27.5" Cruiser custom parts availability??

[Lurch Addams]

Hi guys,
Hope I posted this in the right area.
I'm waiting on a Schwinn Swindler (I know...some of you laugh)
Anyway, where can i find whitewall tires and custom parts availability? For a bike that is not only 27.5"....but I can only imagine that all other interchangeable parts are metric.
I would like to get some bent springer forks and drop the front end...and put ape hangers on it. Amongst other things..pedals etc.
Please guys, where do I start, and where can I get parts??
I'm obviously a new by to this, so I apologize in advance for my ignorance in the hobby.
Just need some ideas.
All comments appreciated.

 

[Bicycle808]

The only actual fitment issues you'll have is with the rims/tires.... don't know of any whitewalls, but Schwalbe makes some good cruiser tires in the 584 size (Big Ben, SuperMoto, Big One). As for the rest of it, handlebars are basically universal (1" or 7/8" at the clamp for any apes...you just got to match your bars to the stem, or run a shim if you want to run 7/8" bars in the 1" stock stem....) The stock crank is a 1 piece, so any commonly available 1/2"-spindle pedals will fit the stock cranks. If you want to switch to 3 piece, it has a regular American BB shell, so that'd be easy, too. Basically, the fact that it's a late model import Schwinn won't cause any problems, nor will the wheel size, aside from the limited selection of 584mm rims/tires as compared to 559s or even 622s. The main thing you'll need to do is select compatible components for the project, just like any other bike. For most of the bike, that will be easy.

My main concern is, the headset appears to be a 1.125" threaded, which sucks as far as stem availability goes. There are ways to work around this, but YUCK, that's the worst head set-up. I guess confirm that, then we can look at your fork strategy. I'd be tempted to try to bend the stock springer myself, if you're going to insist on going with a bent springer....

 

[Lurch Addams]

The only actual fitment issues you'll have is with the rims/tires.... don't know of any whitewalls, but Schwalbe makes some good cruiser tires in the 584 size (Big Ben, SuperMoto, Big One). As for the rest of it, handlebars are basically universal (1" or 7/8" at the clamp for any apes...you just got to match your bars to the stem, or run a shim if you want to run 7/8" bars in the 1" stock stem....) The stock crank is a 1 piece, so any commonly available 1/2"-spindle pedals will fit the stock cranks. If you want to switch to 3 piece, it has a regular American BB shell, so that'd be easy, too. Basically, the fact that it's a late model import Schwinn won't cause any problems, nor will the wheel size, aside from the limited selection of 584mm rims/tires as compared to 559s or even 622s. The main thing you'll need to do is select compatible components for the project, just like any other bike. For most of the bike, that will be easy.

My main concern is, the headset appears to be a 1.125" threaded, which sucks as far as stem availability goes. There are ways to work around this, but YUCK, that's the worst head set-up. I guess confirm that, then we can look at your fork strategy. I'd be tempted to try to bend the stock springer myself, if you're going to insist on going with a bent springer....

Wow, thanks so much for the input. As I put the bike together I will be taking component measurements , and will post them here, so as to potentially help anyone else with similar questions.
I thought about bending the forks, but honestly wouldn't know how to go about it.
I'm wanting to go for a Rat-Rod/lowrider hybrid look, hence the drop.
I've looked over this model pretty well, and think for an imported Schwinn, it has decent potential.
I will post pics and measurements etc as I work on this build.
Thanks so much again for all the advice.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

If it has a springer standard, would it be possible to unbolt the arms from it and replace them with bent ones off a 1" headset set? That may solve your issue without having to worry about changing up the headset and stem...

Luke.

 

[Bicycle808]

Wow, thanks so much for the input. As I put the bike together I will be taking component measurements , and will post them here, so as to potentially help anyone else with similar questions.
I thought about bending the forks, but honestly wouldn't know how to go about it.
I'm wanting to go for a Rat-Rod/lowrider hybrid look, hence the drop.
I've looked over this model pretty well, and think for an imported Schwinn, it has decent potential.
I will post pics and measurements etc as I work on this build.
Thanks so much again for all the advice.

Anytime... so much on that Swindler is going to be some standard parts, and building it will be easy. Any info you give on it will be helpful, b/c the WalMart and Amazon ads list very little info at all...I'm guessing it's a 1.125" based on pictures i see on line, and just "eyeballing" it as compared to known dimensions, like the bars.... it may very well be a 1" threaded setup, which would be awesome b/c it'll give you more options for headsets, stems, and forks....

If it's a 1.125" set-up, though, I'd consider getting some reducer shims which will allow you to run a 1" fork/headset...OR........

If it has a springer standard, would it be possible to unbolt the arms from it and replace them with bent ones off a 1" headset set? That may solve your issue without having to worry about changing up the headset and stem...

This is a great idea that has a lot of potential, and it'd save you some money if all you want to change is the forks; my idea will require you to get the reducers, a 1" threaded headset, as well as he fork. But, if you want to change a lot of stuff, adapting to 1" will open up a lot of options.

In either case, if you go with a bent springer, plan on getting some much shorter cranks.... you'll keep bottoming out with a bent springer and the stock crankarms.

 

[deorman]

You can get a little bit of stretch/drop by eliminating the spring from the stock springer.

 

[Fv2]

Agree with all these statements, I think the tires are going to be tricky. Until/unless someone out there makes white walls to fit, you may have to get a can of white wall paint.

As far as anyone laughing at you for buying a wal e world schwinn, that's probably not gonna happen on this site. I've been thinking about buying one myself, just waiting for the price to go down or a craigslist ad.

 

[Raoul Dude]

As far as anyone laughing at you for buying a wal e world schwinn, that's probably not gonna happen on this site. I've been thinking about buying one myself, just waiting for the price to go down or a craigslist ad.

As someone whose first "real" build started with a "big box store" Schwinn from craigslist, I agree!

The only time most people here will laugh is if the owner believes that their Wally World Schwinn is somehow equal or superior in most ways to a higher-quality bike.

As long as we're a little self-deprecating and realize that our inexpensive bike was built by novices in China, pre-assembled at the factory without enough grease, and probably assembled at the store by someone who doesn't know a lot about bikes, we're in good shape! We can usually FIX whatever was done incorrectly by previous mechanics, and the money we save on the initial purchase means we've got more money for rat roddin' parts and accessories afterwards.

If you accept that your new Swindler may need some small adjustments as soon as you get it home, and can live with the fact that the paint and welds might not be as pretty as some higher-end bikes, you should fit right in around here!

 

[mornview]

I'm about to take this thread on a bit of a detour, and for that I apologize in advance .

First, thanks for introducing me to this bike! After researching a bit on the internet, about 99% of the discussion that has taken place over this bike has been on this forum, so I'm not sure how I missed it.

In any event, I have been planning on taking the plunge and trying out a 650B cruiser this spring. I have basically settled upon the Asylum Hank. It would be used primarily as a winter commuter, but I can think of all sorts of other fun that could be had with that bike . The main thing going against it (for me) is a complete lack of eyelets for fenders/racks. Also, I'm probably being a bit greedy, but for the price, I would've liked a Cro-Mo frame .

Then there's the Nashbar Bee's Knee's ... the pro's are that it's cro-mo and a bit cheaper than the Hank. But the main thing going against it is that it basically is not set up as a cruiser at all ... but that could be done rather easily.

But now enter the Schwinn Swindler ... rack/fender eyelets (that I can see on the rear dropouts, anyways), like the Hank, there's already a coaster brake in there, it's basically already set up as a cruiser (with crappy components, but still), and moreover, that price! BUT ... I'm looking more and more at those pictures and that seat tube is angled waaaaaaay back. That looks really uncomfortable to me; I'm 5'8. That might be a deal breaker right there for me.

Does anyone know of any other 650B cruisers out there? They must exist; I have been searching the last few months and this never once popped up in any of my searches.

 

[Joe Monstermaker]

Couldn't you swap some common-size 26" wheels on and eliminate all the hassles with finding tires?

 

[Bicycle808]

I'm about to take this thread on a bit of a detour, and for that I apologize in advance .

First, thanks for introducing me to this bike! After researching a bit on the internet, about 99% of the discussion that has taken place over this bike has been on this forum, so I'm not sure how I missed it.

In any event, I have been planning on taking the plunge and trying out a 650B cruiser this spring. I have basically settled upon the Asylum Hank. It would be used primarily as a winter commuter, but I can think of all sorts of other fun that could be had with that bike . The main thing going against it (for me) is a complete lack of eyelets for fenders/racks. Also, I'm probably being a bit greedy, but for the price, I would've liked a Cro-Mo frame .

Then there's the Nashbar Bee's Knee's ... the pro's are that it's cro-mo and a bit cheaper than the Hank. But the main thing going against it is that it basically is not set up as a cruiser at all ... but that could be done rather easily.

But now enter the Schwinn Swindler ... rack/fender eyelets (that I can see on the rear dropouts, anyways), like the Hank, there's already a coaster brake in there, it's basically already set up as a cruiser (with crappy components, but still), and moreover, that price! BUT ... I'm looking more and more at those pictures and that seat tube is angled waaaaaaay back. That looks really uncomfortable to me; I'm 5'8. That might be a deal breaker right there for me.

Does anyone know of any other 650B cruisers out there? They must exist; I have been searching the last few months and this never once popped up in any of my searches.

Consider running some 650b tires on a cruiser originally intended for 26" wheels? I know a Worksman will clear 2"+650b wheels, b/c they can fit 29er tires in there.... but they aren't really rack/fender ready, unless you go the axle-mounted route (which i happen to love....) But, if you'd like, i can measure the clearances between the stays and on the fork of the Summit Workhorse/ Schwinn CHD frames for you. Those things come with upper and lower rack mounts. Imagine being the king pimp of the earth, with a Schwinn Heavy Duty running 650b rims and a Surly Troll fork, racks front/rear...Or maybe that'd just be weird. But, it's a thought....

 

[Bicycle808]

Couldn't you swap some common-size 26" wheels on and eliminate all the hassles with finding tires?

You could totally do that, but you'd drop your bike about 3/4".... BB and all. Which could be cool, but it might not, depending on your preferences. (I'm pretty sure the only reason one would buy a Swindler instead of a 26"-wheel Schwinn is for the 27.5" wheels, as that's pretty much the only thing that sets it apart....)

 

[mornview]

Consider running some 650b tires on a cruiser originally intended for 26" wheels? I know a Worksman will clear 2"+650b wheels, b/c they can fit 29er tires in there.... but they aren't really rack/fender ready, unless you go the axle-mounted route (which i happen to love....) But, if you'd like, i can measure the clearances between the stays and on the fork of the Summit Workhorse/ Schwinn CHD frames for you. Those things come with upper and lower rack mounts. Imagine being the king pimp of the earth, with a Schwinn Heavy Duty running 650b rims and a Surly Troll fork, racks front/rear...Or maybe that'd just be weird. But, it's a thought....

Hmm ... that is an interesting thought I had not considered. Admittedly, half of the appeal of Asylum Hank to me was the fact that it can fit up to 2.9" wide tires (although I've talked to the manufacturer and it sounds like it'd be closer to 2.7"). I'd much sooner trust riding a SHD/Summit than a Wal-Mart Schwinn. The thing is, I always seem to run into some annoying conflicts when I try running a different wheelsize on a bike than what it was originally designed for. BUT ... if the reward is becoming king pimp of the earth ... it might be worth the risk. Plus, I have been dying for an excuse to pick up the Summit Chuck has up in the For Sale section.

All of that being said ... this Swindler is still a pretty dirt-cheap way for me to test out the 650B phenomenon.

 

[Bicycle808]

Well, i measured.... a Summit will almost certainly clear 2" wide 650b tires.... but it'd be a tight squeeze to also run fenders.

The Swindler's frame is Aluminum. I'm not going to opine about that fact; i just thought i'd mention it.

 

[mornview]

Well, i measured.... a Summit will almost certainly clear 2" wide 650b tires.... but it'd be a tight squeeze to also run fenders.

The Swindler's frame is Aluminum. I'm not going to opine about that fact; i just thought i'd mention it.

Hmm, Wal-Mart's website lists the frame as steel. There is next to no information out there on the bike, though, so who knows.

And does that mean that Worksmans (Worksmen?) have more clearance for fatter tires than Summit (and, in turn, I'd presume, SHD's)? That's interesting to hear; I'd always thought it was the other way around, but I've never owned a Worksman.

 

[Bicycle808]

Hmmm. I recalled seeing it listed as aluminum, but you're right about th WallyWorld listing, plus looking again, it does look like some oversized steel... cool.

The Summit/Schwinn bikes are identical to each other, and have far more lateral clearance than the Worksman INB, but they have less vertical clearance at the chainstay/BB juncture. So, you can run wider tires on the Schwinn CHD and the Summit, but you can run taller tires on the INB. Make sense?

 

[mornview]

Hmmm. I recalled seeing it listed as aluminum, but you're right about th WallyWorld listing, plus looking again, it does look like some oversized steel... cool.

The Summit/Schwinn bikes are identical to each other, and have far more lateral clearance than the Worksman INB, but they have less vertical clearance at the chainstay/BB juncture. So, you can run wider tires on the Schwinn CHD and the Summit, but you can run taller tires on the INB. Make sense?

Definetely. Vertical clearance is what I always forget to take into account when planning out a bike build . Thanks for the measurements!

 

[gowjobs]

I'm about to take this thread on a bit of a detour, and for that I apologize in advance .

BUT ... I'm looking more and more at those pictures and that seat tube is angled waaaaaaay back. That looks really uncomfortable to me; I'm 5'8. That might be a deal breaker right there for me.

Looks like a simple flip of the seat mount clamp would move that saddle three inches or so forward.