A guy is advertising a used Avanti Blade that looks to be in good condition. However, he is either in the dark or tightlipped 😕 about what exact model of Blade it is we're talking about. Since there's a lot of people here who seems to know the ins and outs of models, I may be in luck 🙂
From the colour alone I'd guess it's a Blade Pro, but then again - on Avanti's site I can only see -06 and -05 (and I would guess this is an -04 or even an -03 - but I may be wrong).
I am looking at an 04 catalogue. The model is written on the top tube, just forward of the seat post. It looks like a Blade Comp with upgraded wheels, seat and seatpost. The bars and brake levers do not appear to be original either. If you can check the RD, Comp=105, Pro=Ultegra both 9 speed. Pro has Carbon forks those look like CrMo. Value, $3-400 depending on condition. They were $1250 in 2004 full retail.
For your info, I recieved some good intel from the guy who actually sold the bike in early 2005.
<< Avanti is not sold as a complete bike in Sweden. They were sold either as frames for self-kitting or as a complete kit which were constructed by Hallman Sports (now Shimano Bikeparts, Sweden) and were available in a few different configurations. They happened to be agent for Shimano which means that most of the parts except decks, saddle and some were Shimano. The "PRO" brand is something Shimano Benelux developed as a complement for Shimano's better stuff. They have absolutely nothing to do with Avanti's factory bikes. We sold them for around 11.000 SEK [approx 1900 AUS] at the time. What's on "our" Avanti Blades are Shimano's Tiagra group of products along with 420 brakes and other fun stuff. It is nigh to impossible to translate the value of an australian Avanti to one of ours. Ours are also handmade. They are now gone from the market, because when Shimano bought Hallman Sports they ended the Avanti specials program because it was "in conflict" with other segments for Shimano. >>
