Okay....I see you already did that ^ .
Nevermind.
Nevermind.
Lil' Rocket
- Thread starter squirreldh
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:
Was actually hoping to be the first finished, then a day before i get done I see yours posted! Now i think i want to do another, but be the last finished, i think i saw something about a really cool wrench being given away for last to finish
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Sent from my SM-G550T1 using Tapatalk
I'm kind of notorious around here for being first to the Finished line...
OCD OJ they call me.
Yes, and not only is that wrench really cool...it comes from the other side of the globe; down under!
OCD OJ they call me.
Yes, and not only is that wrench really cool...it comes from the other side of the globe; down under!
So, shortly after piecing it together, posting the finished thread, and unveiling the finished build to our little dude, we noticed something bad. The top tube above the front shock mount is cracked.
Bummer.
So we have not told the little guy the bad news, and the jump parks are closed so he isnt itching to go ride it yet. Last Saturday I emailed Transition Bikes with the serial # and photos of the damage, plus a link to the build here on RRB for the full story as to the build. I actually received a response yesterday from David at Transition letting me know he will look and see what he had. Our hopes were not up as this is about a 10yr old design and the chances of them having a front triangle laying around weren't likely...
Well, I just received an email from them letting me know they found one sitting in a box on the top shelf in the shadowy depths of their warehouse!
It is being packed up as I type this, and should be here Friday, hopefully. Again, much thanks to David at Transition for hooking us up!
I wonder, and am asking, if i should pull the finished thread as it is not actually finished now? I can edit the thread and replace the pics with the new front triangle this weekend if it shows up soon enough. And pics of the triangle swap will be posted here.
Bummer.
So we have not told the little guy the bad news, and the jump parks are closed so he isnt itching to go ride it yet. Last Saturday I emailed Transition Bikes with the serial # and photos of the damage, plus a link to the build here on RRB for the full story as to the build. I actually received a response yesterday from David at Transition letting me know he will look and see what he had. Our hopes were not up as this is about a 10yr old design and the chances of them having a front triangle laying around weren't likely...
Well, I just received an email from them letting me know they found one sitting in a box on the top shelf in the shadowy depths of their warehouse!
It is being packed up as I type this, and should be here Friday, hopefully. Again, much thanks to David at Transition for hooking us up!
I wonder, and am asking, if i should pull the finished thread as it is not actually finished now? I can edit the thread and replace the pics with the new front triangle this weekend if it shows up soon enough. And pics of the triangle swap will be posted here.
Last edited:
Awesome that they had one for you!
Up to you, either way works provided it is done by the finish date.
Frame did not show up yesterday so its on the back burner until Monday. I did head over to Barnum park to do some riding yesterday afternoon, met a friend, then we went to Ruby Hill to clear some snow. Weather is supposed to be up in the 50 to 60 degree range over the next few days and we want to ride, anything we can do to belp it dry out!
Barnum:
Clearing snow at Ruby:
Unfortunately Ruby Hill was built on a hill with northern exposure, so it does not get much sun. All the landings are covered in snow, and the dirt jumps are in the trees. We cleared the medium and large lines on the slopestyle course which is more exposed and friendlier to the 26" wheels. Another bummer was people attempting to ride, and letting their dogs run around on them, when wet. We filled in a few ruts, and multiple paw prints. Gotta get the jumps ready to ride!
More progress on Lil' Rocket in the next few days...
so its on the back burner until Monday. I did head over to Barnum park to do some riding yesterday afternoon, met a friend, then we went to Ruby Hill to clear some snow. Weather is supposed to be up in the 50 to 60 degree range over the next few days and we want to ride, anything we can do to belp it dry out!Barnum:
Clearing snow at Ruby:
Unfortunately Ruby Hill was built on a hill with northern exposure, so it does not get much sun. All the landings are covered in snow, and the dirt jumps are in the trees. We cleared the medium and large lines on the slopestyle course which is more exposed and friendlier to the 26" wheels. Another bummer was people attempting to ride, and letting their dogs run around on them, when wet. We filled in a few ruts, and multiple paw prints. Gotta get the jumps ready to ride!
More progress on Lil' Rocket in the next few days...
Hey squirreldh, what part of Denver is this in? Looks to be south and slightly west of downtown. My grand-girl and her boyfriend are in Cherry Creek, and he would have a gas at this park....
Barnum is just on the west side by 6th/Federal, and Ruby Hill is south of downtown, Platte River Dr and Jewell Ave.
Are they into vintage cruisers as well? We have a good group of local guys into the vintage/rat rods. Old Bikes Club in Denver, Blu Martinez is the leader/organizer, meet third sunday of every month for bluz cruz down by confluence park.
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Are they into vintage cruisers as well? We have a good group of local guys into the vintage/rat rods. Old Bikes Club in Denver, Blu Martinez is the leader/organizer, meet third sunday of every month for bluz cruz down by confluence park.
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Man, UPS likes to deliver late in my neighborhood! I can usually expect to be the last to receive something on any given day
Ooooo! It arrived! 
I opened the box... looks well packaged...
Stripped down...
Build kit on the floor, should swap over to the new frame fairly easily.
Build kit on the floor, should swap over to the new frame fairly easily.
Its out of the box and in the stand, loving the raw aluminum finish with clear coat, reminds me of my first GT LTS back in the day.
Got the rear linkages and shock installed.
Thats as far as we are going today, just ordered a different part for it that is pretty special, and need it before final assembly
Got the rear linkages and shock installed.
Thats as far as we are going today, just ordered a different part for it that is pretty special, and need it before final assembly
Part came in!
Opened it up and found more boxes...
And a really cute note from the manufacturer on the rubber band holding it all together
It is a Cane Creek AngleSet. A headset that has three different upper cups to allow for head tube angle adjustment. You can run it stock with the 0* cup, .5* slacker or steeper with the 0.5* cup, or 1* slacker or steeper with the 1* cup. What allows this to happen is the offset bearing seat in each cup, and a gold conical washer/bearing seat that allows for the offset angle.
We are planning on using the 1* cup to slacken the head angle from 67* to 66* to handle the steeper sections better, shorten the top tube slightly, and make it a little more stable at speed. Gotta go into the shop to borrow their headset press, should have it all finished very soon!
Opened it up and found more boxes...
And a really cute note from the manufacturer on the rubber band holding it all together
It is a Cane Creek AngleSet. A headset that has three different upper cups to allow for head tube angle adjustment. You can run it stock with the 0* cup, .5* slacker or steeper with the 0.5* cup, or 1* slacker or steeper with the 1* cup. What allows this to happen is the offset bearing seat in each cup, and a gold conical washer/bearing seat that allows for the offset angle.
We are planning on using the 1* cup to slacken the head angle from 67* to 66* to handle the steeper sections better, shorten the top tube slightly, and make it a little more stable at speed. Gotta go into the shop to borrow their headset press, should have it all finished very soon!
Just got back from the headset install at the shop. Went in fairly smoothly. I wanted to ensure proper installation and alignment so i pressed them in one at a time. The lower one, the one that creates the angle offset went in first. It has laser etched markings and notches 180* from each other to ensure proper alignment with the centerline of the frame. I used the stationary portion of the press on the cup to prevent it from rotating the cup while pressing it in.
Next was the upper cup
All installed and mocked up, i wanted to trim a little of the steerer because it is a bit longer than we needed it
Trimmed it just above the recessed star nut, used park tools star nut setter to get it back to the proper depth while maintaining alignment
Final install complete and ready for final assembly!
Next was the upper cup
All installed and mocked up, i wanted to trim a little of the steerer because it is a bit longer than we needed it
Trimmed it just above the recessed star nut, used park tools star nut setter to get it back to the proper depth while maintaining alignment
Final install complete and ready for final assembly!
Brought it back home for final reassembly... i hope i had disassembled it as little as possible, well as little as you can when swapping out the main triangle.
Installed the bars, with brake and shifting systems attached
Removed the rear shock and upper pivot hardware
Installed the rear caliper and derailleur, routed the lines where needed above the rear shock
Reinstalled shock and hardware, secured cables
Installed BB/Crank/Chainguide and then the chain
Tossed the wheels in, double checked shifting and braking adjustments, as well as stem alignment
And its done! Again...
Time for a photo shoot and update pics in finshed bikes thread...
i had disassembled it as little as possible, well as little as you can when swapping out the main triangle.Installed the bars, with brake and shifting systems attached
Removed the rear shock and upper pivot hardware
Installed the rear caliper and derailleur, routed the lines where needed above the rear shock
Reinstalled shock and hardware, secured cables
Installed BB/Crank/Chainguide and then the chain
Tossed the wheels in, double checked shifting and braking adjustments, as well as stem alignment
And its done! Again...
Time for a photo shoot and update pics in finshed bikes thread...
Wow...great parks, great write-up, and cool bike! 
oh...and great customer service from Transition...I may have to put more thought into one of those Transition Klunkers
Jason
oh...and great customer service from Transition...I may have to put more thought into one of those Transition Klunkers
Jason
My girlfriend has been playing with a vinyl cutter at a friends, so I asked her to make a custom Lil Ripper decal so the little guy could look pro with his nickname on the top tube. He chose the color and font, and even applied it himself!
That's race cred for sure!
At a friends making some items for the business and decided to play with the 3d printer and make something for the Lil' Rocket. Will be finished before I leave I hope so I can install it tonight...
