Free Puch - is it a junker?
 

I was given this old Puch, the decals are gone, it looks like it was repainted but not sure, it has some surface rust. Suntour components, cottered crank. I am not really into vintage bikes but I will have a full campy group coming off one of my other rides - will have to stretch the chain stays out to make a 9 speed casset fit though as this is a 5 s[eed casset. It will need repainting as well. Is this worth it or is it best left to the crusher? Thie bike does seem to fit OK - maybe a tad small for me.

Not the crusher, but perhaps a ss/fixie?

Why would you think it's a junker? If it's rideable and comfortable for you, why don't you just ride it? We don't live in a perfect world. Does the bike have to be perfect for you to ride it? I'd bet there are lots of folks who would love to ride that bike as-is. Don't send it to the crusher! So, that's my vote.

yes, it's a junker, which has never meant trash to me, just don't waste a lot of money on it. The Campy parts you are talking about putting on there are a totally different class. I would wait for a quality frame to show up. You could ride the Puch in its current configuration. Don't try to make it something it's not.

holy fork rake

I bought one new for my teenage son back in the day. It was not a bad ride but was very heavy. Good for a teenager to bash around on. He never did break it. So far as I know it's still being ridden.

I think you should build it up as you planned just for the sheer absurdity of it. I have some campy parts and a huffy frame that are going to become one soon.

Honestly, if you don't want it, put in on CL with a $10 as-is sale price.
Don't throw it out. If you won't use it, someone else will. I buy up bikes like that all the time for $10-15. I tune them up and resell them for $40-60 (depending on the bike and how it turns out.)

It's just wasteful to throw it out when you could let someone else have it and get $10 for your bother.

Look's like someone had fun doing wheelies. The fork look's pretty much trashed. I would vote for removing any useful parts and doubt the work needed to repair the fork/frame is worthwhile.

Otherwise, just use it to practice wheelies :thumb:
wheelies, yes - sell it or ride it, nah.

Campagnolo on a Huffy? Awesome!

I was given a Huffy MTB (they are really rare over here in the UK) and although it was a lump of rust on the outside, it cleaned up to sound bright bare metal, so I sprayed it gloss black. It's so hideous it's brilliant - the seat stay joints and drop outs seem to be made by crushing the tubes! I'm planning to build it up into a "disposable" beater. Only problem is I had to saw off the black painted steel handlebar stem to remove it, it was really well seized into the steerer. None of the stems I can find are thin enough to fit the steerer, should have measured it first? Does anyone know what diameter stems these "bike shaped objects" use?

Concerning the Puch - I think it's an old Puch Clubman. If so, it was an entry-level road bike, but not bad for what it was. Two of my friends bought them and they were tough, reliable and solid - the bikes, not the friends! Wouldn't bother upgrading anything on it though, it doesn't matter what you put on that frame, it'll still be a basic but very functional machine IMHO. I'd clean it up as it is and use it for shopping trips, riding in bad weather and chaining to a lamp post in dodgy areas - a less disposable beater than the one I plan to put together!

Thanks all - I had forgotten that it will soon be indoor riding time - on the trainer. I think I will clean it up and strap it to the trainer - will beat putting those ugly miles on my MTB which is used as the commuter and grocery getter. The Camp parts will find a home elsewhere one day - although they may have close to 15K miles on them.

It's going to be very cool, but it's a long time from being ready and I don't want to spoil any of the fun, but I'll be sure to start a thread about it when it's ready for the light of day.


Could the stem be a .833"? It's the BMX/crappy old American bike standard.

"It's going to be very cool, but it's a long time from being ready and I don't want to spoil any of the fun, but I'll be sure to start a thread about it when it's ready for the light of day.


Could the stem be a .833"? It's the BMX/crappy old American bike standard.
09-05-08 02:47 AM"

Looking forward to seeing it / reading your thread when you're done - might even start a new style!

Thanks for the idea about the stem. The 0.833 inch size actually sounds about right - I'll try measuring the inside of the steerer with a vernier instead of trying to stuff all of my old stem collection into it! The Huffy certainly qualifies for the description of a crappy old American bike, so probably fits the stem standard for the same. I didn't think of BMX parts, but that sounds like a really good idea, especially as there's a shop on my journey home that's having a clearance of old stock at present - not much roadie stuff, but a lot of BMX bits. Very much obliged!