1954 Mercury Sabre Flite

burrus

New Member
Local time
4:28 PM
Joined
May 31, 2016
Messages
23
Can get a REALLY good price on this to try my first build. In mint condition. Thoughts???
 

Attachments

  • Sabre Flite.jpg
    Sabre Flite.jpg
    54.4 KB · Views: 301
Looks beautiful and nice space for 2-stroke and even possible space for a 4-stroke. Only issue is braking; if you can mount a front rim brakes along with the rear coaster brake it be good. Also, you would want to reinforce the front fender due to the stress of higher speeds. If that guy comes loose while you are going 25mph+ the bike will flip and it will be a highly dangerous crash. Rear fender too though locking up the back wheel usually dont result in a crash only a damaged wheel depending on how fast you can brake. I think the makers of these bikes where only intending a 15mph or less speed.

Also, I would highly recommend a hub adapter instead of the rag joint sprockets. Nothing ruins or damages the rear wheel faster than the rag joint sprockets cuz you can never fully get it true.
 
Last edited:
Definitely would have to fabricate a bit for front brake. Possibly a disc? For sure going to go with a hub adapter on whatever I build. This is a repro, but I can grab it for under a c-note. Just think it would make a cool looking MB.
 
I've never been fond of disks on older looking bikes, drum Brakes look 100x better in my opinion. This is my original late 1940-1950ish western flyer with a disc brake I don't think it matches the style of the bike
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    191.7 KB · Views: 222
Looks beautiful and nice space for 2-stroke and even possible space for a 4-stroke. Only issue is braking; if you can mount a front rim brakes along with the rear coaster brake it be good. Also, you would want to reinforce the front fender due to the stress of higher speeds. If that guy comes loose while you are going 25mph+ the bike will flip and it will be a highly dangerous crash. Rear fender too though locking up the back wheel usually dont result in a crash only a damaged wheel depending on how fast you can brake. I think the makers of these bikes where only intending a 15mph or less speed.

Also, I would highly recommend a hub adapter instead of the rag joint sprockets. Nothing ruins or damages the rear wheel faster than the rag joint sprockets cuz you can never fully get it true.


Please explain how to reinforce front fender, i have similar one, and i never thought so that fender could cause a problem, but i noted that it often gets loose !
 
It really depends on your bike. I have a thin wire that loops to the top of the front wheel fork, which matches the color of the frame. The problem is trying to make it aesthetically pleasing and not too junkyard looking. For the bolt and nut that is currently on there you can probably double nut it with a lock nut. But, I would add one more level of security separate from the current bolt. You could drill two small holes, place washers underneath, and run a steel cable tie above the top of your front wheel fork. Paint the cable ties black and you will hardly notice it is there.
 
It really depends on your bike. I have a thin wire that loops to the top of the front wheel fork, which matches the color of the frame. The problem is trying to make it aesthetically pleasing and not too junkyard looking. For the bolt and nut that is currently on there you can probably double nut it with a lock nut. But, I would add one more level of security separate from the current bolt. You could drill two small holes, place washers underneath, and run a steel cable tie above the top of your front wheel fork. Paint the cable ties black and you will hardly notice it is there.

Gott it,!
 
Back
Top