I blew the picture up and looking at half of the rear wheel it looks like a 36 spoke wheel, good advice to check the wheel crassius.
First Build.
- Thread starter Beastmodepink82
- Start date
I'll drop in at a Wal-Mart and check the 26inch. If I have the reach I'll defenatly go with that. I can pick a 26in up used for $100 or less all day.
On a side note, I would just like to say thank you to all the gentleman here that have assisted me! I really appreciate not having a single person treat me like I was incapable. I have bragged to a lot of my lady friends about you guys! I'm really excited about doing this and the support I have gotten has just increased my excitement that much more.
I recently built a kent bayside - about $100 new at walmart and sometimes on sale at $79 - reasonably easy build, fairly comfortable to ride - brakes are a bit soft tho
I can pick up a near new schwinn or huffy for under $100 any time. There's actually a schwinn for $45 now and a Huffy Les Lusso for $100. There both 26 inch and pretty much new. Any quality difference between them and the kent?
not sure if any bikes are built anywhere other than china now, and all about same quality - as mentioned, I don't build coaster brake bikes because they get expensive to make safe and take a lot of extra work otherwise too
for first build, look for an easy one - just your inexperience will make that hard enough to get right
for first build, look for an easy one - just your inexperience will make that hard enough to get right
The firmstrong posted above is a steel frame. But, the cheapest I can very it is $170. You don't see a lot of those used.
I've seen a lot of recommendations for disc brakes.
disks are nice on front, but hard to do on back
I sell kits at my shop and am often hesitant to sell a person a kit when with no experience they tell me about all the custom work and welding and modification they're going to do - one needs to do a couple easy ones right before thinking about a hard build.
I sell kits at my shop and am often hesitant to sell a person a kit when with no experience they tell me about all the custom work and welding and modification they're going to do - one needs to do a couple easy ones right before thinking about a hard build.
Yeah! I have zero intentions of doing anything that involves welding! I have zero experience there and no tools accessible to have that done. I just want to make sure the braking system is safe. What would be your best recommendation for braking system that would be easy for a first build?
the one I showed the pic of is easy (very few decisions to make on getting fit right) - the brakes work well enough to get used to it while thinking of better pads or a simple bolt on of a nice tektro clone on the front
note: for a first build, none of these can be called simple
note: for a first build, none of these can be called simple
No matter which bike you use brakes will be tested, most find that brake pads wear very fast. I've seen people use only coaster brakes and I've seen people use only one rim brake, both are unwise. I always like brakes on both wheels. If you use a multi speed bike you may want a dual brake lever to have both brakes operate at once, or you'll have a brake and clutch lever on the left side.
A single speed beach cruiser will be the bike I use.
I've see how much damage can happen at 20mph. I would just prefer to keep it all fun and games and avoid the whole someone losing an eye part. Haha!
I've see how much damage can happen at 20mph. I would just prefer to keep it all fun and games and avoid the whole someone losing an eye part. Haha!
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is King! Just hit Fred Meyer hopped on a 26 inch women's Schwinn and a 29 inch men's Schwinn and my leg clearance was exactly the same. You figure that one out! Flying Horse engine kit has been purchased. I'll just wait till it comes in and fit it on something off Craigslist. They have a Schwinn on there for $45 right now that's been ridden like three times.
If your browsing Craigslist, a Schwinn Jaguar is a sturdy bike. It's multi speed, but the whole rear gear assembly unscrews, and you can screw on a single speed freewheel. It has linier side pull brakes, which will stop you nicely. A single speed Beach cruiser will have coaster brakes...not good, unless you find an older model (made in the USA). Now they are mostly on lost cost bikes. All I use are sidepull and I prefer them over disc. (unless you find a $100 bike with hydraulic disc...snatch it up.
There are several different Schwinn's and Huffy's I can pick up for under $50 that are in your new condition. All single speed. Could I not just pick up one of those and swap out the braking system?
The newer multi-speed bikes have the v-brake system, they have mounts welded on the frame or fork. I ride a single speed and haven't had a problem with stopping, like I posted earlier I add a bmx side pull brake to the front. Every bike I've built has the mounting hole, its the bolt that mounts the front fender. If you're not going to ride it like you stole it this set up works fine. About $20 on eBay for a kit with lever, cable and brake with pads, 96mm reach works.
Thank you Greg! I appreciate all of your comments and all of your help. There's a couples Schwinn's and a couple of Huffy's on Facebook Market. All right around $50. Unfortunately my washing machine broke and I had to get a new one. So I have to put off buying the bike until next month. But my engines here and I'm super excited about that.
Can't go wrong with what Greg has said. I'm always going to swap meets and finding great buys.
That's a nice looking bike! I got the flying horse with the black finish. It seems like most of the beach cruisers out there or a steel frame with steel Forks. They all seem pretty solid. I don't think that I can go wrong picking up any of them that's in good condition. The ones that are the most available are the Huffy's and the Schwinns. Is there a quality difference between those two? Also, I can do spark plugs and wires, change my own tire, do break pads and I did a starter once. I've always done all the repairs on my kids bikes and skateboards. I was a single mom so I did all that. I do basic home repairs. I think that putting the bicycle engine kit together will probably be more complicated than any braking system I might paid. But I don't know cuz this is my first one.