Why are the forks always bent?
 

Found this complete schwinn new world bike today, even has the key in the fork. Brass headbadge and shifter. Guy wants $50 for it. Just not sure if i want to mess with finding another fork.




http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0b5f9e93.jpg

What makes you think the fork is bent?

Seriously, if it isn't kinked it can probably be straightened.

I'd pass.

Offer him $20, settle for $25, put it in the 'possibles' pile, throw out ten years from now.

+1 - if that's a shadow and not a crease...

Good candidate for one o' them cheapo Nashbar CF cross forks w/canti mounts.

What?

Nahhh!... must be just the angle the pic was taken!:rolleyes:
Or maybe it's one of those rare old motorpacing bikes...:rolleyes::D
Buying bikes with bent forks will always be a big roll of the dice if you cannot inspect it closely before doing so, as many had discovered after seeing bulges and creases on the TT and DTs only way into the restoration tear down of the bike... I wouldn't touch those unless it's a Singer, Hetchins or a Galmozzi selling for a 100 bucks with a bent fork.....:rolleyes:

Fork's fine. It's those handlebars that are bent.

that would have gone home with me, no hesitation.

I guess I'd buy it, get a fork from a more common beat-up Schwinn, flip the bars, service the hub and give it a good cleaning. It would make a nice contrast piece to the Raleighs.

I have never seen a Schwinn New World that didn't have a bent forkthough I have seen photos of such bikes, presumably photoshopped. They're easy to straighten, though.

That said, I would have bought that bike for the handlebar and shifter. WTF is that shifter, anyway? The handlebar is worth the cost of the bike for sure.

from the pics ive seen, i think the shifter goes on the top tube.

Yeah, you're thinking of the Sturmey Archer Quadrant shifter (which is, incidentally, not a cheap item). But this doesn't look like one of those. This is something pretty unusual. The way the shifter is attached, as well as the bizarre pulley wheel on the down tube, all look like home made stuff to me.

Parts bin gems.

......because it's never 'just the fork' - unless the bend is neglible and never creased in any direction.
As a general rule, inspect gently for any 'minor' ripple(s) on the underside of the TT/DT junctures near the head tube. It's a framebuilder's tools to properly align frames/forks.

Skip-tooth chains are worth a few bucks these days...

thats kinda what i'm thinking. The brass badge, sweetheart sprocket and chain are worth the $50 on their own.

Why are the forks always bent?
 

After running into a wall or a car, Sometimes the forks are the strong part and the frame tubes bend instead..

Close inspection of the frame, and it looked fine. Seller actually thought the forks were suppose to look like that.

Not to mention those cool red pedals. Neat bike. Is it dark blue? Or black?

That's a New Departure 3 speed. Those are rare and worth a LOT. Get it now. Go to www.thecabe.com and do a quick search. heck with the rest of the bike. The shifter and the hub are worth twice $50 easy.
The forks on New Worlds are always bent cause they were weak. Pretty, but weak.
If it's a skip tooth, it might be a fillet brazed frame. They're nice bikes, even with an EF frame but the FB ones are definitely worth some effort. Yeah, I'd give the guy $50 for it and replace the fork. Where's Sir Mike when you need him?

it is a skiptooth with the chain and sweatheart sprocket

You professional parts guys just kill me.:roflmao2:
Nobody called out that special chaining cover, or that restorable classic saddle.

I would straighten the forks.

Just noticed the red rubber pedals. This bike gets better every time I look at it.