Author Topic: Schwinn DeCoster picked up today... (Read 1944 times)

bigfatolly · « **on:** July 14, 2014, 10:46 PM »

Finally got a Roger Decoster today,loved these ever since seeing Stidds blue one.
Bought it as an almost complete,I was thinking of a Stidds style build but as the nickel is so nice I am keeping as is.
It has a few battle scars but I am just going to chuck some parts on and make a ratty rider out of it,and upgrade parts as I go til I have it how I want it.
Parts list

Roger De Coster short frame Nickel
Forks are Motomag I think? I am not an expert,someone will correct me!!
Motomag bars
Ashtabula stem
Generic headset
Schwinn Seatclamp
Schwinn Chainring
Ashtabula one piece crank
Mongoose stamped bottom bracket
Wellgo Rat Trap Pedals
Hunt Wilde repro grips.
BMX Products DeCoster decals

Got it off a guy on eBay who doesn't use the forums and it was fairly local so I had to have it.
Comments good or bad welcome.....

kungfunky · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2014, 11:30 PM »

Cool stuff, what year is it ? There's a very good chance I'll be buying a rare 76 Decoster in the near future. I'm sure you'll need Decoster forks which are very similar to team Goose forks.

Jaan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2014, 11:50 PM »

Beautiful bikes, I have a 78 DeCoster for a rider as it was my first BMX BITD.

You're 100% right not to touch the nickel - that would be a crime.

glenboy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2014, 12:13 AM »

Great frame etc OLLY yes the forks are what come on moto mags etc pinched tange I think 79/80 ish age wise very nice always fancied one like chris's above with motomag a etc and just a coaster brake very nice

bigfatolly · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2014, 12:18 AM »

@KungFunky it was advertised as a 78 DeCoster,I will have a look at the frame number.

@Jaan,yours looks lovely mate,I was thinking motomags for mine but for now it's getting Gold Ukais which I have lying around.....

Jaan · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2014, 12:51 PM »

The DeCoster fork has welded drops, they're pretty recognisable but i'm fairly confident that they weren't around in the 70's

Yours look like Tange 1200 pinched forks which i think Mongoose fitted from '79, if yours is a '78 and you're interested in "era correctness" then fit black non stamped Ashtabula forks.

chubby · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2014, 05:11 PM »

Have fond memories of roger & nookie the bear

NORTY40 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2014, 05:36 PM »

Cool frame

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this .

Chris ...... yours is one hell of a nice bike

snoopy72 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2014, 07:57 PM »

77 and early 78 decosters had non stamped ashtabula forks that were braced at the top
78 onwards were supergoose style picture above with no drilled hole for a caliper.
I think personally i like them with the ashtabula forks, cast black and tuf 1's

GRAB ON KID · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2014, 08:24 PM »

Quote from: Jaan on July 15, 2014, 12:51 PM

The DeCoster fork has welded drops, they're pretty recognisable but i'm fairly confident that they weren't around in the 70's

Yours look like Tange 1200 pinched forks which i think Mongoose fitted from '79, if yours is a '78 and you're interested in "era correctness" then fit black non stamped Ashtabula forks.

Just to say that Decoster forks were available in 76' Chris & seen on Mongooses at that time.They were availble through BMX Products then & team riders used them.

snoopy72 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2014, 08:42 PM »

Think the timeline was
77 till April 78 they were ashtabula's
May 78 onwards, up to 1980 were the Roger Decoster forks.
these forks came out in 78 May ish, even some of the very early nickel supergooses had tange pinch forks and in early 79 went to Decoster style but had the drilled hole

Am I right in thinking that all the Decoster forks were nickel only ?

Jaan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2014, 08:48 PM »

Quote from: GRAB ON KID on July 17, 2014, 08:24 PM

Quote from: Jaan on July 15, 2014, 12:51 PM
The DeCoster fork has welded drops, they're pretty recognisable but i'm fairly confident that they weren't around in the 70's

Yours look like Tange 1200 pinched forks which i think Mongoose fitted from '79, if yours is a '78 and you're interested in "era correctness" then fit black non stamped Ashtabula forks.

Just to say that Decoster forks were available in 76' Chris & seen on Mongooses at that time.

I was certain of Team forks being used in the 70's which are similar, I think I was feeling confident as mine came with Ashtabula in '78 and I was relying on this info being chronological which it can't be...

http://www.vintagemongoose.com/frame/forks.php

GRAB ON KID · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2014, 08:58 PM »

Here's a BMX Products ad from the 1st BMXA Dec 76/Jan 77' & shows new Roger decoster forks.

snoopy72 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2014, 09:06 PM »

team forks came out in about Oct 78 on the team, suprgooses had pinch tange then in 79 supergoose changed to team forks.

Teams were Candy blue/red over nickel + forks
Early supergooses were all nickel until Oct 1980 then were chrome
1980 Teams were Candy over nickel but also the option of chrome
Even mongoose catalogues state that during the making of the catalogue changes may have occurred .

snoopy72 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2014, 09:08 PM »

Quote from: GRAB ON KID on July 17, 2014, 08:58 PM

Here's a BMX Products ad from the 1st BMXA Dec 76/Jan 77' & states new Roger decoster forks.

Well fook me, Mike are you sure with your artistic talents you didn't photo shop this ?

I also thought all 76's and early 77 with the bottom frame gusset only came in nickel and in the pic is a painted frame.

kungfunky · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2014, 09:16 PM »

What if. Any colour options were there for Decoster ? I'm thinking about the 76 specifically. Obviously nickel was the main one but were any painted ?

GRAB ON KID · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2014, 09:49 PM »

Don't trust all what you read on vintage sites just check pics,catalogues or ads from the time period to make sure.

There's a lot of mis-information out there & hazy recollections so always best to research stuff yourself.

GRAB ON KID · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2014, 09:57 PM »

Quote from: kungfunky on July 17, 2014, 09:16 PM

What if. Any colour options were there for Decoster ? I'm thinking about the 76 specifically. Obviously nickel was the main one but were any painted ?

Pretty sure the forks were only available in nickel Ash,especially in 76' when they 1st came out.
I've seen later catalogues w/them like Schwinn & others & only had nickel listed.
I'll have a root around & see what i can dig up.

BMX1973 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2014, 10:04 PM »

Really nice that

kungfunky · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2014, 11:00 PM »

Quote from: GRAB ON KID on July 17, 2014, 09:57 PM

Quote from: kungfunky on July 17, 2014, 09:16 PM
What if. Any colour options were there for Decoster ? I'm thinking about the 76 specifically. Obviously nickel was the main one but were any painted ?

Pretty sure the forks were only available in nickle Ash,especially in 76' when they 1st came out.
I've seen later catalogues w/them like Schwinn & others & only had nickle listed.
I'll have a root around & see what i can dig up.

That's what I suspected Mike. The frame I'm looking at doesn't have forks so I have other controversial options like Speedo's