A kid in my neighborhood had one of these Top Wheels, I don't remember seeing many at all.
My first "muscle bike" was a gold Japanese 5-speed stingray knock-off I got for Christmas, probably 1967. In 7th grade I got another stingray style one-speed. My neighbors had Krates. Did any of you have stingrays or knock-offs?
I never had a proper stingray, much to my chagrin, but I did have a Mattel V-Room, with the toy motorcycle treatment. It was my first two-wheeler. Eventually I got embarrassed by the fake-ness (and ran out of batteries,) and removed the engine and exhaust pipe. I rode it for a couple of years, until the handlebars snapped off one day, leading to a nasty fall. I still wanted a cool stingray, but the next bike I received was an English racer style, with Sturmey-Archer 3-speed (which always got hopelessly fouled up.) I thought it was rather stodgy, but had to live with it. After that, the focus of my desire matured to a Schwinn 10 speed, which I ultimately did get.
I had a purple Sears fake sting ray 5 speed with skinny tires. Made by J.C. Higgins. (Back in the day I remember one of my dads work associates referring to it with the N word kind of bike.)
this is the first bike accessory I really coveted. I traded something for a set of used angel wing handlebars and stripped the fenders off my too big to be a stingray Sears bike. But no Banana seat. More like a beach cruiser.
looks like i was a little behind the trends. bmx bikes became the de rigeur rides prior to upgrading to 10 speeds. thought it was closer to 1980 when they became popular but heres a mongoose from 1975. they were pricey too if memory serves.
My first bike was a one-speed Schwinn, then the five-speed stingray knock off. In fifth grade I got a mitsutani 10 speed. In seventh grade I returned to the sting-ray style because I missed going off jumps and popping wheelies. I got a Webco bmx bike in 1976, my sophomore year, which I hardly rode because I wasn't good enough at the tricks and was constantly challenged by kids who could shred. I wasn't great on a skateboard but could do 360's well enough, fortunately the ollie and other more advanced tricks hadn't been invented yet and because of Portland's climate there were no swimming pools which I certainly would have sucked at riding, so the skateboard was a relatively shame-free source of transportation for my 15th year. Getting my driver's license brought some relief to my wheeled woes.
Murry Top Wheel Eliminator
- steve 11-22-2020 12:39 pm
A kid in my neighborhood had one of these Top Wheels, I don't remember seeing many at all.
My first "muscle bike" was a gold Japanese 5-speed stingray knock-off I got for Christmas, probably 1967. In 7th grade I got another stingray style one-speed. My neighbors had Krates. Did any of you have stingrays or knock-offs?
- steve 11-22-2020 12:45 pm [add a comment]
I think The Ram Horn was less common than regular Stingrays or Krates
- steve 11-22-2020 12:53 pm [add a comment]
Sears Screamer
- steve 11-22-2020 1:04 pm [add a comment]
- steve 11-22-2020 1:05 pm [add a comment]
- steve 11-22-2020 1:06 pm [add a comment]
Schwinn Run-A-Bout
- steve 11-22-2020 1:10 pm [add a comment]
Slik Chik
- steve 11-22-2020 1:22 pm [add a comment]
I never had a proper stingray, much to my chagrin, but I did have a Mattel V-Room, with the toy motorcycle treatment. It was my first two-wheeler. Eventually I got embarrassed by the fake-ness (and ran out of batteries,) and removed the engine and exhaust pipe. I rode it for a couple of years, until the handlebars snapped off one day, leading to a nasty fall. I still wanted a cool stingray, but the next bike I received was an English racer style, with Sturmey-Archer 3-speed (which always got hopelessly fouled up.) I thought it was rather stodgy, but had to live with it. After that, the focus of my desire matured to a Schwinn 10 speed, which I ultimately did get.
- alex 11-22-2020 2:43 pm [add a comment]
I had a purple Sears fake sting ray 5 speed with skinny tires. Made by J.C. Higgins. (Back in the day I remember one of my dads work associates referring to it with the N word kind of bike.)
- bill 11-22-2020 8:17 pm [add a comment]
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/36297-vintage-bike-siren
this is the first bike accessory I really coveted. I traded something for a set of used angel wing handlebars and stripped the fenders off my too big to be a stingray Sears bike. But no Banana seat. More like a beach cruiser.
- bill 11-22-2020 8:28 pm [add a comment]
this is what i was gifted in 3rd grade. sure i wanted the schwinn.
- dave 11-22-2020 8:47 pm [add a comment]
who's having a TV Dinner tonight!
- Skinny 11-22-2020 9:25 pm [add a comment]
My dad said you’ll get a Schwinn after I get a Cadillac. Neither happened.
- bill 11-23-2020 10:58 am [add a comment]
looks like i was a little behind the trends. bmx bikes became the de rigeur rides prior to upgrading to 10 speeds. thought it was closer to 1980 when they became popular but heres a mongoose from 1975. they were pricey too if memory serves.
- dave 11-23-2020 12:19 pm [add a comment]
My first bike was a one-speed Schwinn, then the five-speed stingray knock off. In fifth grade I got a mitsutani 10 speed. In seventh grade I returned to the sting-ray style because I missed going off jumps and popping wheelies. I got a Webco bmx bike in 1976, my sophomore year, which I hardly rode because I wasn't good enough at the tricks and was constantly challenged by kids who could shred. I wasn't great on a skateboard but could do 360's well enough, fortunately the ollie and other more advanced tricks hadn't been invented yet and because of Portland's climate there were no swimming pools which I certainly would have sucked at riding, so the skateboard was a relatively shame-free source of transportation for my 15th year. Getting my driver's license brought some relief to my wheeled woes.
- steve 11-23-2020 4:15 pm [add a comment]
The main components of this bike match my bmx - Black Webco frame, Redline forks, black Tuffwheels and box-style handlebars.
- steve 11-23-2020 7:00 pm [add a comment]
You could buy that back. Anyone have a big wheel plastic thing. I was too old , but liked the deign.
- bill 11-23-2020 9:26 pm [add a comment]
i had a big wheel. my younger sister got the green machine.
- dave 11-23-2020 9:57 pm [add a comment]
Mean green after mean joe Greene. My college NTSU were the mean green. He was an amuni. Drafted to nfl 1969 round1
- bill 11-23-2020 10:03 pm [add a comment]
I was too old for the big wheel and was jealous of the younger set for having them.
- steve 11-23-2020 10:43 pm [add a comment]
Mee too. I was thinking it might be Dave’s bracket exclusively here
- bill 11-24-2020 5:13 am [add a comment]
i graduated to this. part of me thought the bmx kids were dumb because it took so much more effort to get anywhere.
- dave 11-23-2020 9:52 pm [add a comment]
Yeah, for me to ride home from school meant climbing 5 miles of steep hills on a one-speed, which was stupid.
- steve 11-24-2020 3:31 pm [add a comment]
I hitch hiked 2 miles everyday
- bill 11-24-2020 4:58 pm [add a comment]
The alternative was an English racer. A full size bike with regular handlebars. Usually 3 speeds in the handle and grip breaks and skinny tires.
- bill 11-23-2020 5:42 pm [add a comment]
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html
- bill 11-23-2020 5:43 pm [add a comment]
- steve 11-26-2020 8:17 pm [add a comment]