Mystery Parts on Das Kettler

[huskerdont]

The tube and mount—life support for the alien what brought this to earth?

[drevil]

@Starduster 161361 wrote:

I have come into possession of a Kettler Alu-Rad CityShopper, which had sat abandoned at Pentagon Row for *years*. Worry not- claimed it BY THE BOOK through Arlington County Police. A full suspension city bike- unusual by most any standard. Halfway to a cargo bike. Getting a clean-up, lighting upgrade, and new tires, ready to debut soon.

It however has a couple of very unusual pieces on it. None of the images of Kettler CityShoppers I have found have them. [ATTACH=CONFIG]14953[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14954[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14955[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]14956[/ATTACH]I am certain they are OE, because they are well-integrated and painted to match. John Harpold and Bailey Garfield of Papillon Cycles saw, and had NO idea what they were, or were for. So… guess away!

The springy thing- We think it is a steering damper/centering device. No clue how the spring attaches to the bar.

The cylindrical thing? Your guess as good as mine…

I love challenges like this, but this is blowing my mind. I have no clue what those are! The rear cylinder thing seems like a small roll of tape or ribbon could be mounted on it, but that doesn’t make sense, does it? You can put potpourri in there with a little mesh if you wanted to fragrance up your bike

The front thingamabobby, I would’ve guessed the same thing as y’all. Is the vertical post threaded on the inside? From the pic, it looks like an v-brake/canti brake post mount. I wonder if it’s some weird basket or bag mount.

Are the lights on the bike now from after you acquired it? Could those two things have been light mounts?

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

the round thing is clearly a toilet paper roll mount
[IMG]https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/simpsons/images/0/05/TheHomer.png/revision/latest?cb=20090908145331[/IMG]

[mstone]

for the rear thing I’ll guess some kind of cargo strap device? I think it’s very unlikely they’re OE. If it were a color other than silver I’d take the color as more significant.

[Judd]

Clearly a hamster wheel in the rear and a water tube in the front. This might be the perfect Hains Point bike.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Hmmm, I would expect to see these two things on the bike: 1) Ring lock (aka O lock) for the rear wheel, or at least threaded bosses for it, and 2) a wheel dynamo. Maybe that rear cage is for some sort of lock that pulls out of it. Just a guess. Sometimes they have a little hard-mounted repair kit near the seat post on top of the rack.

[Starduster]

drevil: Lighting upgrade already done. The rear had been a B+M incandescent Toplight, long ago smashed. That is an AXA Riff found in the reflector bin at the shop. The OE Basta halogen was just inadequate in output and beam, even by yesterday’s standards. The front light is now a B+M Eyc Plus, minus the switch & tail light wiring needed for a dynohub. The bike’s wiring to a rear sidepull generator was too nicely integrated to mess with. Though the OE generator wouldn’t power the LED front beyond a flicker. Bearings felt funny, so… a B+M sidepull dyno last used for my Trek was put into service. Mission accomplished.

The mystery cylinder’s a little small for a hamster, though…

[Birru]

The cylinder in back must connect to the rear hub via some sort of belt to become a crank driven zoetrope. You can ride and animate.

[Judd]

@Starduster 161361 wrote:

I have come into possession of a Kettler Alu-Rad CityShopper, which had sat abandoned at Pentagon Row for *years*. Worry not- claimed it BY THE BOOK through Arlington County Police. A full suspension city bike- unusual by most any standard.

I’m curious what the process is for claiming abandoned property in Arlington.

[Starduster]

@Judd 161413 wrote:

I’m curious what the process is for claiming abandoned property in Arlington.

Judd, file a found property report with Arlington County Police. You most likely will work with Lt. Heather Hurlock. (Hat tip to Erin Potter of BikeArlington).

[AFHokie]

I think the University of Maryland auctions bikes they consider ‘abandoned’ on campus each year.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[streetsmarts]

I would be liable to get an N+1 someday from an auction of abandoned/unloved bikes. There’s one locked up in old town (old steel bike) that looks like it’s been there for a few years. Wonder how they make it from locked/abandoned to the police station.

[Vicegrip]

@Judd 161413 wrote:

I’m curious what the process is for claiming abandoned property in Arlington.

For some people it is a simple 2 step process.
1. Got to Home Depot and purchase cordless angle grinder with cut off wheel.

2. Gather “Abandoned” bike.

😡

[Judd]

@Vicegrip 161466 wrote:

For some people it is a simple 2 step process.
1. Got to Home Depot and purchase cordless angle grinder with cut off wheel.

2. Gather “Abandoned” bike.

😡

That’s kind of where I’m going…. What’s the criteria for something being abandoned property versus a bike locked up that appears to not have moved.

[DanB]

@Starduster 161361 wrote:

The cylindrical thing? Your guess as good as mine…

So here’s my guess. German bikes used to come with a small tool bag located behind the seat. (See picture.) Maybe what’s on your bike used to hold a special toolkit, and there was a cover on it that has since fallen off. Or maybe it held a certain kind of lock. Or …

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14962[/ATTACH]

[Author]

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