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Follis bikes

Old 09-05-20, 09:00 PM
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Tomm Willians
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Follis bikes

I found one of these for sale in pretty good shape for a 1973 model, this is a brand I’ve not heard of before. If I understand the history correctly they began in Italy but then moved to France and apparently had a very solid reputation. Any owners out there ??

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Old 09-05-20, 09:50 PM
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It is difficult to be sure of the model from this lo-rez NDS image.

Looks like it may be fairly high up the range such as a model 472.

Company information here:

https://anciensveloslyonnais.weebly....el-follis.html

Cycles Follis Of Lyon, France ? History And Product

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/France/bicycles/Follis.htm


1973 model 472 -




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Old 09-06-20, 06:42 AM
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That's a fine looking bike and Follis is a very good French bicycle. If the price were right and it were my size, I'd buy the bike and ask questions later. Heck it's my size. I'd buy it.
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Old 09-06-20, 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by bikemig
That's a fine looking bike and Follis is a very good French bicycle. If the price were right and it were my size, I'd buy the bike and ask questions later. Heck it's my size. I'd buy it.
Looks like it will be making its way to me next week ! I love unusual brands
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Old 09-06-20, 08:38 AM
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....I just restored this one a couple of months ago. Mine is from the first period of Follis production, but after the company returned under the (daughter ? granddaughter ?) of the original company owner, they didn't make as many bikes, and all of them were relatively OK. The best ones were quite nice from the 70's time period. There is an extensive history of Follis here, but you need either to read French or to use Google's translation function.

A shorter history (without all the wonderful period photos of the racing history of Follis) is here on Classic Lightweights.

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Old 09-06-20, 08:42 AM
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...I can't tell much from that photo either, but good luck with it.
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Old 09-06-20, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
.
...I can't tell much from that photo either, but good luck with it.
I’ll post better (and more) photos when it arrives, that was the only one I had access to but it’s enough to motivate me to buy it.
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Old 09-06-20, 11:03 AM
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Got some more pics




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Old 09-06-20, 12:01 PM
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Old 09-06-20, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by juvela
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Looks similar to both the 172 and 472 but can’t really see much difference, maybe it was just in the groupset?
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Old 09-06-20, 12:28 PM
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I found this pic of a 572 that has the dark color around the neck tube like mine. I couldn’t find any other model that has this. Pics are so hard to find but maybe it’s a 572?
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Old 09-06-20, 12:49 PM
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...the bike in your photo is equipped with a Nervar crank, and given the generally good condition of the paint and components, it's probably the original.
It is entirely possible that a lot of the model differences are iin components, but if you read carefully the various model pages on that French site, you should be able to find the one that matches most slearly.

Some of the other differences as you go upstream in the hierarchy are stuff like full butted Reynolds frame, versus only the main tubes....stuff like that.
I wouldn't focus too much on the model numbers in this case....by the time they got into the mid 70's most of their production was aimed at the more discerning consumer here.
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Old 09-06-20, 01:42 PM
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I like to say, "fall-eees-uh," with a really annoying accent.
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Old 09-06-20, 01:45 PM
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[QUOTE=3alarmer;21680803].
...the bike in your photo is equipped with a Nervar crank, and given the generally good condition of the paint and components, it's probably the original.
It is entirely possible that a lot of the model differences are iin components, but if you read carefully the various model pages on that French site, you should be able to find the one that matches most slearly.

Some of the other differences as you go upstream in the hierarchy are stuff like full butted Reynolds frame, versus only the main tubes....stuff like that.
I wouldn't focus too much on the model numbers in this case....by the time they got into the mid 70's most of their production was aimed at the more discerning consumer here.[/

I’m certain I will enjoy it regardless of model. I love unusual bikes.
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Old 09-06-20, 01:46 PM
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The braze-ons are a good tell with this bike. The top end Follis models (full Reynolds 531) use clips for the brake cable; the 172 (main triangle 531) has brake cable braze ons.
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Old 09-06-20, 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by bikemig
The braze-ons are a good tell with this bike. The top end Follis models (full Reynolds 531) use clips for the brake cable; the 172 (main triangle 531) has brake cable braze ons.
I spotted that too, good call.
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Old 09-06-20, 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Tomm Willians

I’m certain I will enjoy it regardless of model. I love unusual bikes.
...personally (and I have some decent experience with them....I own and ride at least six of them), the three tubes bikes in the larger sizes (like 24") that I ride are pretty good performers. If I notice any difference between them and a full Reynolds or full Columbus frame, it is that they seem to flex less in the rear triangle. So for me, this often turns out to be an improvement in overall riding and handling, with a barely perceptible weight gain in the frame.
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Old 05-17-21, 10:53 AM
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Dallas CL Follis

Seller lists it as a 672. Doesn’t look that high to me but does look nice. Asking 700. In east Texas actually.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/bi...319458888.html


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Old 05-17-21, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by obuckler
Seller lists it as a 672. Doesn’t look that high to me but does look nice. Asking 700. In east Texas actually.

https://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/bi...319458888.html


At $700, the seller should have tracked down the right decals. The saddle looks shot. I wouldn't trust it. The paint looks wrinkled on the downtube. The seller should take off the rack. This is a high end bike but it is not well presented. At this price, the bike should have decals, a saddle you can trust, and a little better paint job. Hard to gauge the quality of a paint job from pics though.

This bike is unlikely to weight 18.9 lbs as the seller claims with a rack and a leather saddle.

That said, I like this bike but not at this price.

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Old 05-17-21, 12:26 PM
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The frame for a 672 is missing drilled rear drops. Does not have the right crank (removed chainring supports) and has an adjustable stem arrangement which may be
desirable but looks heavy. The chainrings did look new.
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Old 05-19-21, 06:20 AM
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I would definitely take a look at that bike. That stem is worth a fair bit on its own. Full Campy NR group is certainly attractive. At $600 that would be a heck of a deal. Even full asking isn't that bad.
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Old 05-19-21, 06:38 AM
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Originally Posted by big chainring
I would definitely take a look at that bike. That stem is worth a fair bit on its own. Full Campy NR group is certainly attractive. At $600 that would be a heck of a deal. Even full asking isn't that bad.
This is an interesting bike (and my size which is always a plus). A top quality frame and a campy group puts a floor on the value. I've paid less than $600 for a complete campy NR group on a quality bike but agree that may be an attractive price. Also big city prices tend to run higher than where I live in the middle of Iowa.
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