Favorit Special or Rapido? Check out my Czechoslovakian wonder!
 

I picked up a 1971 (judging by the first two digits of the serial number on the BB) Favorit ten-speed at an estate sale. It's a one-owner (now two) bike that is very complete with all the original Favorit labeled components. It's even my size!

I know from having done a little research that despite saying "Special" on the brakes and being a "Favorit" it is not really a special bike nor is it likely to end up being my favorite. But, it's cool, fits me, and is a good opportunity for me to get back into wrenching. For $35 I have no complaints.

At some point the handlebars were replaced with "comfort" bars, but I found the original drop bars in a trash bag by the garage door, and they appear to have the original handlebar tape on them. There is also a very cool period Velamos bell, Pletscher rack, and a French dynamo with headlight and taillight. It appears to be missing a Favorit-labeled pump (there are brazings on the underside of the top tube for mounting it) and it does not have fenders either. I have no idea where to find these.

I'm now in the process of completely disassembling the bike to clean, reassemble with new consumables (cables, housings, tires, and grease) and likely new headset bearings as the steering binds quite a bit--perhaps the reason it hung in the owner's garage for a couple of decades. I'm excited to get into wrenching on bikes again as I've spent most of the last few decades messing with cars and am now ready for something healthier and cheaper.

It says "Special" on the brakes, but research on the web, including several threads here, makes me think it may be a Rapido.

I can't seem to upload photos, but there is an album here: Favorit Special - 1971 Photos by kcrsnova | Photobucket

hello findude,

wrt the Favorit/Rapido names - all of the drop bar models i have seen have been badged Favorit. the Rapido name seems to have been reserved for models with upright bars. also observed models usually badged at Rapido badged as Jawa. have had Favorits the same colour as yours and a Rapido five speed in green with white panels.

the juvenile models were called Pioneer. back in communist times each of the satellites had a "Young Pioneers" national youth organisation.

the U.S. agent for the bikes back in the 1970's was called American Jawa. they also did other products from Motokov Praha such as Jawa mopeds, chain hoists, etc.

have fun going through your new acquisition. hope you are able to post pictures as matters proceed. its great that you have found one which is so all original. :thumb:

hello again findude,

was able to pull out a catalogue sheet from American Jawa that i had saved.

it gives a model nr. for your bicycle of RFA-27". the sheet i have is a bit later than your example so it is possible that the model nr. is different.

each time i see one i think "that front derailleur has one of the most tortuous cable paths i have seen."

American Jawa Ltd. operated from 185 Express Street, Plainview, L.I., NY 11803

in addition to the bicycles they were an agent for Jawa Mopeds, Velorex Sidecars, Barum tyres. Zator tractors and Brano hoists.

hope you are making good progress with your project. :)

Thanks for the encouragement. The bike is now completely disassembled and I've cleaned most of the parts. I had to wait on some replacement bearings but should get it reassembled within the next few weekends.

thanks for the update findude. look forward to the next installment, perhaps one inclusive of additional imagery. ;)

wrt fenders you mention. afaik this model did not come with them.

wrt the steering binding -

noticed the twelfth photo of page three of your photobucket album. it may be just a photographic effect or the result of perspective but the headset's fork crown race does not appear to be quite parallel with the headset's lower head cup. this could be the result of a frontal impact which has slightly bent the bicycle's steerer just above the fork crown. once you have the fork removed from the frame you could check the straightness of the steerer with a straightedge. these shallow bends are fairly easy to align with the aid of a mandrel passed up through the underside of the fork crown.

Favorit Special - 1971 Photos by kcrsnova | Photobucket

additional example
 

good day findude,

hope your rebuild is moving along well. a favorit road bicycle quite similar to your example recently came up on u.s. ebay. it was listed by the seller as "NOS 1976." no model name or number was given. it appears the main difference is this machine's tubular wheels. saved the pictures from the listing in case any readers would like to view them:


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424708http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424709http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424710http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424711http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424712http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=424713

And another example...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...Full_TQF_1.jpg