LazyLegs

So I have a Gios Compact Pro, it's set up with classic components, downtube shifters etc. I love the Gios and was on the lookout for another frame to build up as a more modern everyday ride. I wasn't looking to spend a whole lot so an ebay listing for a cheap frame caught my eye. It didn't look like a real Gios even in the photos but some details suggested that it was a decent classic frame used to be dressed up as a Gios. Given the price, it was worth the risk as I would still have a reasonable quality frame for the price and it had some interesting features.

So I'm looking for what's lurking under the fresh coat of not quite Gios blue. I've attached some pics of the distinguishing features that might pick out a possible identity to the expert eye.

First and most distinguishing feature is the tube shaping, Top Tube, Down tube and Seat Tube all have a recessed spiral shape in the steel. Second piece of evidence is on the fork, three distinct circles inside the fork where the legs and crown are joined, and lastly is a pic of the bottom bracket shell, no inscriptions but drain hole pattern might point in some direction.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, even some info on the possible tube set with the external spiral design.

rando_couche

That "three slash" in the bb cutout and top tube ornamentation is from a specific builder, but I can't remember who. FWIW, that doesn't look like a "cheap" frame under the Gios paint job.

SP
OC, OR

LazyLegs

Yesh, I'm sure I've seen the BB Shell somewhere else but can't find it on any image searches. "Cheap" was more a reference to the price, a few details indicated there was quality steel underneath regardless of how it was dressed up - The chrome is in great condition too.

daf1009

Always makes you wonder why, when someone repaints a bike, they do not retain the original manufacturer on it...

zukahn1 

I would guess the quality of the frame is on par with a basic Gios frame so the repaint doesn't make sense. This frame as some really nice details usually only seen high on higher end Italian frames.

RoadGuy

Maybe it's someone's old race bike.

Isn't there a long history of Racers with contracts or sponsorships with one company who prefer bikes or components of another company who have parts on the bikes they race rebadged so they stat within their contracts?

Or maybe it was owned by someone who wanted a Gios who couldn't afford one, he/she had a good frame repainted to make it look like his/her dream bike?

LazyLegs

It's a bit of a conundrum alright - Judging by the condition of the drop outs and chrome, the frame looks very lightly used. The paint job itself and decals are also neat and well executed (apart from being a little darker than regular Gios blue). I'm thinking maybe it's a shop brand bike, good quality build and material but no name so maybe some one has done the Gios conversion as a pet project that they weren't happy with the result of, or got a real Gios in the meantime and decided to sell it on. Found some Daccordi's with the same BB Shell, don't think it's a proper Daccordi, as it would surely have been retained as was, but think they did some outsource builds, so maybe something like that.

jiangshi

Billato Bros built bike, could have been branded any number of things. Possibly a Ciocc branded bike originally. Possibly not the original fork...no way of telling after a repaint.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...rth-price.html

That tubing was used on a number of bike frames.

Bianchigirll 

I agree it is likely from the Bilato plant. are there ant markings on the frame? What brand are the dropouts?

Looks like a nice frame to me.

LazyLegs

No Ant markings, and only info on drop outs seems to be T144 stamped on inside of both. Thanks everyone for the help in identifying the origin, seems most likely that it came from the same source as the about linked Ciocc, a few detailing difference but similar enough to say it's more than likely the same manufacturer.

There is an unexpected upside too, in that I had planned a while back to pick up a good quality frame that needed a repaint so I could get a custom paint job - but any of the frames I picked up, even if they were quite tatty, once cleaned - still seem to retain a character that I couldn't bring myself to erase - So while I won't be repainting this in the near future, it gives me the option to do so now without basically vandalizing something with history.