Ductape

I like to come back and read this thread about once a year. A few of you might enjoy this, and no doubt, after reading through this thread again, a few won't. I am very slow with my projects, and after picking this one up from Nick several years ago, it is still not where I want it to be. Like most of us, I am on a limited bike budget, and tend to be patient for the right part to come along for the right price. An early Mountain bike collector, this is just one of many projects in the garage, and my interest with it comes and goes. My goal has always been to get the bike as close to the black and white photo at the beginning of this thread. Getting closer, I still have a ways to go. Primary things still to complete include: Match paint and touch up bare metal spots. Proper decals. Fabricate skid plate for bash guard. Dye light and mount. No hurry, I will get there eventually:

I think mine came from the same owner as the one above some time in the past. At least it sat on the same table:

April 1980 mag article. Was the double downtube Still in production in 1980? According to article Powder coated? True?

Champion 26 converted to Mtb. early in it's life. Before 1983 if you wanted a purpose built mountain bike you could expect to pay $750 (much more than this before Mike Synard offered up his first batch of 500 Japan built Mtb's in 1981). If not you were destined to ride on old heavy duty mild steel paper boy frame grafted to Mtn. bike duties. With the advent of 26" BMX cruiser frames in the late 70's, there was a new option. You could buy a 26" chrome moly Champion frame (or the like) for $140 find a welder to braze on some cable guides and a deraileur hangar and use that as a solid off road foundation. Granted the Vintage BMX people probably don't appreciate this bastardization to their classic machines but certainly some of these rides were bought for exactly this reason. The early MTB riders owe a lot of thanks to the BMX crowd for making things like 26" aluminum rims and other components available. Edit: oops, another Knight built frame The Lawwill Pro Cruiser was available for less than $750 before 1983.

Slow progress.

Thanks for the beta, I will look into the Yamaha bars. Here is some old info on the Champion dimensions: I am 6'3" and am pretty sure the bike will be a touch too small when complete. I like the idea of the Brooks. Not sold on the saddle in the picture and if this ride was truely set up as a MTB crossover in 1980, the B72 would make sense. I agree, as much as I was excited with the CBR post, it doesn't look right at all. Possibly if I mount the saddle forward of the brace. Thanks, T

A bit out of my enviroment with BMX, I could very well be using the wrong terminology. My apologies. Essentially I am trying to emulate this old photo of a Champion Cruiser I have (I believe this specific bike has been discussed in detail on a few bmx forums before I picked it up): After collecting a few parts over the past year or so, I am ready to focus a little time and money on the project and get it together. So far it's been fun and a learning experience. Two weeks ago I put on the frame the parts I had available just to get a feel for direction on the project and to motivate myself. Since taking the photo, I have found and changed to a silver Tuf Neck stem and chainring. I like the CBR post and with my long legs the extra room would be appreciated, but it doesn't stick to the spirit of the original build. Thus my current research on the proper seatpost. Getting closer, I would like to find some different handlebars and as tempted as I am to pick up some Skull Skate cruiser bars, I am instead researching a bit on era correct motorcycle bars that could possibly make the grade and my budget. I will probably clean the pedals to silver ($1 at the swap meet, thew only part on the bike that has been affordable). Then it is a matter of a Suntour mighty thumbie and Cyclone rear deraileur (sorry don't ask) Chain cables etc.... A trip to the powdercoater and reassembly.... Wala, Thats my current plan, of course always open for suggestions. Cheers, T

Thanks for the lead. Nothing like spending 4 hours skimming through old bike mags. And that was only 1980/81. Outside of the CBR layback, the first one I found was in the Dec BMXA....GT... Appreciate the help.... T T

Hello, more of a Mountainbiker who lurkes here than a true BMX collector, but my latest project a cruiser converted to an early Mtn bike has me searching for an era correct 7/8 inch (22.2 mm) layback seatpost from 1979/80. Can I get direction on what was available then and how to confirm something I am buying is from that timeframe. I appreciate your input and the information supplied on the site. T

My sig other using the Schwinn for what it was put together as. The perfect neighborhood cruiser:

I could be wrong don't work at the airport but I believe those containers are loaded by usps employees and unloaded by usps employees , FedEx just moves the can. Either way, don't think you would have much luck filing a USPS tracking number claim with FedEx at all. But now that you say this, I will probably get the call tomorrow.