Build a Custom 1952 Schwinn Boss Klunker Bicycle

Watch as I build up my classic vintage 1952 Schwinn three bar into a vintage style BMX race cruiser in the style of a 1970's downhill Klunker bicycle. Klunkers were the forerunner of modern day mountain bikes. They are commonly recognized as the bicycle that launched the all terrain bicycle and mountain bike industries. In the early to mid 1970's, riders in places like Marin County, California and Crested Butte, Colorado were converting these post world war two Schwinn frames into rugged bikes they could ride and race downhill on mountain fire roads. In places like Crested Butte, they quickly became the best way to travel around the local trails, ride to the local grocery store and take on group rides from pub to pub around town.

By the late 1970's a similar movement took shape in BMX racing. The rise of the "cruiser" class in BMX can be credited to the early pioneers of 26 inch wheel racing. Schwinn frames were used as the basis to create the BMX Cruiser, with riders adding BMX handlebars and components. Soon after, major BMX companies began building lighter cruiser race frames based on the Schwinn geometry.

Klunkers now come in many varieties. You have the Beach Cruiser Klunker, the Mountain Bike Klunker and the City Klunker. You might say that even the latest rage of urban ride-outs in major cities can be directly related to the early Klunkers, as riders build up BMX cruisers to roll in style in large groups.

This is the second episode for my Radmattic Rad Bicycle Builds and Restoration channel. Creating a channel such as this one, to build and restore vintage bicycles of all kinds, has been a concept in the works for several years. In addition to working on vintage BMX bicycles, I'll work on vintage mountain bikes, old Schwinn balloon tire bikes and old mountain bikes. There will also be videos showing the tuning up process on road bicycles, gravel bicycles and touring bicycles.

Bicycles have played a significant role in my life going back to age seven when I got my first Sears "Spider" 20 inch bicycle. At 14, I was riding BMX and continue to ride and race at 62. When mountain bikes were developed in the late 1970s, I was part of this movement as well. I worked in two different bicycle shops during high school and was sent to the Schwinn factory for Schwinn Service School in 1981. I'm the most happy when cruising around on any kind of bicycle or tinkering on one in my workshop.

Thank you for finding this channel!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:28 Overview of parts and components
01:58 1952 Schwinn balloon tire frame
02:17 Tange TX-1200 Champion 26 inch fork
03:25 Pro-Neck BMX stem
03:36 Boss BMX cruiser handlebars
04:10 AME Tri Grips
04:41 Brooks Professional Saddle
04:51 GT BMX double bolt seat post clamp
05:01 Sugino 175mm cranks and Tagaki 44 tooth chainring and spider
05:24 Profile BMX cranks
05:33 Profile American to European bottom bracket hop up kit
05:48 Black Ops American to European bottom bracket conversion kit
06:49 Deity T-MAC pedals
07:03 Custom made aluminum cantilever brake mounts
07:23 BOX One V Brakes
07:35 SE Bikes 26 inch BMX wheelset
07:46 White Industries single speed 18 tooth freewheel
08:02 Michelin Country Racer tires
08:21 Install Black Ops bottom bracket conversion kit
09:43 Install Profile bottom bracket
10:21 Install Profile cranks
10:54 Install seat post and GT BMX seat post clamp
11:31 Install Brooks Professional Saddle
12:19 Install Deity TMAC pedals
12:58 Install Pro-Neck BMX stem
13:45 Install BOSS Cruiser handlebars
14:59 Install AME Tri Grips
15:31 Install White Industries freewheel
15:57 Install Michelin Country Racer Tires
18:55 Install SE Bikes BMX Wheelset
20:20 Break chain to correct length
20:40 Install Quick Link
20:51 Check chain tension
21:28 Install custom v brake mounts
23:12 Install Box One v brakes
24:01 Install brake cable
26:13 Add a Dia Compe MX-1000 front caliper brake
29:06 Toe in the brake pads
30:39 Conclusion

[lukewalker]

Nicest klunker on the planet.
Thanks for sharing your artisanship and Happy New Year.

[bryanmacias]

Great video. I'm looking forward to seeing more bikes.

[TheNostalgicNeighborhood]

Not sure why it took so long, but the YouTube algorithm placed you in my recommendations this morning, and I’m glad it did. New subscriber. We need more BMX content on YouTube, but not only bike builds, but more with engaging narration and stories like these. Great job. Keep it up!!!

[drewman]

Thanks for sharing & posting … Nice Build and I bet the ride is a great! … Got to love those old school “Scott Mathauser Brake Pads” you used on the front Dia-Comp MX-1000 brakes …

[backyardchoppers]

I like the fact that you used only a couple of special tools bb tool specifically to build a perfect vintage bike. Looks great bdrother.

[siriosstar]

i had one similar to that i bought in 1958 for $52 . my dad paid half . single speed with reverse pedal brakes . had it until1985. best bike ever .bombproof.

[JogieGlenMait]

that bottom bracket conversion kit is pure genius.

[nbprotocol]

I had a schwinn typhoon that i put motorcycle handlebars on. I put a 3 speed sturmy archer rear hub. Yes those boat anchors will haul ass down hill!!

[bigbird]

Mine is a '56. I cut a 1 inch steer tube out of an old Rock Shox for a set of Hannebrink DH forks and some custom extra wide bars and I'm using Profile SS cranks. I can't really ride it due to my MS, but it was a lot of fun to build.

[seansims]

I was the last kid to get a diamond frame bmx ...I rode these frames into the early 80s soon as I earned enough to get a new bmx bike everyone wanted to chase girls and get in cars... I started MTB riding a few years later

[edwardallan]

I love what you are doing. Me too. My hood is flat. I am putting a CB on a very light old steel road frame. ❤

[b.s.adventures]

When the bb is loose like that you can install the bb and hammer the frame shell to fit. Then use some green locktite to help even more.
Might be difficult to do without damaging the paint though. .
I’ve always left the patina and never rd worried about it.
Those bolt in kits are better anyways.
I do the same thing with those too.

[StevenStratford]

Love those rear brake luge brackets?...could do with those for my vintage bike...very cool

[wvvols]

Great build! Thanks for the video! Can you pass along Mike's info for the brake adaptors? Thanks again!

[djantix]

Excellent build!! That looks really cool man!!

[drugsdelaney]

I’d sell my soul for BOSS cruiser bars!

[rolandonunez]

How were you able to avoid tensioner on free wheel? Great looking build!

[chadfield]

Great video I have this exact bike frame that was my dad’s when he was a teenager. I am planning to do a restomod on it and upgrading to a 3spd rear hub from a coaster brake hub; Where can I get pair of those clamp on V-brake studs for the rear chain stay? Do you have that POC who makes those stud clamps? Thanks.

[SamuelMarquez-dw]

Where can I get the mounts to put the rear brake?

[nelgroetheanti-dj]

Hey Hey!, great build, tough to beat a black and chrome Schwinn! Any more info on the brake adapters? Does this guy make them to sell or was it your buddy? Thanks