Cycle truck question

[user 3630]

How difficult is it to find vintage (pre-70) cycle trucks. I have a friend, a relatively well respected hotrod builder and encyclopedia, who is interested in one, and I've been wanting one as well.

Where are these generally found, back east? Whats a fair price to pay for one?

Not quite sure if I'm ready to purchase this instant, but could be soon.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Old Putz]

Maybe scout around for a larger, older business that's folding up (not like there are any of those in the central valley) and see if they've got any they'd be willing to part with?

For that matter, I wonder if you could find something from Worksman Cycle or a similar company that would be suitable for antiquing, if that's acceptable...

 

[Larry]

They show up once every other week on ebay, and go for bank when they do. On c/l I see them from time to time. The last one I saw was listed for 4 or 500 dollars last week in Santa Cruz. I've also seen quite a few on Sac c/l.

 

[Slick Rick]

Worksman Cycles in Queens N.Y. still builds them to this day! New or old will not be cheap. Parts for these can be rediculous to locate as well! So new would probably be better if a good rideable one is needed in a timely manner. :wink:

 

[StephenH]

An actual Schwinn Cycle Truck in good shape is expensive. They are collector's items, not bicycles to ride, unfortunately.

Worksman sells a Low Gravity bicycle which is pretty similar, probably the best way to get one for actual use.

I think a couple of custom or semi-custom makers sell them, also.

I've got an Arpan made-in-India Low Gravity bicycle. They're cheap, available from several makers, but scarce in the US.

Here's a bike on Craigslist. This was posted on another site with a comment about it being for sale for a while. Note that the rack is intended to take a big wicker basket, as opposed to the Cycle Truck wire basket.
http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/1063371995.html

 

[BankerRAt]

Workmans Cycles has them on sale if you check the site today. I think prices are relavent to the buyer. Some say the prices are high. I think $289 for a cycle truck is a very fair and reasonable price personally

 

[user 3630]

Thanks everyone for the info. Since I have never even seen one of these in person I had no point of reference. I guess I just need to keep my eyes peeled. Now I will know a good deal when I see one.

BankeRAt- Where did you find them on sale?

 

[BankerRAt]

On their homepage they were $40 off the original price

 

[StephenH]

Look again on the pricing. The regular cruisers are around $330, but the Low Gravity bikes are $500+. That's still a good deal, but a bit more than I'd pay at the moment.

 

[karfer67]

at the shop we have a pre war schwinn cycle truck project that might be up for sale soon. it is mostly there but it is ratty so it would make a good custom. not sure on pricing yet if you are interested i can take some pics of it

 

[gotavan]

The Worksman basket bikes can be got pretty cheap, I picked this one up at the Ann Arbor swap last year for $60.

I did clean it up and put some kmart paint on it.

It was next to me at the meet, so I watched it all day and got nervous when anyone looked at it.

 

[karfer67]

that was a smokin deal for that bike

 

[sensor]

you can always go this route.....
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=8761
and if youve got a way to cut some tubing and a welder you could always cut the bottom bar section in half of another steer tube and drop the lower bar to make it have a huge steer tube like the stock ones :wink:

 

[StephenH]

There was a Worksman Low Gravity bike on Ebay a while back. It was in okay shape, but missing the basket and the rear fender, among other things. Even at that, seems like it went for $150 or so.

You can buy the Worksman basket separately if you want to upgrade that bike, by the way.

 

[BankerRAt]

They were $289 the day I was on the site.

 

[RawBert]

i got a cycle truck frame off ebay a while back for like $40 which was a good deal. now the hard part... finding forks, long goose neck, drop stand and basket supports. everything else i resonably easy to find.

 

[user 3630]

i got a cycle truck frame off ebay a while back for like $40 which was a good deal. now the hard part... finding forks, long goose neck, drop stand and basket supports. everything else i resonably easy to find.

Again, thanks everyone for the info. Guess I just gotta keep the eyes open.

 

[StephenH]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schwinn-Cycle-Truck ... 7C294%3A50

 

[user 3630]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[StephenH]

Don't be surprised if it goes for $800 or something, though.