▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓ Now with riding video!

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yoothgeye

I build stuff.
Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
8,257
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Location
Roanoke Rapids, NC
Well guys, it's been fun again. I finished last year's build-off and had it in my mind that I wouldn't do it again, but I just couldn't stay away. Thanks for the memories.

I had kind of thought that I might add some more bits and pieces to this bike, but time is thin and life is thick. It's a rider and it's a head turner, when I rode around taking photos today others slowed down in the road to do the same. I like this bike, I would have much rather been shooting photos of G.I.JESSE JAMES today, but that's life.

This is a 1956 J.C. Higgins, build in West Germany while the US Murray factory employees were on strike. You can review the build here: viewtopic.php?f=67&t=58840

Once again, it has been an honor to build alongside such talented builders as the ones on this forum. I present to you, Higgins the German Spy.


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Click for video (sorry for crappy resolution, had to convert from .mov):

 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

marcus84 said:
this is one fine rat. the ape is a killer. Great photos too.

Thanks man, she's a head turner and I just laughed when I rode it down sidewalks and my hands were hitting low tree limbs. :lol:
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Peatbog said:
Whoa! Those photographs are really cool.

Uh, the bike is cool too, just sayin' the photographs really rock.

Thanks. My kids broke my 14mp point and click just before vacation, so I am back to using my 4mp point and click HOWEVER I borrowed my wife's digital SLR for the photos and all pictures were taken this morning within a mile of my house, mostly all on 1 alley.
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Peatbog said:
Especially the first photo. It looks like the swan is jealous of the apes and is trying to stretch its head higher.

Haha, when I first got the swan I thought it's head was pointing up too high, so I heated it with the torch and bent it down.
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Awesome RAT! 8) 8)
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Looks Great!!! A guy gave me a rough set of 36" apes the other day and the first thing to pop in my head was Yoothgeye!!! 8) :mrgreen:
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

FatBoy said:
Looks Great!!! A guy gave me a rough set of 36" apes the other day and the first thing to pop in my head was Yoothgeye!!! 8) :mrgreen:

How are 36" apes measured? They are probably bigger than mine.
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

I've been waiting for this build to finish...I hope you have extra long arms to go with those knuckle knockers :lol:
Nice job,looks like a fun ride...
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Funkme said:
I've been waiting for this build to finish...I hope you have extra long arms to go with those knuckle knockers :lol:
Nice job,looks like a fun ride...

Thanks! You used your 100th post on me, that's awesome! I could actually make these bars longer and I could still reach, my shorter friend could reach also, I need to make a riding video and clear up all these thoughts of the bars being too tall! haha
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

You're armpits will be nice n dry.

Great photos.
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

ifitsfreeitsforme said:
You're armpits will be nice n dry.

Great photos.

Thanks. Yes, dry armpits and my shirt sleeves gather up on my shoulders, I have to pull them back down when I get off the bike or it looks like I'm wearing a girl's shirt.
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Great job a true rat rod.

pizapcom13408370213271.jpg
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

That is one great bunny rat!!!!!
Especially considering that you had to switch past mid stream.
Congrats on a great true rat build!!!!!!
BRAVO!!!!

Rat-rosa-bunny.jpg
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

Yep the apes and the blue forks... awesome! I would ride it til everyones neck hurt watching! LOL
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

char said:
Awesome bike! I want it! I bet it's fun to ride :D

Thanks, rides are free, but at the end of the day it stays in my shop. :wink:

deorman said:
Well, the seat and crank are a little lower than your usual fare. :| The grips, not so much. :mrgreen:

Yeah, it's all an optical illusion, the grips are at regular height, the rest of the bike is actually one of those clown bikes dressed up to look like a full size bike.

PeterBuilt said:
Great job a true rat rod.

I thank you and your dog... errr... bunny? Anyway, I wanted this to be a rat, last year I kind of faked the finish, this one is all real.

kingfish254 said:
That is one great bunny rat!!!!!
Especially considering that you had to switch past mid stream.
Congrats on a great true rat build!!!!!!
BRAVO!!!!

Thanks, switching from G.I.JESSE JAMES was hard to do but I wanted to get to this point and here I am.

mitchelangelo said:
Yep the apes and the blue forks... awesome! I would ride it til everyones neck hurt watching! LOL

Thanks, at the end of the day I thought about painting the forks, but I thought, if this was my car back in the day and I needed a new fender before cruising later that night, I'd just slap it on and go, maybe paint it later. And yes, when I ride, people take notice, almost as much as when I'm on my tall bikes.
 
Re: ▓▒░ Higgins the German Spy ░▒▓

I am loving the pictures and the bike. As a photographer, I can appreciate good pics! The bike is awesome. I love Higgins bikes. Sounds like I'll have to wait in line to take it for a spin!
 

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