What can I do with this Huffy?
 

A friend just donated this Huff to the Bike Exchange. Normally we don't take bikes like this because they are heavy, poorly built and in terrible shape. This one checks off some of those boxes ...But.
I am looking at it as a blank canvas. Something I can do anything I want with and no one is going to tell me not to. Upgrade parts? Wild paint job? Bling bling or death star, anything is possible. Remember I have a warehouse of used parts to draw from .

So give me some inspiration. Show me pictures of what can be done with this old Sow.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03e0e1b173.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0cc4873d0c.jpg

Klunker mountain bike.

Ride directly behind that trailer in the Great Salt Flats and set the new cruiser speed record that will likely never be surpassed in the plague era. Will probably need a bigger chainring.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28c770bef4.jpg
Go big or go home, right?

Just put decent fenders and better rims on it. I had an old Free Spirit that was sort of a dog to ride until the friend I sold it to changed out the rims and did a little tuning up and it turned out to be a barn burner. It's about the same frame as the current Schwinns. Not a total piece of junk

She's done for, Jonny. But if yer determined to try, I'd slap all the chrome you can find in the back room on ol' Betsy, a banana seat, sissy bar, gas tank and saddle bags.

When in doubt, bling it out!

Klunk.

The folks on the ratrodbikes.com forums love Cranbrooks and they've done some pretty neat builds with them. Pop over there for some inspiration.

swap fork for a more bmx-style straight one and turn it into a faux klunker. I've got an Sun cruiser that I picked up with that idea in my head.

I've seen one of those, you can really trick one up!

I would probably use it as a bike for short errands and quick, relaxing rides. Honestly, this one doesn't look so crappy.

Lose the fenders, new slick tires, taller seatpost with a real saddle, bmx style handlebars. Lose all 4 reflectors. New chain, check sprocket for wear, probably new pedals.

I'm totally serious. It would rule an urban environment.

Oh, get rid of the chain guard as well.

Remove the crank. Huffy used some really crappy bearings and cones in the cranks. This might have gotten better now, but the other thing that I remember from a Huffy Cranbrook is the lack of grease, so even if the bearings are good, then you have the opportunity to put fresh grease in there. Also check the headset and for that matter the hubs.

The Cranbrook that I got was a step through frame, and I ended up putting it out for free. I thought I would use it for parts for other cruisers but, I didn't think they were worth it. The frame itself may be ok though.

That one actually looks cool. BITD the only path was to enter the annual Huffy Throw race. I never entered one (no Huffy) but I had the shirt :beer:

If you got the storage space, clean it and ride when you are tired of riding your others.
Or give it to a kid in that financially strapped town of Saratoga.

This is a Huffy Good vibrations with a few tweaks that I made/own. Good for short rides like going to get the mail etc. Roger

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd126bb6a.jpeg

+1. Or donate it to someone in need. Not as bad as I expected.

You can really trick up a chain guard...and you won't snag your Sunday slacks in the chain.

The colored tires are superbad as well.

As a gentleman I worked for once quipped "Take that thing back to the dump!!"

OMG that was a hilarious moment.

Make a cafe rat:
Lose the riser stem. Install short flat bars with flanged MTB grips. Bob the fenders. Replace the saddle with something minimal ala Unicanitor or BMX plastic. Lose the chainguard. Replace the fork with a straight one. Replace crankset with alloy BMX one. Install quill pedals. Everything either flat black, shiny chrome, or ridiculously rusted! Bonus points for an old Avocet cyclometer mounted behind the handlebars or on top of the stem.

By the way, please pm me if the Bike Exchange has any Magistroni cranks!
Brent

Chainguards are good.

Huh. I swear there was another identical thread that I responded to. Maybe I'm imagining things?

Cantilever cruiser frames are cool! Consider it a blank slate to get creative. You could make it a three speed, klunk it, street tires, knobbies, whatever. The cheaper done the better, imo. I had an 80's Schwinn cruiser years back and sold it. Then I decided I missed having it around, so I picked up a '61 frame and built a bike out of it. Stem from an old bmx, motorcycle handlebars, a Profile SS crankset with a 7/8" spindle that I had here (you think an ashtabula is heavy?!), and a Brooks B72. Alloy coaster brake wheelset and good to go.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...936cc1bbcb.jpg

No reason that Huffy can't become something way cooler.