Billnuke1’s Vista Esquire

Posted

We’re BACK! Sorry for the extended unannounced departure, but that’s just the way things work out sometimes.

We’re returning to regular posts this week, and we’re doing it in style. This is Billnuke1’s Vista Esquire. This beauty is as big a Wicker Basket and Touring Bars Candidate as I’ve ever seen. Or perhaps in lieu of a basket, one of those rolled leather seat bags is in order.

Another “eye catcher” from a customer’s neighbor house! Research sayes that there may be a Schwinn conection. Anyhow. I just aired up the tires and went for a ride! I have many Schwinns and this thing felt like one! I was able to tune up the bike without riding it! It’s fun to do that and getting it right the first time! It shifts like a hot knife through butter! I love these old bikes! You will not see another one of these on the bike path!

Related posts:

  1. John W’s Rudge Royale 10-Speed
  2. BFett’s 1974 Schwinn Le Tour
  3. Alex M.’s Fuji Sports 10
  4. Roger A’s Vista Esquire
  5. Patrick’s 1975 Columbia Lexington
  • Trailer Park Cyclist

    I don’t know how you do it, Bill. That’s a cool bike. What about that pump and the getting-hard-to-find clamp-on pump peg?

  • Billnuke1

    Hey Trailer Park Cyclist, I call it a gift! My wife calls a curse!!! I have a awful lot of bikes! I don’t turn any bikes down! A neighbor rolled this one over! Without a little bit of work, I have run out of room for any more bikes! I still have some more promised for the end of the summer! Storage is relatively expensive for a useful size storage unit! I have started giving some bikes away. It’s tough , every bike has a story! My grandaughter gave me a plaque that says..”There is a thin line between a hobby and mental illness!” Kinda funny!

  • Billnuke1

    Hey Trailer Park Cyclist, I call it a gift! My wife calls a curse!!! I have a awful lot of bikes! I don’t turn any bikes down! A neighbor rolled this one over! Without a little bit of work, I have run out of room for any more bikes! I still have some more promised for the end of the summer! Storage is relatively expensive for a useful size storage unit! I have started giving some bikes away. It’s tough , every bike has a story! My grandaughter gave me a plaque that says..”There is a thin line between a hobby and mental illness!” Kinda funny!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T34EP7VNNRJXQ74THX5F45BLU4 Zorch

    Cool! I just finished restoring a three-speed Vista Cavalier (http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6067134937_0866c33942_z.jpg) for my next door neighbor. Research on the marquee yielded just about zip, so it’s nice to know this thing isn’t a figment of my imagination!

  • Anonymous

    I’ve got a Vista tandem, too! World’s most dangerous tandem! Horrible engineering! OK for kid,… light kids! Not good for adult size people! The bike resists turning with adults in the seats! Nice patina though! Kinda reddish!

  • Roger Allison

    Just cleaned and lubed Vista Esquire, same color, white. It was dirty, rusty and dinged up. Now it is just dinged up and a little rust. Nice components. It will be for sale in St. Louis, MO

  • Billnuke1

    Hey Hey Roger,

    I haven’t seen mine since it made it to this site! I will be sorting out my bikes soon! Snow is comong! It is a great riding bike! It always gets attention! Even in a large gruop of bikes! Good luck with sale! Any idea what you may be looking to get for it?
    Bikes like these don’t seem to have a season!

  • Roger Allison

    I have it listed on Craigslist St. Louis for $35.00. I rescued it from a disinterested owner for $5.00. All I did was clean the heck out of it, lubed, replaced a rear axle with one I had available from an old wheel and a brake cable. I purposely avoided putting hard cash into it so I could put a low price and sell it fast. My wife keeps shaking her head every time she come out to the garage and counts the old bikes!

  • Minneapolis, MN YellowRider

    Yes you will see this babe on the road! I still ride mine all the time. Thousands of miles gone, and yet to go!
    Bought mine brand new, and still love this one.

  • Larry Grossman

    My father bought me a Vista Esquire when I was 12 in 1969…..it was yellow and rad. It eventually was stolen from my front yard in college in 1980, I lived at the top of a big hill in Tallahassee and the bike only had a front brake, I’m sure the thief headed down hill and ate shit. Karma. Never saw that bike again. It was about $100 new.