I just finished restoring two Flightliner bikes and thought I would share the story behind this project. I received a boys Flightliner bike as a Christmas present back in the early 60s and it was my pride and joy. This bike was later totaled by a mischievous cousin who I distinctly refused to let him ride it. He wrapped himself and the bike around a metal lamppost on our very steep hill (maybe he didn’t know about coaster brakes)
Fast forward to a year ago, when I looked on eBay and was astonished to find one that was in original fair condition that the owner was willing to ship. I totally restored it to “better than new” condition, costing way more than the bike will ever be worth.
I then asked my wife if she would ride a girl’s bike of that same model if I bought one and restored it – she enthusiastically said yes.
The pictures show the finished bikes. The blue paint on the girl's bike is original, but all other cosmetics are new. I equipped both with the “two-speed Bendix” hub, dual LED lights front & rear and rechargeable batteries.
We ride these bikes whenever weather permits here in the Pacific Northwest and never get tired of the looks we get.
Fast forward to a year ago, when I looked on eBay and was astonished to find one that was in original fair condition that the owner was willing to ship. I totally restored it to “better than new” condition, costing way more than the bike will ever be worth.
I then asked my wife if she would ride a girl’s bike of that same model if I bought one and restored it – she enthusiastically said yes.
The pictures show the finished bikes. The blue paint on the girl's bike is original, but all other cosmetics are new. I equipped both with the “two-speed Bendix” hub, dual LED lights front & rear and rechargeable batteries.
We ride these bikes whenever weather permits here in the Pacific Northwest and never get tired of the looks we get.
