Peddle pusher

So I weighed the " 025 steampunkt " FdT and comes in at 13.2 kg. Not that shabby for what it was 37 years ago.

Little bit of background to 653, the stays are 753, but the main frame tubes and fork blades are 531. So, the seat tube is 531, which is not heat treated, but the seat STAYS at the seat cluster are 753 which is heat treated. It looks like this arrangement of tubing was done to soften the ride and reduce cost. SLX was a much better design reducing flex with internal ribbing, and costing more. 025 was basically high end steam tube that was selected for its higher carbon content and then turned into bicycles. Very clever marketing ploy used, think there was a spat with Reynolds over the inference that the sticker indicated a Reynolds tube was used.

Pricing ! Thanks for the input, always interesting and an emotive issue pricing is. Those that have the item are smiling and those that are dreaming about owning it bemoan the price. Everything has a price, I dont care what the item is. The art is in finding the buyer and the offer making the owner\seller think twice. So back to the bike, I challenge you to think back to something you regret selling, gave away or had stolen, that now miraculously is being offered back to you at " A PRICE ". Listen we all have that one item that the left ball would be given to get back ( right one produces sperm, remember that ). Provenance is priceless. Yes the FdT bike is a piece of crap made out of one grade up from steam tube pipe, crappy rims and shitty components, BUT it started a cycling career that included a hand full of track records, competing in Europe the USA and ultimately representing RSA in Manchester (1999) as a senior, provenance indeed. So to end , Buff your input is valued and I respect your knowledge base and concur with estimate on price , Loose cog , I cannot disagree with your estimate , it is really just steam tube at best with soso parts and DJR I hope your dream FdT leaves both in the pocket. To my brother this is a priceless item that started it all over 37 years ago, I swear he had tears in his eyes when he saw it for the first time a few weeks ago, he remained very quit for a while, just staring at it in my office. If you got this far I hope you enjoyed it.

Good luck with your SA concept bike DJR. Logo's 100%, paint is good with some surface rust and parts are actually excellent. Will maybe do a write up from beginning to end of the story and resto work i did, took loads of pics.

Thanks for your input Buff, I pegged at about R 3500. Provenance of this nature is priceless, especially after selling and then .............

Hi need some input as to the value of this FdT bike. Bought in 1982 by my brother Jason, rode Argus on it in 1983, 84 and 85. He then decided to upgrade to an identical 531 from Francois and I sold this bike in 1986 to a friend on behalf of my brother, I purchased it back earlier in the year and did a good clean up of parts and frame. What would the value be of this here bicycle. Its an 025 frame "hand made " , maillard 700 pedals , original zefal afa 3 pump, Adamas DX groupset, original cloth bar tape ( great condition ) , cherry brakes with upgraded weimann brake blocks and for a bicycle that is 37 years old cleaned up damn well. If anyone has a black FdT in 531 of about 1985 vintage please message me.

I still have my Kona Kilauea in red all original from mid 90's. Dragged it to the UK on a working trip in '96 and then over to Germany to ride in the Black forest, busy gathering dust in the garage. Reading this thread has reminded me what a lekker ride it gives and I think I need to get it out and give it a good clean , service and go for a ride again.