bikemanbob

I didn't buy it because I thought it was rare or valuable; I bought it because it looked interesting! When I first saw it on Craigslist, but I did nothing. Several days passed, and the bike was still there. Being 1/4 Czechoslovakian, my ancestry and curiosity got the best of me. I decided to do a little reseach. Eventually I found a bike like the one listed. The owner had cleaned it up and it looked nice. I decided to call, and I bought the bike on the next day for $70. When I met the owner, I was hoping for a great story on how the bike came into his possession. I told me that he bought it in an estate sale. He said that he really wanted a kid's bike, and he had to buy the Favorit in a package deal to get it. He was essentially selling it for what he paid for it. So much for a great story!

From what I could find, the bike appears to be a 1970 Favorit F1 Special. The bike appears to be solely comprised of Favorit parts. The saddle is in good condition, but the rest of the bike is very dirty and rusty. It should make a great project and provide fantastic before and after pictures.

Although I did some research, I couldn't find much information. If you have any info that I might find beneficial, please post it. Otherwise, please view the pictures.

auchencrow

^ Viewing pictures now.

(You gotta love that crank!)

ecnewell 

I wish I had some good information for you - I'm just admiring your find. I like bikes with stories, too, and this probably has a good one. There is a chance it was purchased in Canada, not Czechoslovakia, though. Apparently some eastern bloc manufacturers sold bikes there.

I did a quick Google search and found a Flickr page with lots of pictures of this and other Favorit models: https://www.flickr.com/photos/veloret...7622677513298/

I suppose you've already seen some past BF threads about Favorit? If not, an easy way to find them is to Google "Favorit site:bikeforums.net"

Happy riding!

Tundra_Man 

I'm mostly from Czchec heritage as well, so I can understand why you would buy this. Its different, fun and you feel a connection to its heritage, even if it did find its way to you via Canada.

I would have bought it too.

Now I'm craving poppyseed kolaches.

bikemanbob

Thanks Ecnewell!

I appreciate your efforts. I had already found that Flickr page. Those photographs were the catalyst in pursuing the bike. I may try contacting the photographer through Flickr for more info.

I've already searched Bikeforums and found limited information.

Like yourself, I highly suspect that it came from Canada.

Thanks.

bob

jebbesen

My Wife is Czchec (100%) and her family always have that (yuk) and cirek (Yukx2) at holidays

bikemanbob

My next goal would be to find an Hungarian bike. I'm just as much Hungarian as I am Czech, but my last name is Hungarian.

tiger1964 

Well, I guess be glad you're ancestry is not from, say, Andorra -- might not find a bike from there.

In another topic, I mentioned I do have a Favorit stem on my track bike, taken off another Fvorit as the owner "upgraded" his bike in-period. It looks like the exact same stem as yours.

kroozer 

Sew-up tires?

ecnewell 

Hey, there's a great idea. Anyone with that kind of collection probably knows the company's full history by heart.

This thread makes me want to put together a German/Irish/Swedish/Welsh mutt bike to match my mixed (mixte?) heritage.

bikemanbob

Tubular with glue.

bikemanbob

Thanks Ecnewell. Your words encouraged me to move quicker than I intended.

I didn't realize it at first, but the Flickr account was in Czech. I used a translater to help. The account holder asked for people to send photgraphs of their bikes.

He included an email address. I asked him to confirm the model of bike. Hopefully, he will respond. I'll will post developments as I learn.

Bob

DavidW56

Argh! You beat me to it, Bikemanbob! I was considering this bike as well, as I am part Czech too, and it did look like a cool bike. (But I have no more room to store bikes after my latest acquisitions.) Nice score!! You'll have to bring it to the shop soon to show it off.

DavidW56

I'm also part Hungarian. Guess the next time there is a Hungarian bike posted online, I'd better act fast!

rootboy 

You may have been only 25% into it but I think you diid 100% right. Cool old bike. Best part, it seems to be all there so you don't have to try to source what must be nearly-impossible to find parts. Neat bike.

southpawboston

Nice find, bikemanbob! I'm half Czech and I've had Favorits on my radar recently, as well, but not high enough on my radar to actively pursue... too many other bikes in the works.

One small anecdote is that I lived in the Czech Republic form 1991-1992, staying with my cousin's family. He was an avid cyclist and did lots of touring throughout Europe. He had a small handful of road bikes, and I rode one of them for the duration I lived there- mostly as transportation but also for casual rides with him and his kids through the Southern Bohemian countryside (which is gorgeous!). Sadly, back then, I had neither the knowledge nor appreciation for bikes... I had more the attitude of "a bike is a bike, it gets you places"). So unfortunately, I have no idea what makes(s) he had in his collection or what make I rode for the time I was there. It was most definitely a 10-speed road bike, and very likely a Favorit. Most East Europeans didn't have the financial means to purchase bikes of more pedigreed provenance, so made do with intra-soviet bloc brands, which themselves were probably not easy to afford on a typical soviet-era income.

I should contact him and find out what bikes he had at that time, and what bike he likely lent me.

What I'd like to do some day is find an old Czech bike from the time that my Dad was alive and living there...

bikemanbob

Hi David:

I was exercising restraint, but in a moment of weakness, I bought the Favorit. You would have been a big help had you bought it first.

bikemanbob

I'm envious. I would have loved to have travelled Europe. What a great experience!

realestvin7

I dig it.

randyjawa 

I had a Favorit a short while ago and traded it, along with five other bicycles for a 1984 Torpado Super Racing. The Favorit was in excellent condition and a slightly higher end model than the one presented by the OP.

non-fixie 

Thanks for posting this! Favorit has been on my radar since I bought a mystery bike with what I later found out to be a Favorit bar stem.



A while later I found this Concorde Vision (or Vision Concorde) that has clearly had a repaint and new parts and decals applied. I've tried to find out what it is, and I suspect that it might be a Favorit, and the brake calipers are the only original parts.

Edit: just saw Randy's Favorit with the same seat lug. That's enough confirmation for me. Thx!

Roll-Monroe-Co

Dobry den! I am 1/4 Czech. Moravians represent, yo!

I have an Eska hanging in the garage. Duh. I thought it was Japanese until I was perusing disraeli gears and read about favorit. I like the look of their drs and downtube shifters. Dont know how well they work, but one has to show some loyalty to the motherland.

bikemanbob

Thanks Randy for the link to "My Ten Speeds." I appreciate your efforts in making such a site. I found the information helpful.

Thanks everyone who responded. Your responses far exceeded my expectations.

divineAndbright

Im quite surprised that favorit came with tubulars it doesnt seem on the higher quality side, but maybe confirms the fact it actually came from europe, I think if it was sold in canada it would of had 27" rims. That flickr link is interesting, most of them seem very well built, I wasn't expecting that as I suppose most anything exported was probably on the bulkier low-quality side. I'd like to see some more favorit parts, everything ive seen has been copies of simplex stuff.

bikemanbob

Thanks divineAnd bright for your observations. I also share your sentiments. The bike as pictured weighs 24 lbs. It seems to be an odd collection parts. Also, it does appears to be a better bike than the $70 I paid for it. I did a premilmary cleaning on it and it looks better than expected.