Classic & Vintage - Steyr Waffenrad, Austria - 'Swan' Frame 3-Speed

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Veloria
06-17-10, 03:11 AM
Wanted to post some pictures of a bicycle that is probably not seen too often on these pages.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1277/4704841747_0fd0d2a62b.jpg

I travel to Vienna for work, and this is the bicycle I ride while here.
It is a Lady's Steyr Waffenrad. A regal and stable beauty that handles like a cross
between an English Roadster and a Dutch bike.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4704841637_1011245292.jpg

The bike belongs to an interesting collector in Vienna (http://www.2-pedals.org/WaffenraderArchiv.htm).
Does anybody else here ride or collect these?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4439325300_db8dc73954.jpg

More pictures of the bike and components:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovely_bicycle/sets/72157623626084072/

Chris_in_Miami
06-17-10, 10:00 AM
I've seen them on the local Craigslist occasionally, but the sellers have always seem to believe they're worth a fortune... I love the "Waffenrad" script on the top tube!
rhm
06-17-10, 10:36 AM
That is a very cool bike! If you want to know how old it is, I'm pretty sure you will find a date code on the torpedo three speed hub. It's a letter.

Just out of curiosity, how do Dutch bikes handle differently from English ones?

The thing I love best about German, Austrian, Dutch &c bikes is the emblem on the front of the front fender. It's like a figurehead. I saw one with a leaping hound once, it was so beautiful I almost stole it. No worries, I was going to steal the whole bike, not the emblem!

Oh, just kidding. Second time I've joked about stealing a bike today, too.:innocent:

Veloria
06-17-10, 11:50 PM
Chris - The older ones are worth a fortune, but they kept being produced through the 1980s and I am guessing those later ones are the ones on C-List. Still, surprising to see them in the US; I don't think they were ever imported.

rhm - This one was made in 1986, though it is a bit of a "Frankenbike" and contains parts from older bicycles.

A traditional Dutch bike handles differently from an English Roadster, in that the former was predominantly designed as a transport bike, meant to carry heavy loads, whereas the latter was designed as a long-distance traveler. A Dutch bike will have a higher headtube and higher handlebar positioning, it will be heavier, and it will be slower to accelerate. An English Roadster will have the handlebars more at level with the saddle, will be lighter, and easier to accelerate - sometimes to surprisingly great speeds.

"so beautiful I almost stole it" is a great compliment : ))