Original Swingbike...not making it too nice.

[DJ Bill]

Recently I got the urge to own my very own Swingbike while I was still young enough to try to ride one..A few days later I won one on eBay for a bit too much, but you know how some things make sense in the moment but looking back you wonder what you were thinking?? It's one of those moments.

Anyhow my intentions were to make it nice enough that folks won't think I am scrapping it but ugly enough the thieves won't try to cut the cable holding it int the back of my truck. I travel for a living as an oversize load steerman and pilot car operator, and having a bike to play with when we are stuck in a motel for the weekends or whatever is a good thing. I was riding it in Dumas the other day and everyone at the motel wanted it. Neat to see even young guys were all excited to see it.
Enough intro, here's the pics:

The other side. I stole a rear wheel and chain from one of my Stingray projects as this came with a 2 speed and a bent rim.

Front wheel may actually be original but it is rough. Tire came from a Goodwill mini BMX.

might be original reflector, but the sissy bar leans pretty good and it is rotten. Looking for possible replacement for it and the fenders.

I was really glad to get the original spring and lockpin setup. Not so glad to see the headset tubes are egged out some. OUCH!!

Here's the release pin in SWING position for those who haven't seen one. I had no clue how it worked until I saw it in person.

Serial numbers...can anyone tell me which MFGR made it and when?

The same mini BMX bike had this kickstand which is like the originals but it is adjustable, perfect for the the bike as wheel and tire selections may change.

 

[kingfish254]

I bet once you're done and start having fun with this, you won't regret the price.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[DJ Bill]

Already having fun with it. I hate to take it apart and take it out of action but unless I do I am afraid the headsets are going to be totally ruined. It really is a blast to ride. I'm just a little bigger than Jimmy Osmond but it still holds me up OK. I can see injury as a possibility but as long as I keep the spring set where it is and avoid wheelies I'll be OK.

In case anyone was wondering, the trick with one wheel up on the curb and one in the gutter....is DIFFICULT!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Love it! That thing is too cool and holds so much history!

As to who made it and when, as far as I am aware only one company made them back in the day, "The Swing Bike Company" and it would be between 1975 and 1979, that is the only years the originals were made...
Heaps of info here: http://swingbike.byethost24.com/bobhufford/swing.html
And if you want to learn more tricks:

Try not to hurt yourself too bad though! Already bought elbow and knee pads for trying out mine when I get it done! :wink:

Luke.

 

[DJ Bill]

http://swingbike.byethost24.com/bobhufford/manudif.html

Bob says in the above link that Dodsun made this bike as the serial starts with an O. The other manufacturer was FULU industries IIRC... Both companies built them for the Swing Bike Co. out of Utah. I read on one discussion group you could tell month, day, and year from the serial number stampings but the poster didn't explain how.

Joined the Yahoo group, been to most of the sites listed and many, many google searches for Swingbike. Still going to build my own slightly larger one, perhaps a 24 inch rear tire, from some old girl's frames I have in storage. (nothing old or valuable, of course. ) Looking at the EBay rear forks too....

Imagine the liability insurance policy a manufacturer would need to make a Swing Bike today!

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Oh, cool! I must have missed that in my research! I hope you do build a bigger one, would love to watch it happen, having a ball building mine!

Luke.

 

[DJ Bill]

Has anyone bought a rear fender that fits out of the box for one of these? Raleigh Ron sells one and I have found a few sellers on the Bay that have similar fenders, but nobody can tell if they would bolt to a Swingbike. I have a feeling that the original was an off the shelf fender from the typical Japanese made muscle bikes....I don't think the stingray fender is correct, although most of the replacement fenders do say they won't fit a Stingray accurately. If I could buy a plain non dimpled fender with no pre drilled holes I think I could make it fit, altho stainless would be ideal to keep the cut edges from rusting and so far I haven't seen any 20 inch stainless fenders anywhere.