Bicycle Mechanics - Cruiser bike questions

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EBasil
07-10-03, 02:17 PM
I think I want to build up a couple of cruisers from bare frames, and find myself well out of my ken. I have some questions for those of you familiar with such bikes:

--are there particular "springer" forks that are of higher quality than others? Are they effectively a "double crown" fork, and do they all use quill-type stems?

--what type of hub has a 123mm rear spacing?

--are there good online sources for coaster hubs, built wheels, ashtabula crank/bb sets and/or springer forks?

DieselDan
07-10-03, 06:23 PM
The parts you are looking for are best aquired through a wholesaler like Hawley, J&B, or QBP. I don't know of any retail stores that sell parts like these.
BikerRyan
07-10-03, 06:40 PM
DieselDan is right. You are best off hitting your lbs on this one. They should have connections with these wholesalers and should be able to provide you witht the parts and knowledge that you need. If they cant, there is always some crazy stuff on EBay.

-Ryan

EBasil
07-15-03, 03:56 PM
Well here are some other answers, just in case anyone else gets the bug:

--Yes, almost all "springer" forks are made in the same factory and differ only as to intended wheel size/fork length. There are some "Schwinn Black Phantom" and etc forks out there that have painted legs, but are also otherwise the same. Standard springers are on the 1", threaded format.

-- 3 speed hubs have the 123mm spacing. Like Sturmey Archers.

-- the best online sources have been mailorder joints that service BMX, since the (fading) standards for BMX cranks, headsets and posts are the same as for cruisers.

:beer: