Classic & Vintage - building an adult-sized stingray

I want to build an adult-sized Stingray-style bicycle. I've never built a bicycle before, but hopefully I'll be able to figure it out.

Anyway, I don't think I can use an actual Stingray frame since they're too small. I'm going to have to find a similar-looking frame from an adult cruiser bike. I'd prefer if it were a frame that I could put 28" tires in, but I don't think I've ever seen a cruiser with tires bigger than 26". Anyone know if there are cruiser frames that will take 28" tires and where I might be able to find one?

If I can find forks for it that will let me mount a smaller tire to the front end (like some Stingrays I've seen) then I might do that, but for now I'm just going to focus on getting a frame.

And if if the cruiser with 28" tires is impossible maybe someone could suggest where I could find a regular frame for 26" tires.

As I'm sure you can all tell I'm new to all of this and don't know much of the proper terminology for bike parts and sizing conventions, but hopefully I'll catch on quickly.

Also, if this just isn't going to work without more know-how let me know so I can try something easier for my first attempt.

Thanks in advance!

CCM built 28" cruzer bikes for years.On the other hand Manarays were made in 24" tire size and are large enough for an adverage adult.---sam

For some ideas, go to;
BikeRod&Kustom ... dot com (I think that's the site) If not, Google it.
They have some krazy Kool bikes there!

Get a double loop Schwinn cruiser frame for 26"ers. You'll probably (definitely) have to make or mod a fork if you want to fit a 20" front wheel, which would look about right. You might get away with fitting a 24" fork and wheel from another bike, but a 20" is definitely going to cause you to lose too much BB height etc. I'd be thinking about extending a fork - I've put 14" into a BMX fork before (with my welder), but you won't get the same look from a straight fork like that, and a curved one would be murder to make. I suggest the Alt Bikes forum here, and even better, the chopper builders forum at:

www.chopperbicycle.net

Those guys know where to source parts, and how to fab things, and they're good guys.

Oh, and the site mentioned above is in fact:

http://bikerodnkustom.homestead.com/

Interesting, and the gallery is damned inspiring, but the guys at chopperbicycle will be more help. Most people involved in BR&K post there, including the guy that runs the mag.

I have absolutely no experience with building custom bikes, so I don't think making or modding a fork is realistic for me. What if I found the 26" frame, would it be possible to use a 28" fork and mount like a 24" wheel in it? That way I wouldn't lose too much height from the front end (by the way, what does BB stand for?), and I'd get something resembling the look I'm going for.

BB stands for Bottom Bracket. The risk with a smaller front wheel is your pedals striking, because you're closerr to the ground. I would guess you could do what you suggest though, but of course, your brakes won't reach. You could fit a disc I guess, but if you want to make a real Stingrayalike, there's pretty much no subsitute for learning to make certain parts yourself. Take a look at those sites, and see if they don't make you think maybe you could do it. At the least, they'll help you find the parts (seat, sissy bar etc). Remember, no-one has experience of building custom bikes til they try their first.

Then again, Stingrays didn't have front brakes, did they?

I had a schwinn corvette from the 1950's the frame would have worked for you. I considered doing what you are going to try but sold the bike to some one who is doing a restore job on it. I think the kind of frame you are looking for is called canterlever. You can find old ones at yard sales for not too much $

Then again, Stingrays didn't have front brakes, did they?
I put one on mine! A Shimano disk brake! And that was in '75!

Get a double loop Schwinn cruiser frame for 26"ers.

Bad idea - a 26" is too big, likewise, a 20" is too small.

Try aiming for a 24" cantiliver Schwinn from the '50s or '60s, preferably a ballooner, not a middleweight, so you have some extra rear wheel clearance for a fat slick.

If you intend to build it up with modern, hooked-bead aluminum rims, you might want to get some high-pressure 24" BMX slick tires - you wouldn't believe the performance boost you'll get from swapping out cheap 50 PSI Kenda tires for 120 PSI high-quality slicks.

You can build one up a-la Stingray with 24" wheels front and back, or if you like the Krate look, use a 24" wheel in back, an 18" wheel on the front, and use a springer fork for a 26" wheel. (Springers in 27" and 28" are virtually impossible to find - another benifit of using the 24" frame)

This setup works out perfectly, and the proportions are nearly identical to that of an enlarged 20" Krate - save for the front wheel, which ideally should be 17" for perfect proportions, but 18" is the closest substitute that is currently mass-produced today. Don't use a 20" in front - they're too large for the application.

Take care,

-Kurt

A springer is a good plan. I still say 26 though - a 26"er on an adult looks like a 20"er on a 10 year old. But yeah, the springer, and improvise something on the braking.

A springer is a good plan. I still say 26 though - a 26"er on an adult looks like a 20"er on a 10 year old. But yeah, the springer, and improvise something on the braking.

With a 26" frame, you'd be limited to making a Super Deluxe-type Stingray - springer fork with a 24" front wheel - any smaller wheel up front and the bike will sit too low.

I still don't agree with the 26" wheel design though - I've yet to see one that looks "right", and I dare say it might fit a bit too large for the average adult. Mind you, the Stingray design was essentially a toddler's bike outfitted so a taller rider could fit. In this case, as we are fitting an adult and want to keep the same appearance and "feel" of the bike's ride, one should start with a smaller frame then what an adult would ride, ultimately, a 24"-wheel frame.

As for braking, conventional calipers would do fine on a 24"/24" machine. A Krate look-a-like would require a drum brake up front (easy enough), or a disc, if you wish to stray from the original look.
-Kurt

Damn.. This sounds inspiring! I have a 24" Schwinn cantilever bike that I put BMX bars and a cheap roadie seat on ages ago. Used it as kind of an oversized BMXer ages ago. Right now it has huge whitewall tires on it.

BTW, I still have my old krate (PeaPicker), but it is in sad shape and would need tons of work.

Damn.. This sounds inspiring! I have a 24" Schwinn cantilever bike that I put BMX bars and a cheap roadie seat on ages ago. Used it as kind of an oversized BMXer ages ago. Right now it has huge whitewall tires on it.

Sounds like just the ticket to start out on. Let me know if you decide to go for it - be glad to give you some tips.

-Kurt

With a 26" frame, you'd be limited to making a Super Deluxe-type Stingray - springer fork with a 24" front wheel - any smaller wheel up front and the bike will sit too low.

That actually sounds pretty good. A 24" front wheel and a 26" springer fork would be OK on a 26" frame?


I still don't agree with the 26" wheel design though - I've yet to see one that looks "right", and I dare say it might fit a bit too large for the average adult.

The adult who will be riding it is 6'4", so I don't think that it will be too big.

EDIT: Also, I already found a frame that I can have for free if I decide to use it. It's a 26" Catalina. It looks old. Only problem is it's the ladies' style step-over frame. I'm not sure if I want to use it.

That actually sounds pretty good. A 24" front wheel and a 26" springer fork would be OK on a 26" frame?

Forgive my poor choice of wording. I meant to say that such a combination would NOT work out. Do realize that as you put a smaller front wheel in the front of the bike, the front end comes down. This is why a longer then stock springer fork is used (the original 20" Krates essentially used springers that were intended for 24" bikes), in order to raise the front end up enough until the bike is pretty much at the same level as it would with equal-sized wheels.

If a 28" front springer existed (Pretty sure the only thing out there - if and when you can find it - is a 27" springer), perhaps it would make sense to build around a 26" frame, but there isn't.


The adult who will be riding it is 6'4", so I don't think that it will be too big.

That is a bit on the tall side, and a 26" might be better in such a case, but I am pretty sure that a tall enough sissybar would easily accomodate someone of that height.

Don't use a ladies frame - won't have enough strength. Try to aim for a genuine Schwinn, if a Schwinn Stingray lookalike is what you what.

-Kurt

That is a bit on the tall side, and a 26" might be better in such a case, but I am pretty sure that a tall enough sissybar would easily accomodate someone of that height.

Don't use a ladies frame - won't have enough strength. Try to aim for a genuine Schwinn, if a Schwinn Stingray lookalike is what you what.

-Kurt

OK, I'll start looking for a 24" Schwinn frame. Any ideas where I should start? I don't want to pay much for it.

www.lovelylowrider.com
Kona and Electra have great chopper forks and stuff.........
The guys in altculture can realy help.
post pix , too !!! :)

You can get a Schwinn Stingray "Run-a-Bout" which is the Schwinn version of the folding commuter bike. I'm 5'10 & ride mine all the time. It's a fun bike to ride & is a real stingray.

when you have too much time on your hands, things can get stupid

BB stands for Bottom Bracket. The risk with a smaller front wheel is your pedals striking, because you're closerr to the ground. I would guess you could do what you suggest though, but of course, your brakes won't reach. You could fit a disc I guess, but if you want to make a real Stingrayalike, there's pretty much no subsitute for learning to make certain parts yourself. Take a look at those sites, and see if they don't make you think maybe you could do it. At the least, they'll help you find the parts (seat, sissy bar etc). Remember, no-one has experience of building custom bikes til they try their first.

Then again, Stingrays didn't have front brakes, did they?

some had the front drum!

OK, I'll start looking for a 24" Schwinn frame. Any ideas where I should start? I don't want to pay much for it.

eBay. Try to find one that will cost you more in shipping then bid price :eek: :rolleyes:

Alternately, try the Schwinnbike.com Classic Classifieds forum. The fellows there will pop up with tons of examples for you. Just make sure you ask for detailed photos and examine the item very closely in the photos to make sure it is what you want (some fellows there may jump the gun and sell you a middleweight frame assuming it to be a balloon - no harm intended on their part, but it's common for the fellows there to be a bit too eager)

Take care,

-Kurt

some had the front drum!

Krates, specifically.

-Kurt

when you have too much time on your hands, things can get stupid

So they stole your chain and reversed your crankset and freewheel? Those b#!tards....

B'Dog

I happen to think the normal stingray look works better on a 26 inch. You just need a set of shorty fenders, a slightly taller than average ape hanger, and an adult sized banana seat. I have seen a couple lately that if there was nothing in the pic to give away scale, it's pretty hard to tell. Stingrays have two wheels the same size, Krates have the smaller front wheels. Just technical, I know.,,,,BD

I'm torn between the 24" and the 26". I can't decide!


I happen to think the normal stingray look works better on a 26 inch ... I have seen a couple lately that if there was nothing in the pic to give away scale, it's pretty hard to tell.

Do you have a link?

Well, all this talk about Stingrays motivated me to pull this project out of storage - a custom '05, 14-speed Grey Ghost.

Luckly, since the time I shelved the project for a while, I did come into the aquisition of some 180mm stainless spokes, so I took the opportunity to build up the front wheel this afternoon. Turned out fantastic. Now all I have to do is take care of the rear wheel's spoke disasters that were the cause of my temporary shelving of this project.

Forgive my slightly OT digression - thought I'd post this to help motivate things along...

Take care,

-Kurt

Then again, Stingrays didn't have front brakes, did they?
Geared Krates had handbrakes in the back and drum or sometimes handbrakes on the front. Geared Fastbacks had handbrakes front and back.

So they stole your chain and reversed your crankset and freewheel? Those b#!tards....

B'Dog

I didn't have THAT much time...but did get that stupid :P

I have a 26" Mex-style Kustom bike....all chrome, big fat whitewalls and huge
apehanger bars.....It gets more thumbs-up and ogling than either of my cusom
Harleys ever did :D The only thing that sux about apes is eventually they slip unless
you have a triple clamp type fork.

I put 25" ape hangers and a banana seat on an MTB last year. It was my intention to fab a custom fork in order to fit a 20" front wheel - I was going to adapt an MTB suspension fork (quite easy to let some extra tubing into the inner part at the top), but it got stolen almost immediately, despite being a total POS. It just looked SO cool.

Now I have a new project - a friend who I built up an 80's Raleigh road bike for gave me a crappy chinese road bike that he had been given. It's awful - weighs like a boat anchor, rubber pedals, fake Shimano (Shaino) gears, but it has gold anodised rims and gold anodised high flange hubs. So, ape hangers again, another banana seat, and this time, I'll make the sissy bar myself. The only sissy bars on the market are really designed for a 20"er, so whilst they will fit on a 26, you're not really high enough up if, like me, you're 6'3.

What I'd really like is a 26" double loop frame, and then to custom fab a spring fork, chop the front so that I get more rake, and put a 20" front wheel on. Then I'd custom fab a leather covered banana seat (easier than you'd think) and my own sissy bar, and the tallest set of ape hangers I can source = love.

I can't find what I need on eBay, so I'm going to post on the Classic Classifieds forum on schwinnbike.com.

But I have no idea what is a reasonable price for a frame. What's a good price?

(I've decided I'm not going to put a smaller tire on the front end, so there's no reason not to get a 26" frame. So I need a 26" Schwinn cantilever balloon frame.)

I sold my schwinn corvette for 10$

Dug out the pics of the two I did. The first was for my son, on a BMX, and
I made the fork (with minimal skillz!). The second was mine, and was stolen. Just components on an MTB, no fabrication at all.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/Image073.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/Image075.jpg

You can see where I could've done with a bigger sissy bar. With the seat in the top set of holes, it just about levels with the seatpost at it's lowest. A longer seat would've looked better too - there are 24" ones on the market here. All in all though, it looked good enough for someone to carry it over a 6 ft fence.......

I sold my schwinn corvette for 10$

And the guy that bought it planned to put rams horn bars and a banana seat on it... Now he may keep it more stock. :) The rams horn bars tend to go for more than I care to spend on eBay... :D

When I did that the first time back in the early 70's it was unique... or so I thought, it was the only one I had seen like it, and now I see it wasn't so unusual. (It was a 24" frame which I added 26" wheels to, front and back).

Mine was built more by accident than design, it was just the parts I had available that made the bike fit me.