javal

In another thread about not so appriciated bikes I endorsed some scandinavian brands. It raised some attention. I top it with a new thread and some pics. 1) The brand Champion were a small scale production; frame by Torpado, gruppo Super Record, certain parts hand made in alu here in Sweden. 2) Rex is an old brand mainly into everyday bikes. They made an effort in the 80`s to build competive/priceworthy (not luxury) race bikes. This one is built on Rossin frame (Falck-tubing) and Triomphe-gruppo.

USAZorro

Nice bicycles. When I first read the post, I thought you were saying Champion was an aluminum frame. Glad I clicked on the thumbnail to see that it isn't.

Are those your bikes?

Bianchigirll 

I'll second that very nice looking bikes. is the Rex all Victory? not to steal your thread but since it is about unknown brands here is a little something I found on ebay this week. it is made in I taly for a Duch company. it is a Cornelo Triomphe. I know Alle is not the best frames but this is perhaps the only chance I will get to own a corregated/crimped frame. now the search is on for some nice looking Victory or Triomphe bits

javal

No, its not my bikes. They can be found at my friend Kjell`s www.cykelhobby.com Where you can find swedish and other bikes.

Nice Cornelo! Holy cow how I like those unknown brands - much more intriging than anything I can come up with. Hope you find right kind of stuff for it. Pimp it a little?

Ronsonic 

To me this is what's interesting about this hobby. There have been so many excellent bikes built by enormous factories some with famous names others unknown, other great bikes from small shop builders both famed and obscure and when you get the frame in your hands or under your butt, none of that matters. It is what it is and it speaks for itself.

It is too easy to think in terms of names and brands and models and it is a mistake. I'm not singling out B'Girl, but it's a good example, Aelle is not the top of the line tubing because guys weighing 190 pounds were never the top riders. For a large frame that stuff is brilliant. Really. It feels great. Even in a smaller size it doesn't suck.

One of my pet gripes is the newb question of "what are good brands for frames?" Pick it up? Is it light? does it have some ring to it? Does it feel all of a piece, but un-brick-like? Ride it. Does it roll like a good bike? Get out of the saddle and stomp a few strokes, how does it react? Does it stomp the road in response?

Is it beautiful in line or paint or execution of the design? Is there a character to the finish, was the guy painting it just covering the bare steel or was he trying to accomplish something more like beauty.

Even in utilitarian bikes, these things apply. True they aren't going to have the magic of a road machine, but even a great delivery bike will answer to balance and the ergonomic needs of the rider. Look at the fad for the French Porteur bikes, they did have something other than the function of fetch.

Let's see more of these less famous bikes. I want to see them built up and ridden.

javal

Thats what I want this thread to be about; lifting those "obscure" brands that does the job for the owner and generates pride and riding joy. Even here at C&V several brands or makings are almost automatically put off (and its unlikely everyone has ridden every type of bike). So up with those no-name bikes - lets see them! (I think the Cornelo is right up there!)