I'm in a quandary and would like to hear the opinion of the forum. I've got a project in mind very similar to 'gtcoma's ubercool Monark Rocket, http://ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5443&st=0&sk=t&sd=a.
I have a '60's Schwinn 26" cantilever 'cruiser' frame in great condition, and a chopper fork taken from a Schwinn OCC Chopper. The limiting factor is that this is a 'cheap' project - I'm not really at liberty to spend any money on this project at this time.
The issue is that the chopper fork is a 1-1/8" threadless, and although it does fit through the head tube and bearing cups of the cantilever frame, I cannot find bearings that will work with the combination.
What I'd like your opinion on is, how shall I proceed?
Option one: Cut the 1-1/8" steerer tube off the fork, and weld in a 1" threaded steerer tube from a donor fork. I have all the pieces and skills for this. I consider it moderately risky, if I still can't find head bearings to work.
Option two: Cut and swap the head tubes from the Schwinn OCC frame onto the Schwinn cantilever frame. More work, but frame work appeals to me strangely, and this way the steerer-tube-head-bearing situation is known to work. The downside is dicing up a vintage frame that's in nice shape.
Option three: Ebay the OCC fork and put the proceeds toward a chopper fork with a 1" steerer tube from USChoppers. Probably the smartest path, but boring - no cutting, no welding, what fun is that? Also more hassle, delay, and expense.
Option four: Sell the whole kit and caboodle - the old cantelever frame, the OCC fork, all of it - and find some other project, maybe cut up a diamond-frame mountain bike or something.
Option two is my favorite, but not by a huge margin - I still see-saw back and forth between all these.
Whatchu think?
I have a '60's Schwinn 26" cantilever 'cruiser' frame in great condition, and a chopper fork taken from a Schwinn OCC Chopper. The limiting factor is that this is a 'cheap' project - I'm not really at liberty to spend any money on this project at this time.
The issue is that the chopper fork is a 1-1/8" threadless, and although it does fit through the head tube and bearing cups of the cantilever frame, I cannot find bearings that will work with the combination.
What I'd like your opinion on is, how shall I proceed?
Option one: Cut the 1-1/8" steerer tube off the fork, and weld in a 1" threaded steerer tube from a donor fork. I have all the pieces and skills for this. I consider it moderately risky, if I still can't find head bearings to work.
Option two: Cut and swap the head tubes from the Schwinn OCC frame onto the Schwinn cantilever frame. More work, but frame work appeals to me strangely, and this way the steerer-tube-head-bearing situation is known to work. The downside is dicing up a vintage frame that's in nice shape.
Option three: Ebay the OCC fork and put the proceeds toward a chopper fork with a 1" steerer tube from USChoppers. Probably the smartest path, but boring - no cutting, no welding, what fun is that? Also more hassle, delay, and expense.
Option four: Sell the whole kit and caboodle - the old cantelever frame, the OCC fork, all of it - and find some other project, maybe cut up a diamond-frame mountain bike or something.
Option two is my favorite, but not by a huge margin - I still see-saw back and forth between all these.
Whatchu think?
