Anyone else built a Klunker lately?
08-01-13, 03:24 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Anyone else built a Klunker lately?
I had a 58 Schwinn American frame laying around (doesn't everyone?) and enough spare parts to pull it off. I even had a set of the repop Schwinn Westwind S-7's I bought for the restoration that was planned for this bike. Well, I forgot those plans, strictly because of the amount of seatpost it takes to get my leg extension?? If I run across a "king size" frame for sale, I will restore that. Until then, this sucker is done! I have no idea where the original cranks went, but they were as rusty as the frame anyway. I was thinking of adding a hanger and an RD, but these frames had no brake holes, front or rear. The only thing I spent money on were the grips/donuts. About $11.50, and a bunch of grease. Both actual, and elbow.,,,,BD
The clever chainguard treatment popped into my head as I was installing it, hehe. Schwinn Is American, No more.
The clever chainguard treatment popped into my head as I was installing it, hehe. Schwinn Is American, No more.
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
08-01-13, 03:44 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
NOT with these tires, NO way! I plowed the front wheel earlier riding in the grass. I made a good save though
.,,,,BD
.,,,,BD
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
08-01-13, 03:50 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Oooooh, I do have a set of stem/crossbar pads somewhere? They're the later style checkered nylon with velcro though. One this old would have glossy vinyl with silver snaps.,,,,BD
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
Last edited by Bikedued; 08-02-13 at 06:38 AM.
08-01-13, 04:04 PM
#5
Senior Member
I put together a 41 Schwinn DX a few years ago with the intent to keep things era correct to 1978. In my haste I cut corners in a few places and it always bugged me. Now I am slowly putting together a Prewar C frame and keeping everything true to form. Just about there with parts. currently lacing some old drum brakes to a set of first generation Ukai rims.
Out for a ride, smaller frame fits my wife better than it will ever fit me:
Visualizing:
Just had the steer tube extended. Next step, lacing wheels. My three oldest Mtb's:
Out for a ride, smaller frame fits my wife better than it will ever fit me:
Visualizing:
Just had the steer tube extended. Next step, lacing wheels. My three oldest Mtb's:
08-01-13, 04:43 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The main drawback of the middleweight frames is tire clearance. Finding a knobby tire in the S-7 size will be next to impossible too, if they even make anything other than street tread, for a long dead tire bead size. I am also going to rob the bars once I get the chrome mystery frame from my buddy. You know the chrome one I posted about a month or two ago, with Campy rear drops welded to BMX plates. That one will get hub brakes, Brooks saddle, and maybe a set of chrome "Landing gear" forks my buddy traded off. He gave them to the guy I traded for the Geoffrey Butler frame.,,,,BD
That build looks AWESOME so far! can't wait to see it all done up!
That build looks AWESOME so far! can't wait to see it all done up!
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
08-01-13, 06:16 PM
#7
Rides Majestic
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I've got a newer Schwinn Jaguar that I'm planning to do a klunker inspired build on. It won't be totally authentic, but I got it cheap.
08-01-13, 06:25 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
I have a nice set of 7 speed wheels, but again it comes back to the brake issue. "Maybe" I could convince myself to weld some brake posts on this frame. Something that precise makes me nervous, though it would be SO cool to have this bike geared. OH hell, I should just wait for the mystery frame.,,,,BD
It's sitting in the attic above my buddies garage.. I just need money, which may be solved tomorrow.
https://bmxsociety.com/topic/54601-26...ain-bike-stem/
It's sitting in the attic above my buddies garage.. I just need money, which may be solved tomorrow.
https://bmxsociety.com/topic/54601-26...ain-bike-stem/
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
Last edited by Bikedued; 08-01-13 at 06:31 PM.
08-01-13, 06:28 PM
#9
Senior Member
I've thought about doing a geared klunker ever since I found an b/b axel to convert 1 piece b/b to 3 piece.
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Semper fi
Semper fi
08-01-13, 08:55 PM
#10
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I don't think "klunker" is in my vocabulary, but the words "high end Italian", "C-record", "Dura Ace", "NOS" and "lightweight" are.
08-01-13, 08:57 PM
#11
Senior Member
Drum brake, Moots mounts, Schwinn clamp on brakes, coaster brakes, canti mounts welded on. There are a few vintage options and none really work great.
The C will be grafted with Cyclone ders. TA cranks, VDC bars Ashtabula stem etc.
I kinda draw my line with aluminum rims. In 78 Ukai and Araya introduced 26" rims for the BMX cruiser class. A huge improvement for rim brakes and weight savings.
With a little bit of patience vintage knobby tires can be found for these. Took me about a year, but I was able to find a set of era correct 26" Uniroyal Knobbies for the red bike. Never looked for S-7 size before.
The C will be grafted with Cyclone ders. TA cranks, VDC bars Ashtabula stem etc.
I kinda draw my line with aluminum rims. In 78 Ukai and Araya introduced 26" rims for the BMX cruiser class. A huge improvement for rim brakes and weight savings.
With a little bit of patience vintage knobby tires can be found for these. Took me about a year, but I was able to find a set of era correct 26" Uniroyal Knobbies for the red bike. Never looked for S-7 size before.
08-01-13, 09:00 PM
#12
Senior Member
08-01-13, 10:08 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Well, they make vintage mountain bikes that are right up your alley too?
https://firstflightbikes.com/_borders/OttomilaSide.JPG
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
08-01-13, 10:12 PM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
And as far as S7 tires, this is pretty much the only thing available. There are the repops Schwinn put out a few years ago, like the ones I have on it. Neither are good for dirt, however.,,,,BD
https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Street.../dp/B000AO9ZDO
These might be a "tiny" bit better in dirt, but not a whole lot.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26x1-3-4-NEW...-/200948730509
https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Street.../dp/B000AO9ZDO
These might be a "tiny" bit better in dirt, but not a whole lot.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26x1-3-4-NEW...-/200948730509
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
Last edited by Bikedued; 08-01-13 at 10:17 PM.
08-01-13, 10:21 PM
#16
working on my sandal tan
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Every so often, I think it might be cool to have a cruiser-type bike, but the urge passes. I like my road bikes too much.
08-02-13, 05:44 AM
#18
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Desire, Space, time..... For most of us there are only so many hooks in the garage, by all means we need to decide what will hang from them.
08-02-13, 05:49 AM
#19
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I had a Schwinn American for a while. It was incredibly heavy! Getting it onto the work stand was a strain.
The original Klunkers were pushed up Repack Hill and only ridden down, so the weight was not a drawback.
The original Klunkers were pushed up Repack Hill and only ridden down, so the weight was not a drawback.
08-02-13, 06:10 AM
#20
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Nope, and the only thing keeping me is the lack of a good frame. Old middleweights just aren't available here in yurp, and I don't want to settle for a ugly modern chinese cruiser frame with crude MIG welds. Your bike looks amazing though 
, and Aemmer, yours too. Love your collection.
, and Aemmer, yours too. Love your collection.
08-02-13, 06:17 AM
#21
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Thread Starter
Really? A completely steel plain gauge tubed bike is heavy? I love a lightweight road bike as much as any of you, but it does get boring having only one type of bike. Doesn't it? I am sure pushing those heavy klunkers up a hill was certainly a drawback. Me thinks you guys are thinking too much, and those thoughts are coming out a little snooty. Just saying.,,,,BD
,,,,BD
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
08-02-13, 07:19 AM
#23
Rides Majestic
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Here's my project bike. I did a quick mock up last night, but have to make a few decisions. I'm not sure that I like the bullmoose bars. I may go with some vintage risers, or the original cruiser bars with a shortened grip section. I've got Suntour power ratchet thumbies, Dia compe 980 brakes and levers, a Suntour 7 GT rear derailleur, a set of vintage Araya wheels, and a vintage SR fluted crank. I still need the BB converter.
While I really appreciate some of the faithfully created clunker replicas, I am not looking to do that. I am just looking for a cheap project that I can get creative with and that uses some of the surplus parts that have been hanging around. I chose this frame because it was $50 for the bike, it has 135mm spacing, a derailleur hanger, and canti bosses. When the bike's done, I'm going to put on some jeans and work boots, and go do some skids and wheelies!
While I really appreciate some of the faithfully created clunker replicas, I am not looking to do that. I am just looking for a cheap project that I can get creative with and that uses some of the surplus parts that have been hanging around. I chose this frame because it was $50 for the bike, it has 135mm spacing, a derailleur hanger, and canti bosses. When the bike's done, I'm going to put on some jeans and work boots, and go do some skids and wheelies!
08-02-13, 07:35 AM
#24
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Really? A completely steel plain gauge tubed bike is heavy? I love a lightweight road bike as much as any of you, but it does get boring having only one type of bike. Doesn't it? I am sure pushing those heavy klunkers up a hill was certainly a drawback. Me thinks you guys are thinking too much, and those thoughts are coming out a little snooty. Just saying.,,,,BD
,,,,BDI put a huge Wald basket on my American and gave it to the custodians at the local middle school. They use bikes to get around the campus.
08-02-13, 07:54 AM
#25
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Thread Starter
Whining about the weight of a bike, on a thread that is not even about lightweight bikes in the least, will bring out a little sarcasm in some people. I apologize for that.,,,,BD
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So many bikes, so little dime.
So many bikes, so little dime.
Last edited by Bikedued; 08-02-13 at 08:00 AM.