While I may not enter my prewar step-thru Monark into the 2024 Step-Thru Build Off, I might enter this 24" Murray-built Western Flyer into the 2024 Muscle Bike Build Off as a pig bike.
Yesterday, I decide to mock up a few parts to see what I liked best. Unfortunately, the original fork is bent out of shape.
Fortunately, I happened to have one good fork to replace it!
I already had the banana seat and sissy bar on there from a prior mockup, but I threw on a different set of handlebars that had a bit more wear and tear to go along with the rest of the bike.
I couldn't set up the front (now rear) fender the way I wanted due to some clearance issues with the fender braces, but this looks good to me.
That said, I still had one more fork I wanted to try out. I tried out this flipped Schwinn springer fork, and I got to say, I love it! In fact, I think I love it even more now that I'm looking at the photos than I did yesterday when it was on the work stand. The only problem I have with this is that I want this bike to look like a barn find/survivor, and I want all the colors to go together convincingly. If I strip the blue paint off the fork, wire brush it and clear it, it'll look alright, but it won't look like it'd been on the bike since the '60s/'70s. And while I've dabbled with fauxtina before, that's only been limited to painting "rust" on new bottom bracket hardware, staining fabric, and "dirtying up" fresh whitewall tires. I've never tried to color match paint and patina like this before.
But then again... maybe I don't have to match the red paint... Maybe I just need to make it look like some kid spray-painted it silver/gray to look like chrome... and then use the same fauxtina technique I used on that bottom bracket hardware to make it look old and rusty...
Hmm...
Well, if I don't go this route with this Western Flyer, I know I'd love to stick this fork on a 26" Murray!
I threw the other 24" fork back on, and shot some good photos out in the driveway. Regardless of which fork I end up using, I'm certain this old 24" Western Flyer will make a solid pig bike!
The red paint on the 24" fork actually matches the red paint on the frame much better in the sunlight. I'm very pleased with that.
Not so fun fact: this banana seat did not have a chunk of the vinyl and padding missing from the front when I got it. I had it mocked up on another 24" bike of mine to show a friend at a show, and it stayed secure on bike I mounted to my hitch-mounted bike rack
right up until I went over the overpass just ahead of my turn into the neighborhood. This one small overpass has some nasty bumps where the asphalt ends and the concrete begins, and I didn't slow down enough to prevent my bike rack from bouncing a little and essentially catapulting the banana seat onto the pavement as I was driving. I still cringe thinking about that...
Still, on this bike, it doesn't look so bad. Worst case scenario, I can cover up the damage with a sticker or some tape, whatever looks more "period correct."
I'm not going to enter this bike into the MBBO until I know for sure I can build it before the deadline. Aside from the usual issues with headset bearings, cups and races, I'd have to buy two new 24" tires for this bike, one balloon and one middleweight, and preferably with a similar, old school tread pattern. I really don't have the money to spend on tires right now, so this project just might have to wait until later before I can build it.
Also, while the front wheel just needs to be trued to roll nice and straight, the rear wheel feels like someone just barely threw it back together and forgot to tighten any of the spokes. Also, the coaster brake hub is loose, and I'm worried it might be damaged beyond repair.
I've got a pair of rusty 24" chrome wheels I can use if need be, but I'd like to use the original wheels if at all possible.