"I am sorry for calling it junk."
 

As I mentioned a while back, I started bicycle riding on a daily basis, eventually getting to the point that I am now riding every morning and every evening that I am not out of town.

The bike I am riding is an old school strand cruiser that I bought from a neighbor about 20 years ago for $20. It is a cool bike and works perfect for what I am doing. I do a lot of off-road riding with it, and as a result I could hear that the wheel bearings could use some attention.

This morning we were on our morning ride/run and decided to stop at the bike repair shop down the street to see if he could do a tune-up on it. He said he could have it back to me today for $65 so I said go for it.

While he was writing up the paperwork I asked him how much he thought the bike would be worth. He said, "I don't know. I don't collect junk."

"Junk?"

"Yes, junk. With bicycles it is all about the name."

"Well, what brand is this?"

"It is Schwinn junk."

I thought it was incorrect, but he is the expert.

He asked if I wanted to replace the spokes at $50/wheel. I declined because, well, the bike was junk.

As I was walking back to the shop I was wondering what kind of shape the bike would be in. Would he clean it? I started thinking about his [lack] of marketing skills. I mean, tell someone his item is junk, but would you like to spend an extra $100? So to be honest, I was expecting the bare minimum when I got there.

Instead, I was greeted with, "I am sorry for calling it junk."

Apparently someone more in tune with bicycles stopped by and they discovered that the bike was a 1948 JC Higgins and that they run between $1,500 and $3,000.

I think I have a new project.

good story :)

thank you for delightning storytelling write abook for it please

Why do all of your stories sound made up?

because he is expert of testimonial writings

Should be enough to prove I can write a better testimonial for you than you did for yourself. $350 and I will have it to you tonight.

:thumbsup

Pretty cool story. Any pix of the bike?

Very cool looking bike :thumbsup
http://johnsvintagebikes.com/Collect...ter/index.html

That's pretty awesome. You'll have to post some pics of it.

Baddog's idea of bicycle riding :1orglaugh

http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/x...o/viking-8.jpg


.

Ran out and grabbed one with my backup camera . . . not sure how I got by using it for so long.

http://juliablue.com/48jchiggins.jpg

My saddle and grips are in much better shape. Would not mind finding that rack now. Time to start hitting motorcycle swap meets again.

The leather jacket and jeans that goes by with it, are they the same age? ;)

That's pretty old school. I imagine it'll only increase in value, no?

Well, now that I know its potential I will probably invest a couple hundred in a paint job and rebuilding the wheels. So, yeah.

My son was just asking me if I was going to continue riding it off-road every day. I don't think I will change my riding habits. I always enjoyed the bike.

Retro vintage bikes are all the rage in the local bike shops lately. I see riders on the street with them all the time.

Whitewalls are cool and the bike is overall - but I'd kill that thing on Niagara's glacial rock trails inside a week or two. It might survive the groomed trails awhile.

Can't see you on a bike like that for some reason lol

That help?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1276803876

Yep, looks like fun for both of you.

It like the antique road show tv show. Oh this dust collector was my mothers we only kept it because it was hers. Then the antiques guy says see this banding here ? Its very rare worth 15 k.

He loves it and I am getting the health benefits.

LOL, nice story buddy.

BD, I love reading your threads because the feedback is entertaining. I am actually surprised by the bike shop's empathy, after seeing your pic I would have called it "a piece of shit". At the same time, I've bought and sold some antique shit for unbelievable profits. Go figure. PS - I noticed there's no bar between the balls there, in my day we called that a sissy bike. Them were fightin words.

Sweet looking bike, cruiser bike styles!!
He can be thankful you didn't punch him out! haha

Ebay :-)

Oldschool!

Nice read.Not into bicycles but that one looks cool,for real.Maybe it's the fact that it's old and famous.

I have 3 of those exact bikes. Honestly they're not worth anywhere near what you were quoted. Killer bikes though. I've restored 1 of mine for my girl and the other 2 are in my shop waiting for their turn.

man thats not junk! Old Vatos or some collector will pay for that! Fix it up and post pics man, old school is the best school!

nice one

Nice one BD :)

I would do the paint get her fixed up for another few hundred and sell it on ebay for
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.
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$150 Doh!

But for $20 and the fact it is working for you. Go for it.

I never really understood why boy's bikes always had the bar to crush your nuts on when the chain slipped off.

I went online to check it out last night and my initial peruse came up with several hundred dollars for bikes in questionable shape. I am sure his top dollar estimate was based on bikes in better shape. Might have something to do with where I live too.

I know that old schwin bikes(40 years ago) that are in good condition are worth alot, the ones now suck

I've got an old pre-WW2 cruiser I'm going to start fixing up. It's a "commander", but I'm not sure who makes it. Really cool bike, steel frame, has a "tank" and everything. It's hard to find the time but I look forward to getting it solid.

I have been planning the rebuild of mine for the last 12 hours. I have a friend that paints custom motorcycles (Hamsters MC for those in the know). I was just thinking this morning that I kind of wish mine had a tank.

I am not sure I would have purchased it 20 years ago if it did though. One of those hindsight things.

back in the day it was where your gf would sit side saddle, and girls bikes had no bar so women could ride with skirts on..

Cmon baddgog you are older than dirt , you should know this..:winkwink:

I have never heard it suggested that the nut crushing bar was put there in place to carry passengers.

The skirt thing makes sense although I had never heard the reasoning before.

Nice read.

That is a good story, lol.

cool bike

the bike has potential i must say, no where near 1500-3500 potential but potential. i am personally a collector/flipper myself. i search yard sales, police auctions, storage unit sales, you name it for such bikes to buy, fix, and sell.
sears/schwinn almost had a full on monopoly of bicycles back then. you had got lucky since they did make millions of bicycles and most have no value today, especially womens bikes. by the way if you ever want to know the age of your schwinn you can find out via the serial numbers. if it is pre 52 you will find it under the crank, up to 69 is at the rear axle and latter ones have it by the emblem. from there you can take the number and do some searches online for exact date.

between now and last year i have restored and sold 4 bikes which is actually a bit above normal as i am lucky to find and do more than 2 a year, saying that because i still have 1 more bike that has not been touched yet and still is pretty yucky.
i sold my most expensive bike last year in those numbers. it was a 1949 schwinn whizzer that was fully restored to factory condition. it sold for 3,800. i also sold a 58 schwinn jaguar also restored, a 46 bf goodrich schwinn (restored), and a 78 stingray sneaker which also coincidentally was the same type and year of my first "big boy" bicycle.

the one i have that still needs all of its restoration done is a 59 hornet. this bike was built by schwinn for the purpose of being used by paperboys. all of the features on it were made for doing the deliveries. examples being the spokes where of a larger guage, handle bars made to hold the bags, it had reinforced forks, lower gear ratio to allow for heavy loads and hills, plus a bit more. i will need to get another light kit since it is missing and at very least some work on the frame near what looks like a gas tank and the carrier rack. ok again i ramble. i just love early bikes.