FBOATSB

Unfortunately, your LBS owner's advice is good. Unless you have a strong sentimental attachment to your Free Spirit, once you start looking into replacing wheels and other major components over and above maintenance, well, you see where that is heading. Your new Giant will be a big improvement.

fullergarrett

Okay. I believed him, knowing that even when the bike was new it wasn't anything special. It was just a very basic road bike with basic parts. Though it's built fairly sturdy and still rides fine minus the issues mentioned earlier. Both rims are toast - they're rusty and bent out of shape, likely as a result of me (330 lbs) riding on rough sidewalks and roads with underinflated tires (<65 PSI).

The Giant Sedona seems to be a nicer bike, at least from what the LBS owner told me and what I've found online. It seems like it would be a more economical decision, and would be more reliable. It seems to be more suited towards me (being a larger rider.) The only thing I don't like about the Sedona that the Pinnacle has is appearance. The Pinnacle "pops"... it's sparkly blue paint flashes in comparison to the modern bikes, including the dull grey Sedona that I'm getting. That and it looks cool thanks to it being a road bike.

Sorry everyone for bringing this very old thread back from the grave.

FBOATSB

Seems like paint was a lot different back then.
Consider donating your old bike to a COOP. It could easily be refurbished to usable condition by someone that has all the parts available already like a "Build a Bike" program for kids to learn how to work on bikes.
No worries about the zombie resurrection, some threads go on for years, ignore the whiners.

fullergarrett

I've been on forums where resurrecting a thread like this was a huge no-no, and you'd be instantly in hot water for doing it.

I don't think I'm going to get rid of this bike, at least not right now. I'm not sure if there are any COOPs around here. I don't want to recycle a bike that is still in good condition, and I don't want to see someone chop it up into a million pieces and hack it into something which makes you scratch your head and think "huh?" I know a lot of people turn these old road bikes into fixie bikes, but I'd like to see it stay mostly stock.

I recycled a modern Huffy Superia/piece of junk mountain bike a couple years ago and was kind of excited to see it go. I think I'd shed more than a couple tears to see the Pinnacle get recycled. I'm not emotionally attached to it per se, but I don't want to see it get recycled or parted out when it could be restored easily by someone who has the parts laying around and the know how. I used the bike extensively when I was younger, before I got my drivers license.

The Sedona I'm getting is, as mentioned, a dull grey. It looks like every other bike. When I park it in the bike racks, it will blend in with the other bikes that look just like it. I don't have that problem with the Pinnacle. It stands out. While it needs some TLC, I've received compliments on its appearance.

As a side note: I stopped biking regularly when I was 14/15. Now that I'm a college student, I find it much easier to just hop on the bike and go a couple blocks instead of get in my car and drive a couple blocks. When I was younger (like 12 or 13), I rode this bike (the FS Pinnacle) on a near daily basis. This bike has seen sidewalks, streets, black-top roads, and even trails. I used to regularly take the Pinnacle on trails and go a good 12-14 miles (round trip) to the next town over. Then I started having problems with tires constantly blowing out, and then the brakes got wore out. My late uncle gave me the aforementioned Superia, and it lasted maybe three or four years before it was too far done and was set out by the curb for the scrappers to come get. When I stopped riding the bike, I was much thinner. Now I'm 330 pounds (mind you I'm 19) and would like to get back to that point, if not a little further.

fullergarrett

I think I'm now able to post pictures. I'm still interested in learning about my bike, such as when it was likely made and who made it for Sears.



Since some parts on this bike have been replaced and most of the parts I know to be original don't have date codes, I'm having a difficult time trying to find a estimated production date. I got the 1981 figure from a code stamped into one of the rims, but I'm not sure if that is correct or not.

Most of the parts on this bike appear to be Taiwanese, or at least the original components. The brake mechanisms claimed to be made in Taiwan. I believe the original tires on this bike were Taiwanese, as they were "Golden Boy" gumwalls. And I understand that later on Sears farmed out production of these bikes to Taiwan and companies like Murray or Huffy, while earlier specimens were made here in the US or made by Puch in Austria using globally-sourced components.

A bike that is usually parked in the same bike rack is a 1981 Puch/Austro-Daimler Pathfinder. I've noticed a couple similarities between how the frames are assembled, Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can chime in?

rubiconazoid

Back in 79 after a bad crash, needing a bike for school, I picked up one very similar to that one. I don't think mine had the blue highlights on the chainring, but the other things on the bicycle looked the same. I rode that thing for 4 years and all I ever did was put some oil on the chain. All in all, it probably had about 4K miles on it during that 4 years of school. I think I paid $99 + tax for it, and brought it home and put it together.

dweenk

Here is one I pulled from a dumpster. The paint was in great condition, the parts were crap, and the fork was bent to the side slightly. It sat around for quite a while before I began working on it. The first iteration was a Sturmey 8 speed IGH. The second iteration (and current state) is a 5 speed derailleur with flipped north road bars. The frame was built by Giant for Sears and weighs about 25 pounds according to my bathroom scale.

camit34

I was gifted this 930se by a co-worker who knows I'm into bikes. It's in really good shape and just seems to need a cleaning more than anything. I'll clean it up, adjust it, and move it on to someone who can use it.

daoswald

In around '81 or '82 my parents gave me a silver Sears Free Spirit ten speed with drop bars and stem-mounted indexed shifters. It had possibly the worst ever implementation of a rear disk brake. For the life of me I can't imagine why that was thought to be a good idea. It was heavy, squeeked, would barely hold you from rolling backwards down a hill, and could cook an egg in a pinch. But the worst part of that rear disk was that it was proprietary enough that when my wheels became far enough out of true that I could feel a flat spot, there was no way to get a commodity replacement wheel. This was before eBay, so it was not easy (or even possible) just go out and find a replacement wheel designed for this kooky disk.

That ten speed had an aluminum rear rack, but lacked any means of attaching bottle cages. What were we thinking riding around on that kind of stuff? All I can say is I was 13 and thought it was really a great bike, at the time. It wasn't until looking back years later that I realized what tripe it was.

My longest ride on it was when I was about 14; I took it about eight miles from our family's suburb into the city and another eight miles back. It felt like an epic journey, but I suppose not bringing water would turn any 16 mile summer ride into an epic journey for a 14 year old. I think I stopped at a church that had a few cars in the parking lot to avail myself of their mercy and take a few sips from the drinking fountain before heading back home.

Anyway, this is not to say that the Sears Free Spirit ten speed could not be made into a good bike. But for my specific bike, doing so would mean getting rid of the stock wheel-set, switching to traditional caliper brakes in back, adding some bottle cages, and for heaven's sake, swapping out that rear cassette that I managed to wear out to the point that applying enough pressure going up a hill would cause the chain to skip on it. I wonder how many miles that took? I rode that thing a lot, every day from 82 to about 87. I don't think its components were designed for daily use.

jimmy78

I bought this red road bike back in 2012, I struggled for years who would have made it since the frame banners were removed. Until I found out after years that the three stripe colors that remain in the frame's bottom matched those on the F.S. bikes. By it's components I judged it was made between 1980-1983, it's a 14 speed. but I'm not sure still. I'm attaching a picture of it. It's yes, kinda heavy, solid as a rock but recently i pulled it back the shed to change the tubes and still i have to change it's front tire to match the nice yellow walled form the back tire. which I already have. Could you confirm guessing the year of this bike of an average era of it?

fullergarrett

On my bike, the serial number found on the bottom of the frame below the bottom bracket was used to reveal the date of manufacture, as well as provide an idea of who actually made it for Sears. On the bottom bracket, you'll find two numbers - one is the serial number and the other was likely the Sears part number. You can post the serial number (or both numbers) on the Asian Serial Number thread, or create your own thread asking about it like I did.

In my case, my bike happened to be much newer than I originally thought. It was actually made in 1987 by the Taiwanese company Kung Hsue She. I hope this helps.

P.S. - Very pretty bike. Looks like it has been well maintained.

jimmy78

n my bike, the serial number found on the bottom of the frame below the bottom bracket was used to reveal the date of manufacture, as well as provide an idea of who actually made it for Sears. On the bottom bracket, you'll find two numbers - one is the serial number and the other was likely the Sears part number. You can post the serial number (or both numbers) on the Asian Serial Number thread, or create your own thread asking about it like I did.

In my case, my bike happened to be much newer than I originally thought. It was actually made in 1987 by the Taiwanese company Kung Hsue She. I hope this helps.



Hi, there, and thanks for the reply and compliment. Yeah I've checked that same link tothe serial number thread, but turns out my bike has no letter codes whatsoever, instead it has an 8 number code starting with the "7" followed by another bottom number consisting in a "489", a dot then another 6 number code. I'm lost lol...I couldn't find anything alike on those serial number list. I'll go and post in such thread and see if I can get any responses, but again Thanks!

jimmy78

ET VOILA!

fullergarrett

Yes, I'd suggest posting over there. Sears used many different manufacturers for their bikes, such as KHS (like for mine) and Murray/Huffy. I know they also used Austro-Daimler/Puch earlier on between the 60s and very early 80s, but I don't think yours is one of them. (But I'm no expert.)

jimmy78

Thanks again! yes i went out and posted the photo with the serial number on the s/n's thread, I'd be patient awaiting on responses, have a a good day sir.

Rseiverd

[QUOTE=RobbieTunes;11459909]I had a 1976 Bicentennial Free Spirit, but with a single top tube. Very nice bike with stem shifters, 2x5 friction. It was the only bike in town the Schwinn guys thought was cool. It was lugged steel.I have one if you still are looking for another one it's a men's bike,mettallic blue, ride's great.You should see it has hardly ever been used it's in tip top shape.

nlerner

Well, good for you​​​​​​.

Tyres

OK, l found a 10 speed free spirit in the same deep choc. Brown as my Raleigh 20 and other Raleigh products. Is it a Raleigh?. I plan on screenwriting as all crappy steel parts are rusted and of poor quality except the sidepull brakes which look like Tectros. I've also got a girl's Triumph 5 speed with upright bars .Both have Sugino cranks. I am going to use a coaster in the rear until l can find a 3 speed hub. My question, l was going to take the single chainring off the 5 speed dereiler Triumph and put it onto the double chainringed Free Spirit, then l realized both are 8" so chainlength would be the same, could l just leave the double ring on and use the large ring back to coaster hub? Then when l find the parts to properly scorcherize l'd have enough chain to adjust as necessary. Scorcherizing not screenwriting.

kryssie2187

My parents bought me a black ten speed Free Spirit at a garage sale in 2007-2008. I absolutely loved that bike. I mean I took really good care of it. I lived in what I considered a "safe" town and one afternoon I went with my friends up to the library and they asked if I wanted to lock up my bike. Me never really having witnessed anything bad happen in my town; I said thanks but I am okay. We were gone half an hour and that was all it took... I was devastated. I asked for the surveillance tape at the library but was denied ( bs!), I filed a police report and went back every two weeks to see if they had found it and it was in the pile of bikes at the police station. I never saw my baby again. You better believe I bought a lock for my next bike and now I have one of those super duty U-Locks.

Frenzen

Bogester 

Here’s my free spirit. I got it in 3rd grade and rode it many miles up until I started riding 10 speeds…about when this picture was taken.

Vintage Schwinn

Re: FREE SPIRIT (Jimmy78) see post # 160 and # 161............. "black cherry color" 'Sunbird' FREE SPIRIT was Korean made, base model 10 speed still in SEARS catalog in 1984 (this 10 speed features steel 590mm Rigida Super Chromix wheels 26 x 1 3/8 590mm gumwall tires and a Shimano RS rear derailleur)
https://christmas.musetechnical.com/...r-Catalog/0509



My next door neighbors at my Hilton Head beach house had a pair of these His and Her models that they purchased new from SEARS in 1984 when they lived in Pennsylvania when they were both about 30 years old. In 2019, I converted both of these bikes to tourist configuration for them, with Schwinn 7881 handlebars, and Weinmann tourist brake levers, actually used RED DOT knife edge style from circa 1966 as I had a couple pairs of those in near perfect condition....the new Bell Pitcrew 600 cable set for $10 from Ace online and Walmart provided the replacement cables. Yeah, I actually removed the yellowed clear plastic Spoke Protector("dork disc") from each and installed old Chromed shiny metal dork discs because it looked ancient antique ancient with the cottered crank. I did install high quality Shimano freewheels as the metal makeup of the gear teeth was thin cheap metal and the freewheel wasn't Shimano or Suntour quality. The reason that I chose the RED DOT knife edge brake levers from mid-sixties Schwinns and the vintage chrome spoke protector (dork disc) was it fit perfectly with the vintage look of the cottered crank. These had to be probably the last bikes on earth to use cottered cranks. They are great general purpose tourist bikes now with the freewheel upgrade and the Schwinn 7881 tourist bars, and Michelin 590mm 26 x 1 3/8 tires (37-590). They are perfect for Hilton Head.
The lugged frame actually has very nice burgandy paint (black cherry is what Sears called it) with subtle gold paint fill that edges the lugs.
The Rigida Super Chromix chrome steel 590mm wheels have <84> stamped in them. The Richards told me they bought the bikes from SEARS catalog in 1984.
These were ONLY available in ONE mens size (21 inch frame) and only one women's step thru frame size.
As you can see in that SEARS catalog link above ITEM (5) 26" wheel 10 speed 37 GEAR to 96 GEAR range
Catalog Number HIS MODEL 6K47271N............HER MODEL 6K47272N $149.99 spring/summer 1984 Sears Catalog

With the Cottered Crank, they look like something a lot more ancient than 1984.........that is the reason that I installed the RED DOT knife edge Weinmann tourist brake levers when I installed the 7881 Schwinn tourist handlebars........we threw the dropbars and the dropbar brake levers in the trash.
We removed the small gold Sunbird decal sticker from the top tube but left the cool looking Free spirit decal surrounded by ring bands on the lower frame.
These are good looking bikes, meaning that the factory paint quaity was quite good.
The frame is lightweight for an el-cheapo bike and the frame is decently constructed, and rides nice for what it is.
Wheelbase is shorter than that of an electroforged Schwinn Varsity/Continental/Collegiate/Suburban.....wheelbase is about 3/4" shorter than a Schwinn or seventies Raleigh.

The metal quality of the freewheel teeth is kinda thin and crummy compared to a Schwinn or Seventies era Raleigh or anything decent from the seventies.
This SEARS free spirit version DID COME with a genuine Shimano RS rear derailleur. The KIA 10 speed version (Korean maker) came with a no-name knockoff shimano lark type rear derailleur.....the KIA version was sold in the USA by various merchants circa 1980-1983.

***There was also a 27" (630mm) wheel model that was a 12 speed and this twelve speed Free Spirit sunbird sold for $169.99 in SEARS spring/summer 1984 catalog**


The 1984 burgandy his & hers Free Spirit 10 speeds are ridden often by the Richards now in tourist configuration. They at near 70 ride them a lot more now than they did when they were about 30 years old in 1984.

jjohnson

New member, first post. Looking for help with an issue my wife is having with her Free Spirit 3-speed. When shifting between 2nd & 3rd gears sometimes the pedal "free wheels" for a few seconds. Is this something that is fixable by a novice?

Macguyver909

jjohnson, Yes, that is a super simple fix. Just adjust the length of the cable that goes into the rear hub with the adjustment screw w/locking "nut". The cable that shifts should be a little slack in 3rd gear and not quite tight in 1st gear. It will be under tension in 2 and 1st gears though.

Sheldon brown has some instructions:
Sturmey-Archer Hubs, Adjustments

dweenk

That 3-speed hub could also be made by Shimano, so that would matter in the adjustment. Can you identify it by a logo or a photo?