In Praise of Huffy, Free Spirit, Murray and yard sale "junk"
#26
Thrifty Bill
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+1 I routinely rescue them from the curb or whatever and donate them to the co-op. I cannot afford to fix them up, as I am on a limited budget. Spending my restricted bike funds on bikes where I cannot at least cover my costs, just depletes my budget, and eventually, stops any progress. Every market is different. Around here, if I picked up a Huffy for $10, and put $75 into tires, tubes, cables, chain, freewheel, bearings, grease, brake pads, I might get $40 for the finished bike.
So instead, I focus on bikes where the market will at least cover my costs, and sometimes, pay a premium for it. That way, I replenish the bike fund, and keep the process moving.
+1 And the last Roadmaster I attempted to fix for a friend had brake calipers that were a combination of pot metal and plastic. They disintegrated in my hand.
Fortunately, I find enough LBS branded bikes to wrench on anyway. And there are the occasional Free Spirits and others that were decent.
For basic transportation, I can still find LBS branded rigid frame MTBs cheap. The build quality on these bikes is usually really good, I have enough donors to keep my out of pocket expenses down, and the finished product is a good, solid, reliable ride.
So instead, I focus on bikes where the market will at least cover my costs, and sometimes, pay a premium for it. That way, I replenish the bike fund, and keep the process moving.
+1 And the last Roadmaster I attempted to fix for a friend had brake calipers that were a combination of pot metal and plastic. They disintegrated in my hand.
Fortunately, I find enough LBS branded bikes to wrench on anyway. And there are the occasional Free Spirits and others that were decent.
For basic transportation, I can still find LBS branded rigid frame MTBs cheap. The build quality on these bikes is usually really good, I have enough donors to keep my out of pocket expenses down, and the finished product is a good, solid, reliable ride.
Last edited by wrk101; 02-28-12 at 02:19 PM.
#27
Senior Member
At one point I could take a craptastic 10 speed pile, bolt up a set of cheap single speed wheels (God Bless C-list and take-offs) and sell the result for $160.00. Front brake only, cheap bell on the other side- cuz we're ironic- flat black spray paint. Instant street cred. Market's out of line here. Haven't found a single bike to flip since June. Not participating in the insanity.
I rode my single-speed creations. They worked perty good.
And a link. https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/ I love the old bike boom bikes, even the bad ones.
I rode my single-speed creations. They worked perty good.
And a link. https://oldtenspeedgallery.com/ I love the old bike boom bikes, even the bad ones.
#29
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+1 I routinely rescue them from the curb or whatever and donate them to the co-op. I cannot afford to fix them up, as I am on a limited budget. Spending my restricted bike funds on bikes where I cannot at least cover my costs, just depletes my budget, and eventually, stops any progress.
#30
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Huffy's ok... they did build them to a price, and depending on who they were for there could be a big difference in quality. For instance Huffy lightweights for Sears had araya rims, Huffy lightweights for All-Pro used horrendously flimsy in-house made rims that will never ever stay true. They would even take little short cuts with the frame construction, like squashing the tops of the seat stays on cheap bikes instead of capping them on the slightly less cheap bikes. A penny here, a penny there.
I prefer Murray to Huffy. Better frame geometry, generally better frames and components in general. The huffys I've had tended to handle like they were made of lead, wheareas the Murrays came closer to feeling like "real" bikes. I think Murray used slightly steeper frame angles and a lower bottom bracket. Whatever it is it makes a difference. Also Murray frames were brazed instead of welded.
As for learning on - American bikes in general are easier to work on than any other kinds, but the differences mean that when you do start working on other kinds you've got a lot to get filled in on.
I prefer Murray to Huffy. Better frame geometry, generally better frames and components in general. The huffys I've had tended to handle like they were made of lead, wheareas the Murrays came closer to feeling like "real" bikes. I think Murray used slightly steeper frame angles and a lower bottom bracket. Whatever it is it makes a difference. Also Murray frames were brazed instead of welded.
As for learning on - American bikes in general are easier to work on than any other kinds, but the differences mean that when you do start working on other kinds you've got a lot to get filled in on.
#31
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Hey, it's funny to see this thread, I think you actually picked those up from me!
I rescued them from various curbs on spring clean-up day last year. The Free Spirit was pretty intact. I lubed the chain, adjusted the derailleurs and brakes and trued the wheels a little bit (I think) in plans of giving it to one of my friends as an around-town bike, but she got another bike so it ended up languishing behind my parents' house for a while.
Glad to see you're making good use of it. I thought the Huffy mixte frame was pretty cool too, especially for a Huffy. Most mixte frames are hi-ten so there isn't as large a gulf in quality there. I had pulled some parts off it but I still may have them sitting around somewhere if you need them.
I rescued them from various curbs on spring clean-up day last year. The Free Spirit was pretty intact. I lubed the chain, adjusted the derailleurs and brakes and trued the wheels a little bit (I think) in plans of giving it to one of my friends as an around-town bike, but she got another bike so it ended up languishing behind my parents' house for a while.
Glad to see you're making good use of it. I thought the Huffy mixte frame was pretty cool too, especially for a Huffy. Most mixte frames are hi-ten so there isn't as large a gulf in quality there. I had pulled some parts off it but I still may have them sitting around somewhere if you need them.
#32
Elitest Murray Owner
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Most of the Huffys I've found had barely been used - dry-rotted tires and dried up grease - the rest is usually like new aside from dust and maybe surface rust.
I once picked up a basically NOS 1986 Huffy 10 speed at the thrift shop. The gumwalls weren't even rotted. But the brakes didn't work worth a dam(n) with even the slightest mist in the air, which was a problem since I lived in Seattle at that point. I sold it on for what I had paid with a caution to get better brake pads.
Also I agree, AMF bikes are particularly loathesome. I picked up an essentially unused Western Flyer branded AMF, and the spokes had almost no tension on them. The frames also have a distressing tendency to bend with normal riding. I wouldn't even pick one up for free, except maybe to use as a lawn ornament.
Last edited by Mos6502; 02-28-12 at 06:33 PM.
#33
Oh, I agree with that (a friend had one!) They did make pretty good bowling balls, I have to give them credit for that.
As you acquire knowledge, you'll also learn that Simplex front derailleurs also break even if you don't overtighten the screws.
I'm looking forward to that part of the learning curve. In the meantime, I have discovered that I actually can remove a cottered crank, that the plastic on Simplex front derailleurs will break if you over tighten the screws, and that it is probably lubrication overkill to use $10 a tube Phil Woods grease for the bottom bracket of a Free Spirit.
#34
Sausage King
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Speaking of Huffy...
Back in 1982 or so I raced BMX and Huffy was a joke -everyone I new regarded them as pieces of ****. Then the kid that lived down the street who was an great BMX rider got sponsored by Huffy and they supplied him with a completely awesome "Huffy" racing bike that was the envy of everyone!
I don't know if Huffy actually made the bike or they rebranded another makers frame, perhaps?
Back in 1982 or so I raced BMX and Huffy was a joke -everyone I new regarded them as pieces of ****. Then the kid that lived down the street who was an great BMX rider got sponsored by Huffy and they supplied him with a completely awesome "Huffy" racing bike that was the envy of everyone!
I don't know if Huffy actually made the bike or they rebranded another makers frame, perhaps?
#38
Senior Member
In '85 and '86 the 7-11 team rode on "Murray" bikes built by Serotta, and in '87 and '88 on "Huffy" also by Serotta (I also have one of those but it has been re-painted white with Serotta decals)
#41
Senior Member
And I've run across Iverson's that made any AMF, Huffy, Murray or Rollfast appear to be a second cousin to a P-13 Paramount by comparison. Iverson's were the absolute worst.
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#43
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Murray, Huffy, Free Spirit and the like are really the only c&v bikes that I am interested in at this point in my bike riding/collecting journey. I like some so called "low end" Trek, Specialized, Giants, etc. also but, I'm into bikes that I can ride comfortably and confidently (I'm a clyde) and lock up when I get where I'm going without too much worry. Perhaps as I shed pounds and make more money, I'll develop a taste for higher end bikes but I really doubt it.
#45
Lover of Old Chrome Moly
I'm an old Schwinn man myself. My first "road" bike was a 1970s Schwinn Varsity in chestnut brown. I'm not sure what happened to it as it was in storage at my parents' home for 20+ years and disappeared at some point. I fixed up this Caliente last spring, if it had fit me better, I'd still have it but it's now doing service as a college commuter for a young lady, so all is good.
#46
OldBikeGuide.com
#47
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randy - LOVE your site - but i went looking for vintage MTBs and couldnt find any - are they 'coming soon'?
I recently saw the vintage value in old mountain bicycles. I have some pretty neat old bikes, including the Miyata, an Araya, a Bianchi Alaska, a Tom Richey, a Nishiki(no pic), a Rock Hopper, a GT Tmberline and a Rocky Mountain Hammer, for starters.
Please keep in mind it takes me about 40 hours to do a short feature article. When a full build is involved, that time jumps like crazy. But I really like doing the publication work and it would seem that many people do enjoy the information and pictures I present. Hope so...
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#49
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Thanks, Aaron. I enjoy reading your posts.
My Huffy Bay Pointe is one of my favorite bikes. I do not care how cheap it was and how little it is worth. It rides smooth and is pretty fast with the Shimano Positron 3s 3-speed hub. I fully restored it and converted it to a drop bar. There is something about these low end simple beauty that I am attracted to at the moment. I have some Murray Pheonix as well.
The Bay Pointe came with some IRC Guarantee Roadmaster tires (26x1-3/8). These are some of the best tires I have used. They are knobby but roll/coast really well. I cannot seem to find them now so I got some Kenda Hybrid Ninbus for other low end 3 speed bikes.
Last edited by loubapache; 10-13-12 at 08:38 PM.
#50
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