Trek Cruiser "JB Wild"

[Green P1]

This popped up on the local CL a couple days ago and sweet lady gave me what I feel was a pretty good deal on it. Its an attractive frame and being made out of aluminum, its feather light. Being that I'm 6'3 and its a 19 inch frame, I really only bought it for the 3speed alloy wheelset. Call me crazy, but I think I prefer the heaviness of the steel frame as well... I'll probably end up just throwing another set of wheels on and try to send her on down the line to someone in the market for a well built feather light cruise.

[kngtmat]

Neat bike, the way the company painted it looks nice.

[Diamond Dogg]

That color is epic for a men's bike...Love it...

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Nice finds

[CHAMPION123]

I ride a Trek Woody, daily and love it. Looks like the same frame. Give the aluminum frame a fair try. I'm 6"2" / 235 lbs. and have had no problems. I love the old steel stuff also, but sometimes light weight is good. Today it was 5 degrees on the way to work this morning. But the ride was awesome. I think my frame is a 20" so maybe Trek made different sizes.Thanks for posting the Trek. Gary

[Green P1]

The look of the bike is really growing on me, but after riding it all day yesterday I just cant get over how light it is. I'm just used to riding heavy old scrap iron bikes.... not aircraft quality light weight aluminum. I'm really looking to build something I can throw a motor into down the road if i get the urge so... I think I'll just continue my search for a full size cantilever frame to swap wheels with this one and get her sold down the road.

[MplsCoaster]

Good score!
I like mine a lot! Its a 21" so a little harder to find but it fits me better. It was 36 Lbs when I bought it, now 24.5lbs. Was able to gear it harder 38/14 and it's a lot of fun. Had to got through the hub though. One bearing was completely dry.


Good Luck with whatever you do with yours.

[outskirtscustoms]

I ride a Trek Woody, daily and love it. Looks like the same frame. Give the aluminum frame a fair try. I'm 6"2" / 235 lbs. and have had no problems. I love the old steel stuff also, but sometimes light weight is good. Today it was 5 degrees on the way to work this morning. But the ride was awesome. I think my frame is a 20" so maybe Trek made different sizes.Thanks for posting the Trek. Gary

I couldn't agree more, I have a Del Sol hybrid bike that I love. Only a 7 speed but I could ride it for days. Came with a nice gel seat, and suspension seat post when I got it, Also put a triple tree suspension fork on it now. It's going to be re-done as a light weight rat.

[Green P1]

Good score!
I like mine a lot! Its a 21" so a little harder to find but it fits me better. It was 36 Lbs when I bought it, now 24.5lbs. Was able to gear it harder 38/14 and it's a lot of fun. Had to got through the hub though. One bearing was completely dry.


Good Luck with whatever you do with yours.

Yours looks super sweet!

[Green P1]

The dang thang grew on me... Guess I'll have a go at making her over the way I like. Swapped out the handlebars and added some new grips.
Now I've decided to fill in one of the awkward gaps and add a little more heft to the light frame. I don't know much about welding sheet metal to aluminum... but I had quite a bit of JB weld sitting around at work... so we'll just see how that works out. The piece fits tight enough that It will stick in place during a short ride by itself, so maybe it'll hold. I've seen JB do some crazy things.



I guess I need to start up a new thread in the build section or can I get this one moved?

[Green P1]

Finished stripping today. Went the spray on aircraft stripper route this time and was a little underwhelmed with its effectiveness... but its still much easier than wire wheeling the whole dang thing. Pictures don't show it but I also got the little tabs that hold the shifter cable in place grinded off and a couple holes drilled to run the cable in frame.



Hope to get it primed tomorrow, but still dont know what direction I'm going to go with paint. Leaning toward flat blacking it with the fake tank contrasting. I'm also looking for an adult version of the Huffy chain guard like the one on the Convertible I'm restoring to adapt to this build.

[gcrank1]

Nice find..........I would have thought long and hard about just the alum. finish, like a racer aeroplane......but it aint my build .
Glad you kept it!

[Green P1]

Nice find..........I would have thought long and hard about just the alum. finish, like a racer aeroplane......but it aint my build .
Glad you kept it!

I really liked the look of the bare aluminum but with the steel fake tank and forks I just cant leave it....

[MplsCoaster]

I'm glad yours grew on you. You beat me to the punch when you stripped it down.
That was going to be my summer project.
Now I know how cool it's going to look, I may have to get it done before I start my build off bike
Looking forward to seeing how you put it together. The tank insert helps the look of the modern frame
Good Luck!

[Green P1]

Got her primed this morning. I gotta say I'm impressed with how seamless the JB weld looks around the fake tank. There's nothing you cant do with that stuff!


Question: Does anyone have a trick for removing 3 piece cranks without one of those fancy little threaded puller things? I've never messed with 3-piece before.