Gen 1 - 1979 5 Speed Earth Cruiser

[Robertk]

So a member on the BMX Museum found this Generation 1 (as indicated by the 'Cycles' head badge vs a 'Jamis' head badge) 5 speed Earth Cruiser with drum brake!!! So cool. The head badge puts it at '79-'80.

 

[||TheDude||]

Aside from the headbadge, how else can you date Earth Cruisers? I have an early model too but I'd like to know how old it is. Mine has the "Jamis" head tube metal badge.

 

[Robertk]

I think there are very few clues that provide a specific indication of the date of Earth Cruisers - Here are some general characteristics I've observed -

Older Models (Pre-1982/3)

• Chrome Fork (Akisu) Some early models had no Akisu stamps
• No "Earth Cruiser" on guard (Gen I)
• "Earth Cruiser" on guard
• Cycles Badge (Gen I)
• 3 Arrows Sprocket or 3 Arrows Replica
• Champion Rings on Seat Tube
• Top Tube decal has black font on gold background
• "Earth Cruiser" font on Viscount Seat. Some early models did not have "Earth Cruiser" on the seat
• Candy Colors, Chrome, Silver
• Blue, Chrome, and Red Handlebars / Later had foam
• Lacquered paint on shiny side steel wheels with heavy gauge spokes
• Sometimes Araya anodized wheels
• Suntour Coaster
• Drum Brake on 5 speed
• 3 speed offered with caliper brakes
• Suntour replica seat clamp

Later Models (Post 1983/4)

• Same color fork and frame
• Multi Color "Earth Cruiser" decals
• Anything "Sand Jam"
• 80's colors - think Miami Vice
• Sumo color wheels
• No color wheels
• Foam Handlebars
• Shimano Coaster

 

[||TheDude||]

So I have a candy blue Sand Jam with chrome Akisu stamped forks, black "Earth Crusier" font on the gold background, color matched lacquered wheels which I believe are CMC. They say KK K-85 on the front hub. My seat says "Earth Cruiser", I have foam handlebars and a Shimano coaster (it is a d-type so I'm inclined to believe it's original). I believe mine is somewhere in between the older and later models, maybe a early 1983 model...

 

[Robertk]

Yeah - that sounds about right! Can you post a pic? Sounds cool.

 

[||TheDude||]

https://imgur.com/gallery/nEUX2

 

[Robertk]

Whoa! Very nice. Based on the sprocket It’s probably ‘82 or later, so 1983 sounds spot on.

 

[||TheDude||]

Whoa! Very nice. Based on the sprocket It’s probably ‘82 or later, so 1983 sounds spot on.

Thanks! I just got it a few days ago and put the S&M S.A.C. bars and AME grips on. I've cleaned the hell out of it over the past day or so. It has the Sand Jam shell tread tires but they're pretty rotted.