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Post by n2ojoe on Dec 4, 2023 9:46:56 GMT -8
Yet another project I didn't need, but sure wanted! I've been eyeing this bike in my nextdoor neighbor's sun room on the back of his house, which I can clearly see while sitting on the back deck of my house, watching it deteriorate over the last 19 years. I asked him many years ago to let me know if he ever wanted to get rid of it. Well, one day in late August when I was just getting home from work, he was cleaning out his garage and was going to scrap this old bike. Of course I snagged it up, it's just too cool! I slapped on new tires, a chain, and pedals to make it rideable again. It's a perfect pit bike for the Pure Stock drags. Everyone has a vintage 70's bike to cruise the pits. It was a hit at this year's race, and I decided to give it a makeover during the off season before I get too deep into the cars. The girlfriend thought I finally lost my mind. 20230905_212105 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr
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Post by n2ojoe on Dec 4, 2023 9:48:44 GMT -8
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Post by n2ojoe on Dec 4, 2023 9:53:12 GMT -8
I took everything apart and started cleaning the chrome. Too my surprise, the rusty wheels cleaned up pretty well (though I had a whole day just in the wheels). I did have to buy a new crank, so I replaced the little kid sized 4.5" stroke with a 6.5" crank. 20231126_164036 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr 20231202_165008 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr
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Post by n2ojoe on Dec 4, 2023 10:01:23 GMT -8
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Post by n2ojoe on Dec 4, 2023 10:07:16 GMT -8
So here's where it's currently at after this last weekend. I'm still waiting on some SEM auto interior paint for all of the plastics, and a friend is supposed to repair to torn seat cover for me. Pretty happy over all. We watched a documentary on Evel that's playing on Prime video right now, and now Denise is actually excited to see the bike finished lol. 20231203_163721 by Joe Pinsoneault, on Flickr
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Post by Captain Awesome on Dec 4, 2023 10:41:26 GMT -8
Very cool. Love these old "gimmick" Bikes. I want a Stu Thompson Huffy.
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Post by Captain Awesome on Dec 4, 2023 14:55:18 GMT -8
There are Bike Snobs as well. AMF, Huffy etc are all looked down on. But they came up with the Coolest of Bikes like this.
I wish I could find the one I had as a kid and hacked up into a lousy version of a BMX. it had the denim Seat, real slik, 28 spok wide rear wheel, 20 soke narrow front wheel, short fenders and taller handle bars.... Those are actually worth some cash, since most threw them in the trash...
So glad you go to save this one.....
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Post by spud on Dec 4, 2023 15:23:47 GMT -8
Ah. I remember those. We were so hard on bikes they didnt stand a chance. Graco made a moto bike with front and rear shocks. It weighed a ton and the shocks ate up all the leg power you could throw at it. It took so much to move it down the trail it would kill you far before you could hurt it. It was far more a brutal workout than a bike. Nobody ever rode one for long. It was a big bike for a full grown” kid” …try and find one now. I dont wanna skunk up your topic, i got a zillion bike tales. I lived on bikes from a real small kid to in my mid 20’s. I still ride on and off the road and every scar has a story. But cool score, and surprized that you found one intact.
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Post by landbarge on Dec 4, 2023 16:17:41 GMT -8
Back in my 20's I used a bike when I was too shit faced to drive to the liquor store
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Post by 69Rebel on Dec 4, 2023 16:28:53 GMT -8
Back in my 20's I used a bike when I was too shit faced to drive to the liquor store Were there even drunk driving laws back then? That bike is super cool, Joe. Evel was quite the daredevil, doing jumps and stunts on a flat track bike.
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Post by landbarge on Dec 4, 2023 16:40:28 GMT -8
Yes there were. They impounded your horse.
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Post by n2ojoe on Dec 4, 2023 17:03:42 GMT -8
Thanks guys, yeah I was a bike dork when younger. My first job at 15 years old was at a local bike shop wrenching. I worked there 4 or 5 years on and off, fun times. I need to come up with a study way to mount this thing in the car trailer now.
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Post by landbarge on Dec 4, 2023 19:08:07 GMT -8
Gonna have the optional beer can holder?
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Post by 71sc360 on Dec 4, 2023 19:24:35 GMT -8
Nice Bike Joe! I used to be a serious bike collector, back 15 years ago.. If you are looking for any parts, you need to go to the bike show in Ann Arbor, MI. you'll never see so many collector bikes in one place. I used to go to that show every year... A few of the bikes I have left...
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Post by amxdreamer on Dec 4, 2023 20:16:21 GMT -8
That's super cool! Will the extra stroke mean you have to be careful turning now?
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