The Austro Daimler Thread
#1
The Austro Daimler Thread
Show us your Austro Daimler! Here’s a Vent Noir II, circa 1981. I recently sold it to BF member NYCphotography. He’ll ride it more than I did, but I’ll miss it. So here, in tribute, are a post and a picture. Please post your AD. Bonus points if you include a haiku.
AD Vent Noir II
Smoked chrome, Campy, five three one
Did I say smoked chrome?

AD Vent Noir II
Smoked chrome, Campy, five three one
Did I say smoked chrome?

#2
Bianchi Goddess


Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,898
Likes: 4,138
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
I wish I had pics of mine. I had what I guess was a early '80s Super Light, the creamy color with brownish decals and lug outlining. it was a bit small and at the time I needed rent money.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#3
There was a very recent thread started to catalog A-D serial numbers ..
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...+serial+number
Here's mine, '76 Ultima Superleicht .....

Scott
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...+serial+number
Here's mine, '76 Ultima Superleicht .....

Scott
__________________
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
Last edited by ScottRyder; 05-30-11 at 01:35 PM. Reason: Added link
#4
Senior Member


Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,604
Likes: 2,468
From: Bastrop Texas
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Rats - I don't have a Austro Daimler - BUT - Austro Daimler/PUCH got a some kind of subcontract to make Sears Ted Williams Free Spirt step throughs in 1974... Its mostly a Franken bike assembled form scavenged parts but she is a real sleeper for speed...
Unofficial Astro
Ted Williams Sears Free Spirit
Surprisingly Fast
Unofficial Astro
Ted Williams Sears Free Spirit
Surprisingly Fast
#5
Those AD bikes are nice ! Great looking examples shown and I'm sure more are on their way. I got to lay my hands on one at my local bike shop, not for sale just letin' the crowd gawk.
The Puch has their own shared history with AD. They were both from the same family but way different offspring. Those I have several of and love them.
The Puch has their own shared history with AD. They were both from the same family but way different offspring. Those I have several of and love them.
#6
There was a very recent thread started to catalog A-D serial numbers ..
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...+serial+number
Here's mine, '76 Ultima Superleicht .....

Scott
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...+serial+number
Here's mine, '76 Ultima Superleicht .....

Scott
we have a winner!
easily my favorite bike on BF!
#7
wow, I'm flattered, thank you Alex.
Scott
Scott
__________________
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Oh Pretty. My first road bike was a blue AD with gold. I can't remember the model, it was a hand-me-down from my dad. It had a 531 frame but the components were stronglight/Mafac?/Regina, etc. An odd combination of stuff that was really hard to get parts for.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
Just did L'erioca on it. A 1976 Superleicht.

These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
Last edited by Bikegeek1968; 10-12-11 at 11:34 AM.
#13
Senior Member


Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 924
From: Washington County, Vermont, USA
Bikes: 1966 Dawes Double Blue, 1976 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1975 Raleigh Sprite 27, 1980 Univega Viva Sport, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1984 Lotus Classique, 1976 Motobecane Grand Record
How bummed should I be that I missed an Inter 10 in my size (63-4 cm) priced at $90 on CL? Looked to be in at least average shape. It was close to Boston, I'm up here in Vermont. I still think about that bike. I don't look at CL often, but I guess I should stop altogether. No good can come of it.
__________________
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
#14
Bianchi Goddess


Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,898
Likes: 4,138
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Just did L'erioca on it. A 1976 Superleicht.
These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#15
I'll post some new photos as soon as I get a chance to shoot some. I did post some in the other thread when I first got it:

I've made some changes since then, I went to back to the original down tube shifters, plus leather bar wrap and a hint of color.
Scott
__________________
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
#16
Just did L'erioca on it. A 1976 Superleicht.

These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
Scott
__________________
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
#17
Picked up an AD mixte recently. Rode it around the block once, then took it to the laboratory for a going over. Splurged and ordered a Brooks B-springy something or other for it. Also ditching the Simplex drivetrain for Sturmey.
It isn't a 531 frame, but it's not bad. Intend to use it as a back-up to the commuting bike. Or just when I need some extra joy, you know.
It isn't a 531 frame, but it's not bad. Intend to use it as a back-up to the commuting bike. Or just when I need some extra joy, you know.
#18
Essentials Bike Works
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
Bikes: Early 80 Celste Bianchi,Medici Pro Strada,Super Mondia,Cannondale Track Conversion
Here's my daimler, thanks to everybody on BF that helped me find info on this one! Really like the style on this specific bicycle, It's a 59 cm i believe, Austro Daimler AD-SL 76 or 78 i forgot what you guys said on my thread. Has a 105 RD in this pic but i replaced it with a suntour 7GT so i can finally reach that 7th gear on my shimano HG freewheel. I also had to replace those sugino pedals with some look carbon pedals. Long Live AD's!
Last edited by DirtyHarry714; 10-12-11 at 05:54 PM.
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
I am in SoCAl, and I bought a matching pair of '76 Superleichts, one was a 23" the other was a 25". I needed a 24", so I kept the one that fit best (23") and sold the other. I paid $700 each, and they were unused, but knocked around a bit. They still had original tubular tires, but they were dry rotted. Both Regina freewheels has been replace by wide range Suntour Winners. On the bike I kept, I rebuilt the wheels with Sun M13II rims, the original Fiames are in the attic if I ever want to restore it. If I had know how coveted they are in Europe, I would have kept both and sold one over there.
Here are some photos of the 25", it still had the Ideal saddle (not the Ti rail one), I would have kept that. I sold this bike to a guy in Washington.
The 23" is still in the bike box I used to ship it back from L'eroica. As soon as it is put back together and cleaned I'll take a few pics.
Here are some photos of the 25", it still had the Ideal saddle (not the Ti rail one), I would have kept that. I sold this bike to a guy in Washington.
The 23" is still in the bike box I used to ship it back from L'eroica. As soon as it is put back together and cleaned I'll take a few pics.
#21
Essentials Bike Works
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
Bikes: Early 80 Celste Bianchi,Medici Pro Strada,Super Mondia,Cannondale Track Conversion
Right on Bikegeek, my austro is not a super leict but it's in pretty decent shape, mine did come with the regina extra freewheel. so maybe $300 is a good price range? mine is alot of mixed match components at the moment but i still have most of the original parts besides the weinmans off it, sold those to my brother but removed the regina before doing so.
#22
Just did L'erioca on it. A 1976 Superleicht.

These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
These things are RARE in Europe. I felt like I was walking with a supermodel. Twice I was told that they could not believe they were actually seeing one in person. Tons of people came up and asked if they could take a picture of it. I was ignored.
Yes, they are rare where I live. Apart from an example I saw advertised on a classified site recently, I do not recall having encountered one. Puchs you do see.
The AD's do looks distinctive and classy in general. I do like them.
#24
Updated photos, a hint of color added, Brooks Pro saddle in honey, cable housing and Silca pump. In the sunlight the housing and pump colors nearly match, in the digital photos they don't ...

I'm lucky enough to have a component manufacturer that uses my initials:

Scott

I'm lucky enough to have a component manufacturer that uses my initials:

Scott
__________________
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art
ClassicFuji.posthaven.com.archive
IG @scottryder.surf.cycle
IG @scottryder.fine.art




I'd post pics but don't know how.
