Learn more about Retro-Direct Drive at:
A cruiser should have a tank---this tank is built out of old Dodge doors. I made a template, then cut them and brazed the blanks to the frame, and also added some bosses for the brake cable at this time.
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Next, I built the bike up. Then I checked to get all the parts in working order; that disc brake took some doing to get right. Then I tore the bike down, cleaned the frame, primed, and gave it a two-tone paint job. I added the lettering at this time. The final touch was getting the Bettie Page
stickers onto the tank.
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Nuttin' new in the world of bikes. This gearing system has been around since 1905; but this is the first time it's been applied to a Kustom Cruiser. Retro-Direct is a two-speed gear system that gives you low gear by
pedaling backward. Not just a small kick-back like the Bendix hubs, but full back rotation of the pedals. R-D uses two separate freewheels on the rear hub, with some really interesting routing of the chain.
To build this system, I started with a BMX double-sided hub. On the drive side, I first added a freewheel from an electric scooter(off ebay).These freewheels have a flange for a bolt-on sprocket. Next, I took a large sprocket from a 10-speed cluster and drilled holes for the bolts and fitted it to the scooter freewheel. When these freewheels are screwed onto the hub they have some thread left, to which I screwed in a bottom bracket cup from an English-type bike. This gives more thread to screw the second freewheel to.
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Next, I modified a Schwinn cruiser frame to accept the wider hub by first cutting the bridge. Next, I placed a bolt in the rear drop outs and used a car jack to spread the stays.(gotta love those heavy steel frames.) Then I installed the hub and checked the chain clearance. When all was right, I brazed in a new bridge.
A cruiser should have a tank---this tank is built out of old Dodge doors. I made a template, then cut them and brazed the blanks to the frame, and also added some bosses for the brake cable at this time.
.
Next, I built the bike up. Then I checked to get all the parts in working order; that disc brake took some doing to get right. Then I tore the bike down, cleaned the frame, primed, and gave it a two-tone paint job. I added the lettering at this time. The final touch was getting the Bettie Page
stickers onto the tank.
.
Learn more about Retro-Direct Drive at: