My New Old Bicycle (Schwinn Predator Content)

This past weekend my son was staying with my parents. He's 4 and just got a kid's bike for his birthday. He's gotten good enough (with training wheels) that it's difficult to keep with him on foot, but I don't need my 700c-wheeled hybrid to keep up with him.

So, my dad (with my son's help) dug out my old BMX bike and cleaned it up a bit and brought it to me. It's an '85 Schwinn Predator Streetwise. It's nowhere near the pinnacle of BMX evolution, but it's nostalgic for me. I saved up all my allowance, odd chore, and lawn mowing money that summer to buy this bike.

It's in decent shape, but needs a bit of work. For starters, it has tiny little rust pits all over it. I can polish these out with chrome polish, but they come right back. A coat of wax over it after polishing should help, but is there a longer term solution? Is there a better way to detail it?

Second, it needs new tubes and tires. What's a good source for blue BMX tires? Ideally I'd like to find some NOS Predator tires (they have little stickers on them), but anything of similar appearance would be fine for bombing around the neighborhood. I'll use black if I have to, but really want blue.

Third, my pads are rotten. I've got the top tube Predator pad and cover, but I ran generic pads on it back in the day. I'd like to get a set of NOS Predator pads. Does anybody have a source other than watching ebay?

Fourth, I'm a little taller now than I was back when I rode this bike, so I think I need a layback type seat post. How do I figure out what will fit? I assume they come in standard sizes, but I don't know what or how to measure.

Fifth, I'd like to get a new fork decal. One of mine is toast. Again, some sort of NOS Predator parts source is probably my best bet.

try looking here: http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/

Well your kinda in luck....Kenda made blue tires with a gum side wall and a x shaped tread. but they stopped a few years back however i just found a shop with 5 sets! i got a set to put on my Race Inc as snakebellys are next to impossible to find... As for the pits. use Semichrome polish http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=12143135&PMT4NO=70435723 then use Zoop seal over it after its buffed.

44

I have an old schwinn as well, i think its a thrasher?

I an tell you that it is HEAVY and had black and white checker patterned pads for the frame (that are in a box somewhere still)

Apexcarver wrote: ... it is HEAVY and had black and white checker patterned pads for the frame (that are in a box somewhere still)

Yeah, mine's about 27-28lbs. I ran blue and white checkered pads on it. I still have them (they're about 2 feet out of those pictures), but they're toast after the better part of 20 years in my parents backyard shed.

My Race inc. chromoly bike was 21lbs 2 ounces :) I'll PM you the name of the place with tires. I can swing buy monday and grab another set. There not soft and grippy but there period corect.

Pict on my site! http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyjt5o/ 44

Didn't David recently say he had some Predator stuff laying around?

For the seat post you want the i.d. of the seat tube or the o.d. of the current post you have now. I am 99.9 percent certain it will be 7/8 inch as that was the standard for the day. Manufactuers didn't start varying sizes until early '90s. Ebay will be the best bet for finding one.

I may also have the hookup on some old predator pads...the bike shop I used to work at was a Schwinn dealer for years, and have boatloads of old crap lying around. I will ask and let you know. Im sure theyll sell it for a song

For refernce, my 7 year olds custom Redman race bike weighs 12lbs 8 oz.

^ Truth. I raced a much lighter bike (sub 20lb), BITD.

I raced up until last year when I biffed and separated my shoulder (again). BMX is a young mans game

The bike I still miss more than any car...

Had one when I was 16 and then traded it for a Auburn.

Those bars are gangsta