Classic & Vintage - Old Huffy bicycles any good?

I am looking at a good condition Huffy ten speed road bike on craigslist and I know that Huffy these days are kinda on the cheap side. Would this be a good enough bike for a 290 pound cyclist trying to lose weight?

I think Huffy bikes were always on the cheap side, actually. That being the case, the problem with heavy people and cheap bikes tends to be the wheels rather than the frame itself, and then the gearing and brakes tend to be crap regardless of the weight of the rider. I had my $100 mountain bike for a year, replaced the rear wheel twice in that time, had scary brakes, and most of the time I was riding it, could not get it into every gear- and would have it pop out of gears and stuff.

I found out that this one is only 5 years old. I think I will pass on this one. Thanks

I am looking at a good condition Huffy ten speed road bike on craigslist and I know that Huffy these days are kinda on the cheap side. Would this be a good enough bike for a 290 pound cyclist trying to lose weight?

Huffy has always been the redheaded stepchild of the USA bicycling industry.

In reality, their bicycles weren't that different from Schwinn or a lot of the other middle-market bicycles. I have worked on a lot of Huffys and ridden many of them too. They are fine. Some are very good.

If there is one saving grace for the OLD Huffys, it is that they probably held up to a beating as well as any of them. So, for 290 lb guy looking at a Huffy 10-speed on Craigslist, it should work out fine.

Around here, Huffy ten-speeds go for about $20.00 or so.

Where are you located?

I've had this cast iron beast for a few years now and, aside from breaking the spurs off the one-piece cranks, I haven't had any problems that couldn't be fixed with a tire patch kit.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/MarrockV/bikes/01.jpg

Huffy was originally the nickname for "Huffman" which had been making bicycles since about 1934. Originally they could be found under the brand name "Dayton" or "Firestone" back in the 1930s, along with the actual Huffman name.

They had a nice, sturdy product for many years, but began to diminish in quality in the 1960s. Huffman, Dayton and other sub-branded bicycles like "La France" from the 1930s and 40s are good quality machines, usually the equal of a Schwinn or a Columbia (though Schwinn has a higher cachet among collectors). After WWII they branded their bicycles as "Huffmans" directly rather than relying so much on sub brands. Huffmans from the 1940s and 50s are decent quality machines, though probably not as luxurious as the Schwinns of their time. It was in this time in the 1960s that Huffman began to acquire a reputation for being a more "second tier" brand compared to Schwinn and Columbia (or imports like Raleigh). It's a shame too because their bikes were still of very nice quality in that time. Like many US brands they suffered a decline in the 1960s and 1970s.

Pre war Huffman products are the most sought after- they made some absolutely beautiful and well-made bicycles in that time. Post war items aren't bad either- especially earlier ones. Stuff from the mid-late '60s and onwards are second tier, but durable and give good service. They lack many of the options pluses of higher end makes, but Huffmans can be quite simple and durable. Newer stuff is a bit more of a department store grade. With Huffman products, usually older is better, until you get back to the really good stuff before WWII.


Pre war La France (Huffman) from Nostalgic.net
http://www.nostalgic.net/arc/bicycles/1937%20Huffman%20Streamliner%20JB%20Finished%2001s.jpg

Post war Huffman from Nostalgic.net
http://www.nostalgic.net/arc/bicycles/1949%20Huffman%20Dial-Your-Ride%20orig%201.jpg

i bought my 1st huffy for $20
i don't think i would have paid anymore for it
but i am thinking of putting new tires on it and keeping it for myself
i don't see myself riding it exclusively
but I have run across some routes where i don't want to chance the Armstrong.

I don't know how to date a Huffy - anyone have a clue?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2877363743_249ea6f89e.jpg

I have worked on so many Huffys that I am positive I did something horrible in a previous life. They weren't so bad during most of the 70's -- cheap and bad but you could work on them. Sometime in the early 80's I saw one that simply was not repairable. Everything was so flimsy you couldn't take a wrench to it without doing damage. Don't know what happened after that. Looks like the Chinese have really killed their primary market, which was people who wanted a bike but knew they weren't going to use it.

I missed the part about 290 lb. rider. No way in the world I would advise anything like a Huffy for a rider of that weight. My roommate and I were riding to class in '82, and we saw the rider in front of us go down when the front rim of his Huffy collapsed, taking out the fork. And from truing the wheels on those bikes, they are not ready for anyone that isn't a lightweight.

I think it's re-baged though.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5175/ahth1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I think it's re-baged though.

It's a Serotta, I was going to post one as well, but didn't want to steal anyone's image. I would KILL to own one of those or one of the similar "Murrays."

The Concours is pretty spiffy. There were also a few years' worth of Carlton-built Huffys that were nice and some Huff-eighs that weren't bad.

iirc, throughout the 70's to the late 80's, huffy's were amoungst the absolute cheapest and most indifferently built & conceived bicycle-shaped-objects available to the buying public.

(not that i have any opinion on huffys)

k

i bought my 1st huffy for $20
i don't think i would have paid anymore for it
but i am thinking of putting new tires on it and keeping it for myself
i don't see myself riding it exclusively
but I have run across some routes where i don't want to chance the Armstrong.

I don't know how to date a Huffy - anyone have a clue?



Sometimes there will be date codes on the inside of the rims, or on the back side of the dérailleurs. I have seen the wheel codes on bikes built up through the mid 80's.

Aaron:)

The lesson is that something badged Huffy could be an ok US built bike for around the neighborhood, a piece of junk, a re-badged racing bike or perhaps a re-badged Raleigh 3 speed. I always look at the CL ads that say Huffy just in case. ;)

I had a mid 70's SS Huffy that I rode and rode and rode, I cant remember anything ever breaking. Some kid is probably still riding it somewhere.

I have worked on so many Huffys that I am positive I did something horrible in a previous life. They weren't so bad during most of the 70's -- cheap and bad but you could work on them. Sometime in the early 80's I saw one that simply was not repairable. Everything was so flimsy you couldn't take a wrench to it without doing damage. Don't know what happened after that. Looks like the Chinese have really killed their primary market, which was people who wanted a bike but knew they weren't going to use it.




That's the general trend, I've found. They really started going downhill in the 1960s and by the 1980s, they were pretty junky.

i never actually dated a huffy, we were just good friends. SERIOUSLY, it is very easy to do. the first number of the serial number is the last number of the yer it was made. example, my own huffy ser #hc9449726. "9" is the first number so seing how it is a cruiser, it must either be a 79' or more likly an 89'. you have to kinda look at the components on it to see if it is 80's or 90's.

Thank you very much for the informaton. I am starting to love finding and building these older bikes. My first one was two months ago. A free spirit 10 speed road bike. Found out a little info about them and some info about the Schwinns. I am finishing my 80' voyageur 11.8 and still looking for other bikes. Thank you very much for the history and other info.

I actually saw a nice old huffy 10 speed for $55. It was red, but too big for me. It had bbeen tuned up and was ready to ride

If you buy it cheap enough and it is ready to ride, why not.

I personally donate any Huffy's I find, not worth fixing up and reselling. Picked up a couple of free ones and dropped them off at Goodwill on the way home...

If you buy it cheap enough and it is ready to ride, why not.

I personally donate any Huffy's I find, not worth fixing up and reselling. Picked up a couple of free ones and dropped them off at Goodwill on the way home...


hmmm now i am paranoid
i just picked up this one for $20

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2877363743_249ea6f89e.jpg

and i was thinking of using it for a bangaround fat tire bike
and go places i wouldn't want to take my Armstrong.

i haven't found a date or model number for it yet
but i figure it's about 15 years give or take.
any advice?

i certainly am not going to BUY a newish fat tire bike.
i figured this wouldn't be a waste for infrequent use.

I wouldn't mind having one of these:

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Carlton/CarltonHuffy.htm

I'd look for a Schwinn or an old Trek MTB if I were in the OP's situation. A good bike will almost certainly be more than $20.00, but it will be a durable rider to get started with. Even if it costs $80.00-$100.00, it's a much better deal than what you'll find with a $200.00 new bicycle.

I bought, fixed up and sold an aluminum Huffy "Ironman" a few months ago --- I think it was from the early 90s, one of their higher-end models. I was actually surprised at the decent quality, given their low-end reputation. Nothing to brag about, but a nice solid bike.

Yeah dude, you might as well buy an old Schwinn. These gas pipe tubing Varsities are indestructable, then aagain I'm only 145lbs. Thing is gears 290+40 pound bike needs low gears on hills. Most ten speeds are geared relatively high, My Varsity's lowest gear is 37 gear inches. Most modern bike's lowest gears are around 25 or so gear inches, like 16 for a mountain bike. That is really low.


Get a nice Hybrid.

It's a Serotta, I was going to post one as well, but didn't want to steal anyone's image. I would KILL to own one of those or one of the similar "Murrays."

The Concours is pretty spiffy. There were also a few years' worth of Carlton-built Huffys that were nice and some Huff-eighs that weren't bad.

Yup! the Concours was a decent bike. I picked up one at a yard sale. When the guy went to bring the bike up from the back of his house, he said it was a "Huffy". I looked around for an escape route, then the guy brings up a Concours that looked dirty, but much nicer than a typical Huffy. I bought it with the intention of using the parts on another bike, but decided I had too many projects so I flipped it. The guy who bought it is a retired cyclist who rides nothing but Huffy's. He told me later this was the nicest Huffy he's ever had. He lubed it, put some new tires on and took it on a 100+ mile ride. Not too shabby for an older guy on an older bike.

The Huffy Centurian had the same chrome Carlton Capella lugs as in my avatar.

Back in the early 70's when I worked at the bike shop, the pecking order was as follows:

Schwinn/Raleigh/most anything lugged from Europe was top tier - the Schwinns could take a beating way better than the alternatives. Japanese bikes that were starting to show up were in the class, unless it was a C. Itoh. They were garbage.

Columbia's were about a half step down. Cosmetically they were obviously cheaper and a bit cruder, but the quality build was there, so you bought that if you couldn't afford a Schwinn. Sears bikes (non-Puch's) were about the same quality, although there was a bit of varience between the entire line.

Huffy's were another half to a full step down. Obviously cheaper, although they held together. A prime ride for a parent buying for a spoiled bratty kid who wasn't about to take care of it.

Murray's, although they looked about the same as Huffy's were definitely another step down. Now you're starting to deal with maintenance nightmares.

Iverson's were the absolute bottom of the barrel - to the point that no bicycle shop would ever consider carrying them under any conditions. Sold in catalog stores, toy stores and the forerunners of what later became the big box stores.

I am looking at a good condition Huffy ten speed road bike on craigslist and I know that Huffy these days are kinda on the cheap side. Would this be a good enough bike for a 290 pound cyclist trying to lose weight?

I had a Stone Mountain Huffy and it wasnt a good experience with that. I had brake problems, fork and rear wheel problem, handlebar problem, shifts problems, kickstand problems and pedal problems, and the bike just have a year. I left it at a shop so they can make adjustments but shifting problems stills there. I make a shift and the chain even lose contact with the gear and stays between 2 gears. I could only in one mode of speed. Now I got a Giant and I only have to make a little deralleiur adjustment

Sorry for bringing an old post like this back to life, but I have a question about Huffys. I know about their reputation. In 1998 or 1999 I got for my birthday a 26 inch Huffy mountain bike. I was told much later that it had cost $300 (which seems really high for a Huffy), purchased at Sports Authority. Back then I had no ideas about bikes, couldn't tell a Trek from a Huffy apart. I rode it sometimes in the summer and didn't use it much after 2006.

Not sure what happened early last year, but I decided to ride a bike again and started commuting - pretty much every day of the year, including winter. Before I started commuting, I brought the Huffy to my LBS, and they replaced a few things: chain, pedals, some other stuff all-in-all I spent $90. Later on I got slicks and fenders.

After one year and 4000 miles later, I have to say, I'm very satisfied with the bike. I haven't had any issues, besides some flats. Bike is riding fine, no problems whatsoever. Now, don't get me wrong, I know that they are better, lighter bikes out there. Bikes that are way more fun to ride. But hey, it's old, it's a Huffy and I use it for commuting and errands around town.

So my question to the experts here: What happened? I thought Huffy's are junk? Is it possible that Huffy's reputation suffered because they had so many recalls. But the bikes that didn't had recalls weren't all that bad? (meaning they didn't fall apart on you after 100 miles). The original purchase price of $300 my family paid, seems very high, were there ever Huffy's that sold for that much ? Were there higher priced Huffys that had a better quality?

sometime in the '80s they began an association (bought?) with Raleigh. There may have been some cross-pollination. I really didn't pay attention to bikes after that time, so I don't know all of the history. Up until the early 80's, Huffy was synonymous with gaspipe junk that was built solely to separate fools from their money; if you actually wanted to ride a bike it was a bit of an insult.

Unless you have the original receipt, I don't buy that price. Memories play games with folks. I ran into a really nice honest guy a few months back that was totally convinced his 1971 Schwinn Varsity cost $600 new.

A $300 mountain bike from 1999 would have had most of these features: all alloy bits: stem, seat post, bars, rims, hubs; stainless spokes, a real frame rear derailleur hanger, forged drop outs, alloy crankset (with no rivets), cromoly frame, would have eight speeds, etc.

So if your Huffy has most of those features, maybe it cost $300 new. But regardless, it is working for you!

Sorry for bringing an old post like this back to life, but I have a question about Huffys…

Like JPprivate, I apologize for reviving an old thread, but I, too have some questions re: an old Huffy…

First and foremost, I, too am a "big" person, and can't keep my tubed tires from bursting. I'm trying to find solid, or "airless" tires that will fit my bike (a ram's horn Huffy 10 speed-model? appears to say "Suroarco", but it is worn, so I can't be sure-I'm also not sure how to measure the wheels, but the rim is 26" in diameter from edge to edge, and the tire seems to be about 1" wide).

My local Bike Shop doesn't maintain a lot of stock of bikes, though a fair amount of parts, but he doesn't carry solid tires, so I assume I'd have to have him order them if I go through him. Will I have to know brands and other specs then I've mentioned?

In general: what are your recommendations?

Here's the definitive article on tire size;
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

love my Huffy !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/steck/kdjstecho/IMG00131-20110215-1923-1.jpg

Here's the definitive article on tire size;
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html


Thanks for the link.

Unless it has Red White and Green Team 7-11 graphics, it will most likely be a piece of junk.

With your size I'd recommend against a road bike - it will feel uncomfortable and harsh. My son is a bit bigger than you are (he's 6'5 330 pounds) and he rides a 29" wheeled hardtail mountain bike. I'd suggest something similar - perhaps an old school rigid mountain bike.

*Edit - just noted the necro date - these comments can apply to yomark's question too.

Huffy was originally the nickname for "Huffman" which had been making bicycles since about 1934. Originally they could be found under the brand name "Dayton" or "Firestone" back in the 1930s, along with the actual Huffman name.

They had a nice, sturdy product for many years, but began to diminish in quality in the 1960s. Huffman, Dayton and other sub-branded bicycles like "La France" from the 1930s and 40s are good quality machines, usually the equal of a Schwinn or a Columbia (though Schwinn has a higher cachet among collectors). After WWII they branded their bicycles as "Huffmans" directly rather than relying so much on sub brands. Huffmans from the 1940s and 50s are decent quality machines, though probably not as luxurious as the Schwinns of their time. It was in this time in the 1960s that Huffman began to acquire a reputation for being a more "second tier" brand compared to Schwinn and Columbia (or imports like Raleigh). It's a shame too because their bikes were still of very nice quality in that time. Like many US brands they suffered a decline in the 1960s and 1970s.

Pre war Huffman products are the most sought after- they made some absolutely beautiful and well-made bicycles in that time. Post war items aren't bad either- especially earlier ones. Stuff from the mid-late '60s and onwards are second tier, but durable and give good service. They lack many of the options pluses of higher end makes, but Huffmans can be quite simple and durable. Newer stuff is a bit more of a department store grade. With Huffman products, usually older is better, until you get back to the really good stuff before WWII.


Pre war La France (Huffman) from Nostalgic.net
http://www.nostalgic.net/arc/bicycles/1937%20Huffman%20Streamliner%20JB%20Finished%2001s.jpg

Post war Huffman from Nostalgic.net
http://www.nostalgic.net/arc/bicycles/1949%20Huffman%20Dial-Your-Ride%20orig%201.jpg

Those are beautiful.
So, to further clarify my commnt below - I'm assuming the subject bike in this thread is of the 70' - 80's department store variety, which are to be avoided.

i always liked the look of the sante fe - i been trying to find one - i also almost pulled the trigger on a huffy mixte about week ago - but ended up taking hiome the kabuki, moto and miyata instead

To be quite honest: I haven't worked in a while, and this is presently my only mode of transportation other than shank's mare. Buying anything else is not an option right now. It's either: get this bike ready to ride, or my feet. I only need it for a very short distance, but long enough that I'd rather ride the bike than walk.

The ride is okay, everything is in balance…I wish the brakes were better (stronger), but that may be an issue of inertia because of my weight.

Other than that, it's perfectly fine for my purposes, except for the bursting inner-tube issue.

I suppose it's more of a point of curiosity to want to know what the model is: I tired various ways of finding a list of models on the internet, to no avail except of course for modern products currently listed on the Huffy webpage. I was ultimately hoping that, once I had the model name, I'd be able to look up all the relevant specifications on the web, but a I'm begining to beleive that is a pipe-dream.