1955 Monark Rocket Build/restore

[bairdco]

exactly. the "all original 30's Hawthorne Zep 26" bike" with new powdercoated paint and water-based tank decals.

that just reminded me of the halloween costume contest at the bar last night, where all the winners had store-bought costumes...

 

[Mike GeniuS]

2door- it is just a tack weld also the steel used was 4130 tube i had laying around I had to sand the scale off before welding maybe that's why it looks like EMT. I have been a toolmaker for 21 years and have some engineering background in internal combustion engines and robotics so when it comes to structual integrity i can sometimes go overboard. But it never hurts to question someone on there way of doing something. no offense taken thanks -big mike

I thought I was the only one that was into robotics & engineering.

 

[David D.]

Love your bike man....will be watching close...just finishing a 53' schwinn myself.... caught a little flack on here about my hub mods... more people are lovin' your bike than hatin' it .... keep up the good work, David

 

[Mike GeniuS]

If your gonna build a museum piece, then put it in a museum. Otherwise, build it to ride it, & enjoy it. If you didn't put all the work into your bike, where would it be then? A couple of small mods to see it fixed up, & on the road & ridden is well worth it.
I'd like to see some pictures of that '53 schwinn. I had a '66 schwinn as a kid, & I loved that bike - except for the short throw cranks. Can't win 'em all. Anyway, I dig the old stuff. The more pics, the better.

 

[David D.]

hey genius, the pics are here , just look at the posts, put some a couple days ago then some last week... been putting em' up as i go... will have the finshed ones in a day or so...

 

[Mike GeniuS]

Monarks kick huffy a$$! Long live the Rocket.....

 

[Mike GeniuS]

David D, can't find the pics. (i'm no genius when it cmes to navigating this site)

 

[Mike GeniuS]

I'm a Monark guy. I'm doin' a 100pt resto on this bike. It's been in my family for 60+ years. YES, I'm putting a motor on it when it's done, & YES i'm riding it when it's done. Museum pieces are for museums. I'm gonna look at it, ride it, own it, restore it, & enjoy it. Lifes too short, & it's not meant to hang on a wall, it's meant to be ridden & enjoyed.
Long live the Rocket !!!!!

 

[Mike GeniuS]

Although I do have a 1969 Lamburtus folder, and a '77 HD AMF Sportster, I am totally into Monarks. Before I started researching this bike, I had no idea what a Monark Rocket even was. Now that I know about them, I'm even more into them than ever. I am completely restoring this bike, & moneys' no object. I have most of it covered, exept for a few things:

(1) I have the model# under the crank tube, but don't know what year it is. I want to know the exact year.

(2) The front strut rods have a top mount - I don't even know what it looks like. I never had it. I need the mount & the struts (I lost the struts while in storage)

(3) The cranks & sprocket, although Monark, is not original to the bike (and it was bent). SilverBear sent me the right ones & saved the day. He rocks.

(4) The electric horn works, I have the tail reflector & rear rack, but I don't have the headlight, nor do I know what it even looks like.

(5) The rack is stamped steel with riveted legs, and is pinstriped. It has a busted tab where it connects to the seat clamp. (paper-thin steel - I have to mig weld)

(6) After repainting the maroon color, I have to figure out a way to reproduce the factory yellow/tan & baby blue/green hand-painted graphics. It would be nice to know what the 3 colors exactly are.

(7) It has a Bendix coaster brake. Is that original ? Also, why does it say both {Rocket} and {Silver King} on the neck badge ?

I Know this is a long message, but if you could help me with any of these things, that would be awsome. I can't find much info on Rockets, (lots on Silver Kings & Deluxe) but you seem the most knowlegible so far on Monarks, and I hope you can help. Your bike looks very similar to mine - even the colors, and believe me, I don't think they're very common. (good thing)

Thanx alot mpr455 - M&M (Mike & Michelle)

 

[David D.]

Hey Mike, look in "pictures, and in Vintage , and in general discussion... for a schwinn Corvette .... you will see posted the latest ones yesterday in the thread "build Off, amature"