zastolj

I just bought a mod.125 brakeset. Looks cool in photos but there's no info on them anywhere. Where do they go in the Universal timeline?

I own super 68's so wondering how they compare.

rootboy 

Try checking out Velobase.

Mid to late 70's, as I remember.

zastolj

Tried, there's a pic but not much else. Tried google but didn't find much there. It does look kind of like a 70s model.

rootboy 

There is precious little info on Universal Freni on the Net, that's for sure. I could be wrong but I think the model 125 superseded the model 77 in the late 70's. Issued up until the late 80's. Maybe.

3speedslow

Nice brakes, I've had them on my Dawes forever. Good stopping power but a bit large in the handle reach for me.

Good luck finding hoods decent price wise.

zandoval 

Bought a set of these right off the shelf new and brand new in Vicenza Italy 1974 - At the Liotto bike shop - Giovani said they were almost as good as Campagnolo...

If I had had more to trade maybe I would have gone with Campy but I'm not complaining...

Still have a set on my PR-10...

Never really thought it was a problem but this is true...

rootboy 

Which reminds me, I have ONE spare hood in nice condition, for,...I think..this model brake. If anyone could use it please PM me.
It was given to me by another member...me thinking it was for an earlier model. ONE only.

JohnDThompson 

Robbie Fellows make reproduction Universal hoods:

rnitro1969 (at) gmail.com

cycleheimer

Anybody familiar with Universal Model 175 side pull brakes? Roughly when they were produced, level of quality, etc. I can't find any information on them. Thanks for any feedback!

T-Mar

I don't believe that I have ever seen a pair of Universal model 175 brakes. However, I can narrow down the timeframe, somewhat. The first model 1xx brakeset was the Model 125 that is the subject of this thread. It was released in either 1979 or 1980, as it appears in 1980 Universal literature but not 1978. The Model 175 is in neither, so it's no earlier than 1981.

It's difficult to find information on 1980s Universal brakesets, at least in North America, for several reasons. The post boom, entry level market had been largely taken over by Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturers. The Italian mass volume manufacturers just couldn't compete. Brands like Atala, Chiorda, Legnano and Bottecchia virtually disappeared in the USA, though Bottechia would make a comeback, at the high end, with Lemond's 1989 TdF victory. Others, like Bianchi, started sourcing the American market, entry level models from Asia. Benotto, who had a factory in Mexico, started sourcing components for their entry level models from Japan. Others, simply decided to concetrate on what could still sell in North America, the mid-range and high end models.

Then, there was the increased competition in brake market from within Itlay itself. First, there was the arrival of Modolo. They had been around since the 1950s but didn't produce a brakeset until the 1977 Professional model. It was a big success and the company started concentrating on brakes. Then, in the mid-1980s, Campagnolo starting expanding the their range with new groups like Triomphe and Vicory with dedicated brakesets.

As a result, Universal steadily lost market market in the post boom, American market. I've only ssen maybe a handful of 1980s bicycles that were spec'd with the mid-range Model 77 and a simliar number with the entry level Model 125. The top of the line CX model was even more rare and appears to have given way to the just as rare AER in the mid-1980s. I can't say that I've seen a Universal brakeset spec'd on a post mid-1980s bicycle.

All I've got on the Model 175, is that it should be no earlier than 1981. I know that the the Model 125 survived into the mid-1980s era, when the AER replaced the CX. Since the model designation is higher, it might be a mid-1980s replacement for the mid-range Model 77? Photos may help to determine the level. It will at least allow me say that I've seen one and that alone would be greatly appreciated!

cycleheimer

Thanks for the information, T-Mar!

T-Mar

To me, the Model 175 looks more anemic than the Model 125. The cross-section of the arms don't look as beefy/stiff. It reminds me of some of the older Universal models. My impression is that it's even lower than the Model 125, which is counterintuitive based on the numerical designations.

cycleheimer

That makes sense to me. I was at one point thinking Model 125 with a quick release. They are starting to remind me of Weinmann brakes found on entry-level bikes from the 1970s. Thanks for the input!

Kabuki12

I just talked to him and he hasn’t made any in a while and no plans for the immediate future.

JohnDThompson 

To be fair, the post you quoted above dates back to July 2013.

Kabuki12

Yea I noticed that .after I quoted! Thanks