kostnerave
Finally riding a big boys bike
Here are some pictures of my latest acquisition, a Kmart All Pro "lightweight" 3 -speed bicycle, manufactured by Murray. Using the Murray Serial Number Project information, available here, I was able to date the bike to 1972. I recently attended a bike show put on by some great people, in Hurst, Texas, vowing not to buy any more bicycles. So, twenty five steps into the vendor area, I spot the All Pro and buy it! Being a lightweight Schwinn collector, this bike was a little out of my wheelhouse, but I was immediately overcome with a sense of nostalgia for it. The decals, the Flamboyant Green paint, the three speed grip shifter and the goofy frame reflectors won me over. The bike was covered in a layer of dirt, grease and light surface rust here and there, but I knew it would clean up nicely. I overhauled everything, detailed it and installed new tires, tubes, brake shoes and new brake cables inside the original housing. The wheels were factory laced "wrong", so I relaced the wheels with the original spokes and new DT spoke nipples. I know it's not a very valuable or sought after bike, but it holds a place of honor in my collection. The serial number is stamped vertically on the left side of the head tube. It's : M26442X12615140 Please enjoy the pictures. Thanks