My first department store motorcycle

[Canuck750]

I picked up a little Sears Gilera 106 SS today, it's mostly there if a little tired but the engine turns over and is may even start with some TLC.

I think its pretty ugly in yellow but it appears they came in many colours.

I can't help but save these things

Should make for a pretty simple restoration.









Looks pretty nice in red

[yellowheader]

Sweet! Where did you find it? The crinkle finish on the engine case will look cool when it's restored (assuming you go that way).

[Aaron D.]

Those were common when I was young. I rode one that a neighbor bought new!

[Zoom Zoom]

Cool

John Henry

[JJ]

A high school buddy of mine had a silver / black one, just like this, and we rode it around his family's farm in upstate New York.  Cool little bike!

[s1120]

What a cool little buzz around bike that will make!  Looks mostly there...  It will be a fun project I bet. So I gotta ask..  Parts out there for those?  I have never seen one around at all.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

You have joined an elite club!  I've thought about a Sears/Gilera a few times, but never actually sought one out. As a teen, I did have a similar Gilera derivative - a Gina 175 "Macho" - basically a Gilera built in Argentina. After that, I had a Montgomery-Wards Riverside (Benelli) 350 with a mere 326 miles on it. Now all I have is this crusty old Sears Allstate/Puch SR250.   





 

Oh, almost forgot, one source for Gilera parts: http://www.bobwrightmotorcycles.co.uk/ . I buy parts for my Sears/Puch from this place, but I'm not sure if they have anything for the Gilera built bikes: http://www.motorwestmotorcycles.com/shop/

[Ncdan]

Is that the forerunner of the SEARS ALLSTATE?

[ozarquebus]

A couple of years ago in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico... in the heart of Mezcal country and Jose Quervo 5-Yr Old Special Reserve...
 Early one hot morning I stepped out of the lobby into the carriage way of the swanky ziggurat-shaped hotel and a 'Gilerista' rattled up on a very smoky and noisy red Gilera-badged 100. He leaned it against a pillar and left it sputtering/idling as only a 2-stroke can, as he delivered a package of flyers to the front desk. It smoked up the whole place up in blue, while the very serious, armed and spiffy doorman didn't even raise an eyebrow.
 When the rider came back out he said he rides it every day as a delivery bike and ran used motor oil as the mix. I think he must have made up for the poor lubricating quality of the mix oil by running it 16:1!
" mucho petroleo... el funcianamiento siempere" or something like that is what he said.
He blasted off in a magnificent opaque cloud and was doing 30 in high gear in less than a quarter mile.
 If a Gilera 100 is still getting the job done after all those years, its no wonder Guzzis run forever.

[Canuck750]

What a cool little buzz around bike that will make!  Looks mostly there...  It will be a fun project I bet. So I gotta ask..  Parts out there for those?  I have never seen one around at all.

Lots of parts on Ebay, I found it locally, apparently these were sold here in town my Simpson-Sears. Had breakfast with a friend this morning who remembers working on them when he was with Sears back in the day. Cute little 4 stroke, mostly there, missing some things that appear to be easy to find. I will clean it up a little then put it in line for a restoration while I gather up some parts,  other project await.

Charlie: thanks for the parts source!

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Lots of parts on Ebay, I found it locally, apparently these were sold here in town my Simpson-Sears. Had breakfast with a friend this morning who remembers working on them when he was with Sears back in the day. Cute little 4 stroke, mostly there, missing some things that appear to be easy to find. I will clean it up a little then put it in line for a restoration while I gather up some parts,  other project await.

Charlie: thanks for the parts source!

Just sent you a PM with another source.

[injundave]

What a gorgeous little bike. I am really looking forward to watching you work your magic on it.

[ohiorider]

What you youngsters missed!  Mom would drag us shopping.  We could go look at bikes and scooters!

Bob

[Canuck750]

My friend just emailed me a scan from the Sears catalogue - 1968.

How did these compare piece wise to a similar displacement Japanese motorcycle of the same era?

[Cdn850T5NT]

It really threw me, as to whether it was a 2 stroke or a piston port 2 stroke.  A "head" like a 2 stroke... but the plug was mounted 'way lower. The carb is not mounted low, close to the case... as it would be on a two stroke.  And the exhaust was/is mounted high up too. Of course it is a 4 stroke... a very, very ample amount of cooling fins!! Even on the valve cover. You've got to hand it to those inimitable Italians as regards the engine's aesthetics (in my mind). The cylinder head blends seamlessly with the barrel. The valve cover blends seamlessly with the head. Very cool!

[Aaron D.]

My recollection (and I am an Italian bike fan) is that they were fairly primitive by late sixties and early seventies Honda standards. Heck so was my Ducati 350.

But they were fun!

[JJ]

"Try The Fun Life" - - from Montgomery Wards (Riverside) 

[s1120]

What you youngsters missed!  Mom would drag us shopping.  We could go look at bikes and scooters!

Bob

Im old enough to remember dashing to the row of mini bikes when we went to the toy store... But too young to remember street bikes at the department stores.. 

[Moparnut72]

My buddy's first bike was the Compact. He didn't have much good to say about it. I had a Yamaha 80 at the time.
kk

[TheHungarian]

Love little thumpers. The 100 mph speedo is priceless! Kind of like the 160 mph speedo in my first car... a ‘70 Firebird.

[Canuck750]

I pulled the top end and the side covers to see what I will be dealing with, clutch was all mucky and plates rusted, the head looks good, someone had wound out the rocker adjuster and popped the push rods to one side so the valves were closed. Piston and rings look ok, rod feels tight. I cleaned up all I could in the vapour blast cabinet, rinsed out the crankcase and gave everything a heathy spray of ACF 50.





Oil pump was full of crud and rust, same for the carb, all cleaned up, parts I need catalogued and now it moves into storage



Cleaned up now, it will be easy to take apart in the future



I removed most all the nuts and bolts, cleaned them and reassembled, its in better shape than I thought



This is my typical approach to a restoration, disassemble, clean, note what needs to be found then put it back together until I find all the parts and am ready to rebuild it.



Does anyone have a lead on where I can find new chrome rims and a replacement LaFranconi muffler?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Muffler? https://motostoricheitaliane.com/negozio/scarichi-moto-marmitte-moto-d-epoca/gilera/gilera-106-98-ss/?v=65cac26844d0

[80CX100]

Jim you're like a machine, amazing to watch 

I remember the days when you could buy almost anything at Sears, but I don't remember seeing bigger full size bikes like that.

That valve assembly looked rough, hope the innards aren't too bad.

If Charlie keeps lining parts up for you, couple of weeks it'll be running,lol.

Very interesting project, hope it comes together well for you.

 

Kelly

[Canuck750]

Muffler? https://motostoricheitaliane.com/negozio/scarichi-moto-marmitte-moto-d-epoca/gilera/gilera-106-98-ss/?v=65cac26844d0

Thanks for the link Charlie, email sent to the manufacturer.

Jim

[Canuck750]

Just an update on parts if anyone is looking for replacement vintage style chrome rims for small Italian motorcycles  - available here from Valtermotousa - for $79 each. I can't get a rim re-chromed for under $200 here so this is a bargain.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-MV-Guzzi-chrome-motorcycle-rim-1-50-X-17-36-holes-ITALY-new-production/173922412258?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

New repro muffler here, ships to North America

https://motostoricheitaliane.com/negozio/scarichi-moto-marmitte-moto-d-epoca/gilera/gilera-106-98-ss/?v=65cac26844d0

There is a Sears Gilera on Ebay now, bidding is under $1K so far, looks to be quite complete and runs nice in the video.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-Other-Makes-106-SS-1966-Sears-106-SS-built-by-Gilera/264779009017?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

[Groover]

Are the forks on yours different, or are they just missing the dust cover boot?


Thanks for the links.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Just an update on parts if anyone is looking for replacement vintage style chrome rims for small Italian motorcycles  - available here from Valtermotousa - for $79 each. I can't get a rim re-chromed for under $200 here so this is a bargain.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-MV-Guzzi-chrome-motorcycle-rim-1-50-X-17-36-holes-ITALY-new-production/173922412258?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Good find on the rims. I've bought a fair number of parts from "valtermotousa" in the last several years, including the pistons in my (and M13's) V700.

[Canuck750]

Are the forks on yours different, or are they just missing the dust cover boot?

Thanks for the links.

My Sears Gilera is missing the rubber fork boots, still looking for a suitable pair to fit the narrow fork tubes. If anyone knows a source I would sure appreciate hearing from you.

Charlie sent me a contact for Gilera parts: William Murar -  allstateclub@yahoo.com, he had reproduction control cables and Sears tank emblems, very reasonable,  plus he found me a pair of passenger foot pegs. Ebay has lost if used stuff and Italian Ebay is also a good source.

I am just happy to have added a Gilera to my little ensemble, its no Gilera Saturno Sport 500 but its still cute and I find it cool that these were sold just up the hill from where I grew up at my local Sears Store!

[Cdn850T5NT]

Based on your username... did you grow up in Canada? If so... I surely don't remember motorcycles being sold in Sears stores - at least in western Canada...??

[Canuck750]

Based on your username... did you grow up in Canada? If so... I surely don't remember motorcycles being sold in Sears stores - at least in western Canada...??

I am in Edmonton,

The catalogue page I posted was from the Sears 1968 catalogue distributed in Edmonton.
Simpson Sears sold Yamaha, Puch and Gilera, A friend of mine worked at the Sears service centre where they uncrated Yamahs's and Gilera 106cc bikes and Puch two strokes. Sears in Bonnie Doon  had Twin Jets and small single cylinder Yamaha's on the floor with the Sears Gilera. Late 60's (I think 1968) Yamaha pulled the distributorship and gave it to independent dealers. Serval of my Vintage Bike Club guys had Twinjets bought from Sears and couple had the Suzuki's from Woodwards. I had a 1968 Twinjet that the original owner bought from Bonnie Doon Sears.

These Puch bikes show up from time to time in Edmonton.





Woodwards carried Suzuki, the biggest they had was the Olympian twin. I think Woodwards gave up Suzuki in the late 60's a friend of mines father worked for Woodwards (as did I in the late 70's) and his dad got 15% off staff discount and bought him an Olympian.

Eaton's sold Jawa,  I think up to 350cc twin 2 strokes. Honda was always sold through dealers. A CVMG member in Edmonton has the Eaton's Jawa 350 and a Jawa scooter also sold at Eatons.





Kawasaki were originally sold through hardware chain stores in Edmonton, just small singles and then Kawasaki went to dealers.