Has anyone heard of a Free Spirit?
03-13-07, 07:03 AM
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Has anyone heard of a Free Spirit?
Has anyone or knows where I can get information on a Free Spirit bicycle. The tires are 26" and coster brake.
Thank you
Thank you
03-13-07, 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by ratcycle
Has anyone or knows where I can get information on a Free Spirit bicycle. The tires are 26" and coster brake.
Thank you
Thank you
03-13-07, 07:29 AM
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Pictures would help. But I suspect it was the base model sold by Sears. Not a real collectors item but if in ridable shape it would make a decent neighborhood cruiser.
Aaron
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
03-13-07, 07:50 AM
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Sears, Its cool to cruise around on, Ive had many, many of them in the past, I give them away to the kids around these parts (Philly) dont get me wrong, if I didnt have a bike Id be cruising around on a Free Spirit with no shame! 
03-13-07, 08:11 AM
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Over the years, the Free Spirit marque was applied by Sears to a variety of bicycles. 1960s specimens were often decent 3-speeds and basic 10-speeds from Steyr-Daimler-Puch (Graz, Austria), whereas 1970s and later models tended to be American-made boat anchors from Murray or Huffy.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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03-13-07, 09:26 PM
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Free Spirit
I bought a Free Spirit back in 1988 from Sears. $149.00.Was a 3 speed
03-14-07, 08:50 AM
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There are a few models but most are cheapie entry level bikes. There was one made by Puch? that was worthwhile. Here is a Brittany FreeSpirit I jsut gave away:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/276722-i-just-got-univega-activa-freespirit-brittany.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/276722-i-just-got-univega-activa-freespirit-brittany.html
03-14-07, 11:25 AM
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During the 1960's and 1970's, probably half the bikes in any given small town in America were labeled "Free Spirit". Most were sturdy bikes for their specific price range. An oddity of "Free Spirit" bikes in the 1968 to 1980 period was that Sears would buy bikes of similar appearance from suppliers in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Japan. So, although the bikes looked like the same model, they might use different size rims and tires.
I had a "Free Spirit" three-speed built in around 1980 that used an odd-size European rim. The neighborhood bike shop found a tire they could get on the rim, but they were unable to get that tire off the rim without an intense struggle.
Many times you will go by a garage sale and see a "Free Spirit" one speed or three speed bike in "like new" condition. A Christmas gift from 1975 that made one trip around the block, and got stored in the garage for thirty years. When you can buy such a bike for $10 or $15, they make a nice "rainy day" bike for running up to the corner store.
I had a "Free Spirit" three-speed built in around 1980 that used an odd-size European rim. The neighborhood bike shop found a tire they could get on the rim, but they were unable to get that tire off the rim without an intense struggle.
Many times you will go by a garage sale and see a "Free Spirit" one speed or three speed bike in "like new" condition. A Christmas gift from 1975 that made one trip around the block, and got stored in the garage for thirty years. When you can buy such a bike for $10 or $15, they make a nice "rainy day" bike for running up to the corner store.
03-14-07, 08:47 PM
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I had two of them dropped off at my house (people just drop old bikes off at my house), both were in horrible shape, I was bored, had a welder and ended up making my first tallbike out of them (now awaiting the sawzall to become a chopper)...
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03-14-07, 10:08 PM
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that looks like a good idea, I just picked up 2 varsitys for $1 each.
09-13-10, 07:50 PM
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Ah, a Free Spirit thread. I have a '76 "Bicentennial Edition" 10-speed and I'm trying to get some info on it. Aside from the obvious red/white/blue paint scheme (actually, white/red/blue), it has a twin top tube. Shift levers are cheap; the right-side lever snapped in half 30 years ago. Steel rims I think, because I remember that stopping wasn't easy in the wet - brake pads just slid along the rim.
I've called the folks to send me some pictures; it's still hanging on the garage wall at my parents house, and I'll post those pics when I get them. In the meantime, does this set-up sound familiar enough to anyone to give a tentative i.d.? I'm guessing it's some kind of Huffy.
I've called the folks to send me some pictures; it's still hanging on the garage wall at my parents house, and I'll post those pics when I get them. In the meantime, does this set-up sound familiar enough to anyone to give a tentative i.d.? I'm guessing it's some kind of Huffy.
09-13-10, 08:14 PM
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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, and had excellent center-pull brakes.
I want another one.
I want another one.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 09-13-10 at 08:18 PM.
09-13-10, 09:39 PM
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All the other Free Spirit 10-speeds I've ever seen have been single top tube like yours. I'd like to get the thing off of my parents' garage wall have the LBS restore it, but we'll see.
09-13-10, 10:54 PM
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Why was this thread resurrected? I guess it's a good excuse to post photos:
Free Spirit 3-speed
Free Spirit 10-speed with indexed shifters. Unfortunately, I did not take the "after" photo before I sold it.
Free Spirit 3-speed
Free Spirit 10-speed with indexed shifters. Unfortunately, I did not take the "after" photo before I sold it.
09-13-10, 11:27 PM
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The chain guard on the 3 speed is neat looking
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09-13-10, 11:38 PM
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Darn. To think I was glad to get $25!! I found that bike abandoned by the side of the road, along Michigan Avenue. All it needed, besides new tires and cleaning, was the snap-ring re-installed on the three-speed hub, just like in the story by the other poster.
09-21-10, 08:41 PM
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Bicentennial Free Spirit
Got home to see the folks over the weekend and took some pics of the old ten speed. I never paid attention to the components. Anybody know anything about the Shimano Eagle component set?
09-21-10, 08:59 PM
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Shimano Eagle = bottom end, heavy, but quite functional derailleurs.
09-22-10, 04:40 AM
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I fixed a FS-3 ladies bike up for my aunt. This bike was definitely sourced from a good maker. The red paint was incredible, nicely outlined lugs, and VERY comfortable. The Shimano 3-speed hub was very nice to use.
If I ever come across the same bike in a mens version, I would definitely not kick it out of bed.
If I ever come across the same bike in a mens version, I would definitely not kick it out of bed.
