Vainqueurbike

Hello, I got huge question, recently I bought the Vainqueur bike. There's only a logotype on front of the bike under the steering wheel. I couldn't find any info about this bike on the internet. Does anybody know what is it / is it even worth anything? I don't have much of specification yet since it's still in the delivery, but theres everything I know for now:
Shimano hub
WEINAMNN brakes
SHIMANO CRANE gears
COURSE steering wheel
Finger Tip ? shifters
seller said it's 70s bike

also I'm sorry if I give some wrong info but I don't have much knowledge about bikes.

Any way to add photos without 10+ posts ? really not into spamming forum with random posts

cb400bill

Pic Assist

cb400bill

What is written at the bottom of the bike's headbadge?

Vainqueurbike

Oh thanks for pic assist ! on the bottom there's only info " made in ger." - guessing that's germany

juvela

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vainqueur is the french word for winner/champion

the head transfer appears to read "MADE IN W. GERMANY"

cycle exhibits some typical German details such as the ESGE plate stye seat stay and chain stay bridges, crimping of stay ends at the dropouts and Union model U40 pedals

date appears to be within the 1974-77 time

it looks to be a one up from the base sort of model

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Vainqueurbike

So I guess that's good? I'm really new to all this bike related things. Bought it for around 100Euro so I thought it's good deal for restoration project. Any clues if I've overpaid? Is it even worth restoring ?

juvela

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price seems reasonable

cycle appears to have had very little use and has enjoyed indoor storage for about forty-five years

can see no reason not to proceed

most important thing is size; is frame a reasonable size for you?

hope you enjoy good fun wih it

if you have any mechanical questions it would be best to begin a thread on it over in the main C & V forum; no shortage of experts there to assist you!


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Vainqueurbike

Well the size is 54cm and it should be fine for me - 175cm at least that what I've read on internet. For a brief moment I thought that I've found something so unique that's gonna be worth something more than what I paid

TugaDude

Rare doesn't always equal desirable or valuable. This is one instance where I think that is true. Nothing wrong with the bike, just have all of the greasy parts cleaned, checked for wear and rebuilt. I'm sure it will be a fun bike to ride around on.

juvela

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there have been other Vainqueur marques through the years

cycles have been produced in Belgium & Portugal as well as Germany

the Belgian Vainqueur ceased play in the 1980's

vainqueur bike

Another Rescued Relic ... Vainqueur


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francophile 

Here is what I'd tell you about whether it's worth it.

Crane derailleurs pre-date Shimano's top-level "Dura Ace" mechs. They're extremely high quality, precise, easy to tune, and hold a tune for many miles longer than other mechs of the era.
If made in Germany, in general, most of the items you see coming out of W Germany were built to last, tight tolerances, and finished with pride.
The paint looks awesome. The bike is in exceptional looking shape. The high flange alloy hubs, the chrome fork tips and chrome socks, the excellent paint, the bike looks exceptional.

My only concerns:
Is the stem (the part holding the handlebar) out too far, you may see a "MIN" and "MAX" (minimum/maximum) line, confirm it's not out too far past the MIN line.
The position of the seat is a bit odd. It should be a bit closer to level with the top tube. If it's comfortable to ride like this, you may want to consider adjusting the seat post down a bit, then levelling the seat.
The handlebars may need to be rotated a bit. Most people will have the ends of the bars in a position between pointing at the rear axle and parallel to the ground.

Aside from these concerns, I think you possibly under-paid for this bike, in this condition. I have no doubt you could easily sell this tomorrow for 150-175 €. But really, what you need to do now is ride it.

Vainqueurbike

So my bike finally arrived and I made some photos for further verification, one thing that concern me that there are parts from france, japan, and germany. Not sure if that how bikes were made back then? also any clues for me how to maintain the bike ?


Also if someone could, please can you share photos from my folder? since I'm still not allowed to add them here

juvela

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visited your folder just now and only the two original photos are shown

perhaps you have not uploaded the new ones as yet?


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Vainqueurbike

Well I did upload it, at least I can see it in folders but something glitched perhaps
I will try to reupload it

Vainqueurbike

Maybe now? It should be in folder Vainqueur parts

juvela

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Vainqueurbike

Thanks Juvela!

juvela

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possible your cycle may be a product of Heidemann Works of Hanover








here is the HWH seat tube transfer on the German produced Vainqueur bicycle the forum had previously -




another name for some of their cycle products is that of Fleet Wing

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HWE is Heidemann Werke Einbeck -

advert of 1953 -




Heidemann-Werke, Einbeck.





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Vainqueurbike

So basically I guess that this bike is really hard to verify
But those headbadges are quite different than the one on my bike

juvela

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in case you will be checking online for any further examples similar to yours see if you can find one or more which appear to be close in time to your bicycle

the owner of the white frame with the HWH seat tube transfer writes that they got it used in 1971, so perhaps it may date from the mid-1960's which would make it roughtly one decade earlier than your machine

unfortunately the seat stay treatment on it differs from your bicycle. on the other hand the manufacturer would have had ten years to change the way they were doing their seat stays

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juvela

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Vainqueur replacement transfer set

dated by seller as 1984




https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-...29183-217-1592


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Vainqueurbike

So I gave it to bike service, the guy that works there told me that this bike was probably in storage for more than 40 years (at least he thinks that this bike was made in 1970-1980), since even the chain is original and it's in perfect condition. Moreover I fount some remains of stickers on fork, but it was so small and delicate that it turned into powder upon touching :/ (but it was in the same colors as the headbadge)

Vainqueurbike

Also I'm still trying to find any clues regarding the year of construction of this bike, I've found that the shifters were made in 1974, the model is L-267 at least that's what I think.

trobimx

Hi, I'm from Guadalajara, Mexico, I recently bought this bike but I can't find much information about it, could you help me with that, regards

cb400bill

Pic Assist - https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/24534319