Huffy Dragster XL - 26” Muscle Bike build

[Rat Pilot]

I picked up this super clean, hardly (if any) used 70’s Huffy Escape recently. Being that it obviously isn’t a desirable bike, I decided to build myself an adult sized muscle bike out of it. I love the color of it, and it just so happens that I already had a wide ducktail rear fender that coincidentally matched the color of the bike. It was like it made to be! This bike already had a cool mag rim looking sprocket, so it should look cool with that theme. I’m planning on apes, skinny front tire, big Ol fat rear tire, a bobbed ducktail fender, mostly likely a white banana seat and grips. After getting the bike out, it rode so smooth and true, I plan on riding this bike

Here is the bike when I got it and the fender I pulled out my parts stash:

 

[Rat Pilot]

I ordered the tires last week, and the front one came in today, so I went ahead and got started on it this evening. I went with a Kenda K123 26 x 1.75 on the front. I had some of these another bike, and they are really narrow. I actually hated them on a middleweight Schwinn I have, but I’ve always thought they’d look cool as front runner on a muscle bike.

I chopped down the fender, and I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. I rotated it around a little more than a normal straight up muscle bike fender. I was going for kind of a Harley Softail look, and I’m liking the way it looks. I’m going to keep my rear tire choice a secret until I see how it looks, but I believe it’s going to pretty tough with this fender. I hope I can squeeze it on there without too much manipulation. I’m hoping I can keep from ruining any paint on the bike itself.

That old 1.75” gumwall looks lost in that big wide fender, but I’m hoping that will be solved tomorrow!

 

[Rat Pilot]

I’m contemplating chopping down the factory front fender and make it floating without the brace.

 

[RustyGold]

I’m contemplating chopping down the factory front fender and make it floating without the brace.

That would look sharp...for sure

 

[Rat Pilot]

I’m going to try to shoot for the look of these bikes. I believe since my fenders aren’t chrome I’m going to white stripe them to break up some of the red. I’m trying to decide if I want to go with a solid white seat and grips or go with a black seat with a white stripe and fender stripes instead like the yellow bike has.

 

[Kevin B]

Nice project.

 

[Rat Pilot]

My 26 X 2.5 Goodyear style tread tire came in today. I’m really happy with the way it looks! It has an old school feel and fills up the rear fender very nice. I’m going to have to either dimple the fender or shave a little off the bottom of the frame fender mount because it is a little tight there, but otherwise it fits great. I’ll probably end up getting a wider rear rim, but for now I’m going to roll with it like it is.

This thing is going to look tough with the banana seat and apes!

 

[Rat Pilot]

The tread looks pretty close to the repro Goodyear tread tires.

 

[Rat Pilot]

I mocked it yesterday evening with apes off another one of my bikes a smaller black seat. I’m really liking look of it!

 

[Rat Pilot]

I got the rear fender frame mount modified and the gap around the rear tire consistent. I took it for a little spin today and it rides great. Can’t wait until that nanner seat gets here!

 

[Brian macumber]

Looking good

 

[OddJob]

I’m contemplating chopping down the factory front fender and make it floating without the brace.

I like that idea. Have used it a couple of times myself. Here's one on a 'big boy muscle bike' I built for one of our Muscle Bike Build Offs a few years ago. 26" tire in the rear, 24 x 1 3/8 jammed onto a Schwinn rim in the front.

 

[OddJob]

My 26 X 2.5 Goodyear style tread tire came in today. I’m really happy with the way it looks! It has an old school feel and fills up the rear fender very nice. I’m going to have to either dimple the fender or shave a little off the bottom of the frame fender mount because it is a little tight there, but otherwise it fits great. I’ll probably end up getting a wider rear rim, but for now I’m going to roll with it like it is.

This thing is going to look tough with the banana seat and apes! View attachment 117662View attachment 117663View attachment 117664View attachment 117665View attachment 117666

Nothing like a tight fender / tire fit to really bring out the muscle! Looks great.

 

[Rat Pilot]

I like that idea. Have used it a couple of times myself. Here's one on a 'big boy muscle bike' I built for one of our Muscle Bike Build Offs a few years ago. 26" tire in the rear, 24 x 1 3/8 jammed onto a Schwinn rim in the front.

View attachment 117991

Man, I like that 24” tire on there. Looks really good!

 

[Rat Pilot]

Looking good

Thanks! - it’s coming along. I can’t wait for the nanner seat and decals to get here.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

That back tire is very cool!

 

[Rat Pilot]

That back tire is very cool!

I thought so too. They sell them in the Goodyear tread and the Brick tread. I really wish they made a WWW in these!

 

[OddJob]

That Sandy Beach is a favorite of mine. Nice'n fat! Used it on my RRB BO #14 build "Trans-MIG-RaT" .

 

[Rat Pilot]

That Sandy Beach is a favorite of mine. Nice'n fat! Used it on my RRB BO #14 build "Trans-MIG-RaT" .

View attachment 118040

That thang is awesome! Nothing beats a CWC frame!

 

[OddJob]

That thang is awesome! Nothing beats a CWC frame!

Yeah, a CWC woman's frame.... ** bobs eyebrows**.....