Roadmaster Skylark

[Wildcat]

No pictures yet, but I have a friend in ND who just bought a Roadmaster Skylark and wonders what year it is and if it's worth the hundred bucks he paid for it.

Serial R507837.

Entire bike is chrome. Fenders are slightly peaked.

2 headlights in horn tank. Red trim on tank, chainguard, and carrier.

2 small red reflectors are part of the styling of the carrier.

The chain ring had 3 spokes from the center, with small squares around the outer edge.

I hope to have pics in a few days, via snailmail.

 

[roadmaster]

wow, can't wait for the picts. sounds really cool. 8)

 

[Wildcat]

I forgot to mention, it's a cantilever frame.
I've done a bunch of searches, can't find anything close to the description.

 

[roadmaster]

your description of the tri-spoked chainring has me thinking it is mid to later 60's, as this was the chainring primarily found after the famed "stars" chainring from the early 60's. i have a 59-61 roadmaster cruiser myself. they ride really nice and cruiz fat. 8)

 

[deorman]

Based on your description, unless it's really just a rust pile, it's a decent buy. Maybe a repro? :?

 

[Wildcat]

Any way to date it by the serial? Late 60's is my guess too.

I know Schwinn and Columbia made repros, but Roadmaster? I think I may have seen repro Luxury Liners, but that was it.

 

[deorman]

I don't know of any, just speculation of possibilitys. There's a couple of different Western Flyer repro models as well. One of them appears to be the Columbia w/a different paint scheme. Waiting to see this "Skylark". 8)

 

[roadmaster]

skylark...maybe a cousin of the skyrider.? description sounds cool. got me jonesing for some picts.

 

[Wildcat]

Got the pics and scanned them. Sure looks like late 60's to me. Anyone have one of these?

 

[deorman]

Maybe an AMF? :? If the current condition is like the picture, I'd say the $100.oo was a pretty good deal.

 

[roadmaster]

definatly an amf roadmaster. great bike! i love all that chrome. i stay with my guess of a mid 60's.

 

[Rustinkerer]

In Evolution of the Bicycle Vol 1, on p132 there's a 1963 AMF ad with your exact bike, along with the Jet Pilot, Discoverer, and Skyrider Deluxe. They all have the same sprocket, while 1962 ads showed the Shelby "snowflake" sprocket on the deluxe bikes, the "stars" sprocket on the mid range, and the "squares" sprocket on the standard models. A 1957 ad shows the snowflake on the deluxe, and the CWC "swirl" sprocket on the other bikes. OK, school's out! :mrgreen: ~Adam

 

[mastronaut]

I grabbed some pics of a similar bike off of ebay....

 

[Wildcat]

Would I find the evolution of the bicycle at the public library?

 

[Wildcat]

So, I spoke with my friend again, he wonders how much he could expect to get for it if he put it up for sale.

The seat may not be original, and the front rim may also not be original, but everything else looks good. I scanned the pics at the best resolution my scanner would do.

 

[Rustinkerer]

[Would I find the evolution of the bicycle at the public library?/quote] Probably not. I got mine on ebay. Good book to have, though there are several pics of 'restored' bikes that aren't correct, and some misdated bikes too. But the original ads are good! ~Adam

 

[Unchained]

Wow, snappy looking bike. :wink: