gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » Giante Plicylette..why no info?    View previous topic :: View next topic  Giante Plicylette..why no info?   Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 2:19 pm gb Joined: 11 Apr 2015 Posts: 2 Hi, I'm new here but I've spent many hours searching for info on my Giante Plicylette folding bike from about 1968. I want to put it in our yard sale coming up, but there is no information on the internet about it's value. I'm not sure if it could be worth 2.00 or 200.00. I've exhausted every little link I've found from Chinese, to French to Dutch with no luck. I've called local bike dealers, they haven't a clue as to the value. They figure I have something very unique, or something that no body even wants to talk about. So, I'm asking for any advice or some possible link to a "secret" site that can tell me about this bike. My grandma bought it, she came over from France so it doesn't surprise me that she bought a French made bike. She and my parents used it for camping, that's really all I know. It's got a lot of rust spots on it, my bad, I've had it under a covered patio for about 10 years, saving it for my grandchildren, who don't seem interested in it. I'm going to try to post some pictures and give you all the information that I could find on it. Eyes aren't what they used to be so it might not all be correct. Brake says 66-85 and Lown (?) Back wheel gear says Huret Under the seat a lever says BREVETTAT The clamp on the under side of the seat has URSUSS and BREYEVETTO And these are the pictures. Thank you for looking at my post. [/img] Re: why no info? Gitane not Giante Plicylette..   Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 3:23 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area gb wrote: Hi, I'm new here but I've spent many hours searching for info on my Giante Plicylette folding bike from about 1968. I want to put it in our yard sale coming up, but there is no information on the internet about it's value. I'm not sure if it could be worth 2.00 or 200.00. I've exhausted every little link I've found from Chinese, to French to Dutch with no luck. I've called local bike dealers, they haven't a clue as to the value. They figure I have something very unique, or something that no body even wants to talk about. So, I'm asking for any advice or some possible link to a "secret" site that can tell me about this bike. My grandma bought it, she came over from France so it doesn't surprise me that she bought a French made bike. She and my parents used it for camping, that's really all I know. It's got a lot of rust spots on it, my bad, I've had it under a covered patio for about 10 years, saving it for my grandchildren, who don't seem interested in it. I'm going to try to post some pictures and give you all the information that I could find on it. Eyes aren't what they used to be so it might not all be correct. Brake says 66-85 and Lown (?) Back wheel gear says Huret Under the seat a lever says BREVETTAT The clamp on the under side of the seat has URSUSS and BREYEVETTO And these are the pictures. Thank you for looking at my post. For starters, the bike brand name is GITANE not GIANTE.... Next, most large European bike manufacturers made this style of folding bike during the 1970s... I suspect that one or two companies made most of them and they were labeled to suit the brands. These were convenience models that could be folded up to fit in a car, on a train and so on. None of them rode or handled very well and that's a problem since most of the bikes discussed on this website are "sporting" or racing models. From the catalog section of this website: http://www.gitaneusa.com/images/catalog/1970_pg9.jpg Because of the expense involved in getting your folding bike safely ride-able. My guess that the current value would be around $25.00 USD or less - unless you find someone who collects ephemera like this bike. The bike is around 40 years old and is going to need: New tires and tubes which may not be easy to find because they're obsolete French size tires. New brake and derailleur cables and housings. New brake pads. All of the bearings repacked. That's at least $100 USD worth of work for a $25.00 bike! A few years ago, I bought a similar Motobecane folding bike from a bike shop for $100 USD. It had been completely cleaned and overhauled plus all of the above items were replaced. I bought it to ride to the local market. It rides so poorly that I've hardly used it. "They figure I have something very unique, or something that no body even wants to talk about." Unique yes because not many were sold in the US market... Plus by now most of them have cycled through the crusher several times and have returned as Datsuns, Toyotas, Hyundais etc. FYI - BREVETTATO and BREVETTO mean Patented in French and Italian... So, there's your "secret" answers... _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica   Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 7:24 pm gb Joined: 11 Apr 2015 Posts: 2 I appreciate your honesty about this bike. Sorry about the name, I did know it was Gitane, not Giante. You answered my question, and I thank you for your reply.   Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 8:54 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area gb wrote: I appreciate your honesty about this bike. Sorry about the name, I did know it was Gitane, not Giante. You answered my question, and I thank you for your reply. The bike would have more value if it weren't for the rust which is a deal killer for most buyers. You would probably do better trying to sell it as a "folding bike" to keep in a camper/RV/kombi/caravan. Someone familiar with bikes could clean up the rust, repaint it and do an overhaul then it would make a nice bike for what it was designed for. _________________ Chas. SF Bay Area, CA USA ============== 1984 Criterium 1969 TdF 1971 TdF 1974 TdF 1984 TdF x 2 Bikes 1970 SC 1971 SC 1972 SC 1984 SC 1984 Team Pro 1985 Professional 1990s Team Replica Giante Plicylette..why no info?     gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours   Page 1 of 1   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First  Select a forum Gitane USA----------------Vintage GitaneGitane RacingModern GitanePro Racing - Classics/Giro/Tour....Owner Gallery   Powered by phpBB © 2001-2004 phpBB Group Designed for Trushkin.net | Themes Database.