Which classic project to take on?
 

Getting the bug for a classic cruiser and trying to decide which project to take on. I'm not scared of the restoration, just trying to decide which would be coolest when it's done.

Option one: I think it's a circa 1950 Huffman. Kind of a basket case (and priced accordingly). Would make a cool Klunker build.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3a405e1af.jpeg


Behind door number 2 we have an American Flyer cruiser with a CHROME frame. The stamped dropouts say cheap junk, but CHROME. And look at those seat stays! A bit high priced, I think, but still very reasonable -- Red Lobster money instead of Chipotle money.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a03603121.jpeg

And finally, a ready-to-ride Schwinn Speedster with a 3 speed. Very reasonable, given the condition, but it doesn't need my attention either. I do love a Speedster frame though.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...aaf98d571.jpeg


So, if restoration was no problem, which one would you pick?

Option 1. That Huffman has had a hard life and deserves to be rescued. You know deep down inside, this is the one you want also. ;)

Agree with GR, but only if you can select a proper color and locate or copy the original decals. Otherwise, keep looking.

Agree as well, by far the coolest when done!

Few years ago saw one of these. It was just the frame hanging at a Flea Market. It had been cleaned of dings, sand blasted and painted primer grey. Below it was a box of its miscellaneous parts. Price? 150 USD...

By the time I made it back around it was gone... WOW! ...But that's Austin Texas... Ha

I missed out on the Huffman, but in the end the Schwinn came home with me.

There really were no bad choices. Good luck with the Speedster.

How's the project looking? Such a cool bike.

My choice would have been the camel back anyway, glad you got it.
You can go to town with some 650A rims 590 is the same as your 26 x 1 /38. Or, a 650B is a 584

Your SPEEDSTER will be a fun bicycle that you'll enjoy.

The SCHWINN (597mm) 26 x 1 3/8 (both S-5 "WESTRICK" with center hump nearest the spokes area of the center of chrome wheel --AND-- S-6 "ENDRICK" smooth, No Hump)
***The Only Tire Currently Offered for these (597mm) SCHWINN wheels is the KENDA k-23 "Schwinn Only 597mm 26 x 1 3/8 37-597 TIRE***


This 597mm "schwinn" Wheel is also known by the Wheel designation-classification 650
*******650 .... just 650 without any letter suffix



The COMMON everybody-else (NON-SCHWINNS) bicycles feature the COMMON 590mm 26 x 1 3/8 37-590 TIRE (these WILL NOT fit Schwinn S5 / S6 twenty-six inch wheels)

This COMMON 590mm non-schwinn Wheel is also known by the Wheel designation-classification 650A (also written sometimes as 650a)
You see that this COMMON non-schwinn, 'Everybody else's bikes' HAS THE SUFFIX "A" or "a" ........so it is 650A or 650a..........to denote the 590mm sized version



(Some supplemental information that IS NOT APPLICABLE but may clear some possible confusion should you see 650B (584mm) or 650C(571mm) listed somewhere.
***YOU CANNOT EVEN CONSIDER CHOOSING THESE (650B) 584mm or (650C) 571mm wheels BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE WOULD FUNCTION WITH YOUR FACTORY SIDEPULL WEINMANN BRAKES, AS THE EXISTING FACTORY CALIPER'S REACH (of the L.S. 2.8 weinmann for schwinn, also known as weinmann 810 sidepulls) WILL BE WAY TOO SHORT if you were to fit 584mm (650B) wheels OR if you were to fit 571mm (650C) wheels.
***You could fit non-schwinn, 590mm (650A) wheels, either new 590mm aftermarket, or used 590mm wheelset from a non-schwinn, AS THE weinmann 810 / L.S. 2.8 sidepull brakes on your old Schwinn SPEEDSTER & any other old fifities through seventies era lightweight Schwinn bikes with 597mm S5/S6 schwinn factory wheels BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH room for Adjustment WITHIN THE Brake Pad Adjustment Slot TO ACCOMODATE USING new or used NON-Schwinn 590mm (650A) "common bikes" Wheelsets.
***You DO HAVE plenty of tire manufacturers offering 590mm (the common bikes' tire) 26 x 1 3/8 37-590 non-schwinn tires!!!!
***You ONLY have the one choice of the 597mm SCHWINN TIRE, with that being the KENDA k-23 schwinn S5/S6 597mm tire 26 x 1 3/8 37-597.


https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/wh...6-rims.180409/

OY. all that to send him somewhere else.
650A is a fairly common size and it looks great on the camelback schwinns.
It's available as a aluminum rim so it's stiffer than the original and lighter as well.
The CABE and Rat Rod Bikes as well as Retrobike are all good resources for information and inspiration.

Well, first thing I did was relace the wheels into some MTB 26” rims and built it up as a sort of 80s BMX cruiser.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7040d6835.jpeg
But then I got a wild hair to put a DIY e-bike kit on it, so here’s how it’s currently sitting….
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d2d21574a.jpeg

Now that’s a wild hair!

3speedslow it actually works pretty well. The laid back geometry makes it ride nice and easy, even with the extra weight out front, and the 3 speed is a nice pairing to make the most of the relatively low-power 36V system

Me likey!!! This is an excellent IGH/ebike build. I'd just try to get that fork to match, OR add more chrome to bling it out. Great job! :thumb:

Sometimes I think with the way my health has been, I might have to kit out one of my old cruiser bikes too.

Thanks for the posting!