Fresh Find: 1980 Cook Brothers Three Bar Cruiser

[ozzie]

Longhorns back to 31”, 26” just felt way too narrow.

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I get it bud. I love my Johnny Truetorch longhorn bars. Narrow bars just don’t feel right on a BMX cruiser

 

[sworley]

One project I wanted to tackle this winter was getting my Ukai coaster wheel functional. I bought a NOS Bendix 96 hub and laced it up but it always felt horrible. Totally sloppy engagement, noises - not good. So when the shop couldn’t make improvements to it, it was time to seek out a new coaster hub. Everyone raves about the Shimano CB110 so that’s what I wanted for reliability and responsiveness. A NOS example was picked up off eBay for $13.

Maybe kind of gimmicky but while I had the rear wheel apart it was nothing to clean and spray paint the brake tracks to have a clean looking coaster brake wheelset. They came out looking pretty good for what it is!

It’s rainy here today so I haven’t had a chance to ride it but in the stand it already engages, rolls and stops way better than that Bendix. This wheelset is also a lot lighter than my Shimano DX/thick gauge spoke wheels and the gold ano/Cook front hub is pretty trick.

 

[ozzie]

Nice work painting the wheel. VHT make a great product. Have you ridden it with the Shimano coaster? I have 4 bikes with these hubs and they all ride well. It may take some riding before the hub is broken in. The brakes can be a little weak but they spin freely. You can improve them by removing the caged bearings and adding more without the cages fitted. There is a good video on youtube explaining the process.

 

[sworley]

Rode wonderfully! I know there are a few mods available for these hubs but it already felt amazing. Maybe I’ll look into some improvements down the road. I was hearing perhaps Cjell Monē had a write up on the matter but I’ll check out YouTube, too - thanks!

 

[birdzgarage]

Looks like the seat post is bent.id put a stronger post on there.that can crack that seat tube of the frame over time.the post flexes and transfers the stress to the frame.ive seen it happen

 

[sworley]

Thanks for the heads up, I’ll investigate that!

 

[ozzie]

If it is 7/8”/22.2mm OD look for a cromo post by Nitto or S&M.

 

[birdzgarage]

Ive been diggin the solid aluminum for anything that needs the post up high.

 

[ozzie]

The solid alloy ones are good providing it is straight. Al’s rapid transit make an extra solid long cromo post if you need one. I have one on my red menace.

 

[cyclingday]

True Torch chromo post probably fits that Cook frame like a glove, and will not bend.