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Um,schwinn, pardon my french.
So this guy who likes american bikes, told me a while ago that the front forks on Flytes break or bend.
Has anyone heard this?
He was also telling me my 50s camel back won't hold up with a pixie engine on the back and that schwinns have stronger frames than CCMs.
I've only been into vintage bikes for a few years, but this just doesn't sound right or even heritical.
Where is your ( bad ) french ?.. I don't see french sentences....anyway have a good day Lawrence.
Im no expert but i would guess your later 1950 CCM Camel Back would be just fine with a Pixie motor on the back unless there are any issues with the frame already having cracks or any possible weak points which i assume it dosn't.
After owning and taking out my 1936 Flyte for some rides. The bike dosn't exactly flex where you would think it would, I myslef have not experienced any strange or abnormal flexing in the curved fork. The Frame actually seems to flex more around the bottom bracket area and rear seat stay area from my experience. As well i should mention it does feel like you have a bit of a softer/cushioned ride. Again i am no expert, but the forks really don't flex near as much as one would seem to think given their unique curved design.
Alors bikedenis, dormez bien ami.
There's my bad French.
Lawrence I have many american made bikes as well as many CCM`s. CCM bicycles are more supperior to our counter parts south of the border in one area that is important. Take for instance the ccm bottom bracket (cast iron) schwinn bottom bracket (tubing). American bottom brackets have a tendency to egg shape over time were as cast iron will not do this. All ccm joints are lugged which in my books is stronger. I could go on about some of the components also. Take a look at Torrington Pedals used on schwinn bikes and compare them to a Gibson Pedals. Tell me which is superior. Don`t get me wrong I love the american bikes but the CCM is by far no slouch to its counter part. This is by all means my opinion. The only thing I will say is I have been playing with both species for the last 20 years.
Lawrence, ton français est correcte et ne t'inquiète pas outre mesure car je fais autant de faute en anglais que tu pourrais en faire en français :).
You english is a lot better than my french.
cruisersbylou, yep that's what a friend of mine that just buys english bikes tells me.
Where the Americans used to excell were the beautiful Art Nouveau and Art Deco bikes.
I think there would be money in doing an Art Nouveau frame like Viktor Shrekngost used to design, and putting speeds and decent brakes on it.
I try Lawrence... i try.................
In order to answer the question whether a 1950s CCM or Schwinnframe is stronger, I’d need to know several qualifiers. What is meant by strength? Are we talking rigidity or the amount of force to permanently bend something? Or are we talking actual breakage? Which Schwinn model are we comparing the camelback to? Is it a “lightweight” or “middleweight” model?
If the Flyte forks had an issue with failures, I would think that it would be would be fairly common knowledge, especially among the CCM fraternity, having reputation similar to Viscount’s “death” fork. Also, if they had a serious design or material flaw, I seriously doubt these bicycles would command the prices they do.
As for a retro, art deco styled bicycle, their viability is questionable even with modern gearing and brakes. Schwinn reissued their Black Phantom in 1995 and it was a sales disaster. Even at a break even price of $3000, they had to stop well short of the planned limited run (5000 units) when sales didn’t meet expectations. Very few were willing to pay that kind of price for a 75lb bicycle, regardless of how good it looked.