Vintage Care

Hi!
I just bought a vintage bicycle by the brand PUCH. It looks like it's from the 80's and I want to try to restore it to it's original appearence (seems like some parts has been exchanged). Unfortunatly I don't have a camera, so there's no picture to show you. I've been searching a while now on the internet for some history background, a name or a picture of the same model as I have but with no result.

Since I just bought it, I haven't looked that well at it but I know it's a 27" and the bike has a white/cream/eggshell kind of color. On the frame its stickers with green and blue stripes with the PUCH logo. Also a sticker that says "EXCLUSIVE 27". A tiny text at the bottom said "made in Austria".

I would like to know what exact year it's from and if anyone else own's the same model and how it looks...but I'm just fine with any kind of information about it. If anyone knows anything about this bike...I would really appriciate it!

masi61

It's kind of hard to tell the exact year without some photos. I have a Pacifa (metallic blue) that says Austro-Daimler on the downtube, and I also have a Puch Marco Polo that is my everyday touring steed. Both have 27" wheels (not 700c). They are both from the 1980's. Austro-Daimler's are said to be more high end than the ones that just say PUCH, but my Marco Polo has a higher end frame than the Pacifica so go figure.

Boatdesigner

Check out this site for old catalogs, it may help. I have a 1983 Puch Odyssey, not top of the line, but it looks and rides great.https://www.bulgier.net/pics/bike/Cat...AustroDaimler/

nick burns

Well, it's pretty tough to tell you anything without the model name. It ought to be on the top tube near the first brake cable guide. Is there a tubing decal on the seat tube?

As far as the differences between the Puch & Austro-Daimler branding goes, bikes with the A-D branding were generally marketed to the U.S and Puchs in the Euro market, although Puch branded bikes were widely available in the U.S. also. Both brand names were available in a wide range of qualities.

Check this site out, it's a wealth of Puch/A-D information. Thanks to Puchultima for putting it up!

https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/

Vintage Care

Hi again!
Thanks for the advice and the links everybody!
After looking at the sites, I didn't found the same model as mine but I did find that the 1982 bikes had the similar decals as the ones on my bike. So I figured it must be a 1982 model.

Then I found this site about fixed bikes and found a picture of almost the exact same framework as the bike I have: https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006...icioAlanis.htm
Only difference is that he has the men's frame and my bike is for women (sorry for my bad english).
He claims it's a PUCH Brigadier from the 80's...
It would be nice to see someone who had a picture of the original appearance of the bike. I will try to post some pic soon.

John E

Austrian bikes are cool.

Vintage Care

I took some pictures with my cellphone but how do I post them here? They're on my harddrive.

nick burns

Upload them to a site like photobucket.com then copy the url into the insert image tool.

Vintage Care

Ok, so here are some pictures (Thanks nick burns for the help). I tried my best to capture them with my tiny cellphone camera so don't whine about the quality.


the bike + closeup of the decals

more closeups + the PUCH logo


Anyone who has seen a bike similar to this one?

trafficfloss

I still have my 1978 Puch Brigadier. Looks like it has the 100th Anniversary stickers on it. I'm the original owner. It was purchased from Campus Cyclery in Cincinnati OH. The frame has a lifetime warranty, although I have no idea where I'd send it now if it broke. I've ridden it so much that the front rim is getting thin from being worn out by all the brake pad action. The back rim was replaced about 10,000 mi ago. Now it's in need of a full drivetrain replacement. My guess is that it probably has 30-40,000 miles on it, most of it commuting mileage with sometimes ridiculous loads, although I myself am a lightweight. Surprisingly, the Soubitez bottom bracket generator still works although the steel roller has a groove worn into the center from tire contact.

I have the original manual and maybe the model guide, too, which I could scan and email or maybe post if you're interested.

old and new

I had a 1979 Puch for a spell, it was purple, mine was Japan made,it was OK. Your bike's very cool,looks nice. For a step-frame it appears strong and probably is. The europeans don't mess around when it comes to step frames,they take them seriously. Many,many folkes ride them, MEN too. Italy,Ireland,Germany ETC. and Japan.

trafficfloss

Pictures and short descriptions of Puch models at that time.
Royal Force, Marco Polo, Brigadier, Cavette, Cavalier, Paladin, Toledo, Breakway, Rapier, Vitessa
6 pages + front and rear covers

https://www.peak.org/~bclee/Puch/

rlstites

Does anyone know if there are any major differences between these two Cavette models. I just had an accident with my Puch that bent the front frame. I have the opportunity to purchase a Cavette II frame and transfer all the hardware to it.


Just wondering if there are differences that will make me unable to do this?


I know, I know, that I should probably NOT be trying to save this bike, but I have literally had it for 40 years and would like to keep it. (rather than spend over $1000 to replace it.)

The Golden Boy 

I saw the Cavette model in the catalog in the post that was posted right before yours- (9 years ago), and it looks to be a lower end bike- but it looks like nothing seems proprietary. So, yes you probably can move most parts over to the other bike.

The Puch 482 tubing is a Hi-Ten carbon steel- thick tubing to maintain strength, so it's going to be heavy.

I think you could find a much better bike of a similar age for less than $100.


Edit:

I saw this site- https://www.thedirtbum.com/2011/09/pr...ch-cavette-ii/

The guy said the stem and the handlebars are French sized- so if your bike has French sized bars and stem- you're in business.

thumpism

That Exclusive 27 is probably not a model that was sold in the U.S. Most Puchs from the late '70s were conventional 10-speed road bikes and not the utility/townie bikes like this that were probably for the domestic European market. And the earlier 3-speed bikes that were made by Puch and were sold here had other names like Sears, JC Higgins and the like (and most of them were black). I sold Puchs and A-Ds for several years and never saw one like yours.

martl

"Exclusive" is not a model name likely to be used by Puch in the domestic/german speaking market. I did a google search for that name and found quite a few entries from Sweden and other scandinavic countries. Possibly an export model for that market.

Grand Bois

I believe that the "27" refers to the size of the wheels, not the frame.

trafficfloss

I'd agree with Martl. Here's a link to a photo of another one. Seems to be a 3 spd with caliper front brake. Is the rear a 3 spd coaster hub?
//auctionet.com/en/200280-herrcykel-puch-exclusive-27/images#image_1

martl

also https://www.vadärdenvärd.se/s/4366720...-exclusive-27/

rlstites

Ross shifters.jpg

Ross Road Bike.jpg

Specialized Sirrus brakes and emblem.jpg

Specialized Sirrus gears.jpg

Specialized Sirrus.jpg


[QUOTE=The Golden Boy;19642404]I saw the Cavette model in the catalog in the post that was posted right before yours- (9 years ago), and it looks to be a lower end bike- but it looks like nothing seems proprietary. So, yes you probably can move most parts over to the other bike.

The Puch 482 tubing is a Hi-Ten carbon steel- thick tubing to maintain strength, so it's going to be heavy.

"I think you could find a much better bike of a similar age for less than $100."


Hello all,
I have decided to look for a replacement bike and not deal with trying to find a Puch frame. Too much risk and work involved! A local guy repairs bikes and has two that fit me well. I will try to attach pictures
1) A Ross 27 inch road bike very much like mine with shifters at the handle bar which I prefer - $120
2) A Specialized Sirrus with pearl paint (which I don't like) that is much lighter weight for $200
3) I also am interacting by email with an owner of a 1993 Specialized Allez that needs the chain and a shifter cable replaced but they will not budge from the $280 price tag.


I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and experience with any of these three bikes. I have decided to take my time in replacing my beloved Puch which I have literally owned for 30 years since grad school!

Lascauxcaveman 

The Sirrus is much better than the Ross. More modern, with much higher-end running gear, and as you mentioned, lighter. A safe bet at $200, if ready to ride.

The Allez could be better still, but hard to say without seeing some good pics. It's sort of a legendary bike of that era, the last of the great lugged steel Specialized bikes before everything started being aluminum-, carbon- or composite-framed

mctrek

I am working on a Puch Brigadier, the 100th Anniversary with Reynolds 531 tubing. Could you please scan and email me the original manual and model guide? It would be pretty interesting to see. I can send you some pictures of how my Puch Brigadier looks like now. I just touched up the paint last night, changed all the cables and used Shimano 600 Arabesque components for the most part.

trafficfloss

Wow, I posted that back in 2007 and I'm surprised the scans are still up at
https://members.peak.org/~bclee/Puch
I had it rebuilt with mostly used parts. 700C wheels, triple front with lower gear inches overall, new derailleurs, taller stem, more comfortable handlebar. Hubs and BB are sealed so no more need to disassemble and degrease. Pedals are the same. Schwalbe tires have somewhat more rolling resistance but have been indestructible so far. Need to replace the saddle and front fender. Zefal hp pump was replaced with a shorty pump that fits in my rear rack box..