Express Werke Fixie!!
 

My trade allows me to see lots of OPB's (other people's bikes). I am a garage door repair tech and I always check garages I work in for cool bikes (creepy huh?).

Anyhow, this is one of the coolest I have come across. It's an old fixed gear made by Express Werke. Seems all original and kinda rusty but sports some cool lugs on the head tube and neato skip tooth chainring and cog. Rims are for tubeless tires. The Brooks Saddle has a stabilizer thingy that attaches the nose to the top tube. The dropouts are stamped and there is a small ding in the downtube right next to the bottom bracket.

I have never heard of this manufacturer and there is little info on the net. The guy that owns it bought it used for $200 bucks probably 30 + years ago and he is reluctant to even talk about parting with it. :(

Here are some pics:

much, much less creepy than being a dresser repairman and checking out the undies drawer (related to a sad, true story).

That is such a cool bike! Swantak, you need to repro that sword and "Express" decal!

I am plotting and scheming for a way to get this bike. While I was there I gave him an estimate for about $700 worth of labor and materials. I am thinking that I'll offer the labor portion (most of the estimate) in exchange for the bike. It'd be one day labor for me and he'd save about $600.
I hope he goes for it.

He does not know where the chain is, would it be hard to find a new one?

This is a madly cool old bike. I wonder how old it actually is. Love the head badge.

skip tooth chains are not carried by most of the LBS's. but you can usually find someone selling one on ebay. Transportation -> Bicycles -> Other has a lot of the older stuff ...

Hi!

If you haven't already guessed, this should be a bike of german origin. "Werke" means sth. like company, the writing on the top tube means "model for professionell riders".

I don't know if Nuremberg is widely known across america, it's located in Bavaria, maybe you know about it as the nazi trials took place there.
www.velo-classic.de sells repro-decals for this brand, maybe they even have brochures of this brand (dont know as they don't list all of their stuff in the catalogue)

hth, Bavarese.

I gathered that it was of German origin, I have found out that the company ceased operations in 1959 and that this model was probably produced between '55 and '58. I used a translation website that told me that berufsfahrer meant "professional driver". This seems like quite a rare find here in the States and it's fun trying to dig up info. Thanks for your response.

I really like the look of the headbadge too. And the sword decal is just too cool. Some of these unique european finds are too much fun to look at after seeing all the cookie cutter Treks and such on the roads around here. No matter what condition the bike is in - something that unique is just one of those 'got to have it' things.

On ebay, art# 6579254344 is an Express frame. Some pics of details.

Yay! I brought the bike home today! I can't wait to clamp it in the stand and start wrenching.
In it's current state it is only 18.34 lbs, without the chain and tires, still pretty light I think. There is no indication of the type of tubing it is made of, any speculations?
I am going to relace the wheels with new spokes and install my first pair of tubular tires.

man. you gotta put some more pics up.

OK, it's a little late for a photo shoot tonight, and I'd like to clean it up a bit. What is the best way to clean of the icky film that has accumulated without harming the finish or decals? A freind suggested something like oxy-clean.

Since it seems my original pictures have disappeared, here is a couple reloads...

Joe had to remove the attachments for a while during some database maintance, the originals should be back soon. (We hope)

I use some citrus cleaner (squirty bottle like 409) but be extra careful around those decals, they aren't clear coated...

I haven't tried it yet but someone suggested the
magic brick (sponge?) thingy that Mr. clean markets.
I'm just not sure how it will react with waterslide decals.
I'll let you know since I am going to test it this weekend.

marty

OK, I am considering selling this bike. Any advice? Like, should I restore it first? The wheels need laced up with new spokes, it needs tires and a chain. Also basic clean up.

Would a collector rather do this stuff themselves?

Some collectors would do all of that themselves. Some would roll their own spokes, I think.
What you are selling is bike bones, and sure, collectors buy 'em all the time. This bike falls in the category of "path racer" I think (brake and all), and someone in the world will swoon over it, I'm sure. Bikes in "all there" condition and of this vintage are pretty rare.

What's a "path racer"?

Does this mean it may be more attractive to potential buyers if I don't mess with it? This is why I have been reluctant to work on it, I don't want to "ruin" it.

Or just sell the frame to me and I will build it and actually ride it. ;)

I wanted to fix it up and ride it too, but it's a tad to small for me at 57cm. I don't feel like putting the time and loot into fixing up a ride that isn't really my size anyway.

I would think a collector might drool over the 'unfinished' bike if it were priced relatively low, i.e. if they thought it was a diamond in the rough, great bargain, great find, etc. Otherwise, I think that you'd probably entice more potential buyers (and therefore a higher price) if you were to do the work yourself. It really could turn into a classic work of art, though, man.

I really dig those hubs, as some may remember from a recent posting of mine.

:D

I would consider cleaning it, non abrasive, very gentle soap on the decal areas, dry completely, might try kerosene at the hub & headset areas only to remove dried grease. Problem with taking it apart is to keep it from getting damaged, removing the cotters without damaging them and or leaving marks will be a challenge, not impossible but risky, as would be removing the headset and Bottom bracket. I would vote a good cleaning, more like a washing, then sell it. These are very rare in this country, which is good, but bad as they fly below the radar. If I had fewer projects I would be interested, I do have a 58.5cm 531 DB Gazelle though...

I have tried to remove the drive side cotter pin and it is pretty tough, I didn't press the issue (NPI). This bike has been tinkered with I am sure, the cotters on each side are not the same and I think the chainring is installed backwards. I was given a spare chainring, a matching original with the bike, 26 tooth. The one on the bike is a 24 and the cog has 8. The 26 is in much better shape since it was not on the bike.