Sunbeam W3 Wayfarer No S48571 1949/50
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Sunbeam W3 Wayfarer No S48571 1949/50
I recently obtained this Sunbeam Bicycle at a bike jumble. This is my second Sunbeam I obtained a Wartime Production one a while back which needs restoration (elsewhere on Bike Forums) but this one is rideable so will not be restored but I will strip and rebuild it replacing any worn bearings (brake blocks too!) so it is in really good riding condition. It is a BSA made Sunbeam and has a BSA 3 Speed Hub but someone has replaced the Trigger Shifter with a Raleigh one at some point. I have sourced a NOS BSA Trigger Shifter to replace the Raleigh. The brakes are the Sunbeam pattern Centre-pull type unique to these bikes and I particularly like the Flat North Road Handlebars. The bike is virtually completely original apart from the Trigger Shifter, Handlebar Grips, and perhaps the pedals (not sure about these) . It has a Lucas Cyclometer with 2,695 miles on it. The front forks are partially chromed so that apart from the BSA 3 Speed it is almost identical to the Wayfarer in the AMC Sunbeam 1939 Brochure, so it seems the only change made by BSA initially was to use their own 3 Speed Hub. By the time of the 1951 Catalogue the Wayfarer was modified to have Straight Handlebars and the saddle changed from Brooks to the Terry Tri Spring Saddle but otherwise still the same bicycle.
You can see other post regarding this rebuild at: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post21285279 & https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post21304272
General view of bike, drive side.
General view of bike, non drive side.
Front Centre-pull Brake.
Front Forks with Lucas Cyclometer.
Flat North Road Handlebars.
Iconic Sunbeam 'Little Oil Bath" Chaincase. Unique to Sunbeams, the Chain Case forms the drive side chain stay, there is no chain stay tube extending to the rear drop out, thus the chain case is a structural part of the frame.
Original Brake Levers.
Original Terry Extra Coil Saddle. (see 1951 catalogue extract below).
Sunbeam 1939 Catalogue Reference. From VCC Library.
Sunbeam 1951 Catalogue Reference. From VCC Library.
You can see other post regarding this rebuild at: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post21285279 & https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post21304272
General view of bike, drive side.
General view of bike, non drive side.
Front Centre-pull Brake.
Front Forks with Lucas Cyclometer.
Flat North Road Handlebars.
Iconic Sunbeam 'Little Oil Bath" Chaincase. Unique to Sunbeams, the Chain Case forms the drive side chain stay, there is no chain stay tube extending to the rear drop out, thus the chain case is a structural part of the frame.
Original Brake Levers.
Original Terry Extra Coil Saddle. (see 1951 catalogue extract below).
Sunbeam 1939 Catalogue Reference. From VCC Library.
Sunbeam 1951 Catalogue Reference. From VCC Library.
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Last edited by PeterLYoung; 01-29-20 at 06:56 AM. Reason: Add Photographs
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That's a heckuva bike for 9 pounds seven and six! Guess that was a lot of money back then.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
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So in fact the bike was quite expensive for what was a utilitarian item, most people cycled all the time as the only practical way to commute to and from the workplace.
For example a BSA Roadster bicycle started at £5-10Shillings whereas their top Racing Opperman was £12-12Shillings.
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This is a very cool bike and I like the old ads as well. I'm looking forward to reading the ride report on this one.
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Very cool ride. Hope it sees many more miles
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1904 Catalog
In 1902 this Sunbeam would have cost a skilled worker nearly 6 months pay.
The old lady who inherited from her Mum rode it for 80 years. I rode it home a year ago.
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I guess someone removed the Oil Bath Chain Case to install the Derailleur, two speed epicyclic on Chain Wheel!!
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That ladies Sunbeam looks like it has a 3 speed hub and a cyclo derailleur. It also looks like the missing chaincase was replaced with a Raleigh sports chainguard.
That Sunbeam Wayfarer is nice. Thanks for posting.
That Sunbeam Wayfarer is nice. Thanks for posting.
Last edited by Velo Mule; 12-04-19 at 11:13 AM.
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Peter Gunn from Gunn and Co in the UK recently had a 6 speed Sunbeam hub repair on his instagram. Pretty cool stuff.
Edit: cool, BF is doing Insta image previews now!
Edit: cool, BF is doing Insta image previews now!
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Fascinating company, if I remember correctly they built motorcycles, firearms, and I want to say typewriters? VERY cool bike! And the 23” size too! I’m jealous!
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1903 epicyclic 2 speed
I fitted the 4 speed SA and the Resilion derailleur. I believe a 3 speed IGH hub was an option in 1906 to go with the epicyclic 2 speed.
Last edited by Johno59; 12-07-19 at 04:37 AM.
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Sunbeam epicyclic ball bearings
Peter Gunn from Gunn and Co in the UK recently had a 6 speed Sunbeam hub repair on his instagram. Pretty cool stuff.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5kkhsql1G4/
Edit: cool, BF is doing Insta image previews now!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5kkhsql1G4/
Edit: cool, BF is doing Insta image previews now!
110 ball bearings this side
60 ball bearings the other side.
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This one did not have an oil bath. On all Sunbeam oil- bathed bikes the casing enclosing the drivetrain was part of the drive side chainstay, it would be impossible to remove it without major frame building skills.
I fitted the 4 speed SA and the Resilion derailleur. I believe a 3 speed IGH hub was an option in 1906 to go with the epicyclic 2 speed.
I fitted the 4 speed SA and the Resilion derailleur. I believe a 3 speed IGH hub was an option in 1906 to go with the epicyclic 2 speed.
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1948 Sunbeam
Same year as the Wayfarer but with Resilion cantilever brake's
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Last edited by PeterLYoung; 01-12-20 at 11:01 PM.