Which classic project to take on?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 284
Bikes: Bianchi Nyala, Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi Campione D'Italia, Trek 640, Luxus folding bike, Schwinn Speedster, Bianchi Torino, KHS Aero Sport, probably something else around here somewhere
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
99 Posts
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.

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.

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.

So, if restoration was no problem, which one would you pick?
Option one: I think it's a circa 1950 Huffman. Kind of a basket case (and priced accordingly). Would make a cool Klunker build.

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.

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.

So, if restoration was no problem, which one would you pick?
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Delaware Sea Shore
Posts: 491
Bikes: There is always room for one more.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 161 Post(s)
Liked 339 Times
in
197 Posts
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.

__________________
Don
Don
Likes For GeezyRider:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,152
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 806 Post(s)
Liked 1,381 Times
in
887 Posts
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
By the time I made it back around it was gone... WOW! ...But that's Austin Texas... Ha
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 284
Bikes: Bianchi Nyala, Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi Campione D'Italia, Trek 640, Luxus folding bike, Schwinn Speedster, Bianchi Torino, KHS Aero Sport, probably something else around here somewhere
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
99 Posts
I missed out on the Huffman, but in the end the Schwinn came home with me.
Likes For denaffen:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,393
Bikes: a couple
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 562 Post(s)
Liked 859 Times
in
455 Posts
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
Last edited by Schweinhund; 12-29-22 at 04:13 PM.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 629
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 333 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 359 Times
in
242 Posts
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/
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/
Last edited by Vintage Schwinn; 12-29-22 at 06:18 PM.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,393
Bikes: a couple
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 562 Post(s)
Liked 859 Times
in
455 Posts
Your SPEEDSTER will be a fun bicycle that you'll enjoy
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/wh...6-rims.180409/
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/wh...6-rims.180409/
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.
#12
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 284
Bikes: Bianchi Nyala, Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi Campione D'Italia, Trek 640, Luxus folding bike, Schwinn Speedster, Bianchi Torino, KHS Aero Sport, probably something else around here somewhere
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
99 Posts
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.

But then I got a wild hair to put a DIY e-bike kit on it, so here’s how it’s currently sitting….

But then I got a wild hair to put a DIY e-bike kit on it, so here’s how it’s currently sitting….

Likes For 3speedslow:
#14
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 284
Bikes: Bianchi Nyala, Bianchi Volpe, Bianchi Campione D'Italia, Trek 640, Luxus folding bike, Schwinn Speedster, Bianchi Torino, KHS Aero Sport, probably something else around here somewhere
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 117 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
99 Posts
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
Likes For denaffen:
#15
55+ Club,...
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in New York, NY
Posts: 4,158
Bikes: 9+,...
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1025 Post(s)
Liked 755 Times
in
529 Posts
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

__________________
If it wasn't for you meddling kids,...
Likes For tds101:
#16
Senior Member
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!
Thanks for the posting!
Likes For 3speedslow: