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Beautiful Vintage Italian City Bikes, Lets Talk About Them

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Beautiful Vintage Italian City Bikes, Lets Talk About Them

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Old 06-17-22, 12:59 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by caloso
I love those handlebars!
They are called condorino bars. Typically integrated stem/bars/levers. A company called Varese made a lot of them for the big bike manufacturers. You can find them pretty cheap on Italian ebay, although shipping will cost more than the parr.
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Old 06-17-22, 01:05 PM
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This is my personal grail city bike.

DSC_0028 by iabisdb, on Flickr
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Old 06-17-22, 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
I love those handlebars!
The cult of the condorino is mighty…
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Old 06-17-22, 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by iab
They are called condorino bars. Typically integrated stem/bars/levers. A company called Varese made a lot of them for the big bike manufacturers. You can find them pretty cheap on Italian ebay, although shipping will cost more than the parr.
My kingdom for a single Legnano branded lever for my Condorino bars.
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Old 06-19-22, 01:21 AM
  #55  
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Awesome thread idea. I love ornate lugs.
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Old 06-19-22, 03:18 AM
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Originally Posted by RustyJames
The cult of the condorino is mighty…
Larger version called "clubmans" for motor-bikes.

Slightly more deco was to get the very shortest chopper Z-bars and mount them upside down.
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Old 06-19-22, 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by oneclick
Larger version called "clubmans" for motor-bikes.

Slightly more deco was to get the very shortest chopper Z-bars and mount them upside down.
Also know as "ace" bars..... And to keep this somewhat related to "Italian City Bikes":


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Old 09-16-22, 06:53 AM
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DEI
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Old 11-07-22, 02:54 PM
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I’m a sucker for the condorino bars. Not sure what exactly I have here, maybe a Legnano knock-off? The paint job would suggest so.

Anyone want to suggest some cool tires? Something to go with the general aesthetic?





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Old 11-18-22, 12:41 AM
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I agree single speed is all you need.

beautiful and practical bike

Bike shops could sell these instead of the uncomfortable frames of today

Riding a bike is meant to be pleasant and cheap activity
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Old 11-18-22, 03:30 PM
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-----

This example caught me attenzione as she be a new-to-me marque: Luisi Maggioni di Monza.

While clearly condorino in concept it does not exhibit a condorino pattern bar.

The gear ensemble caught my eye as it is a ROTO; IIRC gear mechs from this producer came in during the mid-seventies.

Lug pattern employed for the construction is the Agrati "ROMA" 000.8020/E/U for the head paired with the Agrati "EXPORT" for the seat.

Fork crown is Agrati "ROMA" pattern nr. 005..8028.

Lighting system is from Mondiale.

Estimate date to be ~1975.

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Old 12-25-23, 06:22 PM
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If you could choose any brand of vintage Italian City bike which would you choose?
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Old 12-25-23, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by iab
This is my personal grail city bike.

DSC_0028 by iabisdb, on Flickr
I have seen images of One Masi of this style, a unique head badge and slightly smaller seat tube badge. I am sure even way back a rare bike.
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Old 12-26-23, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Bicilover
If you could choose any brand of vintage Italian City bike which would you choose?
The one I have!
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Old 12-26-23, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by juvela
-----

This example caught me attenzione as she be a new-to-me marque: Luisi Maggioni di Monza.

While clearly condorino in concept it does not exhibit a condorino pattern bar.

The gear ensemble caught my eye as it is a ROTO; IIRC gear mechs from this producer came in during the mid-seventies.

Lug pattern employed for the construction is the Agrati "ROMA" 000.8020/E/U for the head paired with the Agrati "EXPORT" for the seat.

Fork crown is Agrati "ROMA" pattern nr. 005..8028.

Lighting system is from Mondiale.

Estimate date to be ~1975.

​​​​​​
​​​​​​
​​​​​​
‘only the first image loaded for me. I think the Condorino bars were out of production by about 1970. Sad. I think they are very smart. There are “repros” … some are wider, very few with welded on levers.
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Old 12-26-23, 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Bicilover
I agree single speed is all you need.

beautiful and practical bike

Bike shops could sell these instead of the uncomfortable frames of today

Riding a bike is meant to be pleasant and cheap activity
some of these were NOT cheap. I want a few gears.
‘one had to have stylish clothes, Coppi out of competition level of dress comes to mind.
just after my first post university job, needed an overcoat. Hugo Boss, baby alpaca, Black. Scarlet red cashmere scarf. Spent way too much, and worth every dollar. Don’t wear it much, do not visit cold climes anymore.
‘Coppi was a man of Style.
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Old 12-27-23, 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by repechage
‘only the first image loaded for me. I think the Condorino bars were out of production by about 1970. Sad. I think they are very smart. There are “repros” … some are wider, very few with welded on levers.
-----

wrt dating -

DisraeliGears gives a launch date for the ROTO company of 1972 and a launch date for the first ROTO gear mechs of 1974

if one takes the subject machine's gear ensemble to be original could not be much earlier

https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site...erailleur.html

-----
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Old 03-21-24, 09:23 AM
  #68  
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Originally Posted by markk900
So many beauties here, a lot museum quality. I took my Paff out for a ride today in the 33c weather - surprising how well these bikes work as city bikes - the 1949 Humber I rode yesterday (which is regal and smooth but slow and heavy) was great, but the Paff acted like a racing bike with upright bars. Single speed is all you need! 😀


top!!!
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Old 03-21-24, 09:32 AM
  #69  
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Thanks for bumping this thread. It reminds of an Italian city bike project I've neglected. Once I get it presentable, I'll post in this thread.
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Old 03-21-24, 11:51 AM
  #70  
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Lots of cool old city bikes still being used in Italy. I spotted these in Cremona a few years back:






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Old 03-22-24, 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
Lots of cool old city bikes still being used in Italy. I spotted these in Cremona a few years back:






the north Italian cities are full of bikes fashion architecture and Italian girls of course
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