Author Topic: 84 Schauff Anaconda Powertwist Pro (Read 15758 times)

monkian · « **on:** May 23, 2012, 02:56 PM »

A while back Bendy posted an article on a strange looking Tange frame that really caught my imagination: http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=104279.0
I did a bit of digging around and found out it was a rebadged Schauff Anaconda Powertwist Pro (apparently they were originally available as a kit).
Anyhow, I stumbled across one recently and managed to land it coming via Poland and I have to say I bloody love it

It's got some mad features: Fat round top tube, Downtube goes from a vertical oval at headtube to the same fat round at the centre to horizontal oval at the BB...
The article seemed to suggest the tubes house some kind of 'Powertwist' gubbins (similar idea to the Spiral stem on TRX forks I guess) but the 'Powertwist' is more likely just be the shape of the downtube.
It also has Laserlite style brake bridge and doubled-up drop-outs like the Kuwahara. Cruiser!

I offered it up against my Rhino Charge for comparison and surprisingly the Anaconda comes in lighter at exactly 4.8lbs. The Tange Mega Force forks are also lighter than I expected.
It has a shorter seat tube of about 1cm giving it a lover back end than the RC, both have a 19.5" top tube.
I've read that from 1983 Schauff employed the services of MR "PK" Perry Kramer

Anyway enough waffle. See what you think:
1984 Schauff Anaconda Powertwist Pro

rad_pitt · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2012, 03:18 PM »

That's a proper cool looking frame set - great work digging the info out too

rad_pitt · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2012, 03:19 PM »

Are the double drops a factory job?

monkian · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2012, 03:24 PM »

Yeah, pretty unusual I thought to see that in 84

Taipan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2012, 03:25 PM »

Thats a Lush f+f set mate

you just gotta love Tange its quality

Also interested to know more about them double rear drop outs,seems a smart Idea

brummie · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2012, 03:32 PM »

very nice paul

monkian · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2012, 03:45 PM »

Thanks lads, I love this geeky shit

This is the closest I've found to it in the museum but it's listed as an 89

http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/schauff/39588
There's some others in there but they seem to have Aero chainstays like the Rhino Charge so not sure what's going on there TBH.
I think this is pretty much what the kit would have been:

jimwise68 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2012, 04:14 PM »

thats a nice frameset. Loving this sort of shit too. kind of like the missing link between old and mid school, with the fatter top tube and heavy duty drop outs.

look forward to seeing this built up.

monkian · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2012, 05:11 PM »

Can't get my head around how light it is but how beefy it looks

Interesting to think that Tange could have been making these for the Germans alongside the Laserlite, Raleigh Aero Pro, Tioga Rhino Charge etc.
Anyone know of an earlier production built bike with double drop-outs?

This'll be a keeper for me. Already got some the decals and padset from Dieter

It could do with some love but I might leave as is and use as a rider for a while.

Jaypeg · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2012, 07:08 PM »

sweet find dude...looking forward to seeing what you do with it

mattfx81 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2012, 07:53 PM »

I think ive seen an article or advert in bmx bi weekly or bmx action for one of these.

sawzall · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2012, 08:00 PM »

great looking frame mate,nice to see something a bit different

monkian · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2012, 08:10 PM »

Quote from: mattfx81 on May 23, 2012, 07:53 PM

I think ive seen an article or advert in bmx bi weekly or bmx action for one of these.

If it's this one, I think it's a different bike TBH: http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=18345.0
Notice the chain-stay strut. The Schauff Rattlesnake was a lower end model but I'm not sure there's a connection between them.
It'd be good to get a better look at the profile shot in that feature so we can see the drop-outs and if it's got a small head-tube gusset.
It's definitely not the same as the other Rattlesnake in Bendys old post. It's a bloody mine field out there

If you've got an advert as well, It'd be great to see it

Macmania · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2012, 08:22 PM »

Lovely looking Frameset that

Nice and rare. Great score Paul

MartyC · « **Reply #14 on:** May 25, 2012, 11:26 AM »

Nice frameset Paul

, my second favourite forks too next to Bottema's. I ran a pair on those on my Patterson after I tweeked the forks on it a little.

BENDYCAT ELEVENTEEN · « **Reply #15 on:** May 25, 2012, 10:53 PM »

Saw this up for sale and missed it but i'm so glad you got it

strange with the double drop outs

it's a cool frame and strange how there is not more, see how they have been put together - must be rare if not many are around

with a good polish up this is gonna look sweet

can't wait for it to be built up

sweet find now do it justice

monkian · « **Reply #16 on:** May 26, 2012, 05:47 PM »

Thanks B. I'll give it some much needed TLC

I think a professional polish might save the chrome but it'll have to take it's place in the queue for a while.
The Rhino Charge is next in line...just need to find some Comp IV's, bleach some grips and it's done

BENDYCAT ELEVENTEEN · « **Reply #17 on:** May 26, 2012, 09:24 PM »

Seem weird that more frames didn't go this way and be made like this

still keep looking at the double drop outs and think how many normal drop outs have gone out of shape - these don't look like they would

then there is the weight

monkian · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2012, 05:28 PM »

This caught my eye over on that old thread about the Rattlesnake:

Quote from: rockinlumberjack on September 19, 2006, 01:25 PM

Very nice ! In early 86 in Germany, was a similar model : the Tange Anaconda frame in 2 tones colours, chrome + some colours avalaible (like the Haro of same period). They proposed a kit with Tange Anaconda Pro Powertwist frame, very similar to the Rattlesnake (maybe the same, but with another name for other country) with the same fork as the Rattlesnake : a Tange Mega Force and with SR stem and Sugino CT 175 cranks. I've the publicity on a German magazine under the eyes now. It's damage that I've not a scaner to post it. It's seemed to be a nice frame and fork. I'm rebuilding an OS bike : Mongoose Rupe frame, but I've not a fork. I will buy a Tange Mega Force in Germany to fit with, as I've not genuine fork. I will not make an exact replica of the Rupe, but I will equiped it with parts from 84-85. Have anybody have experience with Tange Mega Force forks ? I've seen a few in the old days, but never own one. Thanks

I thought I'd chance my arm and send the guy a cheeky email (only 5 1/2 years later) to see if he was still around and had any info on the magazine he referred to

Anyway, a few days pass, then out of the blue I get this:

Hello Paul !
Sorry for the long time to reply. I've attached to my e-mail the scan of the advertisement on the German BMX magazine that I bought on June 1986 when I was 16...
Hope this helps and appologies again for the long time to reply. Regards from Switzerland. Romain

What an incredible thing to do. Romain, I thank you my friend

As far as I've been able to translate, it goes a bit like this: 3-part series: frame, cranks and stem (with potts mod).
Colors: chrome / turquoise, chrome / lavender, chrome / white and blue.

MartyC · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2012, 06:55 AM »

Definitely heading towards mid school with that colour scheme! Love the decals, very Vector-ish I think you have made a brilliant find there

bobafett · « **Reply #20 on:** June 04, 2012, 08:16 PM »

Cool frame Paul

RoyalTrux · « **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2012, 07:39 PM »

Hey you was after this frame for some time now, no? Nice find.
Love the green paint on the chrome set up!! do it

monkian · « **Reply #22 on:** June 06, 2012, 08:33 PM »

Thanks, yeah I've been looking for one ever since Bendy put up that thread up with the magazine article on the rebranded UK version

Really chuffed to have landed it and only really found it by chance. It ticks a hell of a lot of boxes for me

I love the two-tone colour schemes, it's definitely an option but I'm not sure if they were available in 84.
It'll probably come down to how well (or not) the OG chrome cleans up TBH.

Wez · « **Reply #23 on:** March 13, 2013, 09:59 PM »

Amazeballs !!!!! What's the update ? The people want to know

monkian · « **Reply #24 on:** March 13, 2013, 10:30 PM »

Thanks Wez

Well at the moment I'm using it to train on for the Moonriders London to Cambridge ride.
Please take a look and feel free to donate: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ASITE

It'll be getting some TLC at some point that's for sure....probably needs a re-chrome tbh.

As for parts: Thanks to Yan Yan I've now got a lovely NOS SR Stem - like the one in the Ad.
I've also got NOS Decals & Padset from Dieter at Rainer's...errrr what else...
Shimano HF DX Hubs, Ukai Box Rims, NOS Black Ultra Dyno Cranks, NOS Tioga Beartrap BB,
NOS Shimano GX-Grippers...working on the bars

There's probably some other stuff I've forgotten about as well