which appears “flipped” compared with other Lasers we have seen. In this version, the gusset extends more toward the top tube than the down tube, giving the frame a slightly different character.
Detailed Parts List
Frameset
Cinelli Laser
Chainring and Cog 52T Campagnolo Record, 17t Cog
Crank Campagnolo Record
Seatpost and Saddle
Campagnolo Record, and Cinelli Volare
Stem and Handlebar
Custom laser steam with Cinelli LA 84 bar
Wheels
Cinelli Carbon Fiber disc set
For me, the stem integration on these bikes has always been the most impressive detail. The clean lines, the variety of Columbus Max tube shapes, and the beautifully executed fork are all exceptional; even the headset is an intriguing touch, with what appears to be white plastic covers on the top and bottom cups. I am not entirely sure what that headset detail is, but it is exactly the kind of curious feature that makes these bikes so interesting, yet somehow a bit weird.
Finally, the Cinelli M71 “Suicide” pedals are one of my favorite details on builds like this. They required you to reach down and manually push a lever with your hand to release the shoe from the pedal, which made them completely impractical for street riding but perfect for a collection piece like this one.
I wonder how it rides….
🎞: Kodak Color Plus 200
📷: Leica M6
📍: Osaka
