The DX:
Always a skateboarder as a kid, I didn't get into bikes until the eraly 80's when my friend turned me onto Mtn. biking. My first bike was a 1984 Diamond Back Mean Streak which I thought was top shelf for the time, but I really wanted a Klunker like I saw the early N. CAL. bikers riding in the pictures. 25 years and several Supermondo Deluxe Mtn. bikes later , I still desired to build up an original Klunker. Well, this is my attempt at fulfilling this dream. Started researching on the internet, found great info here, the CABE, Schwinn forums, MTBR VRC, Rat Rod bikes, and of course Alan Bonds website. Found the DX on the bay and took it apart the first day I got it, stashing the parts strategically around the garage before my sig other got home to find another bike had entered the home. Spent hours trying to remove the 4 coats of paint covering the original Schwinn maroon/white to no avail. In the end there was too much pantina and not enough original paint for my liking. Read every post I could find about painting a bike. Started searching for parts to complete the build. As much as I wanted to keep it era correct, the pocketbook dictated some thing would have to wait until the right price comes up as I substituted other not so era correct parts I had in the parts bin. My ultimate goal is to complete this bike with all pre 1980 components some day.
The original Ebay photo's. Somewhere hiding under all that paint is a real Cream Puff:
Always a skateboarder as a kid, I didn't get into bikes until the eraly 80's when my friend turned me onto Mtn. biking. My first bike was a 1984 Diamond Back Mean Streak which I thought was top shelf for the time, but I really wanted a Klunker like I saw the early N. CAL. bikers riding in the pictures. 25 years and several Supermondo Deluxe Mtn. bikes later , I still desired to build up an original Klunker. Well, this is my attempt at fulfilling this dream. Started researching on the internet, found great info here, the CABE, Schwinn forums, MTBR VRC, Rat Rod bikes, and of course Alan Bonds website. Found the DX on the bay and took it apart the first day I got it, stashing the parts strategically around the garage before my sig other got home to find another bike had entered the home. Spent hours trying to remove the 4 coats of paint covering the original Schwinn maroon/white to no avail. In the end there was too much pantina and not enough original paint for my liking. Read every post I could find about painting a bike. Started searching for parts to complete the build. As much as I wanted to keep it era correct, the pocketbook dictated some thing would have to wait until the right price comes up as I substituted other not so era correct parts I had in the parts bin. My ultimate goal is to complete this bike with all pre 1980 components some day.
The original Ebay photo's. Somewhere hiding under all that paint is a real Cream Puff:
