24" klunker/BMX cruiser hybrid kind of thing

[ParkRNDL]

so for a long time I have wanted to do something like this (all images poached from Instagram):

The idea is to take a 24" Speedster frame and hang BMX cruiser parts on it. However, the last couple of 24" Speedster frames I have seen on Fleabay went higher than I was interested in bidding.

Also, I've lusted after bikes like the WeThePeople Avenger and the State Bicycle Co. Klunker ever since they became a thing.

However, they are getting bigger and I like smaller. The WTP originally used 26" wheels, and now these two are both 27.5".

So I found this 24" frame fairly cheap on Fleabay and I'm trying to build it up into something along the lines of all these.

I've been scrounging these parts for a while, so here goes...

 

[Mr. Monkeyarms]

That's a pretty cool frame. Burly up front with tapered stays looks fast!

 

[ParkRNDL]

Picked up a few bits and pieces from a friend's stash yesterday.

This stuff is definitely getting used:

The cranks, unfortunately, are iffy:

These brake levers are big and beefy, and he had no use for them. If I can cut them off cleanly at the L and round off the ends, I think they'd work out well.

The brakesets are destined for other builds. This frame needs a 1080 for the rear, which I just ordered, and I already have a front unit which matches pretty well.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

These brake levers are big and beefy, and he had no use for them. If I can cut them off cleanly at the L and round off the ends, I think they'd work out well.

Or you could build the first BMX with bar ends!

 

[ParkRNDL]

mail call

these 1080s are just the ticket for my long-reach needs

unfortunately, though, I wasn't paying attention when I ordered them off Porkchop. The default selection is "front," and if I had been a little more awake I would have ordered "rear." Doh. I have plenty of junker rears in the stash to swap the center bolt from, it's just annoying.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Been eyeing these for a while

Now I'm visiting my folks on LI and the local bike shop had them in stock so I pulled the trigger

Apparently they are also sold as Haro tires? That's actually how the bike shop had them listed

 

[ParkRNDL]

TIRES.

Man I am DIGGING this look.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Hauled this to a buddy's shop yesterday evening and we sorted out the headset reducers and fork. Getting closer...

He also fixed us up some pretty amazing pizza.

Hunting for a 3 piece crank now.

 

[ParkRNDL]

The thrill of mail call...

...and the agony of human error.

To be fair, I emailed them as soon as I got home and discovered this yesterday, which was after business hours, and they got back to me last night and assured me they would straighten it out today.

Also, I am waiting on a sprocket adapter from another supplier, so there's yet another reason this BB wasn't going together till at least the weekend.

In the meantime, I couldn't bear the thought of waiting any longer to get this bike together, so I pressed into service the crankset I stripped off a Schwinn Continental:

This was my original plan for the bike anyway, so I don't mind running it this way for a week or two.

Aaaand it all came together around 12:30 last night.

Come on now, I can't be the only one who has finished a bike in the middle of the night and taken it up and down the block in PJ's and slippers.

I did manage to rip off a few pictures before I left for work this morning. LOVE the way this looks so far. I have a couple of cable guide clamps on order that I think might look better than zip ties, but I am also open to suggestions...

 

[RustyGold]

I have a couple of cable guide clamps on order that I think might look better than zip ties, but I am also open to suggestions...

Cobra ties (flex route) are nice to have around...

... they work with all sizes and shapes of tubing...

...can be bought at many bike places. I usually get them from modernbike.com or Amazon.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Cobra ties (flex route) are nice to have around...
View attachment 189088
... they work with all sizes and shapes of tubing...
View attachment 189089

View attachment 189090

...can be bought at many bike places. I usually get them from modernbike.com or Amazon.

NICE! Never seen them before, I will be looking them up...

 

[ParkRNDL]

Cobra ties (flex route) are nice to have around...
View attachment 189088
... they work with all sizes and shapes of tubing...
View attachment 189089

View attachment 189090

...can be bought at many bike places. I usually get them from modernbike.com or Amazon.

hey so I am looking closer at these... do they require a special tool? I see one is available, but can you use the system without it?

 

[RustyGold]

No special tool required. It's a zip tie that holds it on. I would guess a special tool would maybe make it easier to get tight or a cleaner trim. Doubt it's worth it.

 

[ParkRNDL]

No special tool required. It's a zip tie that holds it on. I would guess a special tool would maybe make it easier to get tight or a cleaner trim. Doubt it's worth it.

Just ordered some. We'll see how they work out!

 

[ParkRNDL]

In the meantime, I took this out for a quick run last night. Went about 5 miles; I really like the way it rides.

 

[ParkRNDL]

Latest update: buddy who knows more about BMX than me helped me set up the 3 piece crank.

Also, right after this pic was taken, he grabbed his angle grinder and neatly zipped the chain guard tab off the chainstay. I gotta touch up that spot.

Last item before it's ready for prime time is these cable guide clamps I ordered a couple days ago...

 

[GTHOtrod]

Sweet build. Nicely done

 

[ParkRNDL]

Done for now.

@RustyGold , the CobraTies worked out great, thanks for the tip.

The only other thing I'd like to get for it is maybe something like this on the water bottle braze-ons:

But the curve of the down tube is a problem; I think I'd have to make something to fit. Still mulling it over.

 

[RustyGold]

RustyGold , the CobraTies worked out great, thanks for the tip.

No problem...just paying it forward as I found out about them on the RRB forums as well a few years ago .

 

[MattiThundrrr]

The first photo makes the cross bar disappear, I was confused for a second!