DougT

I picked up on this forum/topic searching for info on my bike and enjoyed it's info. but I don't know how old it was. I still have an Austro Daimler A-D SLE purchased in 1979, the bike is probably 1979. I still have the brochures that came with. Original everything except rims. I was sorry to replace the rims because they were so chrome vs. what I replaced them with. I use the bike for training and triathlons along the lakefront in Chicago.

I was a copper in Detroit and rode it to work often. At work they thought I was an idiot to pay $300ish for a bike when another copper bought a Sears or similar and paid $50... or little whatever it was. The bikes been with me living in Casper and Laramie Wyoming and 20 years in Chicago.

Letting it go would be like selling my dog... you can't do that!

teambhultima

Hello DougT
Glad to see another A-D owner out there. We are a small but devoted crowd!
Mine is a purple '76 Ultima, but not all original (I couldn't afford a full Campy SR gruppo back then and still can't now! So, it's a mix of Campy w/ Suntour Cyclone f&rd.) No way could I get rid of my bike! I've owned it for well over 20 years - I think I bought it as NOS in 1982or3.
Best wishes!

poopncow

Will never part with my Ultima SL either (83 but w 2003-4 10spd campy). many wonderful miles since I found it in a box 4 seasons ago.

John E

On the subject of Austrian bicycles, we Capo owners are an even smaller, but devoted crowd!

DonTx

Puch touring bike owner here. A model 170 I bought new in 1986. Its a made in japan bike by I still like it and ride it. I actually sold it a few years ago and bought it back when a year later so it would get ridden.

ilikebikes

AD owner here too, its a larger frame but I ride the bike anyways 90% orig, I really like the ride and am trying to find one that fits me (22") a guy has one but hasnt gotten back to me yet

clancy98

nick burns

Puch Luzern:


Puch Mistral SLE:


AD Ultima SuperLeicht:


My latest- "Made For" Puch gaspipe fixed:

poopncow

Hey Nick, that SLE is not original equip'd is it?

here are a few snippettes of a smoked chrome USL

nick burns

Nah, bought it as a frameset a few years ago (a steal for $55) and built it up with a mish-mash of Campy parts I mostly had laying around. Used it primarily as my commuter until I built up the fixie. Ride is super comfy and handling is pretty quick.

That USL is beautiful BTW.

poopncow

Thanks Nick, was wondering because my recent addition of a neglected SLE was no where's as well equiped. You might have seen pix of it on the former AD threads. The colors on your bike os much cooler.

Where are you in SNJ? I used to be in TomR and roded IBSPk a lot.

nick burns

I'm just outside Atlantic City. Do most of my distance riding in the pine barrens. Lots of great quiet roads there that are surprisingly well maintained. Just got to remember to brings lots of water cause it can be like a desert out there and there aren't many places to refuel.

Never rode in Island Beach. Pretty nice there?

I missed those pics of your SLE. I'll have to do a search for them when the forums speed back up again. It's funny, I think the color of my SLE was one of the reasons I scored the frame so cheap...I think it was a little too pink for some tastes.

Ray R

I've been acquiring bikes from this manufacturer since 1979, when my father gave me a '79 A-D SLE he won in a contest and never rode. I still have it along with several others I've picked up from various sources since: a black '69 Steyr 100 anniversary 3-speed with 26" wheels (the Styria hub was built under license from Sturmey-Archer and uses interchangeable parts), original fenders and Olympic ring decals, it has the Steyr cursive script on the top of the top tube, I'd like to find an original fender reflector, paid $90in 1991; a practically unused '73 A-D Vent Noir tenspeed with the inaugural Dura-Ace group (the rear derailer is branded "Crane") and beautifully drilled black chainrings, paid $525 in 1994; a 1984 Superlight with a Galli gunmetal blue gruppo, Campy dropouts, and Puch headbadge (I'd like to find the original Galli blued quick releases), paid $100 in 2000; and the latest acquisition for my wife is an A-D Michelle with step-through frame that I know nothing about, I'm trying to get more information on it, it looks like the Vent Noir step-through model of circa 1980 but with cream colored paint and blue decals, just paid $125. A second-hand shop in Florida has had a black Puch Waffenrad woman's frame single speed coaster brake 26" bike from the '50's on eBay for several months now, but wants $700 for it, too dear for me, and probably for anyone else, it still hasn't sold.

DougT

Hi Ray, what's the condition of the AD SLE won by your Dad?

Homebrew01

On my way home from school in the mid-1970's I would drool over the A-D vent Noir they had hanging on display. That's when I became aware of the difference between bikes and BIKES. They had a bunch of Weyless stuff too that was quite nice. 10 years later I got a pair of original Weyless hubs and still have them built up in the basement.

poopncow

Where do all the numbskulls find this stuff?

forget the add, look at the bike!

https://cgi.ebay.com/Austro-Damiere-R...QQcmdZViewItem

nick burns

How can you forget that ad?! There's just too much going on to ignore:

12 lbs.

$8.10 shipping

Manufactured by Mercedes Benz

Damiere? It's printed right on the bike, how can they butcher the spelling so badly?!

44cm? Just a hair off I'd say. It's a small frame but it ain't 44cm small. Ok, maybe I'm a little nit-picky on this one.

Aluminum frame

Whew!

ilikebikes

Here ya go clancy98!

old and new

I don't rellay understand all that's been stated here.I'm not so clear on exactly what DougT posted..is it a question or..??..?? The bike for sale that poopncow has presented,is a Puch, by 1978 Puchs were made in Japan,I had one biefly, a 1979, it was purple and had Shimano index shifting,it was an OK bike,I sold it after a short while. The Aust-daim....name connected with Puch..it was all a huge comglomerate.A.Daim. bikes themselves were Belgian (ish) ..DIFFERENT bike. the Puchs were sold for a few years after the moped rage subsided, I paid less than 300. it was almost a good as a Nishiki in that range.The bike above is a whole other bike,way out of my league back then. NICE bike ilikebikes !!!

old and new

SOORY now I'm really confused..the bike picture DOESN'T match the data..aluminum..?? 12lbs..?? the ad. is name-dropping and bogus. 44cm?? the Daimler Co. was the same as MB Daimler in name only anyway..a long boring story,surely noone needs to know further

John E

There is a germ of truth, in the sense that Steyr-Daimler-Puch does manufacture some components for DaimlerChrysler.

poopncow

The post on that bike was taken from the "Numbskull of the day" thread. Since it appears fromt he picture to be an Austro Daimler of reasonable grade, I decided to post the link here. Yes the seller is a Numbskull, but it appears that the bike is a gem.

Can anyone identify the bike? The cream color?
Also seller used the term "super light" and have a habit of butchering names...could it be a"Super Liche"?

nick burns

While it's impossible to suss out from that lame ad exactly what's in the photo, AD SuperLeicht's were available in a cream color. I don't think that color was used solely for the SuperLeicht though.

Anyone want to take a $408.10 gamble?

Iowegian

Maybe this is a good thread to out my best ever thrift store find

I've got a Vent Noir II frame in good shape that doesn't fit me. When I found it, it had a mix of Japanese components on it
If there was ever a frame that deserves some nice Campy gear, this is one. The wheels were Fiamme tubulars but were beyond saving.

Anyway...I was thinking about putting it up on ebay or making a new thread for it on the C+V subforum but if someone here wants it, PM me. I forgot the measurements but I think it's a 59cm frame. Has original Campy headset, and downtube shifters. I've also got 2 NOS Campy rear axle adjusters since one was broken. Rear drops are Campy, front are Gipemme (sp?). A bit of surface rust in the BB shell (slotted shell) but nothing serious since the bike is from Colorado. Frame is straight with no dents. Decals are so-so.

poopncow

too big, I'm a shortie and ride 53/54 ... darn