Chopper X

[Gravelgrinder59]

So I was driving home today from my gravel ride and I detoured down this street we’re I’d been eyeing this bike in a front yard for awhile. It’s green( favorite color) and it’s a not very desireable bike, especially on here, an occ stingray. Yuk, but not always, seen a few cool ones. Been trying to talk myself out of it but keep driving by. Anyway been thinking I give him 40.00 for it , today he was sitting on his deck, I stopped,made offer of 40.00 he said 50.00. He didn’t have change for 60.00 so we settled on 44.00. My plan is to mate triple tree fork, to an 1”1/8 aluminum kHS canti frame I have that’s fitted with nexus 7 speed. If not guess I’ll flip, they seem to go for at least 125.00 around her and don’t see green oftion.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

If you notice there’s another frame to one in background, Sunday when I was going to get vinyl die for my failed seat pad on this, it was lying on side of road with a “free” sign, Sucker me drug it home. Oh yeah I got a mint one never ridden in my shed with all cardboard for spokes and manuals that I traded a friend for. The day I did that guess I was feeling nostalgic about tv show and the miniature die cast choppers I collected for a while. Anyway saw someone cut off rear triangle and mate to generic stingray frame ( think it was Dr T?) That’s a possibility.. thought it was cool. What am I thinking I have no room already!

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Who can relate?

 

[Captain Awesome]

If you notice there’s another frame to one in background, Sunday when I was going to get vinyl die for my failed seat pad on this, it was lying on side of road with a “free” sign, Sucker me drug it home. Oh yeah I got a mint one never ridden in my shed with all cardboard for spokes and manuals that I traded a friend for. The day I did that guess I was feeling nostalgic about tv show and the miniature die cast choppers I collected for a while. Anyway saw someone cut off rear triangle and mate to generic stingray frame ( think it was Dr T?) That’s a possibility.. thought it was cool. What am I thinking I have no room already!

There was somebody who was looking for a stingray rear triangle and wheel for a chop chop project........who could that have been??

Oh yeah, it was @Captain Awesome

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Oh, sorry about that, you still need one?

 

[Captain Awesome]

Oh, sorry about that, you still need one?

I was just poking fun, but yes I am potentially in the market for something cheap for a future project. Don't want to derail your build thread though

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Ok Capt Awesome, I knew Mr T had post somewhere, it’s in mismatched wheel sizes

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Who can relate?

But seriously, what are your goals?

 

[Rat Rodder]

Who can relate?View attachment 177922View attachment 177923

Oh thank you, thank you. I needed a good happy feeling.

 

[Rat Rodder]

Ok Capt Awesome, I knew Mr T had post somewhere, it’s in mismatched wheel sizesView attachment 177924

I really like that bike! It has all the design I would think of.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

A lot happening at chopper x garage. Trying to figure out where to begin. Ok, got this in mail yesterday

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Wanted a solid chainring, opted for this 44 t iron cross chainring. So first on agenda, get the old crankset out. For how new this frame was I couldn’t believe how bone dry bearings were, not grease and rust. I can remember any bike I’ve tore down being this dry, probably cuz it was box store bike, something I haven’t pursued using before.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

While I had chainring off thought it was good time to clean some surface rust in bottom bracket area. I had cleaned this frame in past but it had sat outside a few days in the rain when it was just a frame. Was feeling lazy so rather then trying to clean these bearings up grabbed some I had already cleaned and was gonna use on another build. Went to break chainring lose and it wouldn’t budge, so not wanting to mess with it, I had a better clean vintage one laying in garage so I grabbed it and ring on it came free immediately. It also has a little longer arms, which when I rode the bike earlier, I had thought would be nice since bottom bracket is high from being bmx and having 26” fork and I could get more pedal stroke. I must have cleaned it up at some point, it literally took about a minute to be cleaned.Next install new chain ring,

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Was excited to get off stand to get a look…

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Sorry for dark pic, really dark out today. I really like the look. It looks great w/o guard, but probably not gonna keep, cuz once you put guard on, in my option not so good… alittle too obstructed. I’m thinking, maybe I should leave guard off? But I’m pretty proud of that guard and knowing the look of pedals I have ordered and another chainguard I almost ordered, I’m gonna ditch the chainring , order another chain ring

and keep the guard.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

In need to go get some dinner with wife, so I’ll get back to my progress in the morning. I have 2 major changes to share….

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Ok some more progress to report. So had to lengthen chain, new ring a little bigger, so I got to use my new chain tool. This thing works so smooth, like cutting butter! I’d been using tool my dad had given me that was probably 50 yrs old! Talking bike off rack the wheel shifted and was really rubbing. Had to take exhaust pipes off to get to axle nuts. Looked at bike w/o pipes and decided looks cleaner without em. They’re staying off…

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Now I’m looking at bike and I’m thinking I need to try another seat, need black seat. I’d been thinking about black seat for awhile, but have no solid black seats, thought about dyeing a flowered on I have. I have one available black seat, it’s a 26” nanner with the hideously far forward sissy bar mount holes. I’m thinking might as well try it, get an idea what black would look. Installed seat, the length of seat lays sissy bar back and “kinda” hides how far seat protrudes past the sissy bar.I’m thinking this is more like it, this thingis

looking faster standing still. The brown bag looks bad so close to contrasting flames, so it’s gone…

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

In one of my classes in college related to public speaking , the prof pounded in our heads the KISS principle K-Keep I-it S-simple S-stupid, keep it simple stupid. I keep getting feeling this bike wants me to do that to some degree, seems hard task for me at times building..Ok, had a few minutes before I needed to head out on errand, needed to put about 8 bikes I’d moved out of my shed ( to get to parts) back in. Errand I’m running to p/u this

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Yeah, I hear ya, another bike? 16” no less. I’ve been eyeing this bike on Offer Up for a week now,for the triple tree fork ,it’s cheaper to buy the bike than buy a fork, and I get extra parts. Theres room for a 20” tire and I’ve talked to guy about length of steerer and it should work on ANOTHER 20”

frame I have, although the thought of using on this has crossed me mine. I think you see where this is going, recreation of Chopper X front end. Here she is now!