Just joined the forum but have done a lot of looking through over the years. I recently started doing a resto-mod on my ‘85 Raleigh Marathon (sentimental bike, it was the bike that got me back into cycling when I bought it in college) after destroying my RD on my Synapse and being bikeless while I tracked down the part and had it fixed. Anyway I enjoyed it so much I started looking for other bikes to work on.

I’ve ays wanted an Italian bike and seemed to score a pretty good deal on a Gios frame set. I think it’s a 90s compact pro but haven’t been able to find anything definite. It looks like a welded frame, chrome fork, chrome drive side seat stay, the little Italian flag braze on by Alfredo Gios signature, and braze on for the FD. Serial number is 90306. Does that mean it’s a 1990? Any help deciphering the age and exact model would be appreciated.

I’m considering building it up with either period campy or maybe putting something more current on, although I think I prefer the silver components.

Sorry I don’t have any pics of it yet.

Sorry no help, but I share how appreciation for Italian frames from that era. Good luck.

The Official Vintage Bicycle Manufacturer Catalog List w/Links

Gios (19xxA) / (19xxB) / (19xxC) / (1977) / (1981) - Gios (1984) / (1986)

...pretty sure these are all lugged frames. I know nothing of Gios in the welded frame era.

The unique dropouts on a compact look like this:

I own a Gios Compact Pro, which I purchased from Excel Sports in Boulder, which used to be the main source here in the US. I could be wrong, but if that is a welded frame, I would suspect it is not an original, because my understanding is that Compact Pros were chrome lugged frames.

However, if there was an era where welded frames were built, I stand corrected. But it raises a flag to me.

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...the reason we are a little suspicious is that Gios, in their compact line, invested a lot in the design and casting (I think they were cast, I don't know how else they would make something like that), of special socketed frame lugs. they were similar to the ones on the socketed Trek frames. So they were sort of unique in that aspect, among Italian frame makers. I don't know why they would have abandoned that construction method, for welding. Here is the one I have.
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So not only are the dropouts unique, but also look at the seat lug, where it accepts the stays in sockets, rather than brazing the stays into the seat lug in a different arrangement. Some of the Italian makers did move on to TIG welding in the later 80's and 90's. I just don't know much about Gios in the 90's.

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...2009, still lugged construction.

More modern versions of the Compact Pro seem to have a different seat lug, whereby the seat stay is brazed on.

I got the pics from the ad but can't post them since I haven't made 10 posts yet, I'm worried now that this isn't real. I was thinking perhaps this was a later model where the adjustable rear dropouts had been discontinued and they were welding. Did Gios make any other models that this could be other than the Compact Pro or is this definitely a counterfeit? I haven't responded to the seller yet until I'm sure. I haven't been able to find any catalogs from the 90s or later to compare looking for a welded frame.

There's definitely a part of me that was feeling like this was a deal too good to be true ($200) but I chalked it up to large frame size (62cm) and the seller having it listed in the wrong place. He's got another frame listed right now (Pink Colnago 60cm) that I thought about but also seemed maybe a bit off and certainly not original paint that he says, almost looks powder coated, plus I didn't need 2 frames to work on.

Is this the sale you're talking about? https://www.ebay.com/itm/38433470024...p2047675.l2557


Certainly looks like a repaint around the flag area, but it might be original. The fork definitely appears to be Gios.

Same seller has a Masi 3V listing that keeps popping up in my searches, but its listed height is CTT (of a tall seat tube extension) and also looks filet-brazed or Tigged, which seems weird to me for a 3V. Also weird, is the fact that he says it uses 26" wheels, which would be strange for a 62cm frame (and I don't think the rim model he lists were offered in 26". I keep staring at it (as the price drops from an original ask of $1k the first time it was listed) because I'd love a red Masi (and a "Cutters" jersey), but the peculiararities (and the fact that it's probably too small) keep me from bidding.

Edit: Looks very similar to what Spaghetti Legs posted below but some differences (he has a lug at the seat tube/top tube cluster and his dropout is very different. Also slightly different fork. Close though, and attractive.

I have a Compact Pro with sliding rear dropouts and tig welded. I’ve dated it as a 1995 but don’t recall how I came to that conclusion. It is made with Gios branded Deda tubeset. It’s a very nice riding bike, definitely a racer.

Edit: I just checked out the above link and someone got a good deal. Looks like a nice frame, my guess is early 90’s. As an aside, one of the nice things about steel frames is, generally, not all that hard to tell from pics when a frame is good quality so even if someone decides to throw an Italian race bike stickers on it, it’s still good. In this case I’d bet it’s a legit Gios.

As far as building it up, if you're stuck between modern and period correct, I find that silver 10 speed Campagnolo splits the difference nicely. On the other hand, as someone swimming in the market for similarly sized frames, maybe I shouldn't say that so we're not competing for components too. Forget I said anything.

[MENTION=129463]himespau[/MENTION] - WRT the 3V you referenced. I think it is a copy. The 3V represents a unique internal lugged design that has a clear "ring" at the interface between the lug and tub.
Much discussion over here Masi TEAM 3V - 2003 10v - Bike Forums

The GIOS letter did not differentiate on the seat cluster design, just that GIOS was on the lugs that are proprietary. That rear DO is really unique too.

Gios just got added to my Italian bucket list.

himespau Yep that's the one. I looked at that Masi too but passed because then I wouldn't be doing a build.
Spaghetti Legs Do you know if there was a version made without the adjustable rear DO?

I'm no expert but I thought the frame looked pretty good, maybe nicer than someone just trying to pass off a fake but I can't seem to zero in on whether its real or not. I thought the seller didn't know much about bikes since he had this listed along with the Masi as 26" wheels plus with the large frame figured maybe I was lucky enough to get a good deal. Could this be a later model "Torino" without the adjustable DOs? Or was the adjustable DOs just an option. I saw one that sold on Steel-Vintage.com that looks almost the same, decals are slightly different but it appears welded (or fillet brazed) without any GIOS stamp on the BB but it has the adjustable DO.

As far as build if it's not real I don't think I'm going to go through the trouble of doing a Campy buildup, I'll probably just return it and save my money for a real Italian steel steed.

An acquaintance once told me they’re prized in the fixed/single speed community because of that. He was also an accomplished amateur level racer in the late 80’s, early 90’s and on viewing my collection of Italian racer bikes, FWIW, the Gios was the only one that elicited oohs and ahhs from him.

Regarding the sliding dropout, I measure only 8 mm of travel in it and I wonder what kind of effect that change in effective chain stay length would have on handling. Certainly nothing I can tell, but I haven’t messed with it that much. Maybe it’s just to get the rear wheel tucked in more aero to the seat stay.

OP, I’d be willing to bet Gios offered a concurrent frame without the sliding dropout, but don’t know enough about it to give a specific example.

...I have mine set all the way back. It's the only way I could mount 25's on it for tyres. It really is a pretty tight frame. I like it with 25's. I don't think I would with anything narrower.

Mystery solved! So did some more digging and apparently Gios split at some point, can't tell if it was a feud between brothers or due to some kind of litigation with a dealer but there are now 2 Gioses (would plural Gios be Gii?) I reached out to Gios.it but didn't hear back then found the other company Giostorino.it. I got an answer within an hour from Marco Gios himself! Its real a 1999 Gios Megalite, now I just need to see what I can find out about that model. I guess I actually did get lucky for once.....now if I could only find a full 10 sp Campy groupset for $200 too I'd really be set.

Wow, great luck for you. Congrats.

I recently talked about this with a friend, he told me that indeed there are two Gios from two brothers who decided to split business at some point: one Gios (the giostorino.it) based in Volpiano near Turin, where the great Aldo still works, which deals with the local market and where you can still have a top level taylor made Gios frame according to Aldo (and his son) extensive knowledge, the other Gios dealing with international customers.

Look at the pages from Gios
Gios Compact frame details
and then look through those models in the Historical Register
If you register your frame, then it is an official Gios Torino. Proof for the future.
Mine is No 153, a Professional.

The brothers split to best deal with the legal issues relating to the fake frames produced.

Yeah - the other brother moved towards making frames in Asia and selling them in teh Far East and Australia. You cannot get a Gios in the states currently.

Interesting on the tubing if that Gios. It looks to have some aero shaping similar to a Yamaguchi that used to be built in Rifle, CO.

I noticed that too. I guess it was a thing in the 90’s as I’ve seen some bikes in Columbus Genius and Brain with shaped downtubes like that.

I know I started this thread a while ago but never brought it to its final conclusion. I was out for a ride today on it and took some pics when I got home.

As mentioned previously this is a 1999 Gios Megalite (side note: I’ve never been able to find any info on this model, no catalog, spec sheet, nothing. If anyone has any info it’d be interesting to see). I started this during covid and got it done a year or so ago. I wanted a completely Italian bike so tried to source everything from Italian brands. I think I was pretty successful since the only things non-Italian are the tubes and pedals. I’d call it a “resto-mod” since it’s a mix of NOS, gently used, and new components with a modern drivetrain. Here are the pics:

Beautiful build.