first bike fail, new escape plan

[Roach]

My son and I built our first motorized bike. We found a nice Schwinn Collegiate for $20 at a rummage sale. We choose this frame because it was really easy to fit a motor on it. Everything bolted up nicely. BUT... after riding it half the summer I think we can do better. The Collegiate is uncomfortable, heavy, and I don't like those skinny tires at all. Scares the **** out of me on gravel. So here's the Schwinn.

 

[Roach]

and here's the new bike, called "Escape Plan." This is the bike we originally wanted but the Schwinn was an easier build. With summer over and riding time limited I'm starting to move parts from the Schwinn to the escape plan.

I have no idea what kind of bike this is, anyone recognize it?

 

[r00t4rd3d]

Is there any numbers on the crank housing or on the rear wheel mounts ?

 

[scotto-]

It does look a little bit rickety....almost frail. I like fat tubes and fat tires with some comfort. I like to fly over gravel....not cut into it and get squirly

 

[kicking]

My son and I built our first motorized bike. We found a really nice Schwinn Collegiate for $20 at a rummage sale. We choose this frame because it was really easy to fit a motor on it. Everything bolted up nicely. BUT... after riding it half the summer I think we can do better. The Collegiate is uncomfortable, heavy, and I don't like those skinny tires at all. Scares the **** out of me on gravel. So here's the Schwinn.

Is there an light on that bike ? Looks like one in the picture . Im looking for one . Dose it run on the white wire ? is it kinda bright , bright or awsome ? try an fat seat . bigger tires , ---- i offten look down at the rough pavement with jagged rocks sticking out of it too . some rocks are loose and pop up .. i wear goggles .... i wish i would had went with that bike ... my motor would had fit perfectly ,, seems the mounts on most motors had this style in mind ... i will be ok with more modify

 

[Roach]

Is there any numbers on the crank housing or on the rear wheel mounts ?

the numbers are not stamped on the crank housing. Instead a plate is riveted in place there.

model # 51T2577

serial # A0017539

 

[r00t4rd3d]

Spiegel Airman made by Monark.

http://oldroads.com/arch/pic1_974.html

That bike is old. Its missing the tank and has different forks/seat on it.

Its gotta be a 1930-40 bike. It might be worth alot of money to the right person.


.

 

[Roach]

Spiegel Airman

Bicycle Spiegel Airman

That bike is old. Its missing the tank and has different forks on it.

oh wow, maybe I should restore it. I have one fender, wheels, original seat (bad shape), and chain guard. Missing lots of parts, the tank, front fender, the fork that came with it isn't a springer.

I think I paid like ten bucks at an auction for this and 2 other scrapped bikes.



I'll have to rethink motorizing this frame.

 

[r00t4rd3d]

Good luck finding parts for it. On ebay the only thing listed for that bike is a head badge for 30 bucks.

antique Spiegel AIRMAN De LUXE bicycle HEAD BADGE 3031 - eBay (item 290473506830 end time Oct-08-10 18:36:13 PDT)

HAHA , look at this and the price :

http://cgi.ebay.com/Spiegle-Airman-...083?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b3c3c113

 

[Roach]

mine is a little different than the Deluxe on ebay. I don't have the adjusters on the back rim and the front fork is different. Probably not worth 500 bucks but might be worth the price of a new engine.

guess I'll take off the silly banana seat and put it back together with all the original parts, see if there's any ebay interest. If not it will make a nice board racer.

 

[Roach]

Is there an light on that bike ? Looks like one in the picture . Im looking for one . Dose it run on the white wire ? is it kinda bright , bright or awsome ? try an fat seat . bigger tires , ---- i offten look down at the rough pavement with jagged rocks sticking out of it too . some rocks are loose and pop up .. i wear goggles .... i wish i would had went with that bike ... my motor would had fit perfectly ,, seems the mounts on most motors had this style in mind ... i will be ok with more modify

the light on the schwinn is a generator light.

The frame needs some modifying on this bike to work well. There is NO spare room in the back for fatter tires. And the motor chain rubs the frame. I got the idler way back and it still rubs. (broke my chain once) I think the rear needs to be bent out at the seat post and then back in a little after it clears the tires.

If I decide to keep this bike motorized I'll probably do that. and put a mountain bike fork on the front. a wider seat and taller handle bars might fix the comfort level. As it is, too much of my weight is on the handles, numbs my fingers.

 

[scotto-]

Spiegel Airman made by Monark.

Bicycle Spiegel Airman

That bike is old. Its missing the tank and has different forks/seat on it.

Its gotta be a 1930-40 bike. It might be worth alot of money to the right person.


.

I'm thinkin more like 50's-60's. I had a similar Monark (stingray style) with banana seat, 3-pc.cranks, stingray bars, front hand caliper brake, metalflake blue and chrome fenders iirc. It was mid-60's. Used to wheelie that thing till the sun went down!

I'd motorize it....what the heck!

That bike didn't come with gears on it either....it's far from original, just sayin.

 

[Roach]

I'd motorize it....what the heck!

I like your attitude

All the non-original parts are what my kid added. I still have a box of original pieces, not a complete bike tho.

And I'll still have a vintage frame and boxfull of parts if I motorize it, right? But, I might take a little more care now. Make it nicer and somewhat contemporary instead of quite so ratty. (not that there's anything wrong with that)

 

[r00t4rd3d]

National Bicycle History Archive of America

email these people if your really interested. They can tell you exactly what year you have by the model/serial number. Maybe even the date it was manufactured.

I would also motorize that bike. Its made for a tank ! A Morini engine would slip in there easy.

I'll give you $50 bucks for the frame and you can keep everything else



.

 

[kicking]

National Bicycle History Archive of America

email these people if your really interested. They can tell you exactly what year you have by the model/serial number. Maybe even the date it was manufactured.

I would also motorize that bike. Its made for a tank ! A Morini engine would slip in there easy.

I'll give you $50 bucks for the frame and you can keep everything else



.

i allways wondered where you could look up serial numbers

 

[Roach]

i allways wondered where you could look up serial numbers

You can't DIY lookup serial numbers. But they do know a lot about bikes it seems and could probably identify most American bikes. They need numbers and photos to make a good identification.

After reading the FAQ I'd be a little embarrassed sending a photo of the "escape plan." They send the bicycle police to my house for the awful rattle can paint job my kids did to it.

 

[r00t4rd3d]

You should have Sport make you a tank for that.

4th post

http://motorbicycling.com/f41/why-doesnt-someone-market-cruiser-gas-15464.html

 

[Roach]

OK, back to the drawing board. I decided to strip the vintage frame and start over. So I'm getting it down to the metal and will have it painted. I'll have to clean up the old rims and find some nice balloon tires, get a new seat, springer fork, tank... lots of time and stuff to collect.

Meanwhile the Schwinn will be my rider but I hate those skinny tires so the MB tires will go on there. The front fit ok but the back needed some bending to make the tires fit. So I fought with that all afternoon and got the tires on, removed the fenders, switched sprockets, and just when I got it together again it started to rain.

 

[killercanuck]

Should've went anyways, there's never a bad time to do a 'wet' test. Unless you're already sure and don't like to get soaked, heh heh. Good luck!

 

[silverbear]

Your Airman has a lot of potential. You can't beat starting off with a solid, well designed frame and then add to it as you go. The frame and wheels are the foundation of your bike. Once you have this on the road, you won't believe how different and better it is than your old bike. It will be well worth the effort and time you put in to it. Good luck with your build and keep the pictures coming...
SB