non-fixie 

I'm not kidding, but then again, I don't expect this thread to grow into a twenty-pager either.

If you are a member and have a Bontekoe bike, please post it here. If you're not a member and have a Bontekoe, please register and post your Bontekoe bike here. Please?

Bontekoe is a brand that was introduced in 1925, when some friends (among whom Piet Moeskops, the then world track champion) helped Gerrit Bontekoe finance a bike shop in The Hague, after a bad fall on the track, which ended his career as a racer. Gerrit was a decent racer, and became famous on the tandem, with his mate, Willem van Duijn. They were affectionately known as "Jopie Slim en Dikkie Bigmans", named after a very successful Dutch translation at the time (1920's) of the London Evening News' "Billy Bimbo and Peter Porker".


Gerrit Bontekoe sr

His son, Gerrit Bontekoe jr, was also a gifted track racer. He got into his dad's shop and turned out to be a gifted frame builder as well.



Gerrit Bontekoe jr.

In the early years, the shop would sell its own hand-built bikes, but when that ceased to be economical, they would buy the frames elsewhere, build them to customer specifications, and put their own decals on it.

The shop still exists, and is run by Gerrit's grandsons. I've visited it a few years ago, which was a pleasure BTW, because I'd purchased a Bontekoe and wanted to know more about the bike. It turned out to be a Viner Special Corsa frame.

As bought (and yes, I need to take some new and better pics of this one):



A couple of years later, I stumbled upon another Bontekoe. It took me a while, and the help of fellow BF member @Hummer, to identify it as a Miki-built frame:



Last year, another Bontekoe fell into my lap. This time I needed no help to identify it as a re-branded Alan Competizione:



But I still didn't have a "real" Bontekoe, built by the family. Until yesterday, when this turned up in the classifieds. I still need to verify it (will take it to the shop at the earliest opportunity) but it looks like the real thing. Labeled "Cycles Bontekoe", it's a touring / city bike frame that's led a hard life, but has all the hallmarks of a late fifties / early sixties hand-built bike:

non-fixie 

Genuine brevettato dropouts, with the hole for the Campagnolo Sport spring:



Nice touch: first time I've seen dual top tube shifter mounts:



Vagner No 11 (?) fork crown:



Nervex lugs, with nice pencil-shaped seat stay caps. And a serial number, which looks to be 728:



The bottom bracket is French-threaded. Or rather: was, as it contained a Tange Universal set, probably because the threads on the non-drive side are shot:



I'll keep you posted on my further findings regarding this frame.

Meanwhile, post your Bontekoes here!

3speedslow

Live long enough and you never know what you will see! Good luck with your new to you Bontekoe and this thread.

USAZorro

Nice bike. I see why it interested you. I'd show you mine, but it was in the back of the Ferrari with the Herse when my car got stolen (before I was able to get any pictures).

Wildwood

Awesomely informative.


But what a piece of work you have,
I foresee help from the shop for a full restore.
Maybe.

Lascauxcaveman 

Thanks for the great pics and history!

(But my inner 14-year-old would like to point out that "Dikkie Bigmans" would be a great name for a dutch porn star.)

non-fixie 

Thanks! You know, putting bikes like this up on this forum and sharing them with you guys is definitely part of the fun, so even if it amounts to little else, I'll have had my money's worth.

Well, at least you've got the beautiful memories.

Thanks. Yes, keeping the original paint is not a viable option, I'm afraid. My main problem, however, is its size. Too small for me. I may be able to pop into the Bontekoe shop tomorrow. I'm kinda hoping they're in touch with other enthusiasts that might be in for a trade for something in a larger size. Not holding my breath, though.

You have spiwwit, you wascal you!

Bikerider007

Thanks for posting, looking for to more info on this and the build. That seat cluster is awesome.

Vieux chnoque

Till I was 16 I lived near by the Bontekoe store, I liked to look at the for me unobtainable goodies on display. I haven’t come across a Bontekoe in my size, wouldn’t mind having one in my collection. Nicepost thanks for the memories.

non-fixie 

You're quite welcome. What size would that be, BTW?

I visited the Bontekoe shop today, and spoke to both grandsons who currently run the place. Nice guys, but regrettably they couldn't help me, other than with their assessment that this would have been a bike from "granddad's era". They haven't kept any records, and are not into the old stuff. Quite understandable from a business point of view, but a bit of a bummer. Apparently I'm one of the very few "misters" that drop in occasionally with an old bike.

Oh well.

non-fixie 

That seat cluster (and the down tube decals of course) is what makes me believe it's a real Bontekoe. I've seen those pencil-shaped seat stay caps before on a Bontekoe.

WRT the build, I'm not sure what to do with it. I'd love to restore it, but I wouldn't be able to ride it, as it's really too small for me.

Vieux chnoque

Mysize would be 58cc, and it has to be a racing frame, not a tourer, and fairly decent looking, I have no place for another crappy frame😉. At the moment I am looking for a rideable bike in Phoenix AZ, I am spending more time there of lately.

John E

Somewhat akin to the Cap family situation in downtown Vienna Austria, although son Harald Cap is keeping some of his father Otto's tradition alive, including recently changing the decal logo to read CAP:O, and his website still uses the original Capo script lettering and notes "seit [since] 1930." https://www.capo.at/

Harald has also graciously provided me and other vintage Capo fans with whatever useful information he could recall or dig up.

Hummer

@non-fixie,

thanks for posting this. Great research.

I wish I had a Bontekoe, so that I could post pictures, but I have never seen one in Canada.

non-fixie 

Thanks. Well, you never know what might happen. A Cycles Bontekoe Super Course track bike appeared on this forum a few years back, from Slovakia, no less. Can't seem to find that thread anymore, but I did find the bike here.

And many Dutch emigrated to Canada during the fifties; they must have brought some bikes along. This one probably came that way.

non-fixie 

I just realized this thread needs an update.

In March I acquired my most interesting Bontekoe bike to date. Fifties or maybe even late forties. Unknown frame builder so far, but Jasper Bouma has come up as a likely candidate. More info, pictures and comments on this machine are here.

non-fixie 

And last week I picked up this one: a Bontekoe Altec. Apparently one of a batch of six bikes that were sold around 1990. More details are here.

Needs some TLC, but otherwise in fine shape. As bought:

juvela

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wunnerful presentazione unfixed one!

interrogativo - what be the purpose of the two small protrusions coming forward from the front side of the seat stays, a bit above the level one would expect for the arrestor bridge?

could they be mounting points for the obligatory license perhaps?

yes, Gerrit's corona is a Vagner nr. 11 but not to put too fine a point on it she be an 11+ because of the presence of the chevron. actually it should be a nr. 11+ fausse saignee due to the recesses on the front and back faces



shall look forward muchly to the restaurazione & build!

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non-fixie 

Not sure what you're referring to. Something in this area?

non-fixie 

Meanwhile, I need to update this thread. Again.

With a Gazelle-based Bontekoe. More details are here.

juvela

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non-fixie 

juvela

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I plan earnestly to get something correct...eventually...if not at once then in due course.

​​​​​​​-----

tiger1964 

I read this topic earlier, mildly interesting, a brand I figured I'd never hear about again.

Then, I was reading a book over the past few days on the WWII New Guinea campaign and the name came up as the name of a Dutch ship. Google, and aha, there it is. Apparently named for a 17th century sailor. Not sure about the possible connection to a bike, name it's a common name in the Netherlands and it's just a coincidence?