[CR]: Re: Volkcycle

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 18:08:54 -0700
From: "Bob Freitas" <freitas1@pacbell.net>
To: CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]: Re: Volkcycle

In response to Dons question I will try to fill in some blanks and add this to the archives

Volkscycle was a private label I think for JWB (Hans Johnson, Wilson and ?) 1970 or so these were sourced in Belgium(Gazelle?) and were horrible as they lacked sufficient brazing and litterally fell apart I think the MK designation started here but was not involved with them at this time. That company went on to build frames for Raleigh(?!!) 1972 were sourced from Japan MK V base model Shimano Lark etc MK X alloy high flange with QR with above MK XV ,,Tourney ders and cranks ,alloy rims, HB and stem MK XX Chromo frame and bar endshifters to above (I think this bike was simmilar if not exactly a Schwinn Voyager) a limited run of TOLKHEIM equiped bikes appeared at this time built by Sentinel but only one run of 100 or so

bikes were built ,they were all upright bars with small frames as I remember 1973/74 upper models began to come from Sentinal Mfg in Southern Calif but MK XX down graded to non Chromo frame Sentinal assembled whole bikes using Japanese sourced frames and parts. During a visit in 1974 we were shown an automatic Brazing line for frame building but do not think we ever recieved any domestic built frames . They also had plans for making rims from extrusions (they later did this when building Nishikis for West Coast Cycle but they were problematic) 1975 there was a Semi Pro model introduced with full 600 group including a 3 pin (TA knock off) crankset which I never saw again About the same time we had Albert Eisentraut build 4 prototype bikes which were not decaled but were supposed to be possible professional models (wonder if Eisentraut did any others?)

Components changed on some models as Shimano was litterally introducing new parts twice a year so lower bikes went to Tourney derailleurs and maybe back, MK V were FF system for a while and then went back to regular system

Name was changed in 1976 or so to ARAYA as we could not trade mark VOLKSCYCLE (you can probably guess why) and sourced from Japan

I left Wilson at the end of 1979 but think Araya continued for another few years

BOB FREITAS

Don Wilson wrote:
>Bob,
>
>Thanks. You may be an endangered species. I searched
>the archives under Volkscycle, but only found one post
>by you. It said you sold them 72-80 and focused on a
>Tolkhiem transmission, which this bike I saw recently
>did not have. I read through about 20 posts by others
>who offered speculations, but no facts. I gathered a
>Volkscycle was made in Belgium for a while and then in
>Japan and then ceased. Is that correct?
>
>Questions: I'm assuming this Mark V I saw with Tourney
>was middle of the road and made in Japan. Did
>Volkscycle ever make any high end bicycles? Were they
>in fact ever made in Belgium or any other Euro
>country, or were they always a Japanese spin on a Euro

>bike?

>

>Best,

>Don