1976 Western Flyer MX 
#1 2010-10-01 5:43pm
- 4rd
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1976 Western Flyer MX
1976 Western Flyer MX
Oldie.......
Yard sale find. Have seen forks on Sting Rays in past and loved them but will keep it Bmx. Believe bike is mostly stock except schwinn pedals and seat post. Still has original Western Flyer Nylon. Will keep pics updated as I start this project. Must find more info first. Front rim is a Made in USA stamped ACS, and the rear has a Bendix coaster.
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#2 2011-07-21 7:37am
- drumrooster
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
pretty sure thats what was called a SAND BLASTER...the local western auto sold a bunch in my home town around 75? 76? it had heavy rims and thick mud grips ..like the ones on the back of this one..springer front,,with a small square black seat and a short sissy bar with springs on it...a number plate in the center and on the front of the bars,,black frame,,gray plates,,,gran turismo grips,,,they were heavy and well built..it should be black,,never seen any other color? would like to see an original one? in god shape..i can still hear that springer bottom out off a jump..bank! bank!
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#3 2011-10-29 2:04am
- 4rd
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
Hey thanks for the information! I was pretty sure it was a 76', but couldn't find info on the bike. It's garaged in the same shape, but I don't know what direction I have for it. On one hand it is 99 percent original, but on the other I've seen those springers look nice on Sting-Rays, but I don't think I can do it! Those for the Post!
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#4 2011-10-29 2:05am
- 4rd
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
And yes the rims and spokes are BEEFY!
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#5 2012-01-21 8:23pm
- o1marc
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
I'll bet that bike was made by Huffy. The forks are differant but it has the same frame and sprocket as the 1974 Huffy Thunder Road I just bought. I am trying to locate a Western Auto Sandblaster for the guy that does my sandblasting for my powder coating business. He was telling me yesterday that that was his first bike and it is ironic that he is now a commercial sandblaster. He wants me to find him one to restore and hang in his office.
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#6 2012-03-15 1:06am
- 4rd
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
Nope it's a western flyer. The Huffy is similar though.
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#7 2012-03-17 1:39am
- 4rd
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
Notice on the huffy that the front fork tube is shorter on the huffy. The seat brackets that mount to the sissy bar are different. The flyer has a Troxel, don't know about the Huffy. The tires are original western flyer, correct with the Acs rims. Western Flyer and Schwinn dominated this town back in the day. Thanks everyone for the Sand Blaster lowdown!
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#8 2012-03-17 1:41am
- 4rd
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
Notice on the huffy that the front fork tube is shorter on the huffy. The seat brackets that mount to the sissy bar are different. The flyer has a Troxel, don't know about the Huffy. The tires are original western flyer, correct with the Acs rims. Western Flyer and Schwinn dominated this town back in the day. Thanks everyone for the Sand Blaster lowdown!
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#9 2012-03-17 6:17pm
- o1marc
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
4rd wrote:
Nope it's a western flyer. The Huffy is similar though.
My point was not that it "is" a Huffy but was it made by Huffy and branded for Western Auto? I know the forks are completely differant with the Thunder Road being a standard fork as opposed to the Springer fork on the WA. Huffy was in the bike building business then, Western Auto in auto parts. I'm willing to bet that the frames and possibly the whole bike was manufactured by Huffy. The frames are identical and I would be surprised if Huffy outscourced there frame manufacturing but I would not be surprised if Western Auto didn't actually make any of the parts on the bikes they sold. The rear seat bracket looks a little differant but that could just be a differance in the bracket from '74 to your '76, the seats are the same. Troxel was a standard seat on the Huffy's.
What are your plans for that bike? I may have a potential buyer.
Last edited by o1marc (2012-03-17 6:23pm)
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#10 2012-04-23 11:50pm
- 4rd
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Re: 1976 Western Flyer MX
Good point alot of bikes were made like that. Just look at sears and so on. Email me about the bike, I have it torn down right now and have too many projects. j4rd20@gmail.com
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