New from TX - Box on doorstep today!

GoldenMotor.com
Sep 18, 2011
296
0
16
Tyler Texas
Hi everyone!

I'm new here, and new to MB's.

I just got the 80cc kit I ordered from ebay, and next I need to find a bike. I'll be looking around at thrift stores and pawn shops. If I can't find something cheap there or CL, I'll probably get the Cranbrook from Wally World and keep it all Chinese! LOL

I've been reading a lot of posts here, and this sounds like a lot of fun. I did/do have some power concerns, but I have to remember that this is supposed to be a motor assisted bicycle, not a pedal assisted motorcycle.

Maybe someday I will go a bit crazy and build a pedal assisted small motorcycle and use my Cuyuna 215 (20hp 2-stroke) in a bicycle frame, but it will have to be built really strong! LOL

I also have a couple of bigger bikes, a 78 GL1000 Goldwing, and a 73 Ironhead Sportster, but I was really wanting something small to just zip around locally with, and a MB sounds pretty good for that. Plus it's cheap, just like me! LOL

Anyway, thanks for all the great info, and I'll post a build report when I get started.

drn2
 
Sep 18, 2011
296
0
16
Tyler Texas
Thanks for the welcome everyone, and the engine tips!

I just went to nearly all the pawn shops in town, none of them deal with bikes!
Craigslist is too high, or far away.

Looks like I'm getting closer to Wally World!
 

cosmickid

New Member
Sep 11, 2011
98
0
0
planet earth
Hey DRC..
Welcome to the site.
I'm new here too, I live over near Lone Star,
not too far away from you.
There's some folks up in Texarkana that are
building & selling MB's, going to drive up there
in the next week or two and check out their
bike builds.
Nice to see other folks in the area getting up
on MB's.
You might check out some of the junk shops in
the area for a bike. I was at an estate sale earlier
today and they had already sold the 4 bikes they
were selling. shucks!!!!
 

GearNut

Active Member
Aug 19, 2009
5,104
11
38
San Diego, Kaliforgnia
Wow! Pawn shops that don't deal with bicycles? That really does suck!
The pawn shop down the hill from me always has 5 or more outside for sale.
The problem is he is too greedy. I saw a Schwinn Landmark there about a month ago.
He wanted $200 for it. WalMart sold it brand new for $159.

Keep checking estate sales and garage sales. There's a good one waiting for you to own it.

Here's a half decent China bike from WalMart.com
Walmart.com: Schwinn Southport Men's 7 Speed Cruiser Bike: Bikes & Riding Toys
 
Last edited:
Sep 18, 2011
296
0
16
Tyler Texas
Guess what I found!!!

I went to Wal Mart to just bite the bullet and buy a bike, but I just didn't see anything I really liked.
The Cranbrook was about the best one they had in my local store, but I wanted multi-gears. I figured that I could always get a CB as a last resort.

I went to a local bike shop, and all they carry are new bikes, mostly Treks! I'm not paying $2000 and up for a multi-geared bike! They did have one single speed Chinese cruiser for $500, but I didn't like it.

The next stop was the Salvation Army. I found a 26" Schwinn Frontier mountain bike for $39.99! The lady said she just brought it out 2 minutes before I walked in!
It's an older bike, made in Taiwan, but everything on it is Shimano! Woo Hoo!

So, I'll start a new build thread in the Mountain Bike section. I didn't picture myself with a mountain bike. I thought I'd probably get a cruiser or road bike, but I have absolutely no complaints about it. Better for off-road explorations!
 

GearNut

Active Member
Aug 19, 2009
5,104
11
38
San Diego, Kaliforgnia
That should make for an excellent MB.
Steel frame, plenty of gears (21) and linear pull calipers already put you ahead of the game.
Go for an SBP shift kit and you'll be really set.
 

happycheapskate

New Member
Nov 26, 2009
1,989
3
0
Rockwall TX
Walmart is ok for generic stuff, and you don't have to pay anywhere near $2000 for a mountain bike. There are LOTS of old-school hardtail Trek 820 's on Craigslist. The rigid ones from the 90's handle great and came with dependable parts and wheels.

You can buy brand new mountain bikes with modern stuff for about $400-800 very easily, by checking places like Bikes, Cycling Clothing, Bike Parts & Cycling Gear: Bike Discounts & Deals from Nashbar, Save Up To 60% Off Road Bikes, Bicycles, Mountain Bikes and Bicycles with Bikesdirect.com, New with full warranties, or craigslist.
 

Texhun

New Member
Aug 2, 2011
322
0
0
Rosebud Texas
Hey DRC. Greetings from some random place 30 miles south of Waco, welcome to the forum. Have you tried target they have some good deals on bikes, a friend of mine got a schwinn clairmont for pretty cheap from wally worlds website. You might have some luck looking there.
 
Sep 18, 2011
296
0
16
Tyler Texas
The day after I got my Schwinn Frontier, I found someone selling a Roadmaster 15 speed for $25, so I bought that one too.

Later that day, my son was complaining about how hard it was to find used men's bikes. I told him about my score earlier that day, and when I showed it to him, I could tell that he would get some good use out of it and I gave it to him.

He's thinking about motorizing it, but he wants to see how everything goes with mine first.

I haven't even really started yet, and I'm already making converts! LOL!
 

waistofhumanspace

New Member
Jan 8, 2011
140
2
0
michigan
I would only suggest that you use an OLD schwinn, the steel is better to weld on IF you have to & it hold up to the vibrations too. most of the new bikes are so built with metal so thin that beer cans are thicker.
 
Sep 18, 2011
296
0
16
Tyler Texas
I would only suggest that you use an OLD schwinn, the steel is better to weld on IF you have to & it hold up to the vibrations too. most of the new bikes are so built with metal so thin that beer cans are thicker.
It's an old Schwinn Frontier mountain bike from the late 80's, or early 90's. It has all Shimano parts on it, so that's something I won't have to upgrade.

It seems to be well built, at least better than the stuff I saw at Wal Mart, and it has to be stronger than a Cranbrook!
 

Saddletramp1200

Custom MB Buiilder
May 7, 2008
1,451
83
48
Houston, Texas
Howdy from THE Forum! Larger citys have Scrap metal yards. I buy some nice bikes for two and three dollars sometimes. There sold by the pound there. Just info, that's what We do here. (c)