I just did an even muscle bike trade. I swapped my Jet Star 3 speed muscle bike for a Raleigh Chopper 3 speed Mark 2. I'd say both bikes were in "roughly" the same "rough" condition.
I have no regrets other than the Raleigh chopper absolutely will not come apart. The sissybar has welded itself in with rust and the pin on the sprocket side of the 3 piece crank has done the same and actually may never come out since it peened itself over and mashed itself all over inside now. I'll figure something out. The wheel rims are literally rusted right through and are un-useable but the hubs are good so I can have the hubs respoked into different rims and eventually the crank will come out even if it must be cut to remove it. The sissybar may need to be heated with a torch AND hit with a sledgehammer and a long block of wood once I have the frame in a friend's vice but it too will eventually come out (I reason) hopefully.
Here is my dilemma and what I need help on from other members. Anyone who would like to give their opinion is very welcome to comment.
Here's my problem. It seems no one has any parts for this bike or if they do they won't sell or part with them. England has the parts but shipping will be sky high and the parts are super super expensive. Also, by the time I restore the bike back to original condition I'll have a Raleigh chopper mark 2 that looks like every other Raleigh chopper and also a ton of money in it (likely well over $600 in parts alone) and a bike that at least here is the USA is really not well liked by people.
I hate to just let the bike rust and sit. So I wondered if it would be taboo to radically alter this super rusty, no chrome left on it anywhere bike.
I was thinking about powdercoating or painting ALL the parts that used to be chrome but are now pitted and heavily rusted one color and then painting the frame and fork a different color. Every chrome part that once was chrome on this bike would get painted. The factory stickers on the bike would be replicated to appear as they originally looked only they would be the same color the chrome parts ended up being painted. The spoke nipples on the wheels would be painted the color the chrome parts were painted and the spokes and rims on the wheels would be painted the color of the frame, fork and chainguard. The gooseneck would also be painted the same color as the frame, fork and chainguard so that the handlebars don't look like they are too much all one color.
I need to know if this idea is okay to do (I know its my bike, I'm just checking to see if other people feel doing this is somehow killing a rare bike) and what color choices I should entertain. I mean it's not like I'm killing a bike that is in decent condition and even the paint on the frame fork and chainguard has a lot of moderate rust on it.
I won't do black or red as everyone paints their bike in some shade of black or red where I live. However I asked for your opinion so I will listen to all opinions.
I have no regrets other than the Raleigh chopper absolutely will not come apart. The sissybar has welded itself in with rust and the pin on the sprocket side of the 3 piece crank has done the same and actually may never come out since it peened itself over and mashed itself all over inside now. I'll figure something out. The wheel rims are literally rusted right through and are un-useable but the hubs are good so I can have the hubs respoked into different rims and eventually the crank will come out even if it must be cut to remove it. The sissybar may need to be heated with a torch AND hit with a sledgehammer and a long block of wood once I have the frame in a friend's vice but it too will eventually come out (I reason) hopefully.
Here is my dilemma and what I need help on from other members. Anyone who would like to give their opinion is very welcome to comment.
Here's my problem. It seems no one has any parts for this bike or if they do they won't sell or part with them. England has the parts but shipping will be sky high and the parts are super super expensive. Also, by the time I restore the bike back to original condition I'll have a Raleigh chopper mark 2 that looks like every other Raleigh chopper and also a ton of money in it (likely well over $600 in parts alone) and a bike that at least here is the USA is really not well liked by people.
I hate to just let the bike rust and sit. So I wondered if it would be taboo to radically alter this super rusty, no chrome left on it anywhere bike.
I was thinking about powdercoating or painting ALL the parts that used to be chrome but are now pitted and heavily rusted one color and then painting the frame and fork a different color. Every chrome part that once was chrome on this bike would get painted. The factory stickers on the bike would be replicated to appear as they originally looked only they would be the same color the chrome parts ended up being painted. The spoke nipples on the wheels would be painted the color the chrome parts were painted and the spokes and rims on the wheels would be painted the color of the frame, fork and chainguard. The gooseneck would also be painted the same color as the frame, fork and chainguard so that the handlebars don't look like they are too much all one color.
I need to know if this idea is okay to do (I know its my bike, I'm just checking to see if other people feel doing this is somehow killing a rare bike) and what color choices I should entertain. I mean it's not like I'm killing a bike that is in decent condition and even the paint on the frame fork and chainguard has a lot of moderate rust on it.
I won't do black or red as everyone paints their bike in some shade of black or red where I live. However I asked for your opinion so I will listen to all opinions.
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