Late 70’s AMF Roadmaster Cherokee

Posted

We haven’t seen many classy, themed out, gas pipe rigs in a while, so I shake things up with a couple today.


Hello,

My name is Darren W. and I live in Warren Michigan.

I just purchased this fabulous vintage 10-speed for $80 that was reportedly in storage for the last 30 years. The entire bike just came out of the box a few months ago! It is in pristine shape (absolutely zero rust and no scratches) and the tires look new, along with all other parts that could become cracked and brittle over time. I know, it’s an AMF product (not very desirable), but I like the bike a lot, as it brings me back to my teenage years.

The derailleur is an Shimano Positron with a date code CJ (October 1978?), which could be an early Positron II I think (it has only one cable attached). The only name on the derailleur is POSITRON. I don’t know when the Cherokee line was first introduced, but it has all the signs that it is from the late 70’s (the gaudy colors tell the tale!). I recently attached a mechanical speedometer I won on EBay, and it is also a vintage unit from at least the late 80’s, as it is made far better than the newer versions I found for sale. It is fairly accurate too – my wife clocked me in her car at 25 MPH which matched my speedometer reading.

I was hoping someone could nail down when it was manufactured. It rides beautifully and shifts flawlessly. It is a fair weather recreational bike, as I know it probably won’t hold up to demanding road racing or extended cycling trips. I look forward to any help I receive.

Thanks,

Darren

Thanks Darren

Related posts:

  1. Darrell Y’s 1983 Peugeot PB14
  2. Eric H.’s 1985 Sears Free Spirit
  3. Scott C’s Bridgestone Kabuki Super Speed
  4. Arron P’s Schwinn Sportabout
  5. Jose R’s AMF Roadmaster 10-Speed
  • Peter D.

    This bike reminds me so much of Huffy Santa Fe 1-=2peed that I have in queue to restore. Same color pattern and same parts eg. the seat.

  • older1

    Wow, Darren, undesirable or not, it’s great to see an AMF OTS in rare completely rust-free mint condition!
    It should bring back lots of poignant memories of suburban-raised American readers!

    Not to detract from your enjoyment, but I can’t remember how many of these, and it’s cloned gaspipe department-store cousins (commonly labelled Murray, Huffy, Columbia, Sears, etc.), I’ve picked out of the trash in feeble attempts to refurbish them into functional/reliable bicycles.
    Ultimately, the sheer volume of wobbly steel rims, siezed cables, worn/loose bearing cups/cones, crimped-end dropouts, stamped-steel chromed brake calipers/levers, bent axles, and overall rust, proved too much for me to tolerate.
    The only saving grace: it was bikes like these that taught me what to look for in genuine quality bikes, and for that alone I continue to be grateful!

  • http://www.wrn.com Bob H.

    AMFabulous!

  • RR

    I had an amf cherokee when I was a teen. I was amazed at the condition. Then I read it just came out of the box. I rem when mine came out of the box. I can not tell you the year but my best guess is around 77-79.used to use this bike to ride me to the arcades.mine was purchased at scott afb, il and my best friend had an amf scorcher.it rarely failed me mechanical-wise and would ride it out many miles out of town.my rear tire was wobbly from the get-go but fixed it with a spoke tightener.

  • Chrischrissolis

    Wow I’m Chris Solis from Chelsea.ma and I have the same bike I don’t have the speedometer on it but it has everything else original the way it came I’m trying to sell it if interested call at 857 312 2227 highest offer gets it lowest 100.00