Bantam

So I was out riding my (new school) bike today when I see this guy throwing an old steel bike into a big truck. So I rolled to a stop and asked if I could have the bike. He tried to say no, he was going to give it to some kid. But I looked at it and commented on how much work it needs, it needs a lot. I guess he realized some kid would not restore the thing, so he said it was mine.
The frame says Garelli.
The RD is Suntour Vx, I believe.
Cassette is 6 speed.
Brakes are Shimano but I do not remember the model.
The shifters are stem mounted.

The whole bike


Lugs and shifters


Stem and shifters

divineAndbright

Well it certainly needs a lot of work, any steel bits on it are very rusty looking, its sad the chrome fork tips are rusted out. Have a stash of parts around? I'd actually like to see its revival, I have a thing for orange bikes, best of luck with it!

Bantam

I have no parts for it, but I have an entire summer to tinker and a friend that wants in on the project.

roughrider504

Looks Japanese.

moki

I hate to rain on your parade, but if you like decent bikes and not wasting money, that bike is probably not for you.

At the very least, you'll need new rubber, tape, brake pads, saddle, chain, and cables. The wheels probably need truing and tensioning. The derailleurs are probably beyond redemption, and that is a LOT of rust on the fork. If you have tools, you can save some money by repacking the possibly salvageable bearings. If not, get set to pay the LBS.

I've been there, done that, and ended up spending way too many hours on a heavy, sucky bike that sucked. I'm all for recycling and garbage sifting, but that is one busted ass bike.

vpiuva

I'm not going to rain yet. It came with q/r wheels, a cotterless crank, what looks like a chrome (now rust) fork, and those may be forged rear dropouts. Calls for blast, powdercoat and a fixie conversion. What I would worry about are those circular cracked paint marks behind the head tube lugs and the down tube lug bulge. The front fork looks straight, but possible crash damage?

coelcanth

shimano 600 headset ?

Bantam

Fixie was one thing that crossed my mind, but I want(ed) some other opinions before hacking away.

divineAndbright

No fixie, no fixie! I suggest you completely strip it down and give it a good cleaning, you may be able to get a lot of the rust off the fork by soaking it in a tub of oxalic acid for a day or two.

Then I suggest you get some friction downtube shifters and a diff set of derailleurs for it, look around on ebay for something descent. Some replacement brake levers - something without those turkey wings. It looks like you might need a new rear rim - it looks like it smucked a pot hole or something pretty bad, not sure if you'd manage to straighten it out.

Other lil things; loose the kick stand, take the lil chainguard off the crank (if its removable, otherwise get a replacement crank set!) get some toe clips and straps and enjoy!

braingel

That's what it looks like for sure...but wouldn't a crash that was hard enough to bend the frame tubes also bend the fork blades? Based on my experience the fork always bends first.

Sammyboy

Garelli is an Italian builder of scooters and lightweight motorcycles. From memory, we've had one turn up here before, and I couldn't find anything about them building bicycles, and almost nothing on the web about the motorbikes either. I can't now find that thread, but here is a little about the company, and a fan site. Warning - last site is the current Garelli homepages, is in Italian, and takes about a week to load.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garelli_Motorcycles
https://garelli.co.uk/
https://www.garelli.com/

joe v

While this kind of bike will never look 'new', every bit of work you do and every part you replace will make a big difference, so don't let others discourage you!

Grand Bois

It's definitely got a bent frame.

Ernie6009

I to have received 2 girelli ten speeds can't find anything about them wondering if you did thanks!

non-fixie 

Garelli were well-known for their mopeds, but not for making bikes, AFIK. However, they were bought by Agrati in the early sixties, whom - I can imagine - may have used the name on their own frames in an attempt to get a foothold in the the US during the bike boom.

juvela

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https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrati-Garelli

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrati

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non-fixie 

When I was a teenager, my dreams were not about bicycles (already had one, thank you) but about mopeds. The Italians were well-represented in those dreams, with machines by Malaguti, Benelli and, of course, Garelli:



(not mine, alas, but one that is currently for sale, for the price of a nice Colnago)

juvela

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Here be one -







https://paramanubrio.blogspot.com/201...elli-asti.html

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non-fixie 

Excellent! Looks to be pre-1961, no?

juvela

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Poster dates it as "1950's", IIRC.

Head emblem gives company location as Asti rather than Monticello Brianza, so it would be pre-merger.

Has some interesting bits such as the Way-Assauto headset & pedals, Ambrosio stem/bar. The industrial size mudflap on front mudguard is REG Nr. 213. Dynamo is BOSCH; some of these were made in Sweden.

The mitred-in "crushed pencil" seat stay treatment is one not often encountered.

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juvela

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Came across a second gallery showing this machine. Its images are of a larger format and better lit. She wears a skirt guard here as well...

















With regard to dating - posting has an item for Anno Di Produzione which is listed as "40/50". Take this to intend 1940's-1950's. Certainly looks postwar.

Dynamo wiring travels through frame to serve rear lamp.

https://www.registrostoricocicli.com/...e/garelli-001/

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juvela

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This additional cycle is dated as 1953 by its owner/restorer -





















https://paramanubrio.blogspot.com/201...asti-1953.html

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non-fixie 

Very elegant machines. Thanks for finding them!

The Golden Boy 

I totally dig the iPad holder so you can read and ride!

juvela

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A Korean produced Garelli road machine has recently been posted over at thecabe -



https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/ga...urismo.137982/

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