I am nearing the end of my first "vintage" build. This build is extremely sentimental to me, I am building a close replica of the 85 freeform that my late cousin Matt used to ride.

This bike is for my oldest son that is named after Matt, but I would like to take it on it's maiden voyage when it is complete but I am not sure that is a good idea.

This bike will have schwimm mags from the time period, and I was wondering if they would handle pretty high tire pressure so that I can take this for a quick spin. For reference I am 6'3" and around 325#'s, hopefully this doesn't sound like a stupid question because it would be make my decade to be able to do this.

Also does anyone know where I can get my hands on a decal set for this bike, it is an 85-86 white freeform, any info would be greatly appreciated.

You'll be fine ! Use like 60 psi and take her out ! Cool Story behind the bike... now let's see it

Brian

i have been looking for schwinn decals myself if i find one i will post here

but it is not an easy find sometimes

They pop up on ebay from time to time but I'm not sure if they're the correct ones for your build.

Go here for some info about Schwinn's: http://genesbmx.bmxair.com/schwinn/catalogs/bmx.html

I'm slowly rebuilding a 1987 Freeform Pro YO! (edited because it's actually an 87)

Let's see some pix...

J

[ June 05, 2006, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: pjbaz ]

some individual decals for the freeform line pop up on occasion, but complete sets are nearly impossible to track down. the other problem is that darn near ever year and model of the freeforms had something different about the decals on them, and that makes it very hard to make sure what you do find is corect for the frameset you have. all i can say is keep looking. you never know, you might just get lucky.
here is a pic of an 85 ex i built up using some spare parts i had laying around:
i also have this 86 thats darn near stock:

i have several other framesets as well. i didnt intend to collect these, it just so happened that i came across them and couldnt pass them up. i have a line on two more as well that i will probly pick up. anyways, good luck on the decals.

--mike.

Thanks for the reassurance guys, sadly I'm about twice the man I once was and that limits my ability to ride a "kids" bike with confidence, hell my mountain bike disapproves when I get to rough with it, now that I think about it I would probably disapprove if I had some sweaty 300 pound guy on my back pumping for all he is worth just to be able to show the young'uns how the old man used to do it.

If I could get my hands on just the down tube sticker like the white one that kilo posted, I would be happier than a pig in a mud hole.

As for pictures I am not finished with it as of yet but it is close. I'll give you some info on it though.

When I say close replica I am looking at this build just like it was the summer of 87 and Matt and I were running around town, I am NOT shooting for a nos build cos I have never rode a bike that was completely stock, and I plan to do this one that way.

It will have mostly stock schwinn parts with my own personal touches here and there,but some parts will be new school cos that is how we did it back in the day,you would break a part and replace it whatever the LBS had that you could afford at the time.

The f/f is the new cadillac white diamond pearl.
The mags,seat post, clamp,brakes, levers,and cables are going to be pure white, the stem is white on top and I mirror polished the bottom half and the bars are chrome.
The seat,grips,pedals, and tires will be new school but will be in keeping with the white theme of the bike, just like when matt and I were kids.

hopefully your imagination will work for another couple of weeks until I get it done.

Also my next vintage build is going to be an early 80's pl20 like I had, it will be for my youngest son who happens to be named after me,luckily I still have the forks,bars,cranks, and wheels from when I was a kid, now I just have to track down a frame.

thanks for the schwinn link

and hey good luck with that 1986 Freeform Pro YO

Here's what mine is supposed to look like...but the guy I got it from stripped the pink paint (and did a terrible job at that unfortunately) so it will be some variation of something YO!

It's actuallly an 87...doh



[ June 05, 2006, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: pjbaz ]

nice catalog pic of the 87 pro ad! i have that very f/f in my garage, but sadly it has been stripped down to its chrome, and the seatmast has a good sized crack in it. it is the 3rd 87 pro i've had, so i'm pretty sure i will run across another one in time. i'm going after the blue 85-86 later this week. i have sourced two of them, one bone stock and another one missing some parts. the incomplete one still has the white DC brakes though, which i have ear-marked for another project. so, if anyone wants a blue freeform f/f, just lmk.

--mike.

Yo! FreeForm EX Pro

[img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/445148e1m0942799d/1c38/__sr_/f1bb.jpg?phQjYhEBEic27E.z[/img]

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/glennwmiii/d...1bb.jpg&.src=ph

crazy long bike...

Made locomotives tough without a freecoaster, gotta watch those DX's so you don't get one in the back of the leg...

FE, you had an '88 right? they must've changed the dimensions between the '87 & '88's. I'm only 5'7" and I always felt that my 89 GT Aggressor was longer than the Predator. Strange that they'd screw with the dimensions like that. I know you had problems with the Scwhinns, so that could be why. Did you ever try riding the earlier models? Just Curious.

I don't remember what year I had, 88 sounds about right, since I took all the ones they gave me to Woodward in 89 and traded them for other stuff. The earlier ones were better geometry but the one I had came with better components. Not to mention they got rid of those goofy fork "pegs".

After that I quit worrying about trying to get a full factory sponsorship. I just looked for people that would flow me product. Besides in the late 80's most bike companies were not doing much for flatland...

I remember how shocked I was that Kevin Jones didn't have a full factory sponsorship...

That was sad.

PS. I introduced him and the Hoods to the peregrine guy. I still have his business card. Weird huh.

Jay Miron owes me a drink, I gave Schwinn his info when he lived in Raleigh for a while hanging out with us. I left for camp and a month or two later I saw in Freestylin that they picked him up. His career started really took off after that. Up till then he was just a little known rider from up north.

He had mad skills though. It's cool to see him still riding. I wonder if he is still as quiet as he used to be? I haven't seen him since then.