Bicycles and banana seats make for a happy childhood
September 1, 2011 6:08 AM Subscribe
Which model of bicycle did I have as a child?
I don't even know quite how to explain this but I'm looking for picture or information on a bicycle I had as a child in the late 70's and early 80's. I believe the bike was either a Schwinn or Huffy (considering the age and money). It was a larger bike that would have a frame similar to todays 10-speed bicycles. I don't remember how many gears this bicycle had, though. The most distinguishing characteristics of this bike was a banana seat and the craziest handlebars. They were almost like a set of standard 10-speed handlebars but imagine that they had been mounted upside-down. Yes, curly and curvy, but even more so. Imagine a sort of distorted chopper style bike but add an extra loop in the handlebars.
To finish the picture, mine was a purple girls bike.
Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
Thanks for the help!
I don't even know quite how to explain this but I'm looking for picture or information on a bicycle I had as a child in the late 70's and early 80's. I believe the bike was either a Schwinn or Huffy (considering the age and money). It was a larger bike that would have a frame similar to todays 10-speed bicycles. I don't remember how many gears this bicycle had, though. The most distinguishing characteristics of this bike was a banana seat and the craziest handlebars. They were almost like a set of standard 10-speed handlebars but imagine that they had been mounted upside-down. Yes, curly and curvy, but even more so. Imagine a sort of distorted chopper style bike but add an extra loop in the handlebars.
To finish the picture, mine was a purple girls bike.
Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
Thanks for the help!
Was it a Huffy Dragster?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12395898@N08/5826150437/
posted by ElleElle at 6:17 AM on September 1, 2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12395898@N08/5826150437/
posted by ElleElle at 6:17 AM on September 1, 2011
Response by poster: These are close but the handlebars are wrong. There was an honest-to-goodness loop in the handlebars that I haven't been able to find anywhere. I don't know for certain what the make of the bike was but it wouldn't have been anything unusual for the time period.
posted by mcarthey at 6:21 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by mcarthey at 6:21 AM on September 1, 2011
Was it a Sears Screamer mayhaps? It looks like they have 20" wheels but an extra high-rise frame that makes it look bigger than a standard 20" kids bike.
posted by drlith at 6:24 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by drlith at 6:24 AM on September 1, 2011
Best answer: A link in there also led me to the similar Murray Eliminator
posted by drlith at 6:27 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by drlith at 6:27 AM on September 1, 2011
Response by poster: @drlith, Wow, that is crazy close. I'm trying to recall if it had the shifter on the frame like that and I think it did. There was something unusual about the shifter that I couldn't remember and that may be it. The handlebars still aren't right but it's very close. They actually looped around to close the loop but I'm wondering if there's a girls version that had a different set of bars?
posted by mcarthey at 6:28 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by mcarthey at 6:28 AM on September 1, 2011
Best answer: Another brand to consider is Ross, which had a lot of bikes out in the same places you would get Huffy, etc.
Her is another Eliminator with slightly different bars.
posted by mikepop at 6:41 AM on September 1, 2011
Her is another Eliminator with slightly different bars.
posted by mikepop at 6:41 AM on September 1, 2011
Response by poster: @mikepop ahha - there's a picture about halfway down in the link you provided that someone tagged as 'eliminator' that has the handlebars I remember (or nearly so). I also recall the seat being exactly like one of the links that I followed from the information provided by @drlith. I think I'm close enough now to consider this closed and can continue digging. Great finds all and thanks for the help. It's made me nostalgic for these bikes and I think I may have to surprise my kids with one.
posted by mcarthey at 6:47 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by mcarthey at 6:47 AM on September 1, 2011
Best answer: CCM Mustang Cobra? Huffy/JC Penney Swinger? Check out the gallery at New England Muscle Bikes, there are several other "ram's horn" muscle bikes in there.
posted by drlith at 6:50 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by drlith at 6:50 AM on September 1, 2011
Response by poster: Just as a followup, I believe this is the closest I've found so far. There are items that aren't quite right but I'll keep digging. I'm searching for "Murray Mark II Eliminator" which I've also seen referred to as "Otasco". Thanks!
posted by mcarthey at 6:51 AM on September 1, 2011
posted by mcarthey at 6:51 AM on September 1, 2011
Was it the one at the top of this page? It's purple:
http://musclebikeforums.com/topic/3681/BF-Goodrich-Muscle-Bikes#.TmD1JGp6JBk?
Cheers
posted by dukes909 at 8:26 AM on September 2, 2011
http://musclebikeforums.com/topic/3681/BF-Goodrich-Muscle-Bikes#.TmD1JGp6JBk?
Cheers
posted by dukes909 at 8:26 AM on September 2, 2011
Well, we're in Canada and my husband claimed his Fastback 100 had the Screamer/Eliminator-style curly handlebars. There was also a girls' version. Gosh, what gorgeous bikes these all are.
posted by peagood at 6:41 AM on October 2, 2011
posted by peagood at 6:41 AM on October 2, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 6:16 AM on September 1, 2011