
Originally Posted by
archnacorda
hehehe. this brings back a lot of memories. this type of bike was what we called "freewheel". this came after the "easyrider" (the type with a long saddle and a backrest). the next bike fad after the "freewheel" was the "sagidas" which had a steering wheel that looked like the number 3 or the "tres". after the "sagidas" came the BMX then the mountain bike.
the "freewheel" model started in the late 70's and was eclipsed by the "sagidas" in the early 80's. it had a short 5 year reign.
an authentic "freewheel" had a lot of reflectors. the best design was what we called a "christmas tree". the reflectors were attached to a fabricated tin frame that literally formed like a xmas tree and was attached to the trunk of the bike, so that the reflectors always pointed to the direction the steering wheel was pointed to.
if you had jeepney antennas, then you should be one or two at the rear. one can also ride piggyback style thru extended rear wheel bolt extensions or sit at the frame (usually reserved for girls).
you don't put multiple gears on this bike. this was a bike for cruising with several other bikers. this was not a racing bike. this was what we called "pa-tisoy bike".
others put plastic gas tanks and motorcycle emblems in front to make it look like a yamaha DX off-roader, but the "pa-tisoy freewheel" was always the eye-catcher. we assembled these bikes. we didn't buy a ready-made one. those who bought readymade bikes got them at cebu bycicle supply at manalili while the serious customizers got the parts at GOODWILL near carbon. believe it or not, a customized "freewheel" can be assembled at a cost of less than php300 back then. cebu bycicle supply had taiwan made parts while Goodwill had Japan made parts. as for the reflectors, we got them at motorcycle shops.