1987 Huffy Capri 10

Posted

Since my Columbia Newport project is at a standstill until I get a paint issue resolved, I figured I would show off one of the other bikes to have risen from my garage this summer like a phoenix. This is a 1987 Huffy Capri 10 with 26 inch wheels and a full Sachs-Huret drivetrain. I acquired this pink dandy from my inlaws barn, and while the total project cost me less than $20—for new tires, new chain, brake pads and fresh cables—it cost me about 10 hours of cleaning and scrubbing. As you can see from the before shot, most people would have given up on the ol’ girl, but I saw through the dust and the grime to a young and beautiful soul just waiting to resurface. This bike is one of two, the second is also a Huffy Capri 10 but of the 24 inch variety with a Shimano drive. I will feature it in an upcoming installment.

Before:

before-huffy-capri10-01.JPG

before-huffy-capri10-02.JPGbefore-huffy-capri10-03.JPG

After:

I call this series Splendor In The Grass.:)

1987-huffy-capri10_100.JPG

1987-huffy-capri10_103.JPG1987-huffy-capri10_104.JPG1987-huffy-capri10_105.JPG1987-huffy-capri10_106.JPG

1987-huffy-capri10_107.JPG1987-huffy-capri10_111.JPG1987-huffy-capri10_112.JPG1987-huffy-capri10_117.JPG

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  4. Julie S’s 1982 Peugeot PSV10
  5. Street Seen: Bob H.’s Huffy Omni 10
  • Bill

    Great job. Doesn’t even look like the same bike.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakduke20/ John

    Incredible!! I would not even have started on a project like that. You are definetly commited to keeping these old bikes on the road. My hat is off to you.

    • http://oldtenspeedgallery.com The Ten-Speed Dreamer

      John,
      I’ve done three “barn bikes” this summer, and I think I’m done! Nothing gives more satisfaction, but nothing wears me out faster. I’m getting basement/garage kept bikes from here on out.:)

  • Hugh

    Thomas Edison once said something that I think also applies to restoring old bikes And I quote “Genius is 10% inspitation and 90% perspiration”
    Nice work my friend. Damn don`t it feel good the first time you step back and look at the finished project?
    Ride Safe, Hugh

  • firenbones

    Wow! The transformation stuns the eyes! It gives me hope, I just picked up a set of rusty Schwinn Varsity wheels some would call strictly landfill … but now I know I can transform them, you have led by example.

    • http://oldtenspeedgallery.com The Ten-Speed Dreamer

      It’s amazing what a little WD-40 and steelwool will do for some rusted chrome rims. And when you have them nice and clean, hit’em with some Never-Dull and really make’em shine.

  • Hugh

    It`s all good, but I find a brass brush is much easier on the chrome.Same goes for the steel-wool pads. Brass might require a little more elbow grease. But in the end
    your chrome will thank you.

  • Brooke

    I had that 87 huffy capri when I was about 8 years old. It was my first ten speed, and I loved it. I went away for the summer to visit my dad, and my mother gave it to goodwill. almost 20 years later now, and I am still mad. I remember her excuse was that I was too old for it. I’m still riding, and still missing that bike. Thanks for saving it.

  • Brooke

    Do you intend to sale the bikes you recover? I’ve been riding a trek hybrid, but have thought about getting an old street bike.

    • http://oldtenspeedgallery.com The Ten-Speed Dreamer

      I will be selling the Capris upon completion. I still have a little wheel truing to do and some other fine tuning. FYI, the Capri is much heavier than you probably remember.:)

  • http://shesanancyboy.deviantart.com Tiffany

    Beautiful restoration. I actually just found one of these in the basement of a Society of St. Vincents resale/donation type store for $5, it’s was an amazing steal. All I’ve had to do to get it back in running condition was oil the chain, air up the tires, and go. I do think the brakes are in need of a change out, too. If you’re ever in the Wheeling, WV area, that basement has two other old ten speeds looking for loving homes and I don’t think the folks around here can be bothered to give them the care they deserve.

  • April A

    You did an amazing job on this bike!! I had one just like it when I was in 6th grade. Unfortunately, mine is rusting in a Virginia barn probably beyond saving. Thanks for posting these pictures. This was a really nice walk down memory lane.

  • Laura

    …don’t you mean “splendor”?

    • http://oldtenspeedgallery.com The Ten-Speed Dreamer

      I sapose.:)

  • Sarah Warren

    I MUST have this bike!!! I had one when I was a kid and have recently been on a search for one!!! Is it for sale?

    • brg

      I have a Huffy Capri 10-speed that I’m willing to part with.

      It used to belong to my sister when she was a teen, but she rarely rode it (probably less than 5 miles total). Since then, it’s been stored in my parent’s garage.

      I just finished cleaning off some of the dust and grime and it seems to work pretty well. All components are original.

      Since I’m a guy and I prefer mountain bikes, it really isn’t something that I would be using.

      Contact me if anyone’s interested.

    • heidi

      I have two if you are still interested.

  • Alicia

    This turned out so lovely!!! Seriously wonderful job!! I cant wait to get started on making my new OTS look beautiful

  • Michele Pearson

    This is exactly the kind of bicycle my grandparents bought for me for Christmas back in 1987. I was twelve yesrs old and it was one of the best Christmas presents I ever received. I cherished that bike, and I rode it till it literally fell apart. I searched the internet for MONTHS now because I wanted some pictures of it to show my husband. Your photo brought tears to my eyes, but happy memories to mind. Thank you…and you did a wonderful job restoring that bike to it’s original beauty.

  • Matthew McKenney

    Nice job on that restore; Great site you have here as well. I have just picked up a Huffy Capri 10, that is identical to yours; I’ll be started on to that project soon, along with a ’70s AMF Roadmaster Pacemaker that I picked up. I have been interested in bicycles for a while, but just recently gotten into restoring old bikes – finished my first last week; A 1982-83 Schwinn World Tourist – I would love to add it to the site.

    Any idea what the Huffy Capri 10 would sell for, in restored condition? I am a bicycle mechanic, so this thing will be getting the full treatment.

    Thanks for any input and for creating a great website to get info on older bicycles.

  • http://www.wrn.com Bob H.

    You know, a similarly cleaned OTS would be such a great birthday or Christmas gift to a kid who otherwise might be saddled with some soul-less department store MTB!

  • Amy V

    Wow this brings back memories! My best friend had this one in middle school and Jr. high in the late 80’s in Cincinnati. It’s exactly as I remember it. FANTASTIC job!!!

  • Ramon

    So I just acquired one of these for 20 bucks. it’s a pretty similar situation: old bike, barely ridden, still in decent shape. However, the seat was replaced at some point with a weird little kids bike seat. The seatpost is impossibly small and impractically short. I have a 22.2mm post that won’t fit in here. Finding a smaller tube, say 21.7mm, has proven pretty difficult. I know it’s like 2 years later, but I’m hoping you had some insight on what to look for to replace it.

  • Heidi

    I had an 87 Huffy Capri. I loved that bike…. It was beautiful! I am looking for another one. I would be one happy girl to own it again!

    • Cameron

      I still have this bike and a 24″ version. I’m in Chicago, if you seriously interested let me know.

      • Heidi

        Yes…. I am very interested. Please give me more details. Thank you.

    • brg

      I have a 26″ one (see a few posts above). Located in North Carolina.

      • Heidi

        Hello! I am interested. Please give me more info. Thanks.

  • Heidi

    Hello! I am very interested in the bike. How can I contact you directly? Thanks so much!

    Have a great day!
    Heidi

  • Melisa Berry

    I had and rode this same bike for years. I think I got it new in 87 for xmas from my parents. I loved it to death and then I came home one day and the evil stepdad had decided I no longer needed it. I have been looking for one to replace it ever since. Only the pink and gray will do. I’ve hated every bike I’ve owned since then. I ran in to one once that was in about the same condition as your before pic, but I was really broke at the time and haven’t seen one since. If anyone has one for sale or sees one, please let me know!! I wish I had stumbled upon your posts when they were fresh.

    • heidi

      I have two of these. I need to make some room; let me know if you are interested.

      • Ray Douglas

        I have one for sale

  • Stephanie

    This is a long shot but do you still have this bike for sale?

    • heidi

      I just saw one for sale on Ebay. The minimum bid is $75. Good luck.

    • heidi

      I have two and am attempting to make some room in the garage. Let me know if you are still interested.

  • Allen

    Is there any way to adjust the handlebars on this model? I picked one up from someones trash for my mom in pristine condition but I cannot figure out how to adjust handlebars, or if they even do. Thanks for the help

    • Cameron

      Hi Allen,

      It depends what type of ‘adjustment’ your seeking. You can typically adjust the stem height and the bar angle, but beyond that, there isn’t much.

      To adjust height, loosen the bolt at the top of the steerer tube, with this bold loose and protruding upward, you should be able to give it a firm tap with a mallet. This will loosen the stem and allow you to raise, lower and rotate the stem.

      To adjust the bar angle, loosen the bolt on the underside of the handlebar/stem junction. With this loose the bars should rotate in the stem.

      Good Luck!

  • Allen

    thank you, cause i had been trying to adjust the height and I had done the two steps you listed but I never thought to hit it with a rubber mallet because I tried lifting and it stayed in its place. Thanks again

  • http://twitter.com/katkatRAWR Cloud

    Wow. I bought my bike last year at some used bike shop. It’s this model exactly.. I just needed to change the brake line. I want to clean it up but I don’t know how to make it look like you did here. Any suggestions?

  • http://weefrills.com Sarah W.

    Pretty! I had this bike in the early 1990s!

  • Muerte

    Just got that bike Jan 2012, in roughly that same condition. After much work (12 hrs just for the chain) I got it running. Now its painted gloss black with gloss red rims, I cut the pink handlebar rubber off, and am in the process of making a red vinyl seat cover. Excellent bike overall.

  • Jolexmar

    For second hand acquired a Capri 10. I have tried to identify the serial number (80167huffy26874) to find the model number, date of manufacture and year. It also has another number on the box, rings and other parts (101.600237 uf 93). This number has a cursive script. I would also like to know the value of this and that I understand must be like 25 years. I appreciate any help.

  • Roberto Hernandez

    Hi, first of all nice job 😉 i recently bought that very same model but one brake pad is broken, do you know how to fix it? or should i replace both? thanks in advance. Cheers ;D

  • Charlotte Nations

    Can you tell us what brand/style of tires you bought to replace the originals? I just bought this bike in great condition, except for the tires. Thanks!

  • Laura Lucas

    OH WOW I told my husband I wanted a bike like I had when I was a teenager, it was pink & grey and probably a Huffy, so he picked up an old ten speed off craigslist & told me to find a picture of what it would have looked like & he’ll try to recreate it. This looks almost just like it!! What a great job you did, beautiful!!

    • Sherry J

      What a sweet husband you have! I loved this same bike when I was a teenager (20 years ago ) 🙁

  • baltimoron

    I had this bicycle as a girl. I lived in the country and couldn’t really ride it anywhere as it was a road bike and all I had was grass. I put little bobbles all over the spokes and I’d tool around in the grass with it a little, until one night someone stole my bicycle. I didn’t own another bicycle until I was over 30 years old. I just bought an early 80’s Panasonic 10 speed and had some nostalgia for my old bike…and here she is. Great job on the restoration, it looks just like my old bike 🙂

  • Lora

    We just pulled out the same model from a shed today!! Now I can see what it might look like with work. Mechanically, It needs a rear brake cable. Hoping that is a project my DIY hubby can do. Any tricks to it, or a relatively straight-forward job? Thanks.

  • Monica O’Neill

    I just found a 24″ Capri on the street in a free pile. Can anyone point me to where I can get some replacement tires? Thanks

  • Sherry J

    God, I loved this bike; I had the same one years ago as a teenager. My parents gave it to me as a Christmas present when I was 13 and I rode it well into my early 20s. I’m looking for a road bike now (I’m 38), and they are so expensive. My parents gave this bike away after I left for college 20 years ago. I really wish they wouldn’t have given it away. It was great fit, as I am 5’2″ and the 24″ was perfect. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to restore this beauty! Take care of her 🙂