Rad Rot Bikes

[The Renaissance Man]

I'm itching to jump in to the build off but with only 48 days left I know (and have known from the start) that I can't build the custom Shelby that I want.

So that got me to thinking.
I have several bikes that are very 'Rad' but have a lot of 'Rot" and have been lingering in the "I'll get to it some day" list. This may be the right motivation to do a simple build that will take one of them from rotting to riding!

The idea is to build a traditional rat style bike, namely, no minutiae. Most of my builds in the past have kept my head racing with custom modifications but I simply don't have the time for it right now. I'm still very busy with work but I'm hoping to fit in an hour here and there to get a bike over the finish line. (Fingers crossed).

I narrowed it down to three crusty but worthy candidates.

To make things more interesting I've decided to let everyone else choose which bike will get built!

PICK YOUR FAVORITE AND VOTE!!!
Voting will last for six days. You get one vote but will retain the option to change your vote up until the polls close.
(Mail in votes must be post marked before 9:00 Eastern Time Monday night.)

1) Western Flyer Super (I have a tank for it)

2) Schwinn Phantom

3) Western Flyer X-53

 

[Oldbiscuit]

Man I’m digging that Western Flyer !!

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Actually, I’d like to see your spin on the Phantom.
I can only imagine what the ‘TRM perspective’ would be in that classic.

 

[late for dinner]

X

 

[RustyGold]

I don't think my horse is going to win .

 

[kingfish254]

Yes yes yes! So glad to see you jump in Jim!
My pick is the X53. I think I remember a WF Super you did before, and I am just not a fan of Schwinn cantis (even Phantoms). Regardless of which bike you pick, I know it's gonna be a fun ride to watch.

 

[bleedingfingers]

X-53 all the way I would go crazy just painting that thing so much tin on it beautiful .
Wish I had your problems deciding all three are very nice .

 

[Captain Awesome]

X53

 

[OddJob]

I checked the box for the Western Flyer Super. Don't think I've seen one of those before.
Welcome to the 'late' show, TRM! Looking forward to your build!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Anything to get TRM in the game, but x53, or the other Western. Cantilevers are so two weeks ago

 

[Captain Awesome]

Feel free to send that Phantom my way. I'll properly dispose of it for you. What an eyesore

 

[Frankie plekhand]

That's a hard pick!
I'm going with the X53
Are you keeping it rat or are you doing a full blown resto?

 

[JA331]

X-53 for sure

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Thanks everyone for voting and commenting. Keep 'em coming!

X-53 all the way I would go crazy just painting that thing so much tin on it beautiful .

No time for painting on any of these. I'll be leaving the natural patina!

I think I remember a WF Super you did before

I checked the box for the Western Flyer Super. Don't think I've seen one of those before.

I color matched and 'aged' the paint on a rechromed tank for @American Vintage Bicycle Supply several years ago. It was a very nice original Western Flyer Super!

Cantilevers are so two weeks ago.

Guess I shouldn't have waited so long to enter. Cantilevers were probably ground breaking two months ago!

Feel free to send that Phantom my way. I'll properly dispose of it for you. What an eyesore

It would cost more in shipping than it's worth. Probably worth more in scrap metal. Cheap Chicago made junk.

Are you keeping it rat or are you doing a full blown resto?

It'll be a full blown RAT!

 

[Captain Awesome]

It would cost more in shipping than it's worth. Probably worth more in scrap metal. Cheap Chicago made junk.

I'd be happy to test your theory

 

[Chad T]

Western Flyer Super looks cool and can't recall seeing one before. Really like the way the rack flows with the middle tube.

The idea is to build a traditional rat style bike, namely, no minutiae.

It's not minutiae it's details.....we love to see the details....

 

[kingfish254]

You should have enough time, but just do a little work each day to keep moving forward. I didn't jump into BO14 with Western Sizzler until there were 46 days left. You should morph all three choices together and build a Western Schwinner X-53 Super Phantom!!!!

 

[The Renaissance Man]

It's not minutiae it's details.....we love to see the details....

Me too, but some details take a lot of time. And a lot of time is what I don't have!

You should morph all three choices together and build a Western Schwinner X-53 Super Phantom!!!!

Has a nice ring to it!

But you left one off...
Western Schwinner X-53 Super Phantom Flyer!

 

[kingfish254]

Has a nice ring to it!

But you left one off...
Western Schwinner X-53 Super Phantom Flyer!

Naw, I blended Schwinn and Flyer together.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Just three days left to vote!

I'm finishing up a big project this weekend that has been consuming most of my time but like train cars the next ones just keep coming. However I'm looking forward to some stress relief from messing with one of the Rad Rots.

_____________________________________________________

While I'm waiting to find out which bike it will be, I've used the time to let some PB Blaster do its thing on the front runners.


I can't remember if I've shared this little life hack before. but here's one for using PB:
Afew years back I used up all of the aerosol but there was still a good bit of PB still sloshing around in the can. So I drilled a hole in the top, drainded it and filled an empty Tri-Flow bottle with it and discovered that it worked exceedingly better than the spray can! I've been using that way ever since then. You can pin point exactly where you want it to go without spraying it all over everything else.