When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
What can you tell me about this JC Higgins?
- Thread starter Kaiserman
- Start date
#eBayPartner Most Recent BUY IT NOW Items Listed on eBay
Nice girls bike, built by Murray, and it should clean-up fairly well.
The N-serial number may reflect 1949-N,
based on Western Auto's serial numbers lists, (but J.C. Higgins badged bikes were sold by Sears).
Murray serial number project. | Classic Balloon Tire Bicycles 1933-1965
New to the site and first post. Just picked up this Flightliner and trying to figure out the year. I will just clean it up and enjoy Thanks Markthecabe.com
It has the less-common and earlier-style springer fork - with the short upper truss rods, (just for looks).
Wanted - 1949 JC Higgins Color Flow Beehive Short Trusses (see photo) | Wanted: Bikes, Trikes, Parts, Accessories, Etc.
I need of the short truss bars from the front springer set up on my 1949 Ladies JC Higgins Colorflow. Please let me know if you have one to sell! thanks
The front headlight fixture looks peculiar?
That headlight looks just like the one on my Higgins except mine's black. I'm not able to open the reference link you posted so unfortunately I don't know what you were meaning to show?
Archie Sturmer
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
It was a URL for a "search" on the CABE site with a query for the key word "batwing".
Https://thecabe.com/forum/search?q=Batwing
I am not sure why the link(s) wouldn't work.
The other links were url's to Murray serial numbers (for the Murray-built bicycle), and a thread about the earlier-style springer truss rods for another's 1949 girls bike.
My posts were not Section 508 compliant; there should have been an explanation for each link.
Last edited:
Archie Sturmer
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
The thread below includes a catalog excerpt (1948?)
"Glimpse at that "color stream" styling".
and
"The bike with the "Flow Motion" Ride".
1949 Jc Higgins Womens Spring Fork Bicycle | Classic Balloon Tire Bicycles 1933-1965
I'm wrapping up this winter project. I believe it to be a 1949 JC Higgins Spring Fork women's bike with original paint and parts (except for tires). If I'm correct then it's also missing one super cool handlebar mounted Bat-Wing Light and Horn unit. Regardless she's wicked fun to ride! Would...
thecabe.com
The thread below shows a similar bike with a red "color flow" decal on the chainguard.
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1950-girls-jc-higgins-color-flow.223352/
Another seasonal catalog (from Rambler)
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/can-you-identify-my-jc-higgins-bike.28351/#post-148546
Last edited:
Kaiserman
Finally riding a big boys bike
Roads dried up enough for a quick around the block ride.
It's not a really comfortable bike for me to ride.
I can't adjust the seat down short enough for my liking, I sit a little to far forward thanks to the lucky 7 and I can't turn it around because the seat springs hit
the rack. I need to raise the bars I think. The way I sit in it kind of makes me force my hand into the grips enough that they hurt. kind of hard to explain.
It's not a really comfortable bike for me to ride.
I can't adjust the seat down short enough for my liking, I sit a little to far forward thanks to the lucky 7 and I can't turn it around because the seat springs hit
the rack. I need to raise the bars I think. The way I sit in it kind of makes me force my hand into the grips enough that they hurt. kind of hard to explain.
NBHAA
National Bicycle History Archive of America
Hello...
Your J.C. Higgins bicycle is a 1949 model from the DeLuxe ColorFlow series. Not "running changes." One needs to understand the real bicycles VS. what may seem to be in the catalogues... and why.
This hobby with all of its guessing and jumping to conclusions has standardized a LOT of misinformation and myths about J.C. Higgins. This is mainly because people imagine that a "book" made of Xeroxed copies from a few Sears mail-order catalogues is the BE-all and END-all authority on J.C. Higgins bicycles. WRONG. Having this belief will merely lead you in circles on top of circles.
• "Color-Flow" or "ColorFlow" was not a certain design look or MODEL– no matter what the internet or "books" or today's hobbyists may tell you. It was the name of a design THEME and covered MANY different models, years and designs. NOT merely one. How do we know this? Because our friend who designed and oversaw designs of these models told us so over fifty years ago. And National Bicycle History Archive of America has all of the factory literature to back up this information. These include owner's manuals, in-house store information, original catalogues and more. We have been collecting this information since the 1950s, so none of what we tell you are guesses.
• There was NOT one model or design of J.C. Higgins per year. Often times there were several different models AND options in one year.
• When the "flow-motion wonderide" spring fork (what we named "bee hive") was first introduced, it was as an option– not as standard equipment. One had to order it and pay extra. ALSO... there were different versions of this fork as time went by. So not all are the same. Early truss rods were deleted, pivot shoulder bolts were changed and made beefier, pivot "clips" were modified, horizontal fender braces were completely re-designed. And more.
• There were numerous DIFFERENT versions of the J.C. Higgins "bat-wing" headlight and hornlight. Bottoms, sometimes tops and other aspects were changed over the years– especially depending on the application. They were not all the same.
• ALLSTATE brand tires were standard on all J.C. Higgins bicycles except one. ALLSTATE was Sears' own house brand of tire. It should thus be no surprise to find them on an unmolested original J.C. Higgins bicycle. But the real question is WHY would you want to ride on ancient tires that are best to remove and preserve????? Such ancient tires could rupture and/or degrade and then they are gone forever! AND a sudden blow-out could seriously injure the rider. RIDE on NEW tires and tubes. SAVE the originals for display. Surely you would not drive your automobile on 60-year-old tires would you? Why take a chance on injuring yourself WHILE destroying an original pair of beautiful Allstates????? And if you choose to follow those naysayers who will brag and swear, "I ride my original tires all the time and nothing happened to me!"... NOTHING may happen– UNTIL it does. We knew someone like this in SoCal in the 1970s who contributed significantly to their dentist's and chiropractor's bottom line income one year. All courtesy of "riding on those cool original tires"... Our advice is don't do it. Even for those who are lucky, the mathematical odds are definitely NOT in your favor.
Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America
NBHAA.com
Last edited:
Kaiserman
Finally riding a big boys bike
Thanks NBHAA. As always, you're a fountain of bicycle knowledge!
I only rode on the original tires around the block a few times. If I were going to ride it far or often I'd replace them.
Took it for one last ride and I really don't care for the way I sit on it. GF said she isn't interested in riding it so it's going to be up for sale.
Anyone have an idea of what to ask?
I only rode on the original tires around the block a few times. If I were going to ride it far or often I'd replace them.
Took it for one last ride and I really don't care for the way I sit on it. GF said she isn't interested in riding it so it's going to be up for sale.
Anyone have an idea of what to ask?
The Colonel
Riding a '36 Western Flyer
bikes a 1949
'JC Higgins', sold exclusively at Sears.
named after a Sears employee & Irish Immigrant who went on to have a career as a corporate guy..
The 'C' is made up.. He had no middle name
forks are called 'behive'
light is called 'batwing'
the ornamental guard over the rear wheel is called a 'fender skirt' to prevent a ladies dress from getting wound up in the wheel.
Its all there. Its the raddest color.
Value .. the forks & light alone are sought after.. It has value.. plus its all there.
My honest advice..
Just like in the movie" A bronx tale".. if she doesnt reach over to unlock the door after you open her door.. you ditch her.. no questions asked..
Id keep the bike & get a new girlfriend. She failed the test.
Your next girlfriend will love it.
'JC Higgins', sold exclusively at Sears.
named after a Sears employee & Irish Immigrant who went on to have a career as a corporate guy..
The 'C' is made up.. He had no middle name
forks are called 'behive'
light is called 'batwing'
the ornamental guard over the rear wheel is called a 'fender skirt' to prevent a ladies dress from getting wound up in the wheel.
Its all there. Its the raddest color.
Value .. the forks & light alone are sought after.. It has value.. plus its all there.
My honest advice..
Just like in the movie" A bronx tale".. if she doesnt reach over to unlock the door after you open her door.. you ditch her.. no questions asked..
Id keep the bike & get a new girlfriend. She failed the test.
Your next girlfriend will love it.
Kaiserman
Finally riding a big boys bike
I'd ditch all my bikes before my girl. She's a keeper.
Similar threads
