I have acquired a red Batavus Mixte Racer. I believe it to be a 1970 something model, but I would like to know the exact year! To that end, I offer the following information! Serial number is 355008. It has a Shimano Eagle RDer and a Shimano GTO Thunderbird FDer. The shifters are stem mounted Shimano 333. It has centerpull brakes with Dia-comp levers. The handle bar stem is ATAX. It has WECO hubs wiith Mavic rims and big wing nuts to hold the wheels on! The fork tips on this Batavus ARE NOT chromed! The last, and maybe the best, clue is on the back side of the head tube, right under the headset is the number “78” and right below that is O! I accept that “78” could be the year of manufacture! However, prior to finding the “78” I believed the bike to be early 70s because of the winged axle nuts! I could venture any number of guesses what the “O” represents! So what year do you guys think this bike is?

I offer the above info to anyone who wants to venture a guess as to the model year of this bike, and with the hope it will prove useful in dating other Batavus bikes! Maybe some of the other readers can post similar info on their Batavus bikes.

I realize it is not a “top shelf” bike but it is in excellent condition, appears to be original with the exception of the tires and seat, (which appear unused) and the price was right. Besides that, Mixtes are cool looking bikes!

I hope to post pictures soon! Thanks in advance!

Al

We are looking forward to photos!

East Hill

Ha! Good luck! There are a handful of us on this forum with Batavus bicycles who are still seeking positive dating on ours as well. Unfortunately, as you have likely found, there is very little information to be had on this marque online. Your best bet it to contact Batavus itself (responsive and friendly), though the company was apparently sold in 1986, and they retain precious little information on pre-1986 models. Another BF member recently contacted the company and was told a retired employee may be able to provide info. I think that's your best shot. Search "Batavus" in this forum to find our respective threads. The email address for Batavus is info@batavus.com

I second, East Hill. Would love to see photos!

I'll try to get some photos this weekend. As for dating the bike, does your Batavus bikes have any marking on the back side of the head tube. At this point in time I'm not convinced that the "78" on mine is the year of manufacture, because, I read on this forum that the winged axle nuts "went away" in the early 70's! Additionally, I was hoping someone would offer up some "dating" info regarding the components on this bike!! I'm still hanging in there!!!

Well, we Batavus owners will have to stick together and share what info that does come our way! Oh well, I've had worse luck trying to find info on the Sterling Mixte (1980 something) that I have! Absolutely zero info so far!!! It was also in excellent condition!

Al

I'll risk a few guesses without benefit of photos (like tightrope walking without a net). Based on the early Shimano components, it *could* be as late as '78, but I'd guess earlier...maybe '72-'75. The wheels with wingnuts might be earlier-era replacements, but I remember seeing some of my first-seen mixte bike from the Benelux countries that used these instead of QRs on what was then a low-cost bike. I thought it kind of odd, but my sister bought a new Gitane mixte around '74 that came with wingnut hubs, so the French were doing it too.

Not mine. Only markings I can find are on the bottom bracket, S/N 4-8-0724

Sorry, I'm useless here. They do sound like 70s vintage, though.

Agreed! The more info we can find and disseminate, and the more stir we can create, the more valuable our bikes can become! Soon we'll be competing with Peugeot carbolites!

All kidding aside, I actually like having a relatively rare bike (to the U.S. at least).

By the way, I've emailed Batavus again, asking for more info, and offering, once again, to buy whatever vintage catalogues or brochures they would be willing to part with. I'll keep you posted.

Brochures would be wonderful! I saw a brochure that someone had posted on here. My Mixte Racer is like the red one shown in that brochure, EXCEPT mine does not have chrome fork tips nor a pump (or mounts for same)! However, the componentry on mine is pretty much the same as listed in the brochure!

Regarding Unworthy1's observation on the Wing nuts, I wonder if they are unique to Mixtes of the 70s era, bikes from that area or what? I've seen them mentioned on the forums but don't recall all the details!

It IS cool to know that when you are out on your Vintage or Classic bike you are not gonna meet one just like it comming down the road towards you! It is also cool to have someone compliment you on the bike and then have a bike story to relate to you!

Oh well, everyone loves a treasure hunt! ;-) Thanks for the replies.......

Al

I'll throw in another speculation, what the hey! I recall that back in the bike boom of the '70s, there were a lot of European offerings that cropped up in US bike shops that we didn't understand...like the club special and the mixte. It's clear now that the mixte frame dates back to much earlier than 1972, but I had never seen one before then. The first ones to make an appearance in Cali back then were economy models and they came primarily from France with a few Dutch and Belgian models, if your LBS sold that sort. I recall going with my sister to help her find a "10 speed" that she could use as a grocery-getter and attach a child's seat for my nephew-to-be. The Dutch bike shop owner sold her a Gitane mixte (cause it fit her and was the right price) and I remember I looked askance at both the weird frame and some of the components (I was being a hard-ass for the benefit of my sis) and said I didn't like those "cheap hubs with the big wing-nuts on them". He gave me a quick lesson concerning how many TdF winners (legendary champions like Coppi) had ridden hubs just like them...I shut my mouth...Now I just guess that a lot of European makers had a bin full of low-cost hubs that came with wingnuts and these were spec'd on the lower-cost bikes for which a quick release would have been "too dear". When the Japanese bikes came along (and there were mixtes offered by many of them) the cost of some of these luxury details was low enough that the Nishikis and Univegas all had QRs and nobody thought twice about it.

Hi, for what it's worth, Batavus used Dbl-winged releases on several of their lower end road bikes such as the "Monte Carlo" (which are usually Emerald Green or Racing Red).. You may have a 1972-74ish MC mixte
I think that at one point, they obtained a massive batch of either German or Huret-made Dbl-winged releases....

I'm still waiting to hear back from Holland about my Batavus "Tour de Europe" sport touring bike

I think the Eagle derailleur could fall into that timeline...

Thanks guys, some interesting observations. It makes sense that the bike makers would want to find a use for their old stock! Regarding the winged axle nuts, they are what actually drew my eye to the Batavus in the first place......VERY retro looking!! As I looked the bike over I saw that it was in excellent condition! I have had my eye on the bike for almost a year, but just bought it last Monday! My intention it to detail it out, service it, and then ride it a bit! I will probably give it to my DIL if she wants it! IF she promises to take care of it! ;-)

From my previous post "I wonder if they are unique to Mixtes of the 70s era, bikes from that area or what?" I found the answer to my own question when I searched the forum and found lots of references to "winged Axle nuts" on several of different styles of bikes but mostly made in Europe and a Schwinn or two! Interesting I found no references to winged axle nuts on bikes that were older than mid 70s!

Ain't bike "genealogy" fun!!!
Al

As I promised here are some pics of my Batavus Mixte Racer.

Al

I like it! I have to get myself a mixte. If I ever come across a Batavus mixte, or any Batavus for that matter, there's no doubt I'll be going home with it.

Batavus just returned my latest email. Good news is I'm now 99.9% sure my Competition is a 1985, as that was the last year for that model until 1989. Bad news is that they don't have component specs for it. Additionally, this is the second time they didn't respond to my offer to purchase catalogues or brochures.

I'm glad you got the brochures, and it seems like they helped you out some! Did they send you a complete brochure, with pictures of all bikes for that year?

Does your bike still have the reflectors on it? I ask because the reflectors on the front and back of my mixte has the numbers "SAE-A-73 DOT" on it and the other one has "SAE -A-70." I am curious if the 70 or the 73 might be the year the reflectors were made? It would be interesting to know about yours! I realize that IF that is a date code it would only be for the reflectors BUT it it could still be of help!

I guess till Batavus or someone comes up with a database of serial numbers for our Batavus bikes we are left to dig for clues whereever we can!

Al

No, they didn't send actual brochures, they only sent some digital scans of pages that displayed 1980s Batavus Competition models in blue. I have those posted in this thread. If you email them with a photo of your mixte, they may do the same for you.

Mine came with no reflectors. Of course, I am not the original owner, and it's very likely the wheelset is not original. However, I believe the model I have was marketed to serious riders or amateur racers, not the
"general public", and we all know competitive riders would rather be run over by a car at twilight than add weight to their ride!

Your theory might bear out, though. You should start a database of reflector date codes!

Somewhere on this site it says that the first number of the serial number (of the sport bikes, presumably also of the race bikes) indicates the year of build. So '4' means 1974.

https://rijwiel.net/batavu2n.htm

Yes, here it is. If you know English, you can muddle through some of this!

So this would make ahorner1946's a 1973 (would match one of your reflectors. The other fell off and was replaced )? I'm fairly confident my Competition is a 1985, but it's S/N begins with 4. Perhaps the frame was manufactured in 1984, but it was marketed as a 1985? Or the serial numbers changed at some point. What does "Dit bleef tot 1984 zo." mean?

Well, in Dutch the word sequence is a bit different from English. This sentence translates into: 'This stayed like that till 1984.'

Can't help you with the age, but it looks like the basis for a lovely bike. What are your plans for it?

Thaks for all the info AND the translations! It is good to "know" the year of the bike, and good to know that there is a clue in the Serial number after all!

MPVGuy; I believe I will detail it out and leave it original. Because; The decals/graphics on it are in excellent condition! There is minimal corrosion on the brite work and the paint has very little wear! Of course the seat, tires and maybe some cable clamps are NOT original, but everything else on it appears to be! I started detailing it out and then came down with a terrible cold and haven't done much of anything since then! I look forward to finishing it up! I don't expect I will ride it much but maybe my DIL will!

Thanks for all the help!

Al

I found my Batavus at an estate sale. I love this bike! I have been digging through this computer for several days now trying to find info on it when I ran across this forum. Mine just so happens to have to original receipt with it from 1974. Of course, that doesn't mean that's what year the bike is. I considered selling it, but it's such a rare item that I think I'll keep it. I contacted a couple of bike shops in my area to see if they could look up the serial number for me--no luck there. One of the guys I talked to said I could get $20 out of it. I think he may be crazy. By the way, mine is a yellow 21", 10 speed, Mix Tour. I'm going to detail it soon and check to see if everything is in working order. How do the lights work?

Wow Old thread!

MelissiaDM (dive master?)
are there any decals, markings etc. on you batavus?
you say mix tour, is that the model? Is it a mixte step through design?
and can you post some photos? what components does it have?

oh yah, I forgot, as one Dutch bike aficianado to another, Welcome to the forums, and specifically
welcome to C&V. Don't listen to the LBS dork, it's worth way more than $20.

Marty

It is a model mixte tourist #400652 and the serial # is 3531612. This means it's a '73?? Here's some pix.

Dutch fans, check this CL listing for DFW. If I didn't have too many bikes already, I'd give it serious consideration. Except for the North Road style handle bars, it looks like the same model posted here in '07, wing nuts and all. Love the color.
https://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/bik/1077086435.html

Batavus is a dutch racin cycle manufacturer; The city where their production facilities are is "Heerenveen"

They stopped producing racing bikes long ago. I have a Batavus Criterium which is from 1980.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavus this gives more details.

BTW finding out production year of a bike I could well estimate by looking at the Reynolds decals.
Batavus had Ishiwata tubes in 1980 so maybe that gives a lead.

Batavus still produces the professional, the criterium and competition models which are
all described as racing models.
More details here: https://uk.batavus.com/

marty

p.s. I thought about that Mixte for my wife, she needs a Dutch bike but I can't convince her
of that.