Author | Lightnews

Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 2h

Those e scooters are terrible, kids weave in and out not thinking to check for a bike. One almost caught my antique tanker, he would've been in a world of hurt if I hadn't been paying attention. Always wear a helmet kids.

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 1d

Ooh very good question. So there's two common thought processes
1. They were called motobikes for the robust frame design and the utilitarian design.
2. Quite a few folks built early motorcycles from these frames, the earliest motorcycles were essentially bicycles with attached motors

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 1d

Very cool, we should go for a ride some time!

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 1d

#Shapleigh #shapleighbicycle #1920bicycle #prewarmotobike #antique #antiquebike

Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 1d

Covered in housepaint and kitted out with a homemade tank and an optional rear rack. It'll make a really cool rider after a good repaint and parts installation. I reckon this one ought to be blue as I've got a red motobike already.

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 1d

Newest addition to the stable, a 1920 Shapleigh hardware company Shapleigh special bicycle. Manufactured by the hardware company in one of the three factories At their highpoint they were the largest hardware supplier in the Midwest and possibly the country

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 8d

I'm liking swap meets more and more. Its cool meeting other folks in the hobby. This was kansas city, if you haven't checked out West Bottoms bicycle for vintage steel, youre missing out. Jay is a cool dude
#swapmeet #Antiquebike #bicycle #antique

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 13d

But like many times in my life, I decided it wasn't too bad. I've had this bike too long not to finish it. I painted it one of my favorite colors and feel like I've finally done it justice.
#1935westernflyer #antiquebike #antique #coolbike #restoration #projectdone ##lgbtqia ##restorationproject

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 13d

(1 of 2)From start to dang near finished (just need to put fenders on it) here's my 1935 western Flyer Motobike Pacer. I picked up this frame about 7 years ago outside of Red Oak Iowa from a barn, the farmer that sold it to me was laughing as he did it. I reckon he presumed it too far gone to save.

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · 27d

Mystery solved! Thanks to an international bike expert, very cool to finally have an answer
this is tourist bike made in Charkov (Ukraine). Two digits on the dropout shows actual year of the production '72. Model is Sputnic V39 (B39 in Cyrillic).

Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 20

Here's a beautiful piece of history, hailing from the times of Hammer and Sickle, MCcarthyism and Sputnik influenced decor. This is an XB3 with a 3 speed drive train, 27 inch tires and a nice bit of beautiful lugwork.
#Sovietunionbike #antiquebike #Communist #vintagebike #cycling #survivor

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Oct 4

So with all that mess I'd like to encourage yall to not be afraid of doing mechanical restoration on old bikes. This is roughly a 50 Hiawatha tank bike and if I go more in depth well, I'll have one heck of a project.
#50Hiawathabicycle #antiquebicycle #antique #oldbike #basketcase

Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Oct 4

This Bike has suffered. Its been rode hard, beat up and left to rot, then some well meaning(probably) person covered it in spray paint and left it to further degrade. I reckon the only good thing about cheap spray paint was that in this case it was in fact a band aid fix.

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 30

#37Elgin #antiquerestoration #antiquebicycle #lettering #pinstriping #tankbike

Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 30

Welp I guess the more I think about it the more I like it. This bike will be getting a nice restoration in the color of Evergreen with a John deere green lettering and white background on the hanging tank. Ive been itching to dust off the pinstriping kit and I believe I'll do this one right.

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 30

Early 50s(?) Monark Rocket Super Deluxe, needs the correct light, some metal shaping and some grease. A set of matching wheels would be a good idea too. But im excited for this old girl to be added into the stable.
#LadiesBicycle #MonarkRocket
#50s #antique #antiquebicycle #Tankbike #LGBTQIA+

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 29

Came home two cool bikes, a 37 Elgin Motobike and a 40s ladies monark rocket. They both need some metal persuasion to get back into shape but I'm excited to get both back rolling. The Elgin will get a Full restoration and the rocket will simply be mechanical.
#37Elginmotobike #Monarkrocket #bicycle

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 28

Nothing like a lineup to start the week, we'll see what gets added after the swap meet lol.
#bicyclelover #antiquebikes #collection

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 27

I love seeing bark included, its so pretty and it makes it easier to identify

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 21

They didn't come out while simultaneously bodies washed up in Spain. Kinda rings a bell like what happened in Argentina years ago

Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 20

I took her out for another spin despite the front wheel needing some attention and tires that definitely need replacing. Im cautiously dating the bike as mid 70s based on the parts and assuming the older bits are just because they had them.
#sovietunionbike #XB3 #cycling #survivor #vintage #bike

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 20

Here's a beautiful piece of history, hailing from the times of Hammer and Sickle, MCcarthyism and Sputnik influenced decor. This is an XB3 with a 3 speed drive train, 27 inch tires and a nice bit of beautiful lugwork.
#Sovietunionbike #antiquebike #Communist #vintagebike #cycling #survivor

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 18

A castle would be super cool. I did recently reconsider a conversation pit until I imagined my pups having zoomie episodes and absolutely leaping over it and hitting folks full speed 😆

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 17

So there was a company by name of Troxel that made bicycle seats
Check the link below
About Us: Over a Century of Welded Steel Tubing Experience — The Troxel Company share.google/KE2r48KrFfKQ...

About Us: Over a Century of Welded Steel Tubing Experience — The Troxel Company

Troxel manufactures welded steel tubing, aluminized tubing & fabricated components with the lowest conversion cost in the industry & superior quality.

share.google

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 16

Here's a beautiful example of a 1953 Jc higgins deluxe women's bike. From the front we've got the beehive springer to the Troxel seat(removed for recover) to those super cool skirtgaurds and rear chrome reflector.
#1953JcHiggins #1953bicycle #antique #antiquetankbike #cruiser #bicycle #balloontire

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Lillie @lilltwil.bsky.social · Sep 7

That is a Beehive springer fork and the bottom of a batwing headlight