When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1972 +/- Ladies Rapido 3x

-

Tidewater

Finally riding a big boys bike
Found left behind by tenants in the garage of a rental property, it has remained tucked away in my garage for about ten years. I came to the conclusion that it was a '72 model year by the manufacturing date of 11/71 stamped on the Sturmey Archer AW 3x hub coupled with a manufacturing stamp on the crank tube 72?U23153. It looked like a sturdy ride when I found it so I've kept it. I'm going to go forward with giving it a run through and making it servicable again. It doesn't appear to be missing anything but some TLC. Any information that can be shared will be appreciated.

LadiesRapido-1.jpg

MadeInCzechoSlovakia-1.jpg

Ribbedfenders-1.jpg

SturmeyArcherGripshifter-1.jpg

SturmeyArcherAW3speedhub-1.jpg

Pletscherrack-1.jpg


This rack is one of the best I've seen. It has a spring loaded clamp with locking arm for school books or when you need to shed the jacket.
 
I have a Rapido banana seat bike. It has a 3-speed stick shift. By the way, welcome to the site!
 
Classicfan1,
Thanks for the welcome I'm glad to be here. I always dreamed of being in a biker club.
Yeah, I ran a "Rapido" search query on this site before I posted in regards to this bike. Your Czech musclebike sure had seen better days before winding up in that old shed. It was a great story though and I'm glad that you shared.
I think everyone who read it learned something about promoting oxidation. I'd love to know what was in that bag.

Tidewater
 
That's a nice RAPIDO. I've had a few of them as I think they may have been a department store bike here in Canada. At the moment I'm preparing a men's single speed for sale in the spring. I also still have a women's 3- speed very similar to your blu
060.JPG
e one. I like the 3-speed shifter activated by twisting the right handgrip like a motorcycle throttle. Unfortunately, these bikes are cheaply built and the frames are apt to snap or split open.
 
-----

The same bicyles were also sold under the Jawa name.

"In general" Motokov Praha badged the adult practical transportation models as Jawa and Rapido. These were one-speed coaster brake, three-speed planetary and five-speed derailleur bicycles.

Juvenile models were usually badged as Pioneer and adult sports models as Favorit.

There was a fifth badge not oft encountered in the west, Velamos. Despite its latinate sounding name it is Czech.

The U.S. distributor for them at this time was an entitiy called American Jawa based in Valley Stream, New York.

They were a stockist for some other Motokov products as well such as chain hoists and tyres. The Jawa motorcycles had separate distribution.

Readers with an interest in Czech bicycles might enjoy a visit to the Sterba museum -

https://www.sterba-bike.cz/section/museums?lang=EN
-----
 
Last edited:
Found left behind by tenants in the garage of a rental property, it has remained tucked away in my garage for about ten years. I came to the conclusion that it was a '72 model year by the manufacturing date of 11/71 stamped on the Sturmey Archer AW 3x hub coupled with a manufacturing stamp on the crank tube 72?U23153. It looked like a sturdy ride when I found it so I've kept it. I'm going to go forward with giving it a run through and making it servicable again. It doesn't appear to be missing anything but some TLC. Any information that can be shared will be appreciated.

View attachment 504028
View attachment 504029
View attachment 504030
View attachment 504031
View attachment 504032
View attachment 504033

This rack is one of the best I've seen. It has a spring loaded clamp with locking arm for school books or when you need to shed the jacket.
156918867741612411313419761888.jpg


Just found a rapido at the antique market and got excited when we did some research and found your post.
 
Back
Top