Dawes Kingpin

[roadrash]

I know there is not many on here with an affection for old shopper bikes, but i will post it anyhow.

picked up a 1975 Dawes Kingpin that had been in storage since 1985, got it from a guy that restores morris minors and minis, it came to him as part of a lock up clearance that he bought, its had its first clean up in a long time today, all original apart from I had to put new tubes in, I think the matching blue grips and outer cables look good, I am sure @EltonFrog will approve of the colour, only thing to sort out is the toggle chain is solid , no movement whatsoever. currently drowned the hub with plus gas. it will be staying all original, heres a coule of pics.

 

[a.twiddler]

That looks really nice. I'd be almost afraid to ride it. (But not quite....).

 

[midlife]

Wow!

 

[DCLane]

I like them, and have two. Here's one, although it currently has a retro Dawes saddle and Dawes bag:

The other's a long (very long) term project that I need to be getting on with.

 

[EltonFrog]

I know there is not many on here with an affection for old shopper bikes, but i will post it anyhow.

picked up a 1975 Dawes Kingpin that had been in storage since 1985, got it from a guy that restores morris minors and minis, it came to him as part of a lock up clearance that he bought, its had its first clean up in a long time today, all original apart from I had to put new tubes in, I think the matching blue grips and outer cables look good, I am sure @EltonFrog will approve of the colour, only thing to sort out is the toggle chain is solid , no movement whatsoever. currently drowned the hub with plus gas. it will be staying all original, heres a coule of pics.
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That looks ACE, I’m rather partial to a blue Kingpin, me. I hope that’s a keeper? I currently have two KP’s I did have four plus Two Puch shoppers as well, but they’re gone now.

 

[roadrash]

That looks ACE, I’m rather partial to a blue Kingpin, me.

I thought you would approve of the colour,, and yes , it is a keeper

 

[roadrash]

out for its first ride this afternoon , just to make sure all is well, it rides like a brand new bike

 

[EltonFrog]

out for its first ride this afternoon , just to make sure all is well, it rides like a brand new bike
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That’s the nicest one I’ve seen for a long time. Did it cost many monies?

 

[midlife]

Nice . I recognise the rear light but what’s the front light ? Way better than the awful one that would match the rear.

 

[roadrash]

That’s the nicest one I’ve seen for a long time. Did it cost many monies?

what would you think i paid for it.

Nice . I recognise the rear light but what’s the front light ? Way better than the awful one that would match the rear.

I have the matching front but like you , I am not a huge fan, ........expensive that front light was........... £4 from wish , takes two weeks for delivery, its second one ive had , more than happy with them , quite bright, static or flashing, takes two AA' battery's

 

[EltonFrog]

what would you think i paid for it.

well, I’m a tight arse, I’ve never paid more than £35 for one, but they have never been as nice as that. 70 quid? I’m no judge anymore because I’ve stopped looking.

 

[roadrash]

Bargain at £50 I thought , though it was covered with a layer of sticky grease and dust, you could tell what was under it.

 

[EltonFrog]

Bargain at £50 I thought , though it was covered with a layer of sticky grease and dust, you could tell what was under it.

That is a bargain, it's a tidy usable everyday bike. I hope it brings you years of unreasonable joy.

 

[roadrash]

That is a bargain, it's a tidy usable everyday bike. I hope it brings you years of unreasonable joy.

Thank you, I'm sure it will.

 

[figbat]

Having seen it on the Facebook group it's good to see it here too! I have a Kingpin in shabby-but-sound condition (it made it to Oxford and back recently, a total of around 40 miles, accompanied by various other Kingpins and small-wheelers) and an Elswick-Hopper Cosmopolitan in fully-resto-modded condition. Yours is a nice example.