Well, this is my first attempt at uploading pictures, so we'll see how it goes...
Here is the bike I started with. I bought it off Amazon, super cheap. Basically, I wanted the Schwinn cantilever frame, and a single speed. I bought this particular one because it had fenders, and I planned on using the fenders as molds for some wooden fenders I wanted to make. This is the link to Schwinn's page for this bike. (I mistakenly called the image a "schwinn-landmark," but it's actually a "Sanctuary.")
While scraping together the cash for my engine kit, I ripped the bike apart and repainted from bare metal. Those China bikes use laquer paint, not urethane. Did you know that? You can tell because acetone will dissolve dried laquer. I call this finish "stealth fighter." It's actually polished primer, smooth as glass.
A few things to note: That's a Sunlite replica springer fork, and it was a pain every step of the way. It didn't fit, so had to bend the top piece. It needed a mounting plate for the disk brake. I got that from Venice Motor Bikes. I ended up brazing in some bushings where the fork swivels below the headset, and while I was at it, I brazed on the disk adapter plate. It's better now, but the whole assembly still feels a bit noodlely to me. I wanted that retro look though! I shoulda sprung for a Monark style fork. In this photo, I had not gotten to the chopped fenders that I later installed, and I replaced the stock chainwheel and crank with a three piece alloy one.
Note too the Brooks saddle. Cost me more than the bike, and worth it. Man, I love those saddles! This one was my first springer though.
At this writing, the only stock parts on the bike are the bearings and nuts in the headset, and I'll replace those, I'm sure. The bearings in these China Schwinns are cheap, cheap, cheap!
Right now, I'm tearing down the 66cc GT5 I got from enginesonline. They were cheap, and they shipped to California, but I wish I had bought my kit from Venice Motor Bikes. I'm sure Norm would know what's in the boxes he sells, unlike the guys I bought from. No biggy. I figured it out by going on Grubee's website.
Next, I'll show some stuff about the motor and all that. In the mean time, I rebuilt my road bike, so I have something to ride while Max is worked on.
Cheers,
Rick
Here is the bike I started with. I bought it off Amazon, super cheap. Basically, I wanted the Schwinn cantilever frame, and a single speed. I bought this particular one because it had fenders, and I planned on using the fenders as molds for some wooden fenders I wanted to make. This is the link to Schwinn's page for this bike. (I mistakenly called the image a "schwinn-landmark," but it's actually a "Sanctuary.")
While scraping together the cash for my engine kit, I ripped the bike apart and repainted from bare metal. Those China bikes use laquer paint, not urethane. Did you know that? You can tell because acetone will dissolve dried laquer. I call this finish "stealth fighter." It's actually polished primer, smooth as glass.
A few things to note: That's a Sunlite replica springer fork, and it was a pain every step of the way. It didn't fit, so had to bend the top piece. It needed a mounting plate for the disk brake. I got that from Venice Motor Bikes. I ended up brazing in some bushings where the fork swivels below the headset, and while I was at it, I brazed on the disk adapter plate. It's better now, but the whole assembly still feels a bit noodlely to me. I wanted that retro look though! I shoulda sprung for a Monark style fork. In this photo, I had not gotten to the chopped fenders that I later installed, and I replaced the stock chainwheel and crank with a three piece alloy one.
Note too the Brooks saddle. Cost me more than the bike, and worth it. Man, I love those saddles! This one was my first springer though.
At this writing, the only stock parts on the bike are the bearings and nuts in the headset, and I'll replace those, I'm sure. The bearings in these China Schwinns are cheap, cheap, cheap!
Right now, I'm tearing down the 66cc GT5 I got from enginesonline. They were cheap, and they shipped to California, but I wish I had bought my kit from Venice Motor Bikes. I'm sure Norm would know what's in the boxes he sells, unlike the guys I bought from. No biggy. I figured it out by going on Grubee's website.
Next, I'll show some stuff about the motor and all that. In the mean time, I rebuilt my road bike, so I have something to ride while Max is worked on.
Cheers,
Rick
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