First project completed - Batavus Winner
07-20-12 | 07:44 PM
#1
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Joined: May 2011
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From: St. Charles, MO
Bikes: Trek Domane 4.5, Kona Jake, Centurion LeMans RS
First project completed - Batavus Winner
Finished the project bike for my daughter, a Batavus bought from a friend who brought it over from Holland with her, and had been hanging in her garage for several years. Mostly a clean and polish job, repacked the front hub and headset and passed on the hub and rear wheel. Both seemed smooth and turned freely, so I left well enough alone. I would have tried the hub, but couldn't figure out how to get into it once I got the crank removed. Sealed hub? I could find no means to get to the bearings. Beyond that, I had to replace the little chain that goes into the rear hub for the shifting after breaking the original. Soaked it for days, but remained stuck until I clumsied a broken part. Also replaced the thumb shifter as it got damaged while I was attempting to remove the cable.
I left the generator front lamp on, not wanting to remove the generator because it has a brazed hanger and I thought it didn't look right with nothing attached. I taped and tucked away the wire for the rear lamp, replacing it with the battery unit which is much brighter. Couldn't leave both on the rear, looked bad even to me. I also left off the skirt protectors which were both torn, and the funny wheel lock (thanks to forum members who helped me get it unlocked when I accidentally locked it and couldn't figure out how it worked). Anyway, pics as originally promised before I send it north to the windy city.
I left the generator front lamp on, not wanting to remove the generator because it has a brazed hanger and I thought it didn't look right with nothing attached. I taped and tucked away the wire for the rear lamp, replacing it with the battery unit which is much brighter. Couldn't leave both on the rear, looked bad even to me. I also left off the skirt protectors which were both torn, and the funny wheel lock (thanks to forum members who helped me get it unlocked when I accidentally locked it and couldn't figure out how it worked). Anyway, pics as originally promised before I send it north to the windy city.
07-21-12 | 09:52 AM
#2
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Queens NYC
Bikes: Colnago Super, Basso Gap, Pogliaghi, Fabio Barecci, Torelli Pista, Miyata 1400A
Wow, is that clean!
I can really picture this bike riding on the flat roads of Holland. It oozes Dutch"ness". The color really fit's this bike to. What year is it? Your daughter's friends riding those Wal-Mart specials are really going to be envious when she pulls up on this rig!
I can really picture this bike riding on the flat roads of Holland. It oozes Dutch"ness". The color really fit's this bike to. What year is it? Your daughter's friends riding those Wal-Mart specials are really going to be envious when she pulls up on this rig!
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07-21-12 | 02:50 PM
#3
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 244
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From: St. Charles, MO
Bikes: Trek Domane 4.5, Kona Jake, Centurion LeMans RS
Not sure of the year - the SA hub has an 83 on it, so I guessing around then? Several of the components are stamped "Made in West Germany". I don't recall a serial number - does anyone know where and if that provides a date for the bike?
07-21-12 | 04:12 PM
#5
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That looks like a clean bike, Bob. Very nice. Good work.
On the year: with the Batavus Professionals the 1st digit represents the year. I do not know whether the same theory applies to the traditional bikes, but maybe it does. The Professional has its serial under the bracket shell.
On the year: with the Batavus Professionals the 1st digit represents the year. I do not know whether the same theory applies to the traditional bikes, but maybe it does. The Professional has its serial under the bracket shell.
