Classic & Vintage - Thinking of a new project - a Favorit

I'm in the mood to do something different for the fourth road bike to hang in the garage, and this time I'd like to build something that I wanted almost 40 years ago and didn't get: a Favorit.

Quick backstory which will hopefully explain this quest: Although second generation American born, my ancestry is Slovak, and it's quite strong. Always had an interest in following what was going on in Czechoslovakia back when I was in high school and college, have some vivid memories of Prague Spring in '68 and the Russians coming in to shut it down that summer (like listening to Radio Prague broadcasting as the tanks came down the street, it was shut down very quick thereafter). In 1971 my folks went over to visit some of the family, and I put the push on for a 531-tubed Favorit to add to my collection.

To his credit, dad tried awful hard, but couldn't manage to come up with some Communist bureaucrat who was interested enough and willing to stamp the papers and take the dollars, and ship a single bike over. Guess it didn't fall within the current Five Year Plan.

Last week I picked up a NOS set of Favorit centerpulls, which got me started. I'm now looking for derailleurs, hubs, etc. Maybe even a frame (if not, I'll find something period and European). Not holding out too much in the way of hopes for a full bike, as the few I've seen always seem to have cottered cranks, straight gauge tubing, and are priced at over $200.00 - way more than they're worth, and I've never seen a really clean one advertised.

If anyone has any leads, I'd be interested in listening.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

sykerocker, I have one sitting im my garage and the friend to whom it belongs has another one in his garage. Interesting to look at. The mechanic who cleaned it up said it was a true ten speed with a 52/50 upfront and whatever it takes in the back. The derailleurs look quite odd as well and I was told that they were a copy of campy stuff, keeping in mind that these bikes date back to the early or mid-seventies and do not look like anything I've looked at recently. I did do some research on line but truth be told have forgotten most of what I found. Good luck on your rebuild. rck

Yeah, they're definitely on the odd side, which is part of the appeal for me. They're Campy rip-offs, er, copies, just like Zeus although the styling is a bit more on the agricultural side.

Back then, everything made in the Eastern Bloc countries was a copy of Campagnolo. Favorit's were probably the best quality, and if you ever see a Russian bike of the same time period you'll understand why I say that.

I figure it's going to take quite a while to find the parts I'm looking for, but this isn't being done under any kind of time constraints. I figured by putting a note in on this forum, I might run across someone who has a few bits sitting in boxes gathering dust somewhere.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

I have a bike made by I think express model alvia cant find any info on it but has eagle on head badge ,may be eastern block country realy dont know. If you know anything about it or would like to have it let me know, yard sale pricing.

You know some Favorit bikes were imported into the US. A shop in my town that sold mostly Jawa/CZ motorcycles had a few Favorit bikes around. From what I recall they were mid level road bikes (10 speed, I guess), fairly light with all Czech components and Barum sew-up tires. Didn't see too many actually on the road, however.

I have a bike made by I think express model alvia cant find any info on it but has eagle on head badge ,may be eastern block country realy dont know. If you know anything about it or would like to have it let me know, yard sale pricing.

You've definitely got my curiosity up, at least. Any chance of doing a couple of pictures, I might be able to give you some answers from that. I can be reached at: sykerocker@netscape.net

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Favorit bikes were widely sold in Canada in the 70's and 80's. It shouldn't be too difficult to find one there. I used a Favorit frame to build a racing trike out in the early 80's. The frame was not that bad to ride but was downright ugly as far as finish went. Most defintiely no pride in workmanship on that frame. Most of the high end Favorit bikes were purchased to get the Campagnolo gruppo which was promptly switched over to a "worthy" frame; that is how I got the frame for my trike project, someone bought a Favorit F1, removed all the components and dumped the frame (he gave it to me free because there was no commercial value to it, even though brand new)

I might have some parts (front+ rear mech, hubs) but I will not be able to access them till fall.
Go for Favortit Special - you will get butted Reynolds 531 frame and better geometry - the finish (lugs etc.) will still be sub par.
Edit: Looks NOS, 7 days to go, $10 BIN, and a solid seller - bought from him many times (http://allegro.pl/item112174153_przerzutka_tylna_favorit_nowa_.html)

I might have some parts (front+ rear mech, hubs) but I will not be able to access them till fall.
Go for Favortit Special - you will get butted Reynolds 531 frame and better geometry - the finish (lugs etc.) will still be sub par.
Edit: Looks NOS, 7 days to go, $10 BIN, and a solid seller - bought from him many times (http://allegro.pl/item112174153_przerzutka_tylna_favorit_nowa_.html)

Yeah, that was the bike that I was hoping that my father would have been able to get me. C'est la vie.

No problem on a time delay, as this is a long, long, long term project for me. When you're able to find anything, I can be reached at: sykerocker@netscape.net. I appreciate the help very much.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Favorit bikes were widely sold in Canada in the 70's and 80's. It shouldn't be too difficult to find one there. I used a Favorit frame to build a racing trike out in the early 80's. The frame was not that bad to ride but was downright ugly as far as finish went. Most defintiely no pride in workmanship on that frame. Most of the high end Favorit bikes were purchased to get the Campagnolo gruppo which was promptly switched over to a "worthy" frame; that is how I got the frame for my trike project, someone bought a Favorit F1, removed all the components and dumped the frame (he gave it to me free because there was no commercial value to it, even though brand new)

Unfortunately, anything coming from the Eastern Bloc in those days had the same problem. And it wasn't just bicycles. My wife tells me stories about a co-worker of hers who owned a Lada, when she lived in Montreal. I still find them absolutely hilarious.

I'm fully away of what I'm walking into as I do this. It's one of two or three projects that harken back to my first generation cycling days back in the late 60's/early-mid 70's (the other being getting a blue World Voyageur back on the road). Call it ethnic pride - I always enjoyed the ancestral country having such a good reputation for bicycles, even if they weren't exactly pristine objects d'art.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

My wife tells me stories about a co-worker of hers who owned a LadaYes, they were a bad joke! My father-in-law bought a Lada to save money. All the rubber parts perished and it rusted out within two years. But not everything from the Eastern Block was crap. I owned Jawa and CZ motocross bikes in the sixties and they were bulletproof.

Yes, they were a bad joke! My father-in-law bought a Lada to save money. All the rubber parts perished and it rusted out within two years. But not everything from the Eastern Block was crap. I owned Jawa and CZ motocross bikes in the sixties and they were bulletproof.

Them I remember, big time. My motorcycle dealer/best friend back in PA, who put me on my first (of many) Triumph was also the Jawa dealer. Those were real killer bikes until the early 80's when the Japs teched them into oblivion. They still kick butt in vintage motocross.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

Call it ethnic pride - I always enjoyed the ancestral country having such a good reputation for bicycles, even if they weren't exactly pristine objects d'art.

I still don't know where you got the idea that they had a good reputation for bikes. Even when built up by competent bike shops and sold at discount prices akin to those found in Walmart today, Favorit bikes were not considered a good value. The only time that they were considered passable was when they were compared to other Eastern Bloc wares.