gster

Yeah, that looks crazy tall. Maybe from a Twenty?

paulb_in_bkln

What this reminds me also is how helpful it is to have the right tools.

paulb_in_bkln

I got a tall stem as an aftermarket item for this junior size bike I put the way of a grownup friend. Seat post, too.

thumpism

I'd expect that seatpost to bend, especially if your friend has any heft.

thumpism

I may have posted about this before but am doing so again because I believe this little bike really needs to find a home. There's a junk shop north of town that leaves all its bikes out in the open and they are rusting away, but this little blue AMF J.C. Higgins (with Hercules head badge) still manages to look beautiful. The chrome on the fenders has a few rust spots but the thing is remarkably nice for having been essentially abandoned outside. Hub date is '64 and everything looks original but for the missing chainguard. Seat bag stitching has rotted away so the bag panels are dangling but it could be re-sewn. Someone PLEASE buy this thing.
blue Herc1.JPG

That rusted scuff on the down tube is the worst mark on the paint.
blue Herc2.JPG

The paint on this ladies' Sports is slowly oxidizing away. '74 hub date.
oxidized Sports.JPG

Interestingly, in the first photo is a red fendered upright bike in the background, an Asian 10-speed of the "tourist" variety with National stickers and headbadge, perhaps a pre-Panasonic Panasonic.

BigChief 

Here's a Sunlite touring stem compared to a stock Sports stem.

stem2.JPG

paulb_in_bkln

Not so far. Bike be good. Well he is not quite as tall as I am so it got pulled in a little.

johnnyspaghetti

knornold , wshashacicacaca,

paulb_in_bkln

That's easy for you to say.

paulb_in_bkln

The horror. The horror.

Mooo

A blue ladies '72 LTD-3 came home with me. Paint is chipped, and the chrome is hit or miss. Mostly miss. Wasn't sure what to do with it, but am leaning toward making it a foul weather commuter. Hard duty, but better than going straight to the recycler. The stupid thing is that I'll probably end up putting alloy rims, handlebars, and maybe a crank on it.
Our household has a 74 LTD-3 (also ladies) that I borrow sometimes. It's weird, but I think it's a 23" frame and for short trips, I think I actually prefer it a little to my 21" gent's frame.

BigChief 

With the stem maxed, I can ride a 21" light roadster, but I am missing some leg extension that becomes more and more noticeable as I ride. A 23" frame suites me much better. Although, I am very pleased with my 21" semi-scorcher with the longer Sunlite stem. Worked perfectly. The longer neck made up the loss of reach that happens as you raise the handlebars. So, turning a 21" into a 23" isn't much of a problem. You do have to make up custom length cables though.

gster

I prefer a 23" frame as well, but like you, have a few 21's with raised seats and bars.
All are enjoyable.
A Hercules
A Superbe
And a Glider

p1180251.jpg

p1190330.jpg

p1140147.jpg

paulb_in_bkln

Same here, but finding a good deal seems often to mean accepting a bike with a frame on the smaller side. The Rudge I'm considering seems like a 21" which means a higher stem and seatpost, and being sure I'm happy with the arrangement before making any significant investment. Your red bike is where I want to be with a bike like this--yours is actually the first photo I've seen that represents what I've been thinking of.

gster

The downed turned bars certainly look cool but depending on your height and age may not be as comfortable as you'd like...
Here's ( in my opinion) the perfect Scorcher..
Bike is not mine.
image.jpg

browngw 

This made in England Supercycle branded Raleigh is a 21" frame with extended seat post and Sunlite stem, built for myself. The 70s Bridgestone bars have a unique shape and are flipped, scorcher style. It rides okay but it does not please my eye with the extended seat post and stem. It was originally a drop bar bike (same model was available with north road style) and I have to decide whether it will sell better as a drop bar or upright. Which would you choose for resale?

paulb_in_bkln

Thanks for these photos. getting the right drop and reach with the inverted North Road bars would require choosing a new stem, I'm fairly sure; also, the aesthetics of a taller stem and seatpost do concern me. As for re-sale, I have a feeling the Bstone bars, positioned the more typical way, would produce the most buyer interest, but I don't know.

desconhecido 

Posted this pick before. This is a 56 Sports with 700 wheels and 28mm tires. SA dynohub powers the B&M light. Currently has a GB stem and unbranded bars from an early 70s Raleigh GP, but it's going to get a Raleigh branded stem and bar set and some Diacompe 610 Raleigh branded centerpulls. Chainwheel is 48t, AW hub sprocket is 22.

johnnyspaghetti

23 is the deal for 6 footers

paulb_in_bkln

Now that's what I'm talking about.

paulb_in_bkln

Five years outside parking hasn't been too hard on the Space Rider. I wonder did Raleigh have some prescription for stopping the rims rusting, or was that just a fact of life?

dweenk 

@browngw

I would take it as is. If the bars didn't suit me, I would flip them.

johnnyspaghetti

They chrome the rims pretty good. They need to be maintained. They will polish up nice even if pitted or chrome plate is missing. They clean up well in the spring the rust is mostly bleed on to the chrome.

johnnyspaghetti

The bike looks like a hard worker. I see the extra long seat post is all ready bent

thumpism

$65. I couldn't stand to think of this thing staying outside so went back today to get a price. You'd think if someone asked about an item you'd had in the yard for a few years you'd price it low to move it out, but no. I hate to think of it rusting away but it won't be me saving it. If it had been ten bucks I'd have it, twenty and I'd have had to think about it, but not sixty-five freakin' rusted dollars.

'Bye, little bike. Good luck.