Sears Gilera SR124 5V Strada Project

[bellacorse]

Grüße aus Detroit. Thank you for the add. 17 years ago I bought a 1967 Sears Gilera SR124 5V out of a barn in Bay City, Michigan, some 2 hours away from where I live near Detroit. The farmer I bought it from dropped it when it was new with 237 miles (380Km) on it. The gear selector lever broke off (he still had it), but no other damage other than being stored in a damp barn in SE Michigan for 4 decades. He was retiring and sold his farm, so I got the bike for chump change.

I immediately dismantled the bike with full intentions to restore it, but life and other projects got in the way. The bike sat in pieces on my workshop shelves, serving more at wall art than a future project. And then last month, another 124 5V showed up for sale near me. It wasn't complete, missing the tank, seat, rear fender/tail light & tool boxes. But it had a very good condition exhaust system and better (read: less rusty) wheels. I figure between the two bikes, I should be about to build a runner. The second bike has a seized engine, whereas my first 124 is free.

So, 17 years after buying my first 124 5V, I began a "freshoration"... just a freshing-up, not a full-on restoration. I'm currently in the process of stripping & refinishing all the painted parts. Gloss black chassis with silver tank, fenders, headlight shell & tool boxes. I also have some modernization planned, but I not going to discuss it until I've proven the concept.

Attached are photos of bike 1 (10/2005) as bought and in parts, and bike 2 (10/2022) and the work I've completed so far.




I'll post more as the project evolves.
/M

[Joachim]

Hello and welcome.
Hope to see more about your project

ciao Joachim

[con]

Welcome and much fun with your Project.
I love these stories of barnfinds and forgotten lowmilers.

IMG20221015161224.jpg

This is mine, found in a Scooter-shop in Germany.
Note the plate..
C.

[bellacorse]

The plate was the first thing I took notice of. Is that a 150cc or 175cc?

[con]

Sorry, i don't know and i don't know how to find out.

[Joachim]

motor# or FIN?

ciao Joachim

[bellacorse]

There should be a number stamped into the frame, on the right side, just above the center stand & foot peg. It will read: 106*#### or 124*####. The first three numbers being the engine size, followed by frame number.

[con]

IMG20221017075347.jpg

The same is on the engine: 101-....

[bellacorse]

That would be the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The model/frame number is on the frame plate where the foot pegs attach. I'd post a photo.

/M

[Joachim]

btw i'm still searching for nice pics for the anual calendar (hope to get it made again)
What about those 'before' pics you both posted above.
Something unusuall i think
I will send my email adress, or you can find it in the article 'Neuanmeldung am Forum' or 'new registrations for the forum'

ciao Joachim

[bellacorse]

I just uploaded a bunch of photos to imgur.com. I'll figure out how to make them public. Also, visit my web site: bellacorse.com

/M

[con]

I have no additional number on the frame plates. Two numbers on a frame would be rather unusual.

IMG20221019205300.jpg

I love the cockpit with the pretty Veglias.

[Nozem]

Hello Con,

Your bike seems to be a Gilera 124 FL Speciale Strada. I was told FL stands for FLorida.
That's because this model was built for the US market so it had loads of chrome parts.
Great project, looking forward to the progress on both bikes!

Greetings,
Nozem