A show of hands for those of you who knew John Deere built bicycles? And I mean actual John Deere bicycles, back in the 1890s, rather than rebadged versions as seen here? This 1970s John Deere bicycle can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the seller is asking $200. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
I don’t mean to let the cat out of the bag so early, but most of you probably realize that this John Deere bike wasn’t actually made in a John Deere factory by John Deere employees. The same as some appliance companies farm out (no pun intended) work to make their various refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, etc., John Deere got back into offering bicycles in the 1970s by putting their name on bikes made elsewhere.
We usually think of JD as a company that made everything in John Deere green, but most of you know that John Deere construction equipment often comes in a yellow color, and in the 1970s, they also made a couple of models of bikes in white. Now that would be unusual! A “Universal” 5-speed and “Racer” 10-speed. This bike is a 3-speed and was made in, yes, Taiwan. I know, who would’a thunk? John Deere offered three bicycle models in 1894: the Moline Special, the Deere Roadster, and the Deere Leader.
We don’t know the year of this particular 3-speed men’s bike with upright handlebars and a nice luggage rack on the back, but it would have been made sometime in the 1970s. You can see that the wheels are incredibly rusty, and some other parts are in need of restoration. I’m not sure if it’s a rare enough model of a JD bike to be restored back to looking like new again, but maybe a real John Deere superfan might take it on (Jamie Palmer, are you out there?). Can you imagine how cool a John Deere showroom was in the 1970s, with their ag equipment sharing space along with snowmobiles and bicycles?
It’s powered by your legs, and it’s safety first here, there are reflectors-a-plenty on this pedal-pusher. It has a cool generator-powered light on the front, and I admit to being tempted. I loved restoring my last two bikes, but I’m holding out for a Yamaha, similar to this one we saw here on Barn Finds last fall, but an earlier model. Have any of you heard of a John Deere bicycle? Or better yet, owned one?
Farm out.
Hadn’t heard that in like…years.
Nothing pedals like a Deere.
They also sold snowmobiles, push mowers, self propelled snowblowers,and chainsaws under the Deere name in the ‘70s
Made in Taiwan 🇹🇼 😱
Made in USA is always my first choice but good luck finding anything. Taiwan is not bad but made in China, not so much. I have a 25 year-old Deere garden tractor made in USA but I hear they now come from Mexico. Still better than China.
The 300, 500, & 700 series garden tractors are made in Horicon Wi. and the 100 series lawn tractors are made in Tennessee I think.
Neat bike. The saddle, handlebar, everything definitely has the 70’s written all over it. I would have LOVED to have been able to walk into a John Deere showroom back then and be able to see everything they carries back then all under one roof.
I’ve got one, only it’s a women’s bike. Mid to late 70’s. Made in Taiwan. Not a bad bike. I see them for sale once in a while for around this price.
Taiwanese bikes are very common, and perfectly ok. Quite a few Schwinns were made in Taiwan, in fact.
Can you attach a plow?
Maybe a sickle bar mower? That would be safe.
My dad, who worked for John Deere, brought one home back in the early 1970’s. It was a ten speed, with low handle bars. They only made a few of them because one of the executives at Deere didn’t like something about it – so they stopped making them. We donated it to our friends who own several Deere dealerships and they put it in their museum ( they had one too, but it “walked away” one day when it wasn’t in a locked room )
Will they take two sacks of dent corn for it?
Can you ship
Unrelated to this bike but almost all body parts like doors,fenders hoods and bumpers for early Mustangs and im sure others are made in Taiwan.
Ran when parked
I had a yellow John Deere banana seat ape hanger bicycle growing up in the 80s
It looks a lot like my 78 Schwinn Traveler III also made in Taiwan. The frame exactly like mine but mine is a 10 speed. I’d restore it since only the rims look crusty. (But I already have my late brother in law’s Traveler 10 speed touring bike like this that is older. )