1966 AMF Hercules 3-speed
06-14-18 | 07:31 AM
#27
If I own it, I ride it
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,685
Likes: 821
From: Cardinal Country
Bikes: Lejeune(14), Raleigh, Raysport, Jan De Reus, Gazelle, Masi, B. Carré(4), Springfield, Greg Lemond, Andre Bertin, Schwinn Paramount
Nice. I had one very similar save it was black and had trigger shifting. Chain guard kept coming off on mine. Put a few miles on that one.
06-14-18 | 07:50 AM
#28
Thread Starter
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,320
Likes: 6,603
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Hi there. I shipped the Hercules and my Rudge to Florida so my wife and I could ride them whenever we visit her mother, which we do once a year. But my wife didn't like the Hercules with its short reach, so I donated it to Jack the Bike Man in West Palm Beach. My wife bought a bike from him that she likes better.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
10-31-19 | 06:10 PM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 962
Likes: 30
I have a similar bike but in all black. Mine came new originally with white grips and a standard SA shifter. I don’t think it would ruin the originality at all to fit it with a trigger shifter and a standard grip.
11-17-24 | 07:59 AM
#31
Full Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 8
From: Carlyle IL
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2 2014(i think) Giant Defy Advanced 2 2013 Trek 7.3, 1973 Schwinn Continental, 1967 AMF Hercules
I know this is an old thread. I have almost that exact same bike. I didn't have the bag, but my bike had a luggage rack and a light/generator. I received this bike as a Christmas present in 1967. My dad really wanted me to have an English racer, while all my friends were getting stingrays. At seven years old, the bike was too big for me, but I rode it and used the top tube as my seat.
The bike had a couple flaws. It came with a straight stemmed aluminum kick stand that was too short for the bike .. Because the kick stand was too short, the bike fell over frequently. Every time it fell over, it bent the handlebar. Eventually, the handle bar broke. My bike came with a handle twist shifter, but that was replaced with a trigger shifter a few years later. The kick stand was replaced also.
Another flaw was that awful chain guard. Any of you who grew up in the late 60's are well aware of bell bottom pants.. The front point on that chain guard caught wide pant legs trousers, especially bellbottom pants. I can't tell you how many seams were repaired or material torn because of the hideous change guard design.
I hated that bike as a kid, and preferred to ride my sister's female version Western flyer stingray.
In 1973, I got a Schwann Continental. Kools Lemon color, I still have both bikes. Even though I really really disliked the Hercules/AMF, I am glad I still have it.
My love for bikes was formed with the two bikes I mention. The Hercules isn't as bad now as I once thought...... 57 years ago.
The bike had a couple flaws. It came with a straight stemmed aluminum kick stand that was too short for the bike .. Because the kick stand was too short, the bike fell over frequently. Every time it fell over, it bent the handlebar. Eventually, the handle bar broke. My bike came with a handle twist shifter, but that was replaced with a trigger shifter a few years later. The kick stand was replaced also.
Another flaw was that awful chain guard. Any of you who grew up in the late 60's are well aware of bell bottom pants.. The front point on that chain guard caught wide pant legs trousers, especially bellbottom pants. I can't tell you how many seams were repaired or material torn because of the hideous change guard design.
I hated that bike as a kid, and preferred to ride my sister's female version Western flyer stingray.
In 1973, I got a Schwann Continental. Kools Lemon color, I still have both bikes. Even though I really really disliked the Hercules/AMF, I am glad I still have it.
My love for bikes was formed with the two bikes I mention. The Hercules isn't as bad now as I once thought...... 57 years ago.
Last edited by JGM411; 11-17-24 at 08:05 AM.
11-17-24 | 11:15 AM
#32
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