Front end damage or by design? Older Follis bike.
09-24-23, 09:51 AM
#1
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Front end damage or by design? Older Follis bike.
Are the forks bent backwards or is this a design trait? I’m unfamiliar with this brand/era of bicycles.
thanks!
thanks!
09-24-23, 09:58 AM
#3
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Looks damaged to me. Hard to look at that downtube just below the headtube lug in your 3rd pic and not see the tube clearly bulged. Front-end collision highly likely.
09-24-23, 10:12 AM
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Badly bent frame. No question.
The proportion of bent lightweight steel frames from the '70s that are still turning up is amazing. Maybe lots of people graduated from electroforged Schwinns and didn't understand that European racing bikes couldn't be treated like battering rams without some consequences. And there were drugs, too, of course.
The proportion of bent lightweight steel frames from the '70s that are still turning up is amazing. Maybe lots of people graduated from electroforged Schwinns and didn't understand that European racing bikes couldn't be treated like battering rams without some consequences. And there were drugs, too, of course.
09-24-23, 11:25 AM
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In addition to the wavy tubing on the underside, judging by the angle of the fork blades from the head tube down, it looks to me like the steerer is bent too.
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09-24-23, 11:35 AM
#6
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The damage is so obvious, why is this even a question?
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09-24-23, 01:31 PM
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09-24-23, 01:39 PM
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That frame is like that ... by design. Yeah, that's it. Makes it ... go faster. Yeah...
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09-24-23, 01:48 PM
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Not much to be saved off that one. Whoever was riding it didn't pay much attention to the front derailleur either.
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09-24-23, 03:37 PM
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Intentional design, yes, if you mean intentionally crashed into a wall.
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09-24-23, 07:48 PM
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Is it just me? Every time I see a bike pic and there is some sort of lock attached or otherwise dangling there is noticeable frame damage
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09-24-23, 08:05 PM
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It is not you old thing based in the military people would put a fixed cheap lock on a bicycle, car, truck, or other stuff to indicate something is broken and likely unsafe.. The above bike is unsafe.
09-25-23, 07:24 AM
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I'm the crazy guy who would bend it back into shape and see how it turned out. The Mercier below was a success.
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09-25-23, 07:30 AM
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Yes , that is a toe biter , for sure.
09-25-23, 07:33 AM
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09-25-23, 07:38 AM
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I will note that when I did that, I had made sure the headset cups were squarely in place ot prevent any ovalization of the head tube - they're loose in the photo.
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09-25-23, 09:28 AM
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Nope. I literally grabbed the frame by the chainstays right in front of the rear dropouts and pulled upwards. Once. I was actually shocked to discover that was all it took. The frame came right back into alignment. The frame is built with Mercier's "LuxTube" generic gaspipe tubing and it might have taken a bit more force with 531, but maybe not.
I will note that when I did that, I had made sure the headset cups were squarely in place ot prevent any ovalization of the head tube - they're loose in the photo.
I will note that when I did that, I had made sure the headset cups were squarely in place ot prevent any ovalization of the head tube - they're loose in the photo.
09-25-23, 10:09 AM
#19
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The derailleurs go to the Museum of Bicycles for their 'Worst Designs EVER!" wing.
Last edited by Bad Lag; 09-25-23 at 10:13 AM.
09-25-23, 02:00 PM
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09-25-23, 02:40 PM
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Unfortunately your example was for the lower end market and filler during the bike boom. Read into the chrome cover over the fork crown.
Unless there's a sentimental value, pull it for a few parts such as the brakes and toss it. Or, practice the skill to straighten the fork. Hose it down with a rust preventative and lube. Air up the tires. Leave it at the curb.
09-25-23, 08:24 PM
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09-25-23, 11:00 PM
#24
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