REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Excelsior based Klunker

1142 Views 12 Replies 10 Participants Last post by First Flight, Jul 10, 2006

First Flight

Discussion Starter · Jul 6, 2006

One of my favorite bikes from our collection. This was an actual bike built in the 1970's and used as a mountain bike. The original owners friends and family had the bike restored for him and it sat around for years. He didn't use it since it was now "too nice" and we were fortunate enough to give it a new home. About a dozen shots and more details @ https://www.firstflightbikes.com/Excelsior.html

I think most everything is period correct and original except for the front forks?

<img src=https://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/ExcelsiorATB.JPG>

<img src=https://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/ExcelsiorATBBackBar.JPG>

<img src=https://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/ExcelsiorATBHead.JPG>

<img src=https://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/ExcelsiorATBStem.JPG>

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1 - 13 of 13 Posts

hollister

· #2 · Jul 6, 2006

nice lookin paint job:thumbsup:

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Rumpfy

· #3 · Jul 6, 2006

I'm amazed at how clean that thing is! :eekster:

Very inspiring.

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Veloculture

· #4 · Jul 6, 2006

very nice. looks like you took it to Bosnia for the photos. good contrast.

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82Sidewinder

· #5 · Jul 7, 2006

First Flight said:
One of my favorite bikes from our collection. This was an actual bike built in the 1970's and used as a mountain bike. The original owners friends and family had the bike restored for him and it sat around for years. He didn't use it since it was now "too nice" and we were fortunate enough to give it a new home. About a dozen shots and more details @ http://www.firstflightbikes.com/Excelsior.html

I think most everything is period correct and original except for the front forks?QUOTE]

Sweet bike Jeff! I had seen it before on the First Flight page, but not in this detail. I'm impressed with the brazing job for the rear canti mounts.

Craig

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First Flight

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 7, 2006

Veloculture said:
very nice. looks like you took it to Bosnia for the photos. good contrast.

Nope, just a gutted building behind the shop. There are some really cool exposed steel beams but I haven't figured out how to get a bike up there yet.

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mwr

· #7 · Jul 7, 2006

First Flight said:
Nope, just a gutted building behind the shop. There are some really cool exposed steel beams but I haven't figured out how to get a bike up there yet.

I thought you were going to say that was wES' place. At least that what EL made it sound like.

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ssmike

· #8 · Jul 7, 2006

Yes, inspiring indeed. I wish they made those things in XL sizes. So, you're bringing this out to race Keyesville next year, right Jeff? :thumbsup:

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Rumpfy

· #9 · Jul 7, 2006

mwr said:
I thought you were going to say that was wES' place. At least that what EL made it sound like.

EL said WeS' place was more like Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

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timbercomp

· #10 · Jul 7, 2006

Rumpfy said:
EL said WeS' place was more like Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Man!!! I wish my place looked that good, try getting a place like that on a bike shop employees wages...SHIIIIIIT

Guess youll never know since you and Mr Ruiz and a certain "others" are too lazy to come out to the FFB FEST!!...guess this year i wont even clean the place up

FF/RIG

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1FG rider

· #11 · Jul 8, 2006

Wow, that purdy!!

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Repack Rider

· #12 · Jul 8, 2006

A couple of notes.

The stem is from the right period, but most '70s Excelsior "Clunkers" would have used an Ashtabula. In the '70s there were no alloy rims, and using rim brakes on a slick steel rim was a recipe for disaster, which was why drum brakes were initially popular. Brake levers on this bike look to be Tomaselli, not found on '70s bikes. Fork looks like Tange, maybe from an early Stumpjumper?

Can't see the left side shifter, but to be truly authentic, it would be a right-hand shifter turned around.

Excellent paint job, reminiscent of Alan Bonds' work:

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First Flight

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jul 10, 2006

Yeah, I kinda doubt that the dirt guys would have built up a bike with the parts on this bike. It reminds me more of a "fantasy" bike that someone with an unlimited budget might have built. The shifters are the original right-side-only Mightys and I think everything on the bike (with the exceptiojnal of teh fork) would have been available in the late 1970's.

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