1938-1940 Sunbeam tandem frame for 1970 Twenty: Yay or nay?
#1
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
1938-1940 Sunbeam tandem frame for 1970 Twenty: Yay or nay?
I may have the opportunity to pick this beat frameset up - but a very interesting beat frameset. If the seller is correct, it is a '38, 39, or 1940 Sunbeam Model U. Unfortunately, just about everything is missing...and that's an Ashtabula front fork in front.
Seller will trade for a green 1970 Raleigh Twenty that I have here, which is somewhat of a duplicate in the stables. It also has factory grips on it now and a proper front tire:
The fork is the big issue. I could have a rough facsimile of the original made in the meantime.
Assuming there's no major frame damage (bare metal spots seem to be OK), would you guys say this is worth it, or a waste of a good Twenty from my stables?
I'm justifying it to myself from the point of view that a Twenty can be had anytime; the Sunbeam is a much rarer beast. Plus, I have a neighbor a block away who can shoot it in proper gloss black for about $150-200.
Given that I'm dealing with a frameset, it's probably restomod territory in the first place, so components...a big question mark.
Thoughts?
-Kurt
Seller will trade for a green 1970 Raleigh Twenty that I have here, which is somewhat of a duplicate in the stables. It also has factory grips on it now and a proper front tire:
The fork is the big issue. I could have a rough facsimile of the original made in the meantime.
Assuming there's no major frame damage (bare metal spots seem to be OK), would you guys say this is worth it, or a waste of a good Twenty from my stables?
I'm justifying it to myself from the point of view that a Twenty can be had anytime; the Sunbeam is a much rarer beast. Plus, I have a neighbor a block away who can shoot it in proper gloss black for about $150-200.
Given that I'm dealing with a frameset, it's probably restomod territory in the first place, so components...a big question mark.
Thoughts?
-Kurt
#2
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,846
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2297 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
I agree, 20's are easy to find. I've got a free 531 fork for you if you go for it. And more.
Weird 5 pin cottered crank, wot?
Weird 5 pin cottered crank, wot?
#3
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
The rear crank has two rings; the 5-pin system holds the second ring on.
-Kurt
#4
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,846
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2297 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
Or put a truss on the front end as part of your retromod.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
The tandem is a cool project if you actually have an interest in finishing it up. I know I sometimes pick up projects and then move on to new ones. So my new year's resolution was to not buy any more bikes until I dealt with my old inventory. Well that didn't last long. I picked up a '68 Schwinn Paramount and a 70s Mercian this year.
Likes For bikemig:
#6
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,480
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1361 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 423 Times
in
282 Posts
I wouldn't.
Though if one has a pile of contemporary cruiser parts ready to go (period or era correct are costly), has the time, and doesn't want to deal with buying elsewhere, add dealing with shipping, etc. we'll then, have at it.
Disclaimer:
I too have a nice Raleigh Twenty and tandem. I can relate to the fun- Cheers
Though if one has a pile of contemporary cruiser parts ready to go (period or era correct are costly), has the time, and doesn't want to deal with buying elsewhere, add dealing with shipping, etc. we'll then, have at it.
Disclaimer:
I too have a nice Raleigh Twenty and tandem. I can relate to the fun- Cheers
Likes For crank_addict:
#7
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
I wouldn't.
Though if one has a pile of contemporary cruiser parts ready to go (period or era correct are costly), has the time, and doesn't want to deal with buying elsewhere, add dealing with shipping, etc. we'll then, have at it.
Disclaimer:
I too have a nice Raleigh Twenty and tandem. I can relate to the fun- Cheers
Though if one has a pile of contemporary cruiser parts ready to go (period or era correct are costly), has the time, and doesn't want to deal with buying elsewhere, add dealing with shipping, etc. we'll then, have at it.
Disclaimer:
I too have a nice Raleigh Twenty and tandem. I can relate to the fun- Cheers
- Pros:
- I've got my pick of 35 pairs of black, modern 26x1-3/8 hooked bead wheels waiting for me at the Spin warehouse. Even if I don't go original, proper EA3 rims won't be an issue, and I dare say I can find some obscure drum brakes for it. I dare say even some modern Sturmeys ought to do the trick for the time being.
- I have never really owned or ridden a proper, quality tandem.
- I love old English bikes. The older, the better. This would become the oldest thing I have, next to a '49 Schwinn (which I wish would go away) and my multitude of '51 Raleigh Sports.
- I have some black track handlebars from the '90s which actually look similar to the original combo...if you squint from a distance
- I really don't think it'd be difficult to build it up respectful of its original appearance even if the parts aren't original.
- Cons:
- Damn missing fork.
- I don't really have the room for it.
- The repaint automatically makes it a money pit. Sure, I've got a neighbor who paints well, but it adds up.
- I have no reason to own a tandem. I don't ride with anyone else. COVID-19 or otherwise.
FYI, this thing is local, so no shipping $ to deal with either way.
-Kurt
#8
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
Likes For cudak888:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
Do it! Old tandems are a lot of fun.
__________________
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
#10
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,846
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2297 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
Yes I was being a little flippant and I scoured pages looking for an example of one but couldn't. Old tandems and other work bikes sometimes had oversize steerers as well. I think I'd trust an early twin plate mtn fork if you find one with enough rake. My old Pug had a cool fork crown.
Likes For clubman:
Likes For 3speedslow:
#12
www.theheadbadge.com
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2422 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
Don't get me started on my latest idea - "how to recycle e-scooters."
Thankfully, the idea would be to donate 20 of these, so I'm not doing diddly until some micromobility company throws scooters my way
-Kurt
Thankfully, the idea would be to donate 20 of these, so I'm not doing diddly until some micromobility company throws scooters my way
-Kurt
Likes For cudak888:
#13
Freewheel Medic
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,882
Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1452 Post(s)
Liked 2,194 Times
in
962 Posts
That Orangesicle looks like no monstrosity I've ever seen! That rear fender! The drive wheel! The battery/electronics unit! The umbilical cord! What a mess!
I say go for the Sunbeam Tandem! Build it with what you have! It is the perfect "Date" bike, for a C&Ver, such as yourself --- even in this strange and uncertain time!
I say go for the Sunbeam Tandem! Build it with what you have! It is the perfect "Date" bike, for a C&Ver, such as yourself --- even in this strange and uncertain time!
__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com