Mein Krapf

[hiflange]

Bulk rubbish collection time in my neck o' the woods. All due out last weekend so the streets were thick with beaten up vans and light trucks driven by men with lived in faces. All the heaps having been picked over the scavengers seem to have evaporated... unlucky for some..

We were out most of today, as we turned into our street on our way home our neighbour wandered up his drive with a bike (didn't know he had one) and dropped it on the verge. It's a Krapf, 1982 if the inscription on the headtube is anything to go by.
Chrome stays are rusted, but the rest of it seems in pretty good shape. If the tyres and and brake pads are original (the brake pads are Suntour like the groupset so I guess they are), it's barely been ridden. I reckon the bar tape damage is from the two international house moves the Krapf has been a part of.

[il padrone]

Wow

Really nice find. Superbe Pro deraileurs and Superbe brakes - top level components from the early 80s. Superbe was patterned on Campag, a virtual copy and still very high quality. Hubs? Stem? Looks to be a nice Nitto job. Your front brake is missing a locknut on the pivot bolt. Fluted seat post and Turbo saddle. This would have been a very nice racing bike for someone.

What do you plan to do with it?

[Thoglette]

Wow

Really nice find. Superbe Pro deraileurs and Superbe brakes - top level components form the early 80s.

+1 I've got some Suntour 9000 bits in the shed and they're very, very nicely finished. And they're "mid range". Superbe was top-of-the-wozza

[brauluver]

That is an awesome pickup.Some sexy tight retro geometry on that frame too.Wonder what the tubeset is ?

[hiflange]

Wow
What do you plan to do with it?

Glad you asked, restoration has commenced; I pumped up the tyres and put the chain on.
It's the right size for me too Bit dark to go for a ride right now though.
It really needs so little work to make it good, I thought I'd ride it to exotic locales around Perth. That should ensure that it doesn't get worn out too quickly.
The bars and gooseneck are Nitto. Can't see anything that even hints at the tubing.

What can I do about the scabby chrome?

[il padrone]

Try rubbing the rust off the chrome with crumpled alfoil to start with.

The manufacturers are still about. Their website (German) is Www.radsport-krapf.ch You could email them for details about their 82 bikes.

[zues]

Looks like some of the chrome is already gone. Try green kitchen nylon pad and oil to take of the surface rust and rub with aluminum foil

[hiflange]

Hubs are Miche Superfast
Computer is a Cateye Mity 2 FWIW
It'll be a few days before I have much of a chance to spend some time on it. I'll post again when it's looking a bit smarter

[BLU_FZ!]

Very nice find

Glenn

[spirito]

Nice find

I think I have a Krapf jersey to match. Holla at me if your interested and I'll shoot some pics

[im_no_pro]

Try rubbing the rust off the chrome with crumpled alfoil to start with.

The manufacturers are still about. Their website (German) is http://Www.radsport-krapf.ch You could email them for details about their 82 bikes.

Going by the site they appear to be a bike shop in Switzerland, as opposed to a manufacturer.

Nice find

[jaseyjase]

super nice find! very jealous

[frog]

It's the right size for me too
....

What can I do about the scabby chrome?

It's the right size for me as well
Definitely a gorgeous bike! Great find!
As has been suggested for the rust; aluminum foil scrunched up, then a kitchen scourer with some wd40, I usually use finer grades (0000, or 000) of steel wool with some wd40 (don't use this for polishing as it will take off the decals on the group sets). The chrome looks pretty gone unfortunately, but at least most of it is still there, still a great find.

+1 on wanting to know what the tubeset is like, and that groupset is one of my grail groupsets!
Congratulations.

[Mulger bill]

The things some people just throw out...

Brilliant score Robert, she'll come up lovely.

Didn't Cludence mention something about wood bleach on rusty chrome a while back?...

[hiflange]

I made a start on the cleaning last night. The pearlescent paint has quite a few chips in it and a couple of slightly discoloured areas in the white. I might try an automotive polish and see how I fare.

The chrome is coming up amazingly well, hard scrubbing with a scourer is taking all the flaky scabs right off the top, all that's left are a few small pits. I have to pull the rear derailleur and speedo sensor off to finish, didn't have the energy last night after attending our local council meeting.

A little bit of touch up paint, new bar tape, the locknut for the front brake (missed by me, spotted by il padrone) will see this Krapf looking very pretty. A couple of the decals are damaged so there's a limit to how new it can look.

Anybody have any idea about where to start looking for a locknut for the front brake? - here's the back brake;

Also missing one of the little doodads that hang off the inside of the brake pads - like this;

[rustychisel]

missing one of the little doodads that hang off the inside of the brake pads - like this

they're a guide to centre the wheel so the brake blocks are not knocked out of position. Technically they're not needed, but it would be nice to find, obviously. Start at your LBS, ask to go through their old bits and spares, or someone on here will have some bits they'll part with. Chances are the threading is the same for Shimano so even if the nut is not Suntour original it'll get you rolling. Nice find, I'd like a bike named 'The Krapper'.

[Minority]

Great find!

I don't think that is the correct lock nut for the brakes, check here:

http://www.velobase.com/ViewGroup.aspx? ... 201e7d15cd

at velobase on the various models of Superbe pro brakes and you'll see what I mean.

If you have any luck sourcing the correct ones let me know, I need a couple as well!

[hiflange]

at velobase on the various models of Superbe pro brakes and you'll see what I mean.

I had a squizz at velobase, they all have the allen key fitting but they're all post mid eighties units, no early eighties. Obviously one has come adrift, so there could have been a design issue I guess. Thing is the brake blocks and tyres on this bike are like they came off the shop floor. The wear is all cosmetic, not induced by use. I reckon the locknut on the back is most likely original. It matches the Campags they're a copy of.

[il padrone]

Great find!

I don't think that is the correct lock nut for the brakes, check here:

You're correct about that. But they are the Superbe brakes (different to Superbe Pro) and I have them on my Cecil Walker (1981). The locknut has a sharp conical shape, just visible here (sorry about the poor focus):

[xx68]

Very Nice , a little bit envious - ride it cos it looks brand new , you''ll get a lot of pleasure from it
reinforces the ol adage ' Trash or Treasure ' depends on wether you want it or not .

[hiflange]

Elbow grease has been expended, the Krapf is looking sweet. The chrome has come up pretty well. All the alloy is in great shape. The paint is good except for where it's bad. I splashed out $25 for new bar tape. Tyres say max pressure 95psi on the side. It's surprising how soft they feel. As much as I like the idea of getting around on the tyres I reckon it was sold with I have a pair of conti gatorskins that I think I'll put on.

I assumed it was German, but it's Swiss; Schweizer Meister (on the head tube) means Swiss Master, Bischofszell is Krapf's hometown. Mr Google helped me clear that up. Since I only have my iPad at home (and no camera connection kit yet) you'll have to wait till the morrow for more pics.

I do have a couple of questions though;
I've ridden it up and down the street, everything feels good except the brakes which are grabby and squealy. I guess the 28 year old rubber on them has gone bad even though it looks OK. Should I replace them with koolstop pads? The koolstop site seems to suggest the "campy replacement" pad for restorations, they look right... Anybody know if any bike shops within cooee of Subi or Perth CBD stock Koolstop?

The white saddle has had a few knocks and they show. What to do??

[il padrone]

Tyres say max pressure 95psi on the side. It's surprising how soft they feel. As much as I like the idea of getting around on the tyres I reckon it was sold with I have a pair of conti gatorskins that I think I'll put on.

**Important**

Is it 700C or 27"? Most bikes in 1982 were still beiing made in 27". You can still get 27" tyres (and some good lightweights) but apart from the dodgy Kmart 27x1 1/4, you may need to hunt about. I think Continental still do some, Vittoria has one model and you can still get a good range from Harris Cyclery on-line

I've ridden it up and down the street, everything feels good except the brakes which are grabby and squealy. I guess the 28 year old rubber on them has gone bad even though it looks OK. Should I replace them with koolstop pads?

Your choice really. I've still got 29 year old SunTour pads on mine and they work quite OK. New pads might be quicker stopping. I've bought some Koolstop pads without holders - I want to keep the SunTour branded original holders (you should have them too).

The white saddle has had a few knocks and they show. What to do??

White is terrible for saddles, always discolours quick. I decided to fit a leather Brooks Swift saddle. Much more comfy than the horrid Selle Italia Concor, and it really does suit the bike.

[hartleymartin]

I've ridden it up and down the street, everything feels good except the brakes which are grabby and squealy. I guess the 28 year old rubber on them has gone bad even though it looks OK. Should I replace them with koolstop pads? The koolstop site seems to suggest the "campy replacement" pad for restorations, they look right... Anybody know if any bike shops within cooee of Subi or Perth CBD stock Koolstop?

Replace the pads. I've read a number of cycling books and most reckon that once the pads have been on the bike for more than 2 years they should be thrown out.

The old brakes on the steel rims of my Raleigh Twenty improved substantially after I put new brake pads on.

[Thoglette]

Anybody know if any bike shops within cooee of Subi or Perth CBD stock Koolstop?

Riders Choice in Leederville had some when I was in there about six months ago. Couldn't find what I needed so I ended up getting some on line. But most of the modern pad compounds are better than quarter-century old pads.

[hiflange]

Is it 700C or 27"?

700C

Re saddle; I'll leave it for now, see whether I like it. My posterior comfort needs seem to be more easily satisfied than most peoples. Since posting last night I've discovered that Selle started making the Turbo again last year.