Bikingfool

This was the crowning jewel of the 4 Peugeots I recently purchased. My question to everyone out there..... has anyone ever seen one of these things???? And I don't mean "Yeah, in a magazine"! I've been told by the guy I bought it from was that this was imported from France and there are very few if any in the US. Wellllllllll, what do you think??

MKRG

What could you possibly see in a hand brazed old Peugot?








Just kidding. It's beautiful!

John E

What is your serial number? If the first digit following the first letter is a 0, you have a 1980. The Super Competition was the top-of-the-line model, traditionally designated PX-10.

My 1980 PKN-10 looks VERY similar, although my frame is smaller, and my paint is not in the near-pristine condition yours appears to be. I bought mine used several years ago and have been extremely happy with it. Rainman P. described it as "a sweet ride" when I lent it to him during his San Diego trip.

Poguemahone

Drool. I'd like it, please. Like John, I have a PKN10E from this period, as well as a PFN10E (both 1979). Both nice rides, and I bet yours is at least as fine, if not (way) better. And yeah, I've actually seen a couple of them, not that anyone on this board is likely to be surprised by that.

Yours looks pristine, as you stated in earlier posts about this bike.

John E

OK Poguemahone, I suspect mine is a PKN-10E, and I have seen the "E" suffix on PX-10s starting in the early 1970s. What does the "E" signify? I am also trying to figure out in which model year the PR-10 became the PKN-10.

John E

I was interested to note the absence of chrome on the rear triangle, which is a significant departure from a long-standing PX-10 tradition. The full-chrome, seamless fork with 531 stickers is quite a bit nicer than the half-chromed PKN-10 fork, with a big ugly seam on the rear (not even the inside!) surface of each blade.

Poguemahone

Heck, John, I've been trying to fathom all that out as well, but not to seriously. The "E" designation, near as I can tell, began in 1973 with the PX10E. This bike was marked with steeper tube angles than the standard PX10 from that year, as well as Nervex lugs (last year for these). It's not readily apparent, but when you put a standard PX next to an E model, you immediately see the difference in tube angles (I can post a picture if wanted, you'll see it right away). The ride is different as well-- a bit harsher, but quicker; I notice I feel further up over the front wheel on this bike than on the other P's I have. Oddly, the wheelbase on these two models is the same or very close-- the rear stays on the E model are slightly longer.

Initially, I though the "E" model was the PX10 from 1973, but then I saw a period catalog with the two models side by side, so both were made that year, near as I can figure.

As to the later "E" models, I'm not sure what the difference was. I know my designations are correct from the serial numbers on my bikes and the classics rendevous site, but the later frames appear to have fairly standard Peugeot road geometry.

The latest PR I've seen is about 76, the earliest PK I've seen is a 79, so I can narrow that changeover to sometime in that period.

A while back, at a bike shop in Madison, Wisconsin, I saw a 1978 PX. Like bikingfool's bike, it was marked "Super Competition"; unlike it, that bike had a half-chromed fork and stays. Catalog info at the classics rendevous site indicates the 1979 PXN10E had the painted stays and fully chromed fork.

Poguemahone

John E, the changeover year for the PR to the PK appears to be 1979/1980. Further investigation leads me to believe it was sometime in these years, although I have found some conflicting info. The info on this site:

https://home.wanadoo.nl/peugeotshow/

Appears to lag a year behind the model years on the classics rendevous site.

In addition, there are some "E" models prior to 1973; I'm still trying to figure out the designation.

Bikingfool

The number stamped on the bottom bracket shell is B1032 46. I was told it was an '81 and by all that I've read about serial numbers on Peugeot's it would be correct that this is an '81. The copy of the catalogue for that year lists the components and options and it fits to a "T". My other two also fits their perspective catalogue discriptions as well. It's a shame I have to sell two of them but I have no choice, The Boss says I can't keep them all. I'm trying to get a good idea of what to put them out there for but nothing on Ebay is even close to the types I have. They all say "High end model" when they aren't close so I would think mine should fetch a few extra $$. Thanks to all that replied and viewed the pics. It makes me feel good knowing that I've got something very special. This Super Comp is definately staying with me!!!!......I hope?!?!

John E

A 1981 it is, indeed, and definitely a keeper! Thanks for posting those great pictures. It looks just like my Peugeot, but taller and MUCH cleaner. By the way, your fixed BB cup is definitely left-threaded (clockwise to loosen, in contrast to earlier French-threaded Peugeots). Mine is Swiss-threaded (35x1); yours is probaby Swiss, as well, although Peugeot eventually went to English/ISO threading (1.37"x24), probably with the selling of the brand name to CCM in the mid-1980s. You have one of the last made-in-France Peugeots, and the top-of-the-line model, marking the end of a proud, long-running heritage. Enjoy!

Stanyon

Ive been looking for information on an older Peugeot I have. Pearl White paint, decals are orange and blue,tubing looks as if it has been squeezed to reduce frontal area, cables are routed thru tubing when possible, and no apparent serial no. One decal says made in France, another reads Vitesses 12 speed, and another reads Tube Special, Carboprofil-103 peugeot, and the front emblem reads 18182-1982. Front fork is all chrome with no apparent seams. Thanks for any help in advance jerry

John E

It sounds like it's a small cut above the standard Carbolite-103 UO-10 (?) base model. Carbolite 103 is plain-gauge carbon steel; the name was introduced ca. 1980. I am guessing "...profil" refers to the tube taper you noted. I am surprised the emblem reads 18182-1982, rather than 1882 - 1982, which would indicate a centennial celebration. (I did not think Peugeot was quite that old, although Bianchi almost is.)

Jamesbythebike

Bikingfool,

Yes, I've seen one of them before. In fact, I own one which started out in life in the early winter of 1983 looking almost exactly like yours. The frame and fork were identical...sort of metallic whit-ish pearlescent paint job with decals. The crankset was a Stronglight 52/42. Pedals??? Wheels??? Stem: ATAX. Saddle: Not sure, but don't think it was what you have pictured. Front derailleur looks similar. Rear Derailleur was different...mine was a Sachs but had some sort of black nylon (?) swing arms. (BTW, this derailleur simply exploded under pressure of a sprint about a year after I bought the bike. It sounded like a gunshot went off at my ankles!).

I purchased my bike in January of 1983 from a bike shop located near the UCSD campus. I think it was simply called the Bike Shop. A LBS run by an irreverent bunch of bike guys. A fun place to ride to...After about six months, I replaced the wheelset with a shop built set, Record/Fir.

This bike carried me through my 6 years of service in the Submarine Navy. This bike traveled with me from San Diego to Oahu to the San Francisco Bay Area. It was stolen from me within a month after moving to San Francisco. My (then) girlfriend made me put it in the garage because she didn't like having it in our apartment. Six months after it was stolen, I found it locked up outside a health food store off of Van Ness Avenue. The cranks and the front wheel had been replaced, but it was my bike alright. I waited for the guy to come out. When he saw me looking at it, I smiled at him and said, "Hey, this is a nice bike!" And with that, we started having a nice chat, one bicycle messenger (him) to a bicycle lover (me). After a moment or so of talking about the cool bike, I dropped the pretense and asked him where he got it. He realized the conversation just took an unexpected and serious turn. He started saying something about buying the bike from some guy...and I interrupted him and told him that,"...this bike was stolen from me. It belongs to me, and if you don't give it to me right now I'm going to f***'g kill you." I have to say that I'm not a tough guy...and those words simply came out of my mouth. I was pretty pissed off from a fight that I'd just had with my girlfriend, and all serious'd up from low blood sugar. Long story short: I got my bike back. You should've seen the look on my girlfriend's face when I came wheeling that bicycle back into the apartment.

A few months later, 1989 (?), I had the frame repainted a gloss white with a neon green fade a la Alexi Grewal's Pinarello. That same year I walked into a bike shop in Palo Alto and was talking bikes when I mentioned that I was looking to replace my French threaded bottom bracket, and that I wish it could be a Campy Record. He got this crazed look on his face and ran into the back of his shop and came back a few minutes later cradling a Campy parts box in his hands like it was irreplaceable. It looked like it had been sitting back there for years. I was overjoyed and purchased it, along with a Record headset, right away. A pair of Weinman brakes, softly, lustrously glowing and on sale, beckoned to me shortly thereafter, as did a pair of Record pedals.

For about ten years or so, I never really rode the bike, much to my sorrow.

Last year, I had the good fortune to walk into the Perfection Cyclery just as George and Jim were opening up. Just talking with these guys made me want to get back in the saddle. So I did. George walked me through a re-fit on my bike, and then Jim wrenched a tune up on it. And off I rode.

Several weeks later, a new friend, introduced to me through Perfection, sold me a set of tubular nine speed wheels. Jim spread the frame, (you can do things like that to steel!), and off I rode. I love sewups! Sometimes a pain in the ass, what with the more frequent flattings, but a superior ride all around.

And then there was the Campy triple record 10 crankset, which coincidentally works quite well with the 111mm bb spindle, ultegra long cage derailleur and DuraAce 9spd cogset.

But you know what? I'm going to convert this little lady into a fixed gear cycle. And at some point, I'd like to find a nice shop that can handle the restoration of my frame to its original paint and decal scheme.
I miss the beauty of the old paint, as cruddy as I used to think it was.

Well, this was a long post...but yeah, I did see one of those things, bikingfool. I did see one...

tipster224

It looks immaculate.

mswantak

I think you'd better drop it off at my house for extended testing.

Bockman

Check out these guys:

Airglow Painting

While I have no firsthand experience witht hem, their restoration projects look pretty amazing...

fixinskitchin

i wanna get a fly imported bike
drop a name or two? lead me in the right direction?

ReidSanMartin

Having just sold mine, now of course I do more research to rub salt into the seller's remorse wounds...I had a 1980 (based on serial #'s), blue-painted (inc. the stays and rear Simplex dropouts), full-chrome forks. Pretty much all-French: Spidel sidepulls, Spidel drilled levers w/ Mafac hoods, Stronglight cranks and BB, Peugeot-badged Simplex derailleurs, Maillard 700 team issue small flange hubs. If you'd like my attempt at a detailed description, and the digital pix I shot for your files, email me. No, really, I decided to keep the 71 Schwinn Paramount, and the 64 Carlton Flyer, and one of the three had to go. I think. Yours is gorgeous!!

broomhandle

does anybody know peugeot serial numbers? everyone seems different. how can you date these things? on CR the serial numbers i thought were just for PX10's

wildjim

Do you have a 1981 catalog? I would appreciate a detailed description of the PSV10S of that year.

Thank You

cyclezen

Jamesbythebike - Ab Fab story, thanks

bikingfool - beauty, long may it roll...

french bikes always seemed to have a very 'airy' visual quality, in part i think to their loyalty to Reynolds and Vitus. In comparo, Italian steel always seems a bit more 'weighty'; each is nice in their own way.
Especially like the 'look' in one of my most favorite-of-all-time rider pics - the one of Thevenet driving out of the saddle on his '75 PY TDF winner, in the article about his TDF PY10 I posted a few weeks back. Same light look, and you can just feel his power going through the bike.

luv this forum...

cudak888 

No offense to their work - which is quite nice - but it would have helped if they hadn't buggered the "Made In England" decal. It isn't the right font style or size, and since we're on the subject, the earlier Raleighs from the '50s and early '60s had larger "Made In England" lettering then the later examples. By 1978, the transfer became a sticker, with the addition of the TI logo.

Take care,

-Kurt