Classic & Vintage - Schwinn World with a bent fork...what would you do?

Ok I have this Schwinn World road bike without a wheelset with a bent fork and I have had it sitting around for a while. I figured one day I would find a fork to put on it, but I haven't. I am tired of it sitting around and i have too many things sitting around. What should I do with it? Obviously I don't want to just throw it away. The shifters and front derailer are fine and the crank is ok. Rear derailer is off a x-mart bike. the frame isn't in terrible shape, but nothing to write home about. Its a big frame, but I don't feel like buying a fork for it its just not work the trouble to me. I considered stripping of it sparts and offering the frame as wall art. Here are a couple pics of the bike with some random wheels I put on it for pics. What should I do and what would you do?

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa85/monsterpile/IMG_2245.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa85/monsterpile/IMG_2246.jpg

Is the thought of a new fork holding you back from getting new wheels? I think my LBS quoted me somewhere around $40 to install a new fork. Wheels should around $100 each, a little less if you re-use your hubs.

Tom

That is a really tall frame. Not worth spending a lot of money on, obviously, but it should be saved. Probably a fixed gear/ss candidate for a taller gentleman.

Don't get a replacement Pyramid/Hawley/cheap-o fork with 200mm of threaded steerer. It might be long enough, but you'll have too many threads below the upper headset race to install the stem safely. If you try it, you'll split the stem across the washer slot, like so:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/fork_split.jpg

http://www.jaysmarine.com/Fork_disaster_1.jpg


-Kurt

Thanks Kurt I suspected that would be the case.

In my area this bike is worth maybe $100 fixed up with a reasonable amount of work so its hard to want to spend much on it. It doesn't fit me and I don't know anyone right now that needs a tall frame. I already found bikes for the tall people I know. I guess maybe I would like to find it a home.

You're best off sticking the existing fork - provided the steerer isn't bent - in a fork jig, cold-set it back to where it belongs, and rebuild from there.

-Kurt

Wow, never have seen a fork do that. That is scary.

why not just sell the frame on craigslist.

im sure some fixie rider would purchase it, and its better than dumping more cash into it yourself or having it lie around

Kurt I don't have a fork jig and I don't feel right about bending it even though it might be safe. I have another frame that I mangled around after being hit in an accident that I would probably ride if it was still built up, but I wouldn't sell it or let anyone else ride it. That frame will likely end up as a repaint experiment and then wall art or something decorative. It was my Aunt's bike and then sort of survived the accident so it has enough history to stick around.

I put it on CL for $10 with full rambling disclosure. We will see if anyone bites on this beauty. =P Hopefully it finds someone that has a good use for it.

Put it out on the curb...

Put it out on the curb...

Put it out of it's misery...

Seriously, it sounds as if this bike is not worth your time, and it will be worth the time of a very small handful of people (i.e. is tall, and likes a low-end, beat up, and incomplete bicycle).

Leave it on the curb as Kroozer recommends. Do it on a sunny day, if you still have feelings for the bike.

I'd take it off your hands in 5 minutes, but I'm in FL :mad:

-Kurt

scrap it.....top tube is bent too............

scrap it.....top tube is bent too............

Convex "fisheye" lens effect.

-Kurt

I'd take it off your hands for $10, in FOUR minutes,,, BUT, I am in Florida, too. It should sell quickly on CL.

How bent is the fork? Is it a textbook head-on collision bend, or some other type of damage? I can't tell at all from the photos- but if it isn't that bad I would just cold set it and ride it.

I already have a number of responses in just a few hours. It doesn't look like it will take much to send this to a new owner. There is no reason to kick this to the curb.

There is nothing wrong with the top tube.

From my inspection the fork is bent in 2 ways. The blade is bent back from and also bent down at the bend at least thats what I have decided.

Sounds like it would make a great "rear donor" for a bike like those at recycledrecumbents.com.

I'd strip the parts and sell the frame on Craigslist for $10 - $20. The downtube cable guide clamp will sell on Ebay for $10. If the wheels are alloy I'd use them to upgrade another bike.

Convex "fisheye" lens effect.

-Kurt

You can't be sure it's a lens effect. Could be the front-end impact bent the frame as well as the fork. In fact, the frame may be bent but not the fork; hard to tell from those pictures.

I'd suggest looking at the frame/head tube junctions for telltale bulges at the head lugs, measuring the frame tubes at those points to see whether they've been ovalized (i.e., flattened horizontally), and sticking a straight edge along the top tube to check for a bend.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/4217500004_74295454c7.jpg
or this
http://www.karlaugenstein.com/images/x0814-236_bike_mailbox.jpg

I'd strip the parts and sell the frame on Craigslist for $10 - $20. The downtube cable guide clamp will sell on Ebay for $10. If the wheels are alloy I'd use them to upgrade another bike.

Really? That would mean that I am sitting on enough money to buy a nice frame. Unless its just shimano or suntour guide clamps that sell for that much. How about old campy guides? think that I have several of those.

I thought about taking the cable guides off, but if someone is going to actually do something with this bike they would need them so I left them on. It looks like I will be getting some vintage rear derailers in trade for this bike. It worked out well since I am always short those and the other guy has alot. The bike didn't come to me with wheels. Thanks for all the feedback.

I think I should try and sell some other road frames I have (with other stuff attached) or trade them in for stuff I want/could actually use. I never seem to have enough wheelsets to match up with frames.