1960s Graziella Folding Tandem 16" project
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
1960s Graziella Folding Tandem 16" project
Picked up this neat little folding tandem bike today. Will fix it up for my wife and I to ride around on.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Additional photos
Original Bell
Rear Drum brake
Front drum brake and the most dilapotaded tire I have ever seen.
Headbadge, bad tire, original generator and light
Original Bell
Rear Drum brake
Front drum brake and the most dilapotaded tire I have ever seen.
Headbadge, bad tire, original generator and light
#4
Rustbelt Rider
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canton, OH
Posts: 9,106
Bikes: 1990 Trek 1420 - 1978 Raleigh Professional - 1973 Schwinn Collegiate - 1974 Schwinn Suburban
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 372 Times
in
177 Posts
Oh my gosh, that thing is too funny.
__________________
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
|^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| ||
|......GO.BROWNS........| ||'|";, ___.
|_..._..._______===|=||_|__|..., ] -
"(@)'(@)"""''"**|(@)(@)*****''(@)
#6
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,809
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 585 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 575 Times
in
340 Posts
I'm really enjoying all the April Fools Day posts but, oh man, you've got 'em all beat with this one!
#8
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,809
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 585 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 575 Times
in
340 Posts
On the contrary, I love it! Most April Fools jokes are jokes in the telling. That is, the joke is a lie. Your joke, however, is perfectly real (or your photoshop skills are truly prodigious). No, I believe the bike really exists. And I believe it really folds. No, it's no joke.
And I should point out, I commute on a bike with 16" wheels, so there's no prejudice there. 16" wheels are incredibly tough even with 16 or 20 spokes, and you have 36, steel rims, and --golly-- are those heavy gauge spokes? Those wheels will be indestructible. If not, well, I hope you have a very small spoke wrench! Your frame has an incredibly strong rear rack, integral to the frame, that would doubtless hold hundreds of pounds of cargo; but you can't put panniers on it, or anything wider than the rack itself, or you'll have heelstrike issues. So it's useless for carrying anything bulkier than bullion. The frame folds, but I don't see QR's on seat posts or handlebar stems; and anyway, folding it makes for only a minor reduction in frame size. And tandem frames are notoriously flimsy... and U-frames are notoriously flimsy, especially the folding mechanism.... And finally, it looks like the factory recognized the flimsiness issue and responded by retrofitting a removable double keel tube. That should reassure anyone!
I would be proud to own this bike, and I congratulate you on the acquisition. It's just that... all that said... I can't help suspecting that someone, somewhere between the marketing department, the design department, and the manufacturing department in the Graciella Industries complex, had an April's Fools Day type sense of humor.
And I should point out, I commute on a bike with 16" wheels, so there's no prejudice there. 16" wheels are incredibly tough even with 16 or 20 spokes, and you have 36, steel rims, and --golly-- are those heavy gauge spokes? Those wheels will be indestructible. If not, well, I hope you have a very small spoke wrench! Your frame has an incredibly strong rear rack, integral to the frame, that would doubtless hold hundreds of pounds of cargo; but you can't put panniers on it, or anything wider than the rack itself, or you'll have heelstrike issues. So it's useless for carrying anything bulkier than bullion. The frame folds, but I don't see QR's on seat posts or handlebar stems; and anyway, folding it makes for only a minor reduction in frame size. And tandem frames are notoriously flimsy... and U-frames are notoriously flimsy, especially the folding mechanism.... And finally, it looks like the factory recognized the flimsiness issue and responded by retrofitting a removable double keel tube. That should reassure anyone!
I would be proud to own this bike, and I congratulate you on the acquisition. It's just that... all that said... I can't help suspecting that someone, somewhere between the marketing department, the design department, and the manufacturing department in the Graciella Industries complex, had an April's Fools Day type sense of humor.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
On the contrary, I love it! Most April Fools jokes are jokes in the telling. That is, the joke is a lie. Your joke, however, is perfectly real (or your photoshop skills are truly prodigious). No, I believe the bike really exists. And I believe it really folds. No, it's no joke.
And I should point out, I commute on a bike with 16" wheels, so there's no prejudice there. 16" wheels are incredibly tough even with 16 or 20 spokes, and you have 36, steel rims, and --golly-- are those heavy gauge spokes? Those wheels will be indestructible. If not, well, I hope you have a very small spoke wrench! Your frame has an incredibly strong rear rack, integral to the frame, that would doubtless hold hundreds of pounds of cargo; but you can't put panniers on it, or anything wider than the rack itself, or you'll have heelstrike issues. So it's useless for carrying anything bulkier than bullion. The frame folds, but I don't see QR's on seat posts or handlebar stems; and anyway, folding it makes for only a minor reduction in frame size. And tandem frames are notoriously flimsy... and U-frames are notoriously flimsy, especially the folding mechanism.... And finally, it looks like the factory recognized the flimsiness issue and responded by retrofitting a removable double keel tube. That should reassure anyone!
I would be proud to own this bike, and I congratulate you on the acquisition. It's just that... all that said... I can't help suspecting that someone, somewhere between the marketing department, the design department, and the manufacturing department in the Graciella Industries complex, had an April's Fools Day type sense of humor.
And I should point out, I commute on a bike with 16" wheels, so there's no prejudice there. 16" wheels are incredibly tough even with 16 or 20 spokes, and you have 36, steel rims, and --golly-- are those heavy gauge spokes? Those wheels will be indestructible. If not, well, I hope you have a very small spoke wrench! Your frame has an incredibly strong rear rack, integral to the frame, that would doubtless hold hundreds of pounds of cargo; but you can't put panniers on it, or anything wider than the rack itself, or you'll have heelstrike issues. So it's useless for carrying anything bulkier than bullion. The frame folds, but I don't see QR's on seat posts or handlebar stems; and anyway, folding it makes for only a minor reduction in frame size. And tandem frames are notoriously flimsy... and U-frames are notoriously flimsy, especially the folding mechanism.... And finally, it looks like the factory recognized the flimsiness issue and responded by retrofitting a removable double keel tube. That should reassure anyone!
I would be proud to own this bike, and I congratulate you on the acquisition. It's just that... all that said... I can't help suspecting that someone, somewhere between the marketing department, the design department, and the manufacturing department in the Graciella Industries complex, had an April's Fools Day type sense of humor.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
On the contrary, I love it! Most April Fools jokes are jokes in the telling. That is, the joke is a lie. Your joke, however, is perfectly real (or your photoshop skills are truly prodigious). No, I believe the bike really exists. And I believe it really folds. No, it's no joke.
And I should point out, I commute on a bike with 16" wheels, so there's no prejudice there. 16" wheels are incredibly tough even with 16 or 20 spokes, and you have 36, steel rims, and --golly-- are those heavy gauge spokes? Those wheels will be indestructible. If not, well, I hope you have a very small spoke wrench! Your frame has an incredibly strong rear rack, integral to the frame, that would doubtless hold hundreds of pounds of cargo; but you can't put panniers on it, or anything wider than the rack itself, or you'll have heelstrike issues. So it's useless for carrying anything bulkier than bullion. The frame folds, but I don't see QR's on seat posts or handlebar stems; and anyway, folding it makes for only a minor reduction in frame size. And tandem frames are notoriously flimsy... and U-frames are notoriously flimsy, especially the folding mechanism.... And finally, it looks like the factory recognized the flimsiness issue and responded by retrofitting a removable double keel tube. That should reassure anyone!
I would be proud to own this bike, and I congratulate you on the acquisition. It's just that... all that said... I can't help suspecting that someone, somewhere between the marketing department, the design department, and the manufacturing department in the Graciella Industries complex, had an April's Fools Day type sense of humor.
And I should point out, I commute on a bike with 16" wheels, so there's no prejudice there. 16" wheels are incredibly tough even with 16 or 20 spokes, and you have 36, steel rims, and --golly-- are those heavy gauge spokes? Those wheels will be indestructible. If not, well, I hope you have a very small spoke wrench! Your frame has an incredibly strong rear rack, integral to the frame, that would doubtless hold hundreds of pounds of cargo; but you can't put panniers on it, or anything wider than the rack itself, or you'll have heelstrike issues. So it's useless for carrying anything bulkier than bullion. The frame folds, but I don't see QR's on seat posts or handlebar stems; and anyway, folding it makes for only a minor reduction in frame size. And tandem frames are notoriously flimsy... and U-frames are notoriously flimsy, especially the folding mechanism.... And finally, it looks like the factory recognized the flimsiness issue and responded by retrofitting a removable double keel tube. That should reassure anyone!
I would be proud to own this bike, and I congratulate you on the acquisition. It's just that... all that said... I can't help suspecting that someone, somewhere between the marketing department, the design department, and the manufacturing department in the Graciella Industries complex, had an April's Fools Day type sense of humor.
#11
Elitest Murray Owner
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,657
Bikes: 1972 Columbia Tourist Expert III, Columbia Roadster
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Something tells me that frame is probably pretty noodly when you get moving.... Also given the spoke count and wheel size, I wonder if they just lifted those wheels from a moped.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Here is the Grazi moped of the time. I looks more like a minibike.
#13
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,809
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 585 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 575 Times
in
340 Posts
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
I don't think that the handlebars are correct, but I kind of like the ape hangers on it. It has the correct hand grips and bell though.
I found a couple of good Italian sites for the Grazi's. You just have to use Google ot translate them.
https://thrillergraziella.wordpress.com/about/
https://miticagraziella.wordpress.com/
I found a couple of good Italian sites for the Grazi's. You just have to use Google ot translate them.
https://thrillergraziella.wordpress.com/about/
https://miticagraziella.wordpress.com/
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 970
Bikes: 1989 Dahon Stainless Classic III Folder - 1990 Dahon Mariner Classic III Folder - 2005 Dahon Jetstream P8 Full Suspension Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Just went on the maiden voyage of the Grazi tandem. The rear tire holds air and I was able to put a used tire and new tube up front. All of the cables are shot so no brakes yet. But once I had a rolling chasis I just had to ride it. The chains were and the rest of the mechnicals worked well. Like any small wheel bike it takes a little while to adjust to how nimble steering can be. The next thing I had to do was get my wife to not lean back and forth trying to look around me. Everytime she did I could feel it torque the bike and affect the steering (at least until I got used to it). We rode for about 30 minutes down the lanes only. This was partly due to no brakes, but also my wife didn't want too many people seeing us until it was prettier. Neither of us have ridden a tandem before and it was quite fun.
I still have a lot of work to do on this old bike, but it good to know that it will mostly be cosmetic and lubing. Breaking it down and painting it will be the biggest job. Still haven't decided on the color combo yet. I was even able to get this heavy hoss on my Wrenchforce workstand.
I still have a lot of work to do on this old bike, but it good to know that it will mostly be cosmetic and lubing. Breaking it down and painting it will be the biggest job. Still haven't decided on the color combo yet. I was even able to get this heavy hoss on my Wrenchforce workstand.
#16
Marty
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 12
Bikes: 1975 Raleigh Twenty (folding)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
An insanely fun little bicycle I should imagine. Small wheel bicycles are fun, tandems are fun. Small-wheeled tandems much be an absolute riot!
The triplet version is surely designed as a family vehicle - Father, Mother, Eldest child and youngest on a rear carrier (or one of the parents and all the kids on the back).
The triplet version is surely designed as a family vehicle - Father, Mother, Eldest child and youngest on a rear carrier (or one of the parents and all the kids on the back).
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: montreal
Posts: 17
Bikes: Cannondale Six 5, Miele Clasic, Nishiki bushwacker, Old tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have the same bike in blue got it many years ago.
Most if mine is original with the exception of the pedals, grips and the rear seat. No bell on mine but I put a horn.
I think there was some modification with the rear crank / bottom bracket. Do you have an close-up shots of your cranks and BB's.
I will take some shots of my bike when I get it out of the shed. At the moment the shed is snowed in.
Mark
I think there was some modification with the rear crank / bottom bracket. Do you have an close-up shots of your cranks and BB's.
I will take some shots of my bike when I get it out of the shed. At the moment the shed is snowed in.
Mark
#18
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: montreal
Posts: 17
Bikes: Cannondale Six 5, Miele Clasic, Nishiki bushwacker, Old tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't think that the handlebars are correct, but I kind of like the ape hangers on it. It has the correct hand grips and bell though.
I found a couple of good Italian sites for the Grazi's. You just have to use Google ot translate them.
https://thrillergraziella.wordpress.com/about/
https://miticagraziella.wordpress.com/
I found a couple of good Italian sites for the Grazi's. You just have to use Google ot translate them.
https://thrillergraziella.wordpress.com/about/
https://miticagraziella.wordpress.com/
#19
Ridey b
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Toronto and spend winter mostly in South Coast Jamaica
Posts: 25
Bikes: Bridgestone XO4, Raleigh supercourse, Tourist, twenty,dl1,Dahon California, Jack Taylor tandem, to mention afew
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 15 Times
in
4 Posts
What happened to the final picture after .
I have been waiting to see as inspiration for my own graziella tandem project
I have been waiting to see as inspiration for my own graziella tandem project