We think there are a slew of other bikes out there that deserve the moniker “classic” even if they haven’t been wheeling around since the beginning of time. Consider the John Deere series of bikes by Nirve, and the limited edition cruisers New Belgium puts out each year. Those are surely classics today and we think future generations will agree.

Whether you’re looking to start a seriously expensive hobby or just straddle something with a unique patina, Scott McCaskey of The Classic & Antique Bicycle Exchange and Leon Dixon of the National Bicycle History Archive of America offer their advice and opinions to help you get rolling on some vintage steel.

Scott McCaskey

Scott McCaskey is a Texas-based classic bike expert, restorer, and historian. He is the publisher of the Classic & Antique Bicycle Exchange (thecabe.com) as well as the Classic Bicycle News (classicbicyclenews.com)

For starters, generally, the more deluxe the original bike (frame tanks, speedometers, lights, bells, horns, fenders, etc.) the more valuable it is and the more you’ll pay. McCaskey says wear items like pedals, grips, saddles and tires are fairly easy to find. Also, original bikes are more desirable than restored bikes (meaning bikes with fresh paint; new hubs, rims and spokes; updated components, etc.)

Restore the bike for you, not for resale; you’ll never get your money back out of it. A proper restoration of an old classic can cost thousands of dollars to do right. And if you don’t do it right, it will be hard to sell for top dollar.

The $200 – $1,000 restoration job is the mainstay of the hobby. The low end of that spectrum is a project; $1,000 is something you’re proud of. Then you go to $2,000 to $10,000 for rare bikes and classics in excellent shape. You’ll pay that for an Elgin Bluebird or an Evinrude Streamflow or a Schwinn Autocycle or a 1936 Indian bicycle.

McCaskey’s top 10 things to watch for when buying a classic cruiser:

1.    Make sure the frame and fork are straight. Is the carcass in good shape? Is it rideable?
2.    Are the wheels straight and trueable?
3.    How bad is the rust? (If it’s through the frame at joints, it’s structurally not sound. Pass.)
4.    Look for original components (pedals, seat, fenders, grips, tires, chain, etc.)
5.    Do the fenders match?
6.    Is the chain guard there?
7.    Do all the painted items match?
8.    Is it the original paint? Is the paint in decent shape?
9.    Are all the “original equipment” accessories (lights, speedometer, “gas tank,” reflectors, bells) still intact?
10.    How badly are the pedals, hand grips and saddle worn?

Follow these simple tips when beginning your own restoration project. Check out McCaskey’s publications both online and in print for more information.

Leon Dixon

Dixon’s claim to fame: “Classic”

In the world of classic cruiser bicycles, there’s Leon Dixon and there’s everyone else. He claims to have coined the term “classic bicycle” in 1977 in a series of articles he wrote in his self-published newsletter about restoring balloon tire bicycles made between 1920 to the end of the 1960s. “There’s nothing that really fits the mold after that,” Dixon said. “After that, everyone was jumping on the [Schwinn) Krates and Sting Rays.”

The mildly cranky Viet Nam vet says that unless you are returning that old Schwinn to its original, fresh from the factory condition, you’re not restoring it, you’re customizing it. “People don’t understand what a restoration is,” Dixon said. “People want shiny; that’s not restoration. You have to do your homework.”

Original equipment pedals, fenders, hand grips and saddles are what a true restoration is made of, and it starts with the serial number and a lot of research. The tires, lights, bells and color of paint must all be correct to qualify as a restoration, according to Dixon. New rims and hubs that weren’t on the bike when it was new does not a restoration make. That’s customizing.

So, if you’re just looking for a cool old bike that you want to make road worthy with new components and accessories, go right ahead. Just don’t claim to have “restored” it.

A true restoration of a classic bicycle can require dozens of hours and hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. And he suggests you practice with something easy, like a ‘50s or ‘60s era Schwinn. Original parts are relatively easy to find and they won’t melt your checkbook.  “Don’t try anything made before The War (WWII) unless you’re willing to put in some serious money,” Dixon said, adding that getting the chrome and paint done (right) for a classic bicycle can run upwards of $1,500 or more.
Dixon also said that people who think they’ve spent too much for too little when buying a true classic bicycle usually have unrealistic expectations and haven’t done their homework.

“People who buy old stuff like they are shopping at Macy’s are the ones who feel cheated,” Dixon said. “It’s old and people need to adjust their thinking to a different level.”