1980 Varsity Klunk

[Nickoo]

Hello Rat Rodders. Figured I’d intro with my first klunkerish cruiser build. I’ve been restoring older bikes (mainly Japanese heyday road bikes and 90s Taiwanese MTBs) for years—as a hobby and as a little side income. This summer, however, I got bit by the even-older American bug, I guess you could say, when I came across an XL Varsity in a junkyard. I was out looking for something to turn into a cheap, fun dirt-road commuter, and finding a bike of this vintage in my size seemed rare indeed.

I sanded off the surface rust, threw on a matte clear coat, did just a little cold setting, drilling, liquid wrenching and am now in love with the feel of this old gal. The combo of the original one-piece crank with a new Shimano coaster hub is such a smooth, quiet ride it’s hard to believe... I’m a convert... Cheers.

 

[Wildcat]

Bike looks great with the paint as you did it. I did that to a 65 Continental and a 71 Varsity, but neither was an XL frame.
Another upgrade you'll like is the 3 piece conversion cranks, if you come across a set. I didn't think they made that big a difference, but I'm sold on them.

 

[Nickoo]

Bike looks great with the paint as you did it. I did that to a 65 Continental and a 71 Varsity, but neither was an XL frame.
Another upgrade you'll like is the 3 piece conversion cranks, if you come across a set. I didn't think they made that big a difference, but I'm sold on them.
View attachment 82055

Thanks. A three-piece would certainly make zeroing in on gear ratios a whole lot more feasable. Will have to look into that. Thanks for the tip.

 

[jamesdart]

Cool.
I just did a varsity too.

 

[SilverBullet08]

Looks awfully familiar ha ha. I’ve done mine with 700c Wheels with coaster brakes,And I’m running the tires on it. Sort of like a cruiser coaster clunker in a way. By the way that size tires and being narrower make the bike accelerate like a scalded ape

 

[wheelbender6]

I wonder if a vending machine will still accept the coins on your brakes.