EnjoyinTheRide

Well I am excited. It took me a year of research, countless hours, constant deal checking and I finally ordered my bike for camp. I must say I did learn a lot thru my online prowls. I checked the expensive lines who sell direct, I checked my lbs for their offerings and went online as instructed to view the lines. I went to the box stores to compare physically as far as weight, options and what they sell. This forum was very helpful in giving me information to read so I could use that when shopping online.

In the past year I think I was ready to purchase 30 different bikes. But when shopping online, deals come along instantly and it forced me in a good way to keep looking. I started a thread on color options. Boy there are a lot of them and when I continued online shopping that part of it became even more part of the buy...You see a color scheme come by and there are only 6 left you may need to jump on it...

I learned a lot about shipping...and handling. Their is a difference. And they charge both....There are little online tricks you can use to eliminate one or the other....I will explain that later.

I checked ebay, craigslist. There are great vintage used cruiser bikes out there. But to avoid the "what if" question and the reality that there are so many online deals coming at you constantly. One really needs to go that route if you plan on re conditioning or re building one. That will be my next project now that I have the time.

So after a year of online research I finally pulled the cart trigger last week. Now I am in the process of tracking it online which is getting me excited as it should lol..Its coming from across the country

Once it arrives which should be soon I will post the arrival here. Lets see how it arrives. Ultimately I think the online deal I got was fair. The bike I did purchase is the top of the line (of the line I chose) and I found out this color scheme was being sold thru a single channel. I didnt pay shipping or handling due to a simple question to an online chat lol...of the site...

Swamp Yankee

A bit of analysis paralysis perhaps?
I'm thinking of the first time I bought a cruiser. I went to Wallyworld with the wife, within 15 minutes I'd picked out a red one for me and a blue one for her. Ours were Kent LaJolla bikes...hers is still running mine is laid up in the bin with a wonky crankset.

What bike did you get?

rhenning

Me I would NEVER buy a bike I couldn't ride first. Price, style, price etc are important but if it doesn't fit you it will live its life hanging in a garage or basement. Roger

Dave Cutter

A friend of mine is totally into cruisers. Of course... when I was young (really young) in the 1950's... that was all we had. I can understand the fun and convenience of the jump on and ride nature of a cruiser. No hassles, no fuss. No changing into spandex... or pulling on the cycling gloves. Reminds me of summer.... and sounds like fun.

Swamp Yankee

No hassles, no fuss, riding in flip flops..... I love my cruiser - tooling around the campground tooting the horn and ringing the bell at my friends.

Of course, when I was a kid, cruisers were for ****zes - and the cool kids rode bikes with banana seats and a sissy bars.

EnjoyinTheRide

Well it made it, from California it did. No damage, it was well packed with proper protection on the inside, shrink wrapped too. I also received an email just after it was delivered letting me know its here. It took 10 days to get here.

Looks pretty simple to put together. Lets see how it goes and ill introduce her to you when complete. I would say its about 85 % put together..

EnjoyinTheRide

Well here it is, aint he a beauty lol.



Assembly went together in a snap. It actually took longer to eat a cheesburger than it did to put the bike together. This is the top of the line for Huffy. You can buy this bike direct from them or thru their selected retailer however you can only get this blue bike thru Target.

Huffy told me that they make this bike in standard red and offer that to everyone but Target pays Huffy to make special runs of this bike in certain color packages that only they have. Obviously they (Target) bump up the price (by 20 bucks) because these are limited thru them.

What I really like about this bike is that the back rack is welded to the bike, most others they bolt in. It has Aluminium Alloy rims and the true cruiser tires 2x 2.35.

People can condemn box store bikes but the quality of this bike is there. As I put it together I was very pleased with the quality of materials. All I needed was a couple of wrenches and a phillips head. The manual (which you normally do not get when you buy a bike right off the rack) is in three languages and complete. Its not really that heavy either. If you compare weights particularly with Higher end multi speed cruisers, they were really in the same weight range. Total weight is 47 lbs...

As far as a pre ride or test ride goes before purchasing a bike. I was very confident how this bike should ride and feel because I have had Huffys in the past and currently. I was able to compare as I tested high end lbs bikes like giant, felt etc....So I really wasnt concerned about the feel without sight.....

Ultimately I found that my first online bike experience was awesome. Everything went well, my research held consistent. I think I got a fair price. Total bill came to 200 dollars, no shipping or handling because I asked if there were any promotions, they told me no but would extend a discount to cover the charges they would normally issue.

Now that I have this bike, my next bike will be a garage sale recondition. I just need to wait for garage sales around here. If I find the right cruiser, I will re store it.

I do suggest that if anyone does buy a box store bike, get it yourself online, put it together yourself, that way you know the bike and should be able to enjoy the ride for a long time....

Of course now we have a blizzard knocking on our door so she will stay right here until Spring then up to camp she goes

jpshaw

[QUOTE=EnjoyinTheRide;1944006What I really like about this bike is that the back rack is welded to the bike, most others they bolt in.[/QUOTE]


They're doing that more now. Actually it cuts down on the weight it can carry but I find that 22 lbs is all you need. All I carry on mine is at the most my jacket, poncho and folding hat all held on by a bungi cord.

Swamp Yankee

Cool! That looks like it's the same basic setup as my Huffy "Panama Jack" cruiser. It also has the integral rear rack - but it has this somewhat clumsy adjustment feature to extend the rack rearwards a few inches. Mine had the same cup holder mounted to the handlebars - yours has braze ons for a water bottle - mine doesn't, but then yours doesn't have the wicked cool bottle opener mounted on the front fork that mine does

DEW21

Now start working off that cheeseburger!! Have fun!!

BassNotBass

Now tear it back down, regrease and adjust hubs, crank and steering head. That's why most big box store bikes fail, everything is over-torqued and under-greased. You may also want to ensure that the rim tape covers all of the spoke nipples and that the tubes aren't pinched.

EnjoyinTheRide

Im going to do that for sure but I want to test ride it around the block a couple of times first lol. Problem is 2 feet of snow and more coming but hey Syracuse is used to this stuff lol. But ill grease her down and your right you shouldnt over torque these. They dont need that.

I did notice most of the huffys are welded back racks, except for the "champion" model which is bolted on. And yes 22 lbs I think is plenty for a back rack. Ill probably get some side bags in the Spring.
I also noticed other lines didnt have welded racks like firmstrong and sixthreezero. Those actually seemed pretty skimpy in quality (accessories). I found the same with some other high end lines.

I will say Schwinn Signature Series bikes did have welded back racks. btw the 7 speed classic deluxe in this line weighs 55 lbs lol...thats heavy.

I love the panama jack line. I almost bought that one. Still might they are not expensive in the grand scheme of things. but its basically the same bike but that has a cooler which is nice.

And I did work off that cheesburger....shoveling which now I need to get on the roof..Life in the cuse....

EnjoyinTheRide

One thing I will say is Huffy has one of the most comfortable cruiser seats (imo) as any. Thats one thing when I test ride a bike is really how comfortable the seat is because ultimately it comes back to the butt so to speak. I found that some of the higher end bike lines did have leather but like the Giant Simple line those seats seemed more like modified road cycle seats....they were big but really slippery to a point. The columbia's are hard rock seats boy they hurt. The high end Schwinns are not as comfortable as their aftermarket line they sell....weird..

But I cant knock the seats, I mean it is a cruiser, a comfy seat is important lol...

jpshaw

Yeah, my neighbors mnt bike seats look like something to do a proctology exam with. To me a bike has two purposes, either to get you somewhere like a commuter or it's recreation. I look at some of those seats and I have to say; "that's not what I call recreation."

Swamp Yankee

The seat on my Panama Jack is comfy - but it squeaks terribly when I ride. It also has stitching throughout the vinyl cover that is decorative, but which also ensures that the seat will stay wet for days after any rain - so I cover it with a plastic bag if rain is expected.

EnjoyinTheRide

Yea some seats really do hurt when you sit on them, particularly for an extended period. I even sat on a couple of hybrids and didnt like the feel (just to compare). My old 12 speed bike had banana seats. Talk about a proctology exam lol..

They do say however the huffy seats squeak. The Springs are solid but can make some noise. I do notice a slight sound on my cranbrook ive had for 3 years but its minimal. I actually find it more prevalent when I ride on a road compared to the erie canal trail which is fine granular. Ill probably get a bike seat cover to avoid any wetness issues although im pretty good at keeping the bikes inside. Even at work I can keep it dry fortunately.

BassNotBass

I usually ditch the seats that are fitted to cruisers because they cut into my butt-thigh crease... they're just too deep and wide when you raise them for proper leg extension. Leather saddles are what work for me.

Philphine

I do like the little extendable racks on the huffy's. anyone seen something similar as an add on?

EnjoyinTheRide

I think those extendable features are on and off within a line so to speak. The huffy champion had an extendable "riser" as well as adjustable back rack. From reading the online reviews it seems nobody really understood what the riser was for....but only that model has it. Other lines within cruisers most of them did not adjust back and forth, they basically bolt on and I found most back racks offered as an extra were basically a universal attachment and really do not adjust like some of the Huffys.

I was going to get a back rack for my other cruiser but they all just look really basic. Schwinn has a good one but it really only adjusts at the seat post clamp..I also noticed most are rated for 20 lbs...pretty standard.

EnjoyinTheRide

Here is another thing I found interesting on Huffys. I noticed higher end models did not have these. Nor did some equivalent models. The quick tight adjustment feature on the seat pole. I was skeptical at first but my other bike has it and its held up fine. I figure if it fails I can just get a better quality one or just bolt it like most bikes have...

Thats another thing I liked about online shopping. You can zoom right in on the photos and see how these bikes are put together...

jpshaw

That attachment feature for a holder is good but I'm not in favor of the bottles that come with them. Used to do a lot of day hiking (get back before dark and not sleep in the woods) and on a forum a question about those bottles that have a fold out or pull up feature was asked and everyone said the same thing; if water can reach it and you can't you have a bacteria issue. Everyone used a rinsed out Gator Aid bottle or something similar.


I have a handlebar bag (from Huffy) that has pockets on the side that will hold two juice type bottles plus whatever you can put in the bag (lunch). I only use it when I'm going to be gone for a while though.

EnjoyinTheRide

I have a bottle cage on my other cruiser. I dont use the bottles. I just put a small gatorade in it, actually fits perfect.

I have camelback packs with liquid bladders. I use them for back country snowboarding basically. You can get bacteria in these and water bottles and you should clean them out regularly basically after every usage....

I probably will get a cage holder for it since its applicable but now I want to get a bag for the back rack. thats next...

Swamp Yankee

I never ride my cruiser far enough away from my camper refrigerator to need a water bottle holder

Crossthreaded88

Could not have said it better BNB I have found no grease that's zero grease in Huffy bottom brackets and all horribly over tightened to the point that if not corrected it would wear flat spots on the less than perfect bearings they use. An $88 bike and a $75 full adjustment at a LBS and you have a nice average bike.

What is hard to believe that with all that research the guy comes up with a Huffy. A used Electra, Giant Simple, or even a Firmstrong or vintage Huffy would be better choices IMO. Not bad like I said just could have done better for cheaper without too much knowledge.

EnjoyinTheRide

Actually Im quite happy with the choice. She rides smooth.

I looked at all the lines you stated. Giant is a road cycle company the simple series is just for them to fill a line. Their seats are saddles , hard leather. Electra was just wayyyyyy tooo yuppie for me lol. And I didnt want a 7 speed cruiser which is their best offering because I believe a cruiser should be single speed. Plus they were too heavy in comparison.

Firmstrong/sixthreezero are ala-carte bikes and honestly I did not like their configuration on sprockets. Thats because they are really designed to ride to and ON the beach lol. Per the company btw.....

Used was out of the question, Im going to wait until garage sale season around here and fine a vintage bike and repair it myself. But for now I wanted new, with a warranty, be the original owner sort of thing for this one,.

Money was not an option, I can afford any bike.

I wont bore you with the history of Huffy lol. However it was all that research I did that made me realize that the above brands you mention, are truly no better than the Huffy in todays mfg age.

But I couldnt be happier with the choice, other than the front basket is way too heavy so I will replace that with a nice wicker one...

And now I have two lol