Question abColumbia Speed Liner ???

[CletusTJudd1969]

I was going through my barn and found a bike that was either my dads or gramps bike. I know dad rode it and I saw gramps in it a couple times back when I was a kid.

It’s a Columbia Speed Liner.

I’ll attach a video so you can see what it is.

If there’s any information that anyone could give me I’d appreciate it so much. I don’t know anything about bikes at all.

 

[RustyGold]

There's a thread or two that I derailed in the past concerning these bikes and their brethren. If you search with my handle and speedliner, or speed liner, it/they should come up.

The gist is, that for some reason pretty much all the manufacturers came out with a version of these single top tube bikes between about '53-'54...and, for the most part, were discontinued after a model year or two. A strange blip in the evolution of the bicycle .

 

[CletusTJudd1969]

Thank you for your info. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it. Maybe yard art or to the dump lol

 

[RustyGold]

Please...no yard art or dumps. Just because they failed when new, doesn't mean they are unwanted now. I find them to be pretty cool, personally...and for the right price I'd buy 'em... I'm sure others would as well. I saw a version of one of these at the last swapmeet I was at, and would have bought it if the price would have been a bit lower, and if I wouldn't have found other stuff I needed more.

 

[CletusTJudd1969]

Thanks for the info. I’ve never really been into bikes, well since I wrecked my Evel Knievel bike back in 76 and quite ironically it was on the 4th of July. I just kinda forgot about this bike up in the hay loft. Last I remember seeing it was back in 2000-2001.

 

[RustyGold]

Throw an ad up in the for sale section...it looks like it could be brought back to life rather easily.

It may not be worth much more than the price of shipping, but, some one local might cough up a Benjamin for it...or at least some Hamilton's.

 

[Wildcat]

Here's 1954 ads:

I would keep it since it's a family heirloom somewhat. The seat looks like the same one in the ads, and the bike looks well kept for it's age. I would get some tires, they are easy enough to find, same as beach cruisers. And then get it all lubed and adjusted and ride it. Columbia bikes had their serial number on the rear of the frame down where the wheel bolts up. It was stamped lightly but it may be visible. The first letter will tell what year it is. An "R" would be a 1953 bike. "W" would be a 1954 bike, "A" would be 1955, "B" would be 1956. I'm pretty sure it's 54 but that would confirm it.

 

[CletusTJudd1969]

Awesome thanks.

 

[Captain Awesome]

I like it, but I have a soft spot for Columbia's

 

[CletusTJudd1969]

My wife and I decided to sell this bicycle. Unfortunately my brain has been rattled one too many times from deploying flash bangs and I can’t figure out how to post an add on here. Lol

 

[RustyGold]

Go to the For Sale section...

For Sale

Then click on the 'Post Thread' in the upper right.

 

[Rustinkerer]

These bikes were the first response to declining sales in the early '50s. Kids had discovered 3 speed Euro touring bikes, and loved how easy they were to ride, compared to American heavy ballooners. These were quickly replaced by new middleweight lines. -Adam