Oddball French bike: Liberia?
12-19-21, 08:27 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Oddball French bike: Liberia?
Hi everyone! I volunteer at a local co-op and this came in as a donation recently. No one on our staff has heard of this brand of bike before. Does anyone have any info on the manufacturer, and/or the possible value in as-is condition? Both of the Simplex derailleurs have been replaced over the years, but everything else looks original. Mafac brakes, Samir Saminox wheels (France), and RFG hubs (France),
We're located in northeast Ohio.
We're located in northeast Ohio.
12-19-21, 08:36 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,244
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
-----
the forum has had a number of discussion threads on bicycles from this manufacturer
you can use the search function to bring them up
-----
the forum has had a number of discussion threads on bicycles from this manufacturer
you can use the search function to bring them up
-----
Likes For juvela:
12-19-21, 09:59 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,433
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,470 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Basic low end boom bike. Cleaned up and adjusted with some of the consumables replaced will make a serviceable bike, worth maybe a $125 -$150 coming from a co op. That’s more than I could sell that bike for but a store commands a premium. Needs new tires, cables, and brake shoes. If there’s plenty of rubber on the brake shoes, maybe you can get them to work by filing them down a bit.
Last edited by bikemig; 12-19-21 at 10:03 AM.
Likes For bikemig:
12-19-21, 12:55 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,120
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 243 Post(s)
Liked 172 Times
in
110 Posts
The asking price is 80$.
It needs another 50$ for cheap consumables plus the work.
You'll loose money on it.
It needs another 50$ for cheap consumables plus the work.
You'll loose money on it.
__________________
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
1992 Torelli Nitro Express; 1972 Claud Butler.
Likes For marius.suiram:
12-19-21, 08:31 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,512
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 1,739 Times
in
630 Posts
Cleaned up a bit and basic service so it's safe to ride I would say $150 is fair price. Nice basic larger frame mixte step through often refered to as preacher frames popular in Europe and England as commuter bikes but they never really caught on in the US.
Likes For zukahn1:
12-20-21, 04:39 PM
#6
Senior Member
Plusses: Bike has nice colors and decals are in mostly intact. Hipsters will like the brake levers. Cleaned up I imagine you will find a buyer for $100.
__________________
I.C.
I.C.
Likes For Insidious C.:
12-20-21, 08:03 PM
#7
Senior Member
The brake levers may very well have a market value higher than $80. IIRC, I sold a pair of aluminum guidonnet levers for $85 several years ago.
Likes For philbob57:
12-21-21, 08:33 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,244
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
-----
---
dating -
suspect machine right close to 1971
this was the first year for this model of Simplex Prestige shift lever
it was also about the last year that the model of Cibie pedal reflector worn by the cycle's Lyotard model 36 pedals was being fitted. in this design the metal reflector holder is bolted to the pedal and the amber plastic reflector is then slipped into place.
-----
Last edited by juvela; 12-21-21 at 08:39 AM. Reason: addition
Likes For juvela:
12-27-21, 12:25 PM
#9
All Campy All The Time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,417
Bikes: Listed in my signature.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 177 Post(s)
Liked 114 Times
in
63 Posts
In recognition of Festivus, I say it's worth $20 or less. And who would name a bike line Liberia?
__________________
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron
Likes For CroMo Mike:
01-06-22, 10:53 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,252
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 1,393 Times
in
694 Posts
This thread is one I started about one I purchased a few years back for the Clunker Challenge. This specific post has all the various links I could find, as well as a thumbnail history of the brand. They only came into the U.S. in the early 70s, the bulk of them during the crunch '72-73 period when distributors were scouring the globe for bikes to sell during the great boom. They're actually respectable bikes from a regional builder in Grenoble, France.
I like mine, but a pending move has mine going up for sale.
I like mine, but a pending move has mine going up for sale.
01-06-22, 12:16 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,244
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3803 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
This thread is one I started about one I purchased a few years back for the Clunker Challenge. This specific post has all the various links I could find, as well as a thumbnail history of the brand. They only came into the U.S. in the early 70s, the bulk of them during the crunch '72-73 period when distributors were scouring the globe for bikes to sell during the great boom. They're actually respectable bikes from a regional builder in Grenoble, France.
I like mine, but a pending move has mine going up for sale.
I like mine, but a pending move has mine going up for sale.
saddened to read that you two shall be parting company
happily you have all the pictures in the can which will be of help/interest in future discussion threads regarding the marque...
perchance we shall be fortunate and the cycle's new billet shall be with another forum member...
-----
Last edited by juvela; 01-06-22 at 05:52 PM. Reason: addition
01-07-22, 07:39 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,252
Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 1,393 Times
in
694 Posts
-----
saddened to read that you two shall be parting company
happily you have all the pictures in the can which will be of help/interest in future discussion threads regarding the marque...
perchance we shall be fortunate and the cycle's new billet shall be with another forum member...
-----
saddened to read that you two shall be parting company
happily you have all the pictures in the can which will be of help/interest in future discussion threads regarding the marque...
perchance we shall be fortunate and the cycle's new billet shall be with another forum member...
-----
01-07-22, 05:48 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Fairplay Co
Posts: 9,512
Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 789 Post(s)
Liked 1,739 Times
in
630 Posts
If you have the resources to store a bike like this taking off the market for several months till bike sales peak in mid April and May. Then relisting it with new photo's and add copy is a good sales strategy I have done this several times with success actually selling a couple of bikes for more than I was looking for originaly.
Likes For zukahn1:
