Austro-Daimler Superleicht Catalogue

The original Superleicht was built up with Campagnolo Record components and Clement Strada 66 tubular rims. Here is a link to a catalogue.  Handle bars were Cinelli. Tubing was Reynolds 531. Chain ring was 42/53, but I think mine had 42/54 for some reason. Interestingly, they sold the bike with pedals. That is not done today.

The Ultima was the Superleicht frame but with Campagnolo Super Record components (this group retails for $3,000 with basic wheels). The Superleicht had Campagnolo Record components ($2,650 with basic wheels). The Ultima targeted that segment of the market that demanded the lightest and the finest regardless of cost. Since Austro-Daimler was unable to do anything with the frame to reduce the weight (to make it an SL for example), they just offered lighter components. In the end, the difference in weight between the Superleicht and the Ultima clearly could not have been that much. But in the mind of the rider, there was a difference and that was what the rider paid for.

This marketing tactic still exists today: The Cervelo S3 frameset retails for $4,000 and weighs 1050 grams; the Cervelo S2 frameset which is identical except for a beefier rear triangle retails for $3,100 and weighs 1150 grams (In other words, for every one gram reduction in weight, the price increases $9.00). Both frames are pretty much the same; the S3 is offered for the riders who are trying to obtain a very low weight or have the budget and want to be seen on a premium version of the brand. The S2 is for the rider who has a smaller budget, less concern about brand image and the knowledge that weight can be lowered in other ways (no road computer, lighter wheels, saddles etc.) There are more S2s on the road than S3s, but the S3 is probably a much more profitable frame for Cervelo. This was probably true for the Austro-Daimler Ultima.