Free Spirit 10 Speed
11-10-20, 10:04 AM
#1
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Free Spirit 10 Speed
Got this from a neighbor who was tossing it. Pumped up the tires, gave it a wipedown and discovered it was in a fairly decent state of tune. Took it for a ride and...it was unexpectedly fun for what it is. Felt relatively quick, responsive and nicely planted on the road (35 lb curb weight probably helps in that department). I was surprised to find these things had name brand components - Shimano Positron drivetrain and Dia Compe brakes. Not a lot of information on these out there, but was able to gather that Free Spirit was Sears's house brand bike and it most probably made by Huffy. Gonna keep it over the winter and use it for a bad weather cardio workout rider. My middle child digs goofball retro bikes so it might go to him next summer when he outgrows his '79 Schwinn Suburban.
11-10-20, 11:39 AM
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Thanks for posting. The bike looks to be in great shape. While it is not high end, it will certainly be good for riding and getting your exercise in.
It is good that the Positron is adjusted right.
As far as replacing a Schwinn suburban, well, don't get rid of the Suburban.
Edit: These are yours and your sons bikes, of course you can sell either or both. The point I was trying to make was that I think the Suburban is a more valuable bike.
It is good that the Positron is adjusted right.
As far as replacing a Schwinn suburban, well, don't get rid of the Suburban.
Edit: These are yours and your sons bikes, of course you can sell either or both. The point I was trying to make was that I think the Suburban is a more valuable bike.
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11-10-20, 11:47 AM
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Thanks for posting. The bike looks to be in great shape. While it is not high end, it will certainly be good for riding and getting your exercise in.
It is good that the Positron is adjusted right.
As far as replacing a Schwinn suburban, well, don't get rid of the Suburban.
Edit: These are yours and your sons bikes, of course you can sell either or both. The point I was trying to make was that I think the Suburban is a more valuable bike.
It is good that the Positron is adjusted right.
As far as replacing a Schwinn suburban, well, don't get rid of the Suburban.
Edit: These are yours and your sons bikes, of course you can sell either or both. The point I was trying to make was that I think the Suburban is a more valuable bike.
Don't worry, my son is pretty attached to the Schwinn and he's not willing to part with it yet, but it's a woman's size step-thru frame so he's outgrowing it at a rapid rate. I've posted it here before, but seeing from your profile you're a Schwinn fan I'll show it again...
11-10-20, 12:01 PM
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That's a Positron too!. When they are in good working order, there are many here that like Positron. I worked in a bike shop when Positron came out and was not impressed. I was a bike snob at the time AND a SunTour snob. But we had customers that did like the fact that they could index shift and not have to listen to be sure the gear lever was just right.
With front Freewheeling many customers appreciated that they could shift when coasting. It was as if Shimano was trying to make a derailleur system more like an internally geared hub.
Oh wait, is that Suburban Front Freewheeling without the Positron?
It is in excellent shape.
With front Freewheeling many customers appreciated that they could shift when coasting. It was as if Shimano was trying to make a derailleur system more like an internally geared hub.
Oh wait, is that Suburban Front Freewheeling without the Positron?
It is in excellent shape.
Last edited by Velo Mule; 11-10-20 at 12:04 PM.
11-10-20, 12:25 PM
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Bought the Schwinn for the pre-Covid sum of $20 in fall 2019. Needed nothing other than a vigorous scrubbing of all the shiny bits to get the rust off...
11-10-20, 05:05 PM
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I like that pants guard.
are those 26” or 24” wheels?
are those 26” or 24” wheels?
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
11-10-20, 06:35 PM
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Yeah, that caught my eye too...I like little details like that, so I made sure it was positioned just so for the photo...
26 inch, as it turns out. I had no idea that was a thing for old road bikes, I thought they were all 27 inch...
26 inch, as it turns out. I had no idea that was a thing for old road bikes, I thought they were all 27 inch...
11-10-20, 07:30 PM
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I had the same Free Spirit in yellow. I kept it parked at work and used it for noontime bike rides or errands. I added toeclips, tightened the freewheel range to 15-23, and converted to downtube shifters. Total junk, but surprisingly fun, as I guess most bicycles, no matter how humble, are.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
11-10-20, 09:34 PM
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The upgraded extra long stem is an interesting upgrade on this one that seems otherwise stock and in exceptionally good shape after cleanup. I would keep and ride it as an occassional rider. As for maker and year pretty sure it's 78/79 Murray America built bike they made most Sears lesser bikes and had a pretty distinctive dork disk and used the around seat post to behind the top tube arrangement on the rear stays and used cheap metalic blue on a bout half there contract builds.
Last edited by zukahn1; 11-10-20 at 09:56 PM.
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11-11-20, 11:53 AM
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Does that Free Spirit have the axle plastic caps still on the front axle?
11-11-20, 12:18 PM
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