guidogad

Hi there!
Does anybody know anything about the GIOS Compact and/ or GIOS Compact Pro?
When were they introduced?
Were they sold as framesets or complete bikes? How were they equipped?
Did they exist in parallel? (I think a version of the Compact Pro is still available today).
Does anyone have GIOS catalogues from mid-late 80s?
I've got a Compact that might be from '87 complete with Croce d'Aune. Serial number is 803074.
It's made from SLX tubing.
A few pictures are attached.
I'd like to find out more and learn about theses bikes. Who can help to compile some knowledge?
Cheers,
Guido

luker

Very nice bike. And you can't argue with that group being an '87. I had always thought that the replaceable dropouts made for a compact pro, and that the pro was introduced in the early 90's. I have one as a frame and fork, and that is what the original owner told me. I do not have any documentation for that.

RoyIII

You bet the compact pro is available today. I have one, all chorus (alloy, no carbon). It has the hidden rear brake, too. I have a Gios megalite - kind of an entry level Gios - set up as a fixed gear bike. Long live Gios blue!

I'd e-mail the GIOS factory. They are pretty good about answering:

https://www.gios.it/2005/eng/prima.php?page=history-one

The link to the website starts you at the history page.

Excel Sports Boulder is their USA distributor.

All Gios bikes are great ones IMHO. My all time favorite mark. Keep us posted on yours, it looks nice!

triplebutted

I'm guessing mid-late 80s (between 85 and 90). They changed the dropout to screws to that style around then. Also, post 84/85'ish, the rage was to have that hidden brake cable go inside the top tube (not a new idea, but it was popular in mid-late 80's)

luker

hmmm. maybe mine is older than I was told. It is a repaint, and racked for a respray someday. Is there some way to tell when one was made?

RoyIII

I was not going to point out the color, but it is not Gios blue. When you get it painted get a sample of touch-up paint from Excel Sports
https://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?p...ajor=6&minor=8

and have them match it.

Look at the bottom bracket underside and see if there are any id numbers. Ask the factory.

oldbobcat

Regarding ID and serial numbers--my '79 frame has only 61, the c-t size, stamped on the bottom bracket. And, of course, a "G" cutout.

guidogad

Hi!
Just a thought: my adjustable rear drop outs have a few numbers stamped in. Among others a '88. Could this be the year. Does it match in your cases? Also, my 3ttt stem has a 88 on it.
My serial number starts with 8, too.
But then, I've seen a 40th anniversary '88 Compact that differs from mine in that it has two bottle holders and a punmp thorn. Picture attached.

I've written to GIOS. Wait and see.

Cheers,
Guido

tuz

I have a Gios compact as well. It has the same seat cluster, cable routing and dropouts, but it is yellow, supposedly from 88 (it has a 40th anniversary sticker), and made with Oria RANF tubing. I don't know the difference between the pro and non-pro models, if any.

There are a few Gios catalogues on Bulgier's site. Here are pics of mine. Btw I have seen electric blue (of course), red, gray, chrome and now light blue (yours) Gios Compacts...

luker

I own a set of 40th anniversary transfers...I had these set aside for the repaint. They are the only transfers that I could find, btw.

nenad

Hello there. Your bike should be from '88, that's what the first number says, I think Alfredo will tell you the same. The difference between Compact and Compact Pro, aside from tubing is minimal. The only noticeable difference is in the seat cluster. Compacts where built from Columbus SL, SLX, Oria Ranf and (get this) Vitus GTi. Compact Pro is built from custom Dedacciai tubing most likely based on SAT 14.5 (my speculation).

Gios was sold as frameset although you could order it as a complete bike (a previous owner of my bike did just that, see the pics attached).

This is the first time I see Gios in that shade of blue and I think it looks spectacular, congrats.

Question for luker. Do you have the 40th anniversay transfers in digital form ? I'd like to get the original stickers back on my bike, previous owner chose to redecal it with newer logos.

luker

at one point I had scanned them - that computer is now officially kaput. I'll see if we can get the scanner back into the network, and scan 'em again.

nenad

What does the serial number say ?

nenad

Please, man, I beg you. I am dying to get hold of the "Gios Compact" stickers, I've been looking for them forever (in my post you can see how the bike was decaled originally).

When you do a scan (I'm hoping that you will) use a high DPI setting.

nenad

I don't know where you found them, but I'm very grateful you shared them with me

Thanks to you, I have managed to redecal my Gios to its original look; I have attached some photos of what the bike looks like now (the first photo shows what it looked like when I bought it).

oldbobcat

And do you have access to a database of Gios serial numbers?

Mine says 61, which coincidentally is the size of the frame.

nenad

I don't have access to serial number database, but I've had email exchange with Alfredo and he told me what the first two numbers mean. So in a picture attached, besides the frame size which is obvious, you can tell the frame was made in the first month of '87.

tuz

Could it be the 2nd and 3rd number representing the month? Mine is 809xxx... Perhaps the last three is the sequential frame # of that year.

nenad

Actually, you kinda have a point there, but I would then think that the second and third number denote a week, because my second and third numbers are 23 (so 23rd week of 1990 in my case).

luker

excellent job! it looks wonderful. Is the fork crown unmarked (no Gios or anything?)

Gary Fountain

Hi Guys,

About the adjustable rear dropouts. I have always thought the rear dropouts were designed to alter the c to c length of the wheels. The longer setting was for stage races and the shorter length was for criteriums. Is this so?

I must admit to lusting after a compact pro in the mid 90's. The colour is unique and most attractive. Your bikes are fantastic.

oldbobcat

Thanks, it's interesting that Alfredo is putting serial numbers on the bikes now. And I apologize for being testy.

Sangetsu

I too, have a compact pro, which I ordered from Excel Sports 10 or so years ago. I've put many a mile on it in the last decade, but it remains equipped just as I ordered it, with Campy Record 9 speed, and the old Mavic helium wheels. I love the supple ride and quick handling; of all the bikes which have come into my hands over the last several years, the Gios is the only one which I have held on to. I even went to the trouble of boxing it up and flying it with me when I moved to Japan.

nenad

No, there's GIOS painted in blue as can be seen from this overly crappy pic (unlucky you, if you want to do a restoration down to a T you need to shop for a fork, too ).

Edit: I've attached another photo, it's the exact same fork just painted differently.

Longer setting was for stage races because, due to a longer wheelbase, it offered a bit more comfort. The shorter setting (as read from Gios catalogue from '95) was actually for climbs because it offered more stiffness (read snappier ride) when riding out of saddle. Catalog also states movement of 8 mm back and forth. The thing most people don't realize is Gios came up with this patent in 1984 and the advantage was multifold: besides the rear dropout movement, this was one of the first bikes to offer vertical dropouts which were also replaceable; all standard stuff now but not 25 years ago.

Some people state rear dropout movement is unnecessary but I certainly don't mind having it as an option.

I dare say my bike has a certain charisma (to me at least), so I hear what you are saying. I know mine's a keeper.

zott28

Anybody know about a Nuovo Compact?
I still do not understand the serial numbers.