The Schwinn no one wanted

[Jude Ephesus]

I've been fooling with denim, haven't attempted leather yet. What tools and techniques are you using?

Here’s my first crack at leather:

A little better documented
https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/threads/old-sears-bike.111473/

 

[MattiThundrrr]

No stitches whatsoever? That's exactly what I needed to hear.

 

[Jude Ephesus]

No stitches whatsoever? That's exactly what I needed to hear.

0 !!!

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Pretty much what I was going for.....

The white wheels with white walls were just a bit much.

This has a little bite to it. -also not as cliche as red wheels and white walls….

I think this thing is pretty much the essence of a rat rod....

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Some assembly today:

Put on the fork

Oddly, the crown nut that was on it won’t go back on.

Threads just won’t go on square. It was super rusty when I took it off, but I thought a vinegar bath and good wire brushing would fix it. It didn’t. I had another crown nut laying around I threw on.... making it just that much more of a rat.

 

[Jude Ephesus]

I put a little more aggressive cut on the rear fender

 

[Jude Ephesus]

I’m going to go get a 6” crank tomorrow, hope to get this thing close to done by the end of next weekend.

 

[truckd]

I have one of those

 

[Jude Ephesus]

I have one of those

Cool!

Thanks!!!!

Got any pics?

What did you do with it?

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Mayhem nearing completion

I’ve scrounged up more parts for this thing out of parts stashes and other bikes....

I did get the 6” crank in. It’s not authentic Schwinn.

100% authentic rat.

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Chaos complete

I’ll get some better pics tonight when the sun and shadows are not so sharp

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Done-ski!!!

Just rode it 7 miles to willow bay and back; works great!!!

In the end, I still highly doubt anyone wants this thing, BUT, it’s definitely a fully functional and usable bike, and I plan to use it!!!

Before n afters:

 

[dropstep]

I’d cruise it! Looks good

 

[Jude Ephesus]

I’d cruise it! Looks good

Thanks!!!

Here’s my conversation for the ride tonight with wifey:

-it was a total hoot!
W=wifey
J=jude

in the driveway:
W: “you’re really going to ride that thing?”
J: “Yes”
W: “but nothing matches“
J: “I know. That’s the point. It’s called a rat rod.”
W: “I’m going to be embarrassed riding beside that thing. It looks like it won’t even work.”
J: “that’s the point of the ride….. to see if it works.”
W: takes off on bike with disgust on her face!

2 miles into ride:
W: “I can’t believe that thing works. Nothing matches.”
J: “The wheels match.”
W: “ok. The wheels are actually very, very nice. But the rest of the bike is garbage!”
J: “it’s a Schwinn.”
W: “it’s a pile of junk to me!”

then I popped some wheelies and she ignored me the rest of the ride!!!!

I guess she’s in agreement with the thread name….. and also does not want it!!! Lol

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Few more pics

 

[dropstep]

Thanks!!!

Here’s my conversation for the ride tonight with wifey:

-it was a total hoot!
W=wifey
J=jude

in the driveway:
W: “you’re really going to ride that thing?”
J: “Yes”
W: “but nothing matches“
J: “I know. That’s the point. It’s called a rat rod.”
W: “I’m going to be embarrassed riding beside that thing. It looks like it won’t even work.”
J: “that’s the point of the ride….. to see if it works.”
W: takes off on bike with disgust on her face!

2 miles into ride:
W: “I can’t believe that thing works. Nothing matches.”
J: “The wheels match.”
W: “ok. The wheels are actually very, very nice. But the rest of the bike is garbage!”
J: “it’s a Schwinn.”
W: “it’s a pile of junk to me!”

then I popped some wheelies and she ignored me the rest of the ride!!!!

I guess she’s in agreement with the thread name….. and also does not want it!!! Lol

My wife rides a spaceliner, I tryed to build her a banana seat rat bike and she said it was ugly and she would never ride it over her pretty bike. So I can understand your wife’s remarks

Although people often ask questions or complement the old rat bikes

 

[John DelGato]

I love how it turned out... and your wife's comments are hilarious!

 

[Jude Ephesus]

I love how it turned out... and your wife's comments are hilarious!

Thanks!

I was cracking up at her comments given the spirit of this thread about how I couldn’t get rid of thing; so I had to post them as I thought it was a riot as well.

She doesn’t hate all my bikes.... just most of them!!!

 

[93EXCivic]

That thing turned out pretty wicked. The green fork really works with those wheels imo.

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Thanks! If I was putting it in a build off I’d probably paint the forks brown and seat post clamp black.

I’m with you: the crazy non-matching, odd ball colors look sort of cool.