PUCH Super Cavalier
 

Hi, I found this Puch Super Cavalier at Goodwill. I've found some info on the Cavalier, but thats not this model. it rides & shifts great, so I'm going to change out the handle bars & saddle. Refurbish it over the winter and ride in the spring. Anyone familiar with this model & idea of year made? What about Puch Bikes in general? Suggestions on removing the surface rust & touching up the paint? Here are the specs & pics: Seieal # 5589743, RD- Suntour V-Luxe, FD- Compe-V, Hub- Normandy 05076 France, Cluster -Regina Italy, Crank SR Apex, Rims-Rigida Chrolux Superiur, Brake center pull Weinmann 750, Puch Special 482 tubing, Made in Austria
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I don't know anything about Puch bikes. However as far as rust, depending on how deep it is, you can use aluminum foil wet and rub on the metal parts, you could use Naval Jelly (try not to get it on the paint - if left on awhile it will dull the shine), oxalic acid soak (I think this is wood bleach you'd use for a deck), bronze wool and some degreaser is good for all around hard grunge to get off.

Here is a link to the vintage-trek site and their page on component date codes. On the back of each derailleur there will be 2 letters of the alphabet stamped. This is the date code. It will tell you the date the component was made, and if original to the bike will help date the bike. On the back of each brake caliper see date codes, on the back of the crank arm (often the drive side) there will be date codes, seat post near the bottom, etc. It's sort of fun to hunt down the information to learn more about your bike.


Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating

Suntour specific date code system, just go to that link and scroll down.

Make sure that the seat post and quill stem are not stuck, and make sure to clean/grease them when you reinstall.

Also, regarding date codes on components original to the bike. If a date code is for later in the year it may be for a bike that is the next year's model. So on my Univega every single date code indicates a 1977, however all components are for the 2nd half of the year, specifically the fork and the freewheel are November, 1977. I haven't found a '77 Univega catalog, however the bike matches exactly the 1978 Univega catalog specs. Hope this helps.

Puch was owned, manufactured and distributed by Austro Daimler. Puch was the entry level line (from a marketing perspective) for AD. The Cavalier was the alloy rimmed version of the Cavette and it spec'd the alloy Suntour derailleurs rather than the steel version which the Cavette used. The frame was hi-ten steel. I think the era would have been the early 1980's and the bike probably sold a little over $225 when new. Like most European entry level bikes, the Cavallier rode fairly well, but fabrication quality was not as nice as the entry level Japanese bikes like Miyata, Fuji, Panasonic, etc.

Puch made bikes all over the spectrum. If you see an Austro-Daimler bike, it's the same company. Think Toyota and Lexus, but even closer than that.

+1 I actually have owned two high end Puchs. Why they didn't label them A-D is beyond me. One is an early 1970s Royal X. Full Reynolds 531 frame, first generation Dura Ace components, etc.

Most Puch's I have seen were low end, but not all.

Rust has been discussed a couple of thousand times in the last few years. Suggest a search via Google (search function on this forum is lousy).

The parent company is Steyr-Daimler-Puch, and I don't think they came out with the A-D marque until circa 1980. As the owner of two Capos, I am obviously a fan of Austrian bikes. :)