General Cycling Discussion - Help ID my bike!

Bought it at the UCD bike auction for $15.
At first it had a crooked basket, upside-down handlebars and some awful tape.
Here's a picture of it's current condition, stripped of a lot of parts for the purpose of cleaning, I don't think the handlebar is original, because after peeling back the tape I found an old store tag.
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2029/im000224ep5.jpg
It also came with a rear fender (might be original).
I also believe that it's been painted.
Sorry for the bad picture, ask me about it and I'll clarify.
Thanks!

I think it is '78 Schwinn Scrapmetal or Huffy Rustbomber

I think it is '78 Schwinn Scrapmetal or Huffy Rustbomber
Shove it!

My guess is it's a Free Spirit (Sears brand) or maybe a JC Penneys store brand from the '70s or so.
And yeah, I don't think that handlebar was stock, and the shifters probably belong on the
handlebar stem rather than the downtube.

Based on what I can see of it, you'd have a lot of work to do before it was in good riding shape.
That chain looks pretty badly rusted, there's missing brake pads in back and no front brake at all,
no seatpost clamp, no seat, no rear wheel, no grips. If I can give some advice... look around for
an old Schwinn Varsity or Schwinn Suburban, or something along those lines, instead of getting a
lot of money tied up in this one.

I think it is '78 Schwinn Scrapmetal or Huffy Rustbomber

I think Viking is mistaken....it's probably a '74 Raleigh POS or a '77 Motobecane Missing Back Wheel with Rusted Chain....:roflmao: :roflmao:

I'm not sure that bike is worth fixing back up. The front wheel and handlebar seem to be the only decent parts on that.

It does look (from the way the top and down tube are arranged) like a Sears Free Spirit bike to me, circa late 70s, early 80s. The handlebars are definitely not stock, as most of the Free Spirits from that time used regular road bars, with oddball levers attached to the normal brakes so you had two hand positions to reach for stopping. The friction shifters also are from that era as well.

The fork is definitely a Free Spirit fork, or a close one from that time frame.

What condition is the drivetrain in? The chain especially looks pretty rusty.

If you can fix it up, go for it. However, I fear you may end up throwing far more money replacing/repairing components than the bike is worth. The bike, if I recall correctly runs about $150 when new, not sure though.

I'd really consider another bike to fix up, if it were up to me. A relative "donated" to me a couple Free Spirits for "road bikes", but their condition is so bad, I wouldn't want to risk riding them, and I've not had the time to check how repairable I can make them, and I've not inspected them closely (they are in storage) for rust and possible frame damage. However, if you want to fix that frame up, more power to you.

I think Viking is mistaken....it's probably a '74 Raleigh POS or a '77 Motobecane Missing Back Wheel with Rusted Chain....:roflmao: :roflmao:

The POS... :roflmao:

:beer:

C'mon guys! Be nice to the noob!

Keep the handlebars, there's your $15.00 You could keep the frame/fork/headset & kickstand too,, maybe a wheel. Ditch the rest & spend $50.00 on uber-low end parts & you'll have a fun bike to roll around the neighbourhood on.

C'mon guys! Be nice to the noob!
Kinda tough when somebody posts a HUGE picture of "an old bike" that they paid $15 for!

I just found a Schwinn World at the DUMP for $8.50 + tax = $9.16! The rear wheel was an up grade and has a perfect Wolber rim laced to an XT hub. The rest of the bike was a 7 out of 10.
Other garage sale bike finds; '86 Cannondale ST 400 in perfect shape=$20, A pre Raleigh Carlton for $35, A Panasonic 7500 mtn bike that needed a front deraileur $5. I could go on....

So seriously, in a town like Davis, there MUST be better bikes to spend $15 on.

It's name is bob and it is an aries.
Bob likes moonlit walks in the parks and picking fresh daisies. Yes, your bike is gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Bob does not have a DL due to 10 DWIs.

My guess is it's a Free Spirit (Sears brand) or maybe a JC Penneys store brand from the '70s or so.
And yeah, I don't think that handlebar was stock, and the shifters probably belong on the
handlebar stem rather than the downtube.

Based on what I can see of it, you'd have a lot of work to do before it was in good riding shape.
That chain looks pretty badly rusted, there's missing brake pads in back and no front brake at all,
no seatpost clamp, no seat, no rear wheel, no grips. If I can give some advice... look around for
an old Schwinn Varsity or Schwinn Suburban, or something along those lines, instead of getting a
lot of money tied up in this one.
Thanks for the ID, but I have almost everything you mentioned, it was on the bike when I got it but I've taken it off to clean the whole thing. And yes, the shifters were where you mentioned.

Bunch of A-Holes on here, s.h.i.t.

<-- proud ahole
Ask my wife's family. :p
Now try and ask me for money.

That bike is seriously f'd up and not worth anything close to $15, let alone the time and effort to fix it up.

Unless you can find the dead sea scrolls stuffed into the bottom bracket, you wasted your money.

The ashtabula bottom bracket and crank and the crimped-on rear dropouts mark it as a dept store bike. Those ape-hanger bars are probably after-market, and possibly the most valuable part of the bike. It looks like it's had a hard life, and has seen a spray paint can at least once judging by the overspray on the kickstand. I wouldn't mind finding one like it, but only because I'm looking for a mixte to cut up. Fixing it up would cost well over what it's worth.

Bunch of A-Holes on here, s.h.i.t.

Don't worry, that burn is part of the learning process. I also had my share of buying worthless crap. I payed $20 for a rusted out Schwinn Varsity.

Truth is that bike is probably worth exactly $15. It breaks down: $10 for the bar, $5 for the rest.

So I would say you didn't do too bad. Not good, but not bad.

Next is to decide what to do. I reckon it would take at least $20-50 to get it to a RIDEABLE condition.

I say you cut your loss and dump the bike, but keep the bars.

Bunch of A-Holes on here, s.h.i.t.
I'm curious. Why do you say that, Mastershake916 Clueless Cycling Newbie?
Maybe you should post your find in the Classic & Vintage section.
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :beer:

Unless you can find the dead sea scrolls stuffed into the bottom bracket, you wasted your money.

:roflmao:

The thing is, that's only half of the bike, I had already taken off the back tire, seat, back fender and brake before I took the picture.
I'll take another picture at the end of the week when it's completed.

The thing is, that's only half of the bike, I had already taken off the back tire, seat, back fender and brake before I took the picture.
I'll take another picture at the end of the week when it's completed.

What are you going to do with all that rust???

What are you going to do with all that rust???
Use some solvent and replace it when I find a cheap chain?
That answer good enough for ya?

I'm curious. Why do you say that, Mastershake916 Clueless Cycling Newbie?
Maybe you should post your find in the Classic & Vintage section.
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :beer:
Because only a couple of the responders had anything good to say, everyone is talking about what a crappy bike it is, etc.
i don't care if it's a crappy bike, it was only $15 and it's a learning experience.

Even if it is not a rare find, I think that it is valuable because you are learning something from it whether it be how to rebuild something old or that it is not worth that much money.

To learn something is always extending knowledge. To me, knowledge you cannot put a price on. :)

Because only a couple of the responders had anything good to say, everyone is talking about what a crappy bike it is, etc.
i don't care if it's a crappy bike, it was only $15 and it's a learning experience.
Weeeell, it IS kind of a poor example of a used bike, I mean Free Spirits are pretty much "entry level" bikes when new. In my first reply to this thread, I merely mentioned a number of "inexspensive" bikes I have found (and actually brought home) at garage sales, the dump, etc. So I was trying to explain that there are usually much better bikes available for you to spend time/money fixing up. Like 2 weeks ago, I found a Specialized Crossraods at a garage sale. It was FILTHY! I asked the lady how much? She said, "I don't know, how much would you offer?" I said $20. She said" Uuuummm...OK"

First though, I gave it my "Kwik-Check";
Spun both wheels; Still true, no dings...check
Wiggled the wheels; no loose hubs...check
Wiggled the cranks; no loose bottom bracket...check
Slowly spun the cranks; no bent rings...check
Moved the shifters; smooth operation resulting in deraileur movement...check, check
Operated each brake; smooth movement...check
Applied front brake and rocked forward & back; no loose headset...check
Operated all quick release levers; still functional...check
Inspect for upgraded parts; all stock...check
Inspect rear deraileur for grinding marks(results of crashes); none...check
Inspect tires, seat, grips and stiff links in chain; all good...check

So I offered the $20 and I got it. It was imediately disassembled and I am painting the frame. I will clean all the parts and reassemble a nice bike. Originally sold for over $400 I'm pretty sure.
My cost; $20, + paint materials $40, + all new cables $20, + new chain $15=$95
And about 12 hours of my time.

So for less than $100 and a day and a half of time, I'll have a Custom Crossroads, ready for years of service and a higher than I paid for it resale value. That's what I'm saying.
But good luck with your project, I'm sure it will make you happy and give you hopefully, years of pleasure.
Because you built it yourself!:)

I have that same step stool.

Man. Someone just asks for help ID'ing a bike and gets a whole lot of ****.

Mastershake916 didn't ask for any judgments. There might be good aspects of the bike that don't show up in the pic (okay, so it's a bad pic). He might have wanted something cheap to experiment with and learn. And anyway, if you really feel the need to advise him to dump the project, you don't have to be an ******* about it.

BF can be pretty cool, but a lot of the time, it's just a clubhouse for snobby racers and hobbyists with too much money.

To the OP: Even if the bike takes money to fix up, consider it "tuition" for first-hand bike mechanic lessons. You will learn something by fixing up that bike, and if the frame is in decent condition, there isn't anything wrong with that bike as a daily commuter.

No shame with an old Sears Free Spirit... I have two sitting in storage myself, one I ponder turning into a commuter one of these days, just because of the pure retro value of it. Of course, I am tempted to stick the appropriate bicycle lock [1] from that time period on it to match, but a U-lock will provide decent security.

[1]: You had a choice of two types of locks before Kryptonite and others came around with U-locks: The cheap $2 one which was a vinyl coated chain, and a combination lock with a sticker with the four digit combo that the user (hopefully) removed and kept in a safe place (like this -- http://tinyurl.com/fxp52), or the "high security" $5 one which was a padlock and a vinyl coated chain (like this -- http://tinyurl.com/ylpy2e)

Even if it is not a rare find, I think that it is valuable because you are learning something from it whether it be how to rebuild something old or that it is not worth that much money.

To learn something is always extending knowledge. To me, knowledge you cannot put a price on. :)
:)
Thank you, and thanks to all of the recent thread responders.

I am a bad person for dissin' his bike but I couldn't resist the "Schwinn Scrapmetal" comment. The "Raleigh POS" was great too..

I don't really buy the argument that this is a legitimate educational process. You could probably teach yourself to translate french or design your own linux OS in the time it takes you to scrape off all that rust. In other words, your work on this bike is educational, but only trivially so.

If you want to learn how to wrench, go get a part time job as an assembler at your LBS.

I don't really buy the argument that this is a legitimate educational process. You could probably teach yourself to translate french or design your own linux OS in the time it takes you to scrape off all that rust. In other words, your work on this bike is educational, but only trivially so.

If you want to learn how to wrench, go get a part time job as an assembler at your LBS.

This bike is hardly a waste of time. I started learning on a cheap $20 garage sale find. In less than a year I knew just as much if not more than many people at my LBS when it came to older bikes. Also, all my vintage Campy upgrades to my lousy beater found a more appropriate home on my next frame. Use this one to find out what you like and what you want out of a bike. The second build is always easier and better than the first.

If you want to learn how to wrench, pick up a wrench and learn how use it.

I am a bad person for dissin' his bike but I couldn't resist the "Schwinn Scrapmetal" comment. The "Raleigh POS" was great too..

I don't really buy the argument that this is a legitimate educational process. You could probably teach yourself to translate french or design your own linux OS in the time it takes you to scrape off all that rust. In other words, your work on this bike is educational, but only trivially so.

If you want to learn how to wrench, go get a part time job as an assembler at your LBS.
So, it would be better to ask people how to do something, but not really do it?
Most of the stuff on bikes is fairly self-explanatory but maybe hard and slow the first time (get your mind out the the gutter, lol).

Also, what kind of oil or grease should I get for ball-bearings?

So, it would be better to ask people how to do something, but not really do it?
Most of the stuff on bikes is fairly self-explanatory but maybe hard and slow the first time (get your mind out the the gutter, lol).

Also, what kind of grease should I get for ball-bearings?

1. I'm not telling you to ask someone how to do something, I'm telling to do direct your efforts and time toward something that is ultimately more educational.

2. My mind is in the gutter?

1. I'm not telling you to ask someone how to do something, I'm telling to do direct your efforts and time toward something that is ultimately more educational.

2. My mind is in the gutter?
maybe hard and slow the first time
1.So, I want to learn about bicycles, and work on them and you're telling me that it's not worth my time?
But whatever, I realy don't care what you think.

2. Just thought it was a funny phrase.

Here's Park Tool's repair help section (http://www.parktool.com/repair/) with
instructions on bike repairs. For grease, you can pick up some grease from an auto-supply
store, I like marine-bearing grease myself. For oil, TriFlow is ok.

1. I'm not telling you to ask someone how to do something, I'm telling to do direct your efforts and time toward something that is ultimately more educational.


But wait! If he is learning, isn't that educational? Heck, I know absolutely nothing about building a bike so to me, learning on that bike would be fantastic! :)

Plus, if he learns how to do stuff on it, in the long run he'd be saving lots of moolah (to be spent on other fun things!).

Oh, just give up and get your accounting degree. We all know that fun hobbies and learning to be more self-reliant only lead to lazyness and unwanted children.

Here's Park Tool's repair help section (http://www.parktool.com/repair/) with
instructions on bike repairs. For grease, you can pick up some grease from an auto-supply
store, I like marine-bearing grease myself. For oil, TriFlow is ok.
Wow, that site is very helpful!
I'm glad to hear that tri-flow is good stuff, it works great on gears.

1.So, I want to learn about bicycles, and work on them and you're telling me that it's not worth my time?
But whatever, I realy don't care what you think.

2. Just thought it was a funny phrase.


1. Uhm no, what I'm saying is that it is worth your time to learn how to repair something that is not a pile of rusted parts.

But wait! If he is learning, isn't that educational? Heck, I know absolutely nothing about building a bike so to me, learning on that bike would be fantastic! :)

Plus, if he learns how to do stuff on it, in the long run he'd be saving lots of moolah (to be spent on other fun things!).

It's not the education that is in question, it's the quality of education that is in question.

1. Uhm no, what I'm saying is that it is worth your time to learn how to repair something that is not a pile of rusted parts.
Quite the contrary, I'd rather take apart a $15 bike than a more expensive bike.
And I learn how to take rust off, that's useful.

Oh don't worry about them Mastershake...their just JEALOUS !!! :)


As long as your having fun learning something....Keep us posted on your progress.

Oh don't worry about them Mastershake...their just JEALOUS !!! :)


As long as your having fun learning something....Keep us posted on your progress.
I will, and I'm sure I'll have lots of questions before I'm done.