Classic & Vintage - Powder coat or leave it vintage?

Not sure if it's worth anything the way it is, pretty ugly, faded paint and decals.

Thinking about having track ends welded on, then powder coating for a custom townie-look.

What y'all think??

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/Traveler/t3.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/Traveler/t2.jpg

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/Traveler/t1.jpg

I vote powdercoat along with authentic period decals. It will help to preserve the frame.

The trend for antiques in general, including cars, is to leave it original as much as possible unless it's totally destroyed. But if it's starting to corrode I wouldn't hesitate to respray it.

No track ends please.

I'm thinking of all those '55-57 Chevies we used to see with the rear wheel wells cut out for fat tires that now have new quarter panels.

All the vintage Gibson guitars that had the pickups replaced or at least the covers removed and now are "original" with repro covers.

The horizontal drops you've got give all the utility, they work with fenders and rim brakes.

If the paint is awful, sure, get'r done. But it's a perfectly useful and gruntling artifact as it is.

Though I'm almost always in favor of standard size tires and aluminum rims. Those are bolt-able parts.

It's already a town bike. Just needs restored and maybe upgraded.

no idea what the purpose of having track ends welded on could possibly serve except to cost you money.

I'd keep the original paint and patina. Is that a filet brazed frame? It looks like it is to my eyes.

Yep, they were fillet brazed. I saw a little earlier one of these in person, and it was eery how close it was to my SS, in construction anyway.,,,,BD

Stay with 100% original patina with possibility of a replacement seat - but only if you ride the bike a lot.

i say leave the original paint but hack off everything and make into a fixie.


ok, I'm kidding

You already have horizontal dropouts -- what do you hope to gain by replacing them with track ends?

Let me get this right....your worried about keeping the paint orig but may chop it and add track fork ends? :twitchy: I guess you figure if your going to ruin it you might as well go all the way?

Sure, weld them on...then go with a 4" tire in the rear and a 20" 120 spoke wheel in the front...strip her down and paint her red and white candy stripe....then put a lime green banana seat on her and ape hanger handlebars.

If you want to powder coat it go ahead. The "patina" all this bike just doesn't look all that great,IMO, on this bike. I would leave the drop-outs as-is since you wouldn't gain anything from adding track ends.

what everyone said above, plus the fact that track ends and fenders don't play nice together.

Schwinn made so many of those bikes it's not rare or anything. I say do what you want with it.

Looks like it's about 50 years old, which might "technically" make it an antique. Like Prof2k said above, though, "it's not rare or anything". It has chrome fenders, so that leaves a repaint to the frame and chain guard only. Are those the original wheels? Do you really want to spend alot of money on this bike? Is the chrome near perfect? Once you repaint the frame, the chrome might start to look worse in comparison. Can you go with a high quality auto touch-up paint and a top notch clear coat? Just "thinking out loud" on the keyboard here. If the bike has sentimental value, then it's a whole different matter.

Not sure if it's worth anything the way it is, pretty ugly, faded paint and decals.

The paint isn't faded, the decals are. From what I can tell, the finish is pretty decent - polish the paint up to a high shine with KIT Scratch Out or Meguiars' Scratch X.



Thinking about having track ends welded on,

You're an idiot.

Sorry, but: It's a worthless trend, for one; makes installation of your rear wheel a pain, ruins originality, and furthermore, that frame is the farthest thing from a decent fixie that I can think of.



then powder coating for a custom townie-look.

Not as bad as swapping the ends.

-Kurt

Before you go through the expense of painting, try a little automotive rubbing compound on it and see if that does anything.

It is a pretty "meh" bike, I wouldn't put any money into it at all. If you don't like it, sell it for a few bucks and put the profits in a "townie jar" so that you can one day buy a bike that you like.

Just out of interest - would this bike have had tyres with Schrader valves originally? I'm not sure how far back they date in the US, but I think they only appeared here with bikes like the RSW16 in the seventies.

FWIW, I'd keep the bike exactly the way it is, after doing anything mechanical it needs like re-greasing bearings. These bikes have their enthusiasts, and, as stated above, we should beware of passing fads which compromise the integrity of nice old things.

Service the bearings and leave it the hell alone. It is a survivor and repainting it really isn't going to make it worth more and in fact it may make it worth less. I personally like old bikes that show they have been enjoyed for a LONG time. If you want to single speed it go find a set of alloy wheels and go for it but put the original rims some where safe where they wont rust out. Anything you take off save and DO NOT CUT OFF ANYTHING!

Around here unless it is rusting I tend to get my best prices on original frames. People were killing themselves to get the 70ish Raleigh Grand Prix I had because it was still in original paint with original decals and B: it had all its original bits with it in a bag. Rode really nice and sort of wish I kept it but I have way to many bikes right now.

The fork is the clue, it's an old hand brazed Schwinn, I wonder if it's an old Superior or Paramount. Painting it will ruin it, I'd leave it alone and ride it. BTW, the rear fender brace is wrong, looks like it was made for 27" fender, not 26".

It's a Schwinn Varsity frame. ElectroForged (welded) not fillet brazed.

Powdercoat it but don't put track ends on it. That'll cost more than the bike is worth and add zero value. And it will make it harder to remove the wheel, particularly if you keep the fenders on it. The horizontal dropouts that are on it are perfectly fine.

I would get a front brake.

The fork is the clue, it's an old hand brazed Schwinn, I wonder if it's an old Superior or Paramount. Painting it will ruin it, I'd leave it alone and ride it. BTW, the rear fender brace is wrong, looks like it was made for 27" fender, not 26".

That is one of my peeves on this bike, it seems to me the rear fender is not correct/original. The tires/wheels do seem original; 26x1 3/8". What do you mean by the rear brace being wrong? If the brace is shorter to accomodate a 26" wheel, the fender will be out-of-round. Is the correct rear fender available?


The fork a Paramount or Superior? The bike is a Traveler, what do you mean?

I will skip the track ends and keep the paint original, no sense in spending money needlessly.
The only mechanical repair it needs is a new front hub and cables/housings; maybe a new front brake.
I would like to put this seat on it and maybe these bars, other than that it is fine the way it is.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/hairpinsaddle.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/bellevillehandlebar.gif

Thanks for all your input, even if it was sarcastic; I love that kinda stuff!

It's a Schwinn Varsity frame. ElectroForged (welded) not fillet brazed.

Powdercoat it but don't put track ends on it. That'll cost more than the bike is worth and add zero value. And it will make it harder to remove the wheel, particularly if you keep the fenders on it. The horizontal dropouts that are on it are perfectly fine.

I would get a front brake.

You sure about it being a Varsity frame? - it seems pretty light overall, I thought Varsitys were pretty heavy. Did they use the Varsity frame for the Traveler?

G-Man, what is that crazy saddle and why don't you have one on there already? :)

What's wrong with the front hub?

Just out of interest - would this bike have had tyres with Schrader valves originally? I'm not sure how far back they date in the US, but I think they only appeared here with bikes like the RSW16 in the seventies.



American bikes have had Schrader valves since the things were invented. The Presta only showed up on relatively modern and racy bikes. Don't think I've ever seen a Dunlop valve on an American bike unless it was on a very old museum piece and I didn't notice.

If you want this bike to have a flawless show quality finish and cost is no concern, then by all means powder coat it. I've done several bikes this way and have never regretted it. There are no good reasons for putting track ends on this bike though.

Here's a '53 Varsity that was given to me. I believe it is the same as your bike, except someone swapped out the handlebars for drops. (The brake levers are clearly upright bar levers.) The fork has a very unique crown that is better seen in your photos. When I get around to redoing this bike it will get refinished with spray can flat black, rat rod style. It will look %100 better and cost little.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/mlskol/53Varsitysiderear.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/mlskol/53Varsitychainguard.jpg

When I get around to redoing this bike it will get refinished with spray can flat black, rat rod style.

Adios, Patina.

When I get around to redoing this bike it will get refinished with spray can flat black, rat rod style. It will look %100 better and cost little.

Just what the world needs - another "stealth hipster" ride.

There is nothing about the green paint that cannot be vastly improved with the polishes I mentioned before (KIT Scratch Out/Meguiars Scratch X).

-Kurt

Just what the world needs - another "stealth hipster" ride.

There is nothing about the green paint that cannot be vastly improved with the polishes I mentioned before (KIT Scratch Out/Meguiars Scratch X).

-Kurt

True, but "vastly improved" may make some happy and not others. Owners should do up their bikes in a way that they will be happy with. The world doesn't need every last bike to be original with worn out paint. Have you never seen a refinished bike that you liked?

My original inspiration...

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/Raleigh_1.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/show_photo.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/gczerkawski/HornFront.jpg

Have you never seen a refinished bike that you liked?

Rarely, and I'm usually not too keen on new paint jobs - even on new recreations. Too glossy and too thick.

-Kurt

G-Man, those look like something to build toward. I won't argue if you build one of those. Don't think it needs track ends. Those would just suck up time and budget you could spend on other cool details.

What's wrong with the front hub?

The bearing races are shot.

Sorry if it's not the popular opinion but,flat black would look good.That british racing green would be THE s*** it looks bout right.

Sorry if it's not the popular opinion but,flat black would look good.That british racing green would be THE s*** it looks bout right.

And yet, the same can be done to a '60s or '70s Schwinn Collegiate or Racer, which is virtually identical.

-Kurt

Kool lemon for a Schwinn. A restoration powdercoat should be faithful to the original. A restored classic will be one's pride and joy. Screw those who want a beautiful bike kept a derelict!

Kool lemon for a Schwinn. A restoration powdercoat should be faithful to the original. A restored classic will be one's pride and joy. Screw those who want a beautiful bike kept a derelict!

Like this ultra rare Schwinn "Lemonator" muscle bike from the late sixties...

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/mlskol/Lemonatordecals.jpg

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/mlskol/Lemonatorsiderear.jpg

Looks like it's worth less than $100, I say have at it. If you mod it up and then ride it that's what counts. Too many garage queens these days. Besides, spending $200 tricking it out and 80 hours doing it is cheap therapy.

Looks like it's worth less than $100, I say have at it. If you mod it up and then ride it that's what counts. Too many garage queens these days. Besides, spending $200 tricking it out and 80 hours doing it is cheap therapy.

You are right! I need the therapy, either that, or I start taking Prozac... or something else?