'60 Jag! 100% DONE!

[GTV]

I've been fine tuning this bike over the last few months. I found a coaster brake fork, stripped it bare, red oxide primered it, painted it black and had it striped as per original. I could finally mount my truss rods! It closed the gap between between the fork and frame, lowering the front about a half inch. When I had the fork striped, I also had the guy add a white stripe down each lower bar, and striped the kickback black. I also purchased and mounted up a repro Schwinn tear drop reflector. I'd still like to install a bulb with a hidden battery pack and switch under the seat... And a small headlight eventually. I scored the "lucky 7" seat post at a swap meet a few weeks ago. I dig how it looks, but it's hard not to slide off the back sometimes! Enough jabber, here's a few shots.


I promise I'll take some non cell phone shots one of these days

[GTV]

Since I installed the layed back seat post, I wasn't digging the stretch to the handlebars. And the bars looked too high in side profile. Dug through my buddy's box o' stems yesterday and found this. It dropped the bars down and back making it lower in profile, and MUCH more comfy to ride. The one bolt design looks super clean, too. I really dig it!

[sleepy]

That is waaaay cool ....real nice and creative work on this build!

[GTV]

Thanks dude! I'm contemplating a tank since the frame originally had one. Would have to find an original that doesn't break the bank though...

[GTV]

Well I found my tank

It's straight, I scrubbed the crap out of it trying to get rid of as much rust as I could, and I took off what was left of the paint (some original, mostly respray). Got some hardware and screwed it on this morning.

I really dig the look. Only downside is that it amplifies every squeak and vibration when I ride! I think I'll shoot the inside with some rubberized undercoat before I mask and shoot the outside in gloss black.
Anyone know where I can find the white Schwinn decals that are correct for this tank/my bike? Not the gold script style, the late 50's early 60's style. And if anyone has a horn, I'm interested!

[sleepy]

This bike gets better with each post.

Check out memorylane-classics.com ...all kinds of Schwinn decals and probably a horn for that tank.

[GTV]

Thanks! I detailed the tank a few weeks ago, and got some decals on ebay from bicyclebones... but I was not at all pleased with them. I was hoping they were a water transfer, and it was going to just leave the letters, but it was not. It was going to leave clear sticker around the decal. It also had the stars on each side, it was clearly for a chain guard but it was advertised as being correct for my Mark IV Jag. Hopefully the ones from memorylane will be better :/

In other news, my girlfriend and I entered our bikes in our first bike show yesterday. I had my Jag, and she brought her Monark (One Classy Broad). There was 4 classes, she one best classic cruiser, and I won best Schwinn. I've never won anything like that, so I'm still pretty pumped about it!

[GTV]

[Houndog]

Nice job!!! I like how the fenders hug those tires...

[GTV]

Thanks man! The Fat Franks are a tight fit in a middleweight.

I'm still looking for a horn assembly, repro is fine. I want to fill that hole. Any leads?

[buckfiddy]

Very nice!

[sleepy]

Bike looks tuff with the big tires!

[GTV]

Kenji hooked me up with this original paint fork I've been looking for, been searching for over a year for one. It's rare to find a non caliper brake mount fork with the long pinstripes, especially in original paint black like I needed. The one I painted and had striped was ok and worked for the time being, but I always want the real deal. The dropouts on this fork are 1/4" higher than the old fork, shoving the Fat Frank even higher up into the fender. It just barely clears.
Not many people give middleweights the credit they deserve. I love them, and this is why:

You can't get tires to fit in a ballon frame like this, at least not without a lot of custom work. There's 1/4" gap right there, just enough to clear the fender bolt head in the fork.

It started to rain again after I took this, so that's the only shot I got. I've got another big (to me) upgrade this weekend, I'll snap some more pics then.

[scott brownsey]

looks sweet

[LukeTheJoker]

Looking good! The big tires make the frame look smaller, more sporty...

Luke.