Black Betty,it started off as a free bike (new pics 6/18)

[StepChld]

So about three weeks ago, I was driving down the street to see some guy throwing away an old rusted and beat-up Huffy "Good Vibrations" bike. I asked him if I could have it, because I'm a school teacher and needed a summer project that didn't involve "honey-do's and he said sure, but I could tell that he thought I was crazy. :wink: I quickly stashed it partially in my trunk and when I got home, began to disassemble it. It was all there but needed some things to make it better. Sanding was needed and new paint, new grips- the old ones were the consistancy of tar, a new chain and definatly new tubes and tires! My one real splurge was the Nirve Bullet headlamp w/ LEDs. All in all, I have about $100 in it, maybe more, maybe less...and a whole lot of sweat. You see, I don't have an indoor shop, just my back patio and it's been 100+ degrees everyday but one. That's not great for working but great for "curing" paint! :mrgreen:
Why the name"Black Betty"? Ever sne I was a kid, some things would speak to me via music...kinda like a "theme song". Well that's how Black Betty got her name. The old classic by RamJam came to mind but with this bike, Spyder's version seemed to fit even better...frantic almost :wink:
So here's my first ever attempt at a Rat Rod, or any bike rebuild for that matter!

The End.....

 

[user 135]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Paint looks sharp. Nice and simple.

 

[Fireproof]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Wow,Stepchild, that looks great! I have almost the same thing in mind for my cruiser . . . hope you don't mind having a twin! :lol: No, I'm serious . . . I want to make mine very similar to what you did.
Did you paint the red first, mask and spray the white, then mask and spray the black last?
Again, it turned out real nice! 8)

 

[StepChld]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Wow,Stepchild, that looks great! I have almost the same thing in mind for my cruiser . . . hope you don't mind having a twin! :lol: No, I'm serious . . . I want to make mine very similar to what you did.
Did you paint the red first, mask and spray the white, then mask and spray the black last?
Again, it turned out real nice! 8)

Betty has no problem w/ a twin! 8)
Black went on first, then white and then the red to make the red really pop. Usually I do light colors first but the white primer "covered" the black well enough after the second and third coats that it wasn't a problem. And yes, lots and lots of masking :wink:

 

[Rustinkerer]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

RAMA LAMM!!!! ~Adam

 

[WhiteShadow]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

im sorry to say but i just picked up a black huffy and had a similar theme in mind... maybe i'll go blue instead of red

 

[Graylock]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

It's how I imagined my Huffy would look. Nice all over from top to bottom.

GL

 

[deorman]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Looks like the original bun buster! Okay for flat footed stand up riding, but not much good for long flights. Definitely has the look. 8)

 

[StepChld]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

im sorry to say but i just picked up a black huffy and had a similar theme in mind... maybe i'll go blue instead of red

That would look suwwhhheeett! :mrgreen:

 

[StepChld]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Looks like the original bun buster! Okay for flat footed stand up riding, but not much good for long flights. Definitely has the look. 8)

Compared to my MTB, that seat is pretty darn comfy...although a tad wide. Also the "cockpit" is a tad to close up. I wish I could move the seat back about an inch and then I could stretch out in style. 8)

 

[deorman]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Looks like the original bun buster! Okay for flat footed stand up riding, but not much good for long flights. Definitely has the look. 8)

Compared to my MTB, that seat is pretty darn comfy...although a tad wide. Also the "cockpit" is a tad to close up. I wish I could move the seat back about an inch and then I could stretch out in style. 8)

Reverse the clamp, my friend! :wink:

 

[dirttrack71]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Great job I was thinking about painting my rims the same way on my Murray Westport. By the way Stepchild we are neighbors. Rowlett here.

 

[StepChld]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Looks like the original bun buster! Okay for flat footed stand up riding, but not much good for long flights. Definitely has the look. 8)

Compared to my MTB, that seat is pretty darn comfy...although a tad wide. Also the "cockpit" is a tad to close up. I wish I could move the seat back about an inch and then I could stretch out in style. 8)

Reverse the clamp, my friend! :wink:

Already been tried, no room for the stem. The undercarriage bars under the seat come to close together to allow the stem in "front". But thanks for the suggestion!

 

[StepChld]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Great job I was thinking about painting my rims the same way on my Murray Westport. By the way Stepchild we are neighbors. Rowlett here.

I used Duplicolor High Temp. Engine Ceramic paint to be a good hard paint, resistant to scratches. It does take a long time to cure, about 7 days, but it's proving to be tough. I also clear coated and that really helped.
If you wanna cruise sometime, let me know. W/ the kids, I don't have much time but I can usually tweak some time from the schedule

 

[dirttrack71]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Rcflyer on here has a old AMC with the same seat and we rode Katy trail Sunday afternoon. We went about 8 miles and he said it was pretty comfortable. We should cruise sometime. Rcflyer and myself try to get together once a week and do some type of riding. I will PM you when we figure out where we will ride next or give me a shout if you have something in mind. I ride my road bike at White Rock I was thinking it may be cool to cruise around there.

 

[StepChld]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Rcflyer on here has a old AMC with the same seat and we rode Katy trail Sunday afternoon. We went about 8 miles and he said it was pretty comfortable. We should cruise sometime. Rcflyer and myself try to get together once a week and do some type of riding. I will PM you when we figure out where we will ride next or give me a shout if you have something in mind. I ride my road bike at White Rock I was thinking it may be cool to cruise around there.

Sounds good, send me an email any time :wink:

 

[Hammond Eggz]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

Wow - too cool!
I'm diggin' the lines, AND the way the frame, wheels and tires all match -

 

[deorman]

Re: Black Betty...or, it started off as a free bike

My beater viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18006 is the same bike, I bought new for around $80.oo new in the late '70's. As a hard-core 1-speeder w/no car, I used to do 2 or 300 miles a week, but the lack of horizontal adjustment, combined w/the wide seat pan made me ditch the seat in short order. Saddles are pretty non-universal fit though, every posterior is different. :wink:

 

[StepChld]

Betty gets a new pair of shoes...and saddle and pedals

Well now, I've had Black Betty for about two years and since then many bikes have been built. However, she has always been one of my favorites. She did however have some faults that a little cosmetic surgery could cure. :wink:
Her tires were always way to skinny for my taste...I like some "meat on their bones" kinda guy. Kenda K-Rads 26x2.30 fills that bill nicely

I was growing bored w/ the whole WW thing, or at least w/ those skinny cruiser tires from Wal Mart.
Second to go was that horrid, "no padding" seat. I loved the looks of it but after a couple of miles, certain parts of the anatomy would go numb for hours...and that was NOT bueno! :lol:

WalMart started to carry them just this week...very comfy and only $28. I've only done a few miles on it so I'll have to see how it does as I put many more miles on it at the beach later this summer.
Finally, Betty gets a new set of pedals. I had old style black rubber ones but pulled them off for another project (adult size banana bike which will have pics up when I'm done painting and putting its new shoes on next week). I had these BMX pedals from a previous project that went a different direction. Always liked the look of them so I decide to slap them on.

Betty says she's rather pleased w/ her "make-over" and she rides completely different...much smoother, less bumpy and more solid feeling.

one more of the seat...nicely quilted and padded. However it does provide me w/ a conundrum....Schwinn seat and Huffy bike :lol:

 

[danreid27]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0OFF3q4Pxk