Originally Posted by
FlatTop
Nice catch! Riding bikes like old middleweights and balooners is just a different feel than anything else. Best of luck with it.
I've never been much for ballooners, but I repaired a '57 Schwinn Corvette not long ago - and it was a surprisingly fun ride at full tilt through a bumpy boatyard. On the other hand, a fully-equipped '58 Jaguar wasn't half as enjoyable through the same boatyard; tank and all.
Both bikes were nearly mint, and I serviced whatever was wrong on them before taking them for a spin. I believe the North Road-esque bars on the Corvette had something to do with the ride; more compact and easier to manage. Same went for a '62 Schwinn Debutante at the same place - rode like the Corvette; just with a coaster.
Only have a photo of the Debutante; it's to the left of the early frame:
-Kurt