[CR]1950/51 Frejus v Legnano Frame Comparison

(Example: Framebuilders:Richard Moon)

From: <Hughethornton@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 17:45:13 EDT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]1950/51 Frejus v Legnano Frame Comparison

Following a comment on Frejus and Legnano tubing, I checked out a Frejus Supercorsa and Legnano Roma to see if there are any discernible differences.

The main triangle tubes are all comparable externally - nominally 1 inch top tube, 1 1/8 inch seat and down tubes and 1 1/4 head tube. The chainstays are comparable, as are the seat stays except that the Legnano stays are largest at the brake bridge and taper towards the seat lug as well as towards the dropouts. The Frejus stays are roughly constant section between the brake bridge and seat lug. Interestingly, the Legnano takes a 27.2mm diameter seat post and the Frejus 26.4, which would lead you to think that the Frejus would be a lot heavier, which it isn't.

Both forks are oval to round section, with the Frejus starting at 28mm x 18mm and the Legnano at 27mm x 22mm with reinforcing tangs down the insides, which the Frejus does not have. As you would expect, when you squeeze the fork ends together the Legnano feels noticeably stiffer because of the reinforcements and thicker section.

The weights are: Frame only: Frejus - 2.06 kg Legnano - 2.02 kg

Forks only: Frejus - 0.76 kg Legnano - 0.73 kg

Totals - Frame and Fork: Frejus - 2.82 kg Legnano - 2.75 kg Raleigh 753 - 2.55 kg Raleigh 531 - 2.75 kg

The Legnano is 0.07 kg ( =70 grams) lighter BUT it is about 3 cm smaller. By my calculation this means that the Legnano has almost 8 cubic centimetres less steel in it because of the shorter seat tube, head tube and steerer, which accounts for 60 grams of the weight difference. In other words, the weight is too close to call when you consider the unknown effects of paint thickness and corrosion that may have occurred over the years. Interesting that they are not much different from a more modern 531 frame which is 1 cm larger than the Legnano. The 753 frame is about the same size as the Frejus. The catalog weight of the Frejus is 7 lb ( 3.2 kg), which must include headset and bottom bracket or else my scales are way out of calibration.

According to the catalog, the Frejus has a 72 degree head angle and a 73 degree seat angle. I can't verify the angles, but lining the frames up, it is evident that the Legnano has a slightly shallower seat angle and slightly steeper head angle -- so it is probably more like 73 head, 72 seat. As a result, the top tube lengths are very similar in spite of the frame size difference.

Aesthetically there is not much to choose between the two frames. The Frejus' lugs are slightly more elegant than the Legnano's. Unfortunately neither frame has its original finish, but Legnanos look quite stunning with their chrome and Chartreuse color and red pin striping as would the Frejus with chrome forks and head lugs and the rest of the frame clear-coated over nickel plating.

Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England