mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== Puch Bicycles =====

Puch Bikes was founded by Johann Puch in Austria in 1889 and soon turned to the more profitable motorcycle and auto manufacturing ((A similar path was taken by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Benz|Carl Benz]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Peugeot|Armand Peueot]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel|Opel Automobile]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0koda_Auto|Škoda]] and most early auto manufacturers...)).  By 1908 it had manufactured over 100,000 bicycles.  Puch became a subsidiary of Austro-Daimler in 1928 and today now a part of [[bianchi:start|Bianchi]].  It continues making cruisers and ebikes: [[https://www.puch-bikes.com/]].
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Much history is available about Puch.  See this 400 page [[https://www.weishaupt.at/neuerscheinungen/389_die_geschichte_der_puch-fahrraeder/|book]], or Facebook [[https://www.facebook.com/Puchrad/|page]].  Mountain Bikes, as usual, get very little mention, especially in early 80's European sources, so that almost nothing can be found about their first "Mountain Jet" bicycle.  Puch did collaborate with [[murray:start|Murray]] from 1979 -> 1982 to produce motorcycles and cheap klunkers for the US market.  The [[https://mtbtimeline.com/wiki/murray/start#s1981|Murray Baja]] was marketed as a "Puch Murray," so that Puch had early experience being financially invested in mountain bikes ((The Murray Baja looks to be entirely a US production item, aside from parts.  Puch supplied components for their motorcycles while Murray made the frames, assembled the bikes, and marketed/sold them.  It's hard to see what Puch donated to the Baja.))

{{baja.jpg?200|1981 Puch Murray}}
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1981 Puch Murray
[[https://www.facebook.com/Puchrad/|facebook]]


{{1900.jpg?200|1900 Puch}}
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1900: When fixies were cool.
[[https://www.facebook.com/Puchrad/|facebook]]



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<div column 45%>
{{aphrodite.jpg?300|Aphrodite}}
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Aphrodite: Blond goddess of fixies and crabapples.
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[[https://www.facebook.com/Puchrad/|facebook]]

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<div column 50% #s1983>
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===== 1983 Mountain Jet =====

Double chainring crankset, 6 speed freewheel.
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<div column 45%>
{{1983.jpg?300|Mountain Jet}}
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1983 Mountain Jet
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1983-10-spd-puch-mtb-mountain-jet.304638/|retrobike]]

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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Puch 160 =====

The date is a guess, as this 160 is equipped with a 5 speed freewheel, unlike later versions which had larger 3x6 speeds ((6 speed freewheels were standard on mountain bikes since the 1979 [[ritchey:start#s1979|Ritchey]], and even the 1983 Mountain Jet has a 6 speed.  Why the regression?  Rear derailleur capacity perhaps?)).



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<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 160}}
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1984 160
[[https://store.bicycleczar.com/21-PUCH-160-Vintage-15-Speed-Utility-Bike-5-8-5-p/11160355.htm|bicycleczar]]

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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 160 =====

This pic is possibly a 1986 model, as it looks very much like the 1986 [[https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/86/seite%2011%20AD%20160.jpg|catalog]].  Until a 1983, 1984 or 1985 catalogs come to light, much of all this is guess work.

{{160.jpg?200|1986 Catalog}}
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1986 Catalog
[[https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/86/|bulgier]]

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<div column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 160}}
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1985 160
[[https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/comments/in9osm/puch_160_i_sold_today_such_a_sweet_rig/|reddit]]

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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Puch 160 =====
Catalog scan.  SunTour AG Tech GTL (1986-87)
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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 160}}
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1986 160
[[https://bulgier.net/pics/bike/Catalogs/AustroDaimler/86/seite%2011%20AD%20160.jpg|1986 catalog]]
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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Puch Durango =====
SunTour ST Alpha 3040GS (1988+).  Pic matches 1988 catalog.
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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Durango}}
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1988 Durango
[[https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1175528-axle-slot-fillers-puch-mtb.html#&gid=1&pid=2|bikeforums]]
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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Puch Butterfly =====
Shimano Exage 400ex(1990-92).
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<div column 45%>
{{1992.jpg?300|1990 Butterfly}}
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1990 Butterfly
[[http://bicikliakcio.hu/puch_butterfly_color_420.htm|bicikliakcio.hu]]
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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Puch Thomisus =====
By this point, Puch are selling rebadged Bianchis.  Shimano 200GS (1991).
A copy of the [[mantis:start#s1987|Mantis Valkyrie]].  Why does the Mantis look beautiful, while the Thomisus with its identical arresting structure, looks cheap and busy?  Does the department store quality paint and components of the Puch really make that much of a difference?  Yes, apparently...
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Puch ceased to make bikes in 1991.

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<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Thomisus}}
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1991 Thomisus
[[https://www.shpock.com/en-gb/i/XuJb9mqjbjjoBwRe/bianchi-puch-thomisus-mountain-bike|shpock]]
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