Klunker build. Finished pg3!

BartRidesEternal · Nov 10, 2024

Finished the stem and very happy with the clamp-brazing!
I disassembled the bike and removed the fork because factory stock, bikes have a few licks of grease compared what I like to use.

Brand new in sale..... could not find a second hand one or utilize the milling machine so a brand new one.

Oh yeah!

Leftover scrap.

This I need!

Still rough, I will clean that up later.

Marking the radius for notching.

35mm drill.

Checking stem length or reach. I don't like very long stems.

Test.

Oh yeah, I'm getting the hang of soldering / brazing!

Cleaned, sanded, rounded and painted!

That a little dry for my likings.

Wheres the sticky stinky stuff gone?
I'm going to put a lot of grease on there!

First testfit after fork re-assembly.

You can still recognize the fork crown right?

Stem looks great! I taped the frame because I'm removing some brackets.

Next job: Engineer + fabricate something that makes this pin more stuck in the hole. Now I can feel the tick-tock "play" when accelerating and braking with the coasterbrake.

BartRidesEternal · Nov 11, 2024

Like I mentioned earlier, when I pedal or brake hard, I don't like the 'play' in the crankpin and the disc/sprockets hole.
I already changed the pedal threads from 1/2" to 9/16" a while ago.

I came up with an steel bush that I filed to fit the crankpin. It has a collar, so when the disc/sprocket is attached, it can never fall off.

Result!

Now it has a larger surface area to 'press' in the aluminum disc. Much better.

And the hubs are lubricated! No cleaning necessary, since this bike has seen only 2 kilometres or so. I only had to remove one long hair on the brake side bearing. Nasty!

Histop coasterbrake hub. Not my favorite but it does the job, especially here in our flat country.

For final assembly, I'm gonna change the washers for a larger size.

Next is thinking about paint. I'll leave the orange on, but I want to add or change the black front of the frame and headtube.
Suggestions are welcome!

Thanks for reading!

Pondo · Nov 11, 2024

That stem came out great, very creative!

BartRidesEternal · Nov 13, 2024

Pondo said:
That stem came out great, very creative!

Thanks! I'm very happy too. People are asking me if I did some tensile testing... I said I'm trying it out on the track! There a race coming up in a few weeks. Maybe I'll take an extra stem just in case...

BartRidesEternal · Nov 15, 2024

Hi guys, what do you think of the cockpit so far? I'm pretty happy with the looks.
Position and if I'll use the setback seatpost is something I will have to check before riding trails and trips.

Pretty tough! The bush can't fall out because it has a collar between the 'Asco power disc' and the crank pin.

Pondo · Nov 15, 2024

Looks great! That stem came out real good. It will be interesting to see how it rides!

idiotboy · Nov 16, 2024

Dude that stem is awesome! Great bike

MattiThundrrr · Nov 16, 2024

BartRidesEternal said:
what do you think of the cockpit so far?

Looks awesome and powerful. You are helping me with decisions about my set of moto bars. I'm inspired

BartRidesEternal · Nov 16, 2024

Pondo said:
Looks great! That stem came out real good. It will be interesting to see how it rides!

Thank you, I agree. Depending on the ride, I will donate this or my other Klunker to the mountainbike museum the 15th of December.

idiotboy said:
Dude that stem is awesome! Great bike

Thank you

MattiThundrrr said:
Looks awesome and powerful. You are helping me with decisions about my set of moto bars. I'm inspired

Thank you too Matti, always happy to do tryouts and inspire.

I assembled a few more things and adjusted the stem.
The sprockets will be: 39 teeth up front and 19 teeth on the rear. 670mm diameter wheels.

My old Klunker has the same sprockets and has 650mm diameter wheels.

Large washers and a thick 19 teeth sprocket.

Brooks C17 carved seat assembled! Almost there!

Left to do:
Details like paint (headtube). Maybe a few stickers. I'm thinking about keep it clean.

Chain.
Some neat orange and/or vintage grips.
Adjusting and cleaning.

BartRidesEternal · Nov 17, 2024

Testride, today, not an actual trail, but on tarmac. Very happy with the result so far! Stem survived my full weight and wheelies.

BartRidesEternal · Nov 19, 2024

I am not sure if I will leave the tires on. Coming weekend I will pick up a trail and 'feel' the bike and these stock tires.
And what does not help in my choice: I saw a brand called 'Panaracer' which has pretty beautiful retro / vintage mountainbike tires.

Panaracer colours picture link

Blue with the orange still has not left my head.
The downside: The Panaracer Fire XC only has 2.1" width. I like to fill the frame with rubber :21:

BartRidesEternal · Nov 19, 2024

Just a few tire options (one can dream right?)

Panaracer Fire XC:
Saddly only in 2.1" width.

Schwalbe Nobby Nic:
26x2.4 bronze wall.

Panaracer Swoop:
26x2.4

Reading in reviews, they are all pretty good mountainbike tires.
It is probably better than my previous Klunker: 24" Felt Berm Masters (very slippery on wet/moist sandy surfaces).

I really like a bigger tire, comfort and look-wise.
I like the idea of skinwalls too on my orange bike.

Does anyone have suggestions? I'm open to hear it!

MattiThundrrr · Nov 20, 2024

Fire XC is a fantastic trail tire. (That red On One example picture is a SICK bike!) It's the one I would go with for a vintage bike. 2.1 is pretty big for a 26, but I'm more concerned with clearance than appearance. They'll all do better than the Berm Masters, that is more of a BMX style tread, good for dry hardpack

BartRidesEternal · Nov 20, 2024

MattiThundrrr said:
Fire XC is a fantastic trail tire. (That red On One example picture is a SICK bike!) It's the one I would go with for a vintage bike. 2.1 is pretty big for a 26, but I'm more concerned with clearance than appearance. They'll all do better than the Berm Masters, that is more of a BMX style tread, good for dry hardpack

Hmm clearance:

51mm wide tires.

This is a 2.125" tire.

I could cram a 2.4 in there. Or a 2.25.
Does anyone has experience with these common tires on trails?

twojs.bike · Nov 20, 2024

My vote is blue.

Captain Awesome · Nov 20, 2024

Nobby Nic is a fantastic tire option if you can fit it in there

BartRidesEternal · Nov 20, 2024

Captain Awesome said:
Nobby Nic is a fantastic tire option if you can fit it in there

Thanks Cap!

I found a website with a huge discount on Schwalbe Magic Mary tires. So I bought those. The vintage Panaracer were too expensive for me right now unfortunately.

And I made a clamp from an broken stem with drillium holes:

I like it!

BartRidesEternal · Nov 24, 2024

The bike is nearly done. The tires arrive in a few days.
I bought a few stickers, and wanted to use an arrow as a chevron, but I like how the paint turned out and I'll probably leave it as is. I'll think about that.

Before paint.

Looking real good.

Hmm dont know. Even when I cut it with a scissors...

Both Klunkerz nearly done!
My old klunker (left) will be donated to the mountainbike museum.

Can't wait to put the FAT Schwalbe Magic Mary's on the orange Klunker. This is going to look pretty aggressive!

Regarding the black/orange painted front: I could separate them with a thin line in a different colour....

us56456712 · Nov 24, 2024

BartRidesEternal said:
I am not sure if I will leave the tires on. Coming weekend I will pick up a trail and 'feel' the bike and these stock tires.
And what does not help in my choice: I saw a brand called 'Panaracer' which has pretty beautiful retro / vintage mountainbike tires.

Panaracer colours picture link

Blue with the orange still has not left my head.
The downside: The Panaracer Fire XC only has 2.1" width. I like to fill the frame with rubber

I use street 2.125 whitewalls on one of my klunkers and I really can’t tell any difference that knobbies make. If it’s wet, well that’s different. With a crude single speed and a heavy bike you’re not going anyplace where you would need real expensive tires. Real nice klunker you built.

Wayne · Nov 24, 2024

BartRidesEternal said:
drillium holes:

New word for me. Google search had all the answers for me!

Klunker build. Finished pg3!

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