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"Building" a cruiser

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"Building" a cruiser

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Old 04-23-17 | 12:33 PM
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From: Texas
"Building" a cruiser

Hello all, I've been a member of the forum for some tike but spent most of it in the classic and vintage road bikes. I've recently been interested in putting together my own crusier.

Anyone do this? I'm looking for a vintage rat rod look,with some gears. Any suggestions on where I can find frames?
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Old 04-23-17 | 04:45 PM
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From: Coeur d' Alene

Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors

This site is dedicated to cruisers and rat rod bikes. The forum is excellent. Lots of traffic from knowledgeable and skilled guys. They are also very helpful. It's a great community. There is a buy/sell subforum and some of the guys there know of "sources".

Good luck.

Rat Rod Bikes - A Community of Custom Vintage Bicycle Builders
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Old 04-24-17 | 08:30 AM
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I get most of mine from flea markets and thrift stores. also check and see if you have a local co-op. most of the other volunteers here seem more interested in the techy-er (I just made that word up) frames, so older cruisers sit a little longer with a chance to get them before they're built up and/or sold.
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Old 04-24-17 | 09:23 AM
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From: Coeur d' Alene

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Forgot to mention, keep an eye on your local Craig's List.
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Old 04-28-17 | 08:11 AM
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From: Lexington, SC

Bikes: '11 & '13 Schwinn Racers, Takara (Kent) Kabuto, '11 Gary Fisher (Trek) Marlin SS 29er, Schwinn Sanctuary Cruiser, '11 Schwinn Sid, Firmstrong Chief 3-spd, '10 Schwinn Corvette

https://www.bikeforums.net/17680713-post450.html

I did this with a $50 2010 Schwinn Corvette frame I happened to find new on Nashbar. It's still one of my favorite bikes, and building a cruiser that's both parts form and function doesn't require a huge budget. As mentioned in the original post, the cost ended up being within $20 of the original bike's MSRP, but I wasn't left with tires/tubes/pedals/etc. that I would have taken off and thrown in the parts bin, anyway. She still rides well, and the tire/tube/liner combo makes the ride so much less worrisome around debris.
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Old 05-01-17 | 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by deeth82
https://www.bikeforums.net/17680713-post450.html

I did this with a $50 2010 Schwinn Corvette frame I happened to find new on Nashbar. It's still one of my favorite bikes, and building a cruiser that's both parts form and function doesn't require a huge budget. As mentioned in the original post, the cost ended up being within $20 of the original bike's MSRP, but I wasn't left with tires/tubes/pedals/etc. that I would have taken off and thrown in the parts bin, anyway. She still rides well, and the tire/tube/liner combo makes the ride so much less worrisome around debris.
Sweet ride!
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Old 05-01-17 | 07:09 PM
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Thanks for all the comments! I will be plowing around Craigslist and the flea markets for a while.
This is what I'd like to do:

With gears though
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