Love the reflectors!
Hello!
I’ve been admiring all the wonderful mixte bicycles on your gallery, and thought that I would share mine. I don’t know much about it except that it’s a Kettler Alu-Rad. The headset badge says that it was made in W. Germany.
Headbadge
It has all Shimano components, except for the brake levers which are Weinnmann. The integrated lighting doesn’t work, but I plan to tinker with it and see if I can correct that. I picked it up through Craigslist for $30 and only needed to replace the brake pads and tires/tubes. I added a Brooks B72 that I already had from another bike, mirror, headlight and a Pletscher rack.
Rear view
I’m really enjoying riding it! It’s great for getting around in the hills of southern Appalachia.
~Amy
Flair
This is quite a unique bike in several ways. I’ve never seen a Kettler before, and I believe the Alu means it’s made out of aluminum which is pretty rare for a vintage mixte. The aluminum probably makes it very light. Enjoy your ride; it’s definitely special.
-Doohickie
7 comments
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March 3, 2011 at 2:30 am
adventure!
$30 for German made and integrated lighting?
Sometimes even I hate living in Portland!
March 3, 2011 at 9:35 am
Jon Grinder
Alu-Rad = Aluminum Bike (Rad, in German, is short for Fahrrad, the way bike is short for bicycle in English).
It’s also rad (short for radical, dude!) in English.
Nice find.
March 5, 2011 at 7:26 am
Liz
Wow, never heard of this model. How beautiful. A fantastic find. Thanks for sharing.
March 7, 2011 at 11:17 pm
SM
Very nice bike. The seat cluster is different – with rivet insert?
March 7, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Doohickie
I believe it has a bolt for the seat binder and a bolt to attach the seat stays. My Raleigh DL-1 has the seat stay attachment combined with the seat binder.
March 17, 2011 at 8:08 am
Lovely Bicycle!
This is a rare bike, I’d be very curious to know how it rides. I’ve seen many Kettler Alu Rad bikes, they are common in Germany, but never a lugged one like this. It must be 1979 or early 80s, one of the first models. And I’d venture to say it’s worth money, hang on to this one!
December 22, 2011 at 2:24 am
Steven Fay
I bought (about 10 yrs ago, in Warsaw, Poland) a matched pair of his/hers Kettler Alu-Rad CityComfort cruising bikes. I was impressed with the quality and ride and had to have them, but was also unfamiliar with Kettler. The next time you’re in a Gym, take a look at the brand of in-place excercise bike. Kettler make a lot of those and other equipment.