Next Lajolla aluminum frame project

[horsefarmer]

Here is a Next Lajolla single speed cruiser bike as sold by Mall-wart circa 2007 for I believe around $90.
Not lots of info about these bikes online.

Aluminum frame. Inherited from my brother, Unfinished project.

Threw some parts on it from the stash, then parked it.

What it looks like today,

Cockpit a little cramped - options, change seat post, gooseneck and shorter cranks...

 

[JaxRhapsody]

They're small cruisers, I have one. I always liked the way they looked, and they're light. Mine is an ongoing project as I source more red stuff for it. And I want a front brake that's not a sidepull.

 

[horsefarmer]

Started to clean all the stickers and residue off the frame. Gonna blow it apart for paint. Would like to strip frame to bare aluminum, but I expect for durability, an easier job will be primer, wetsanding and a painted finish.

 

[Kevin B]

This is the Next version of that frame that I briefly owned. Someone put it out for trash day. It was a very nimble and light bike to ride. After this picture was taken I got the stickers off using one of those rubber decal remover wheels.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Looks familiar

 

[Kevin B]

I know. I thought of that when you started posting your build. Mine didn't come out as clean as your bike did. I added mini apes later, after the above picture. Then I gave it to a neighbor who is trying to improve his health.

 

[horsefarmer]

@Captain Awesome
Sorry I did not follow your build thread thru completion, at first looked like a you were using a hybrid frame. Went back and caught up, thought you polished the aluminum but I see you painted it. Very nice 2 tone fade.

 

[Captain Awesome]

There's both aluminum and steel versions out there under different pseudonyms

 

[horsefarmer]

Looks like both @Kevin B , @Captain Awesome 's bikes have one piece bottom brackets. Mine has a 3 piece bb.

Unfortunately I only rode it a little then it got parked. Now I'm disassembling it for painting and going to change the chain ring.
Spinning the bb I thought it was a bit noisy. Took it apart and the drive side bearing cage was bent up and loose balls
laying it the grease - only problem was the cage was missing 2 balls and 3 were in the grease!

Later I looked down the seat tube and saw something, fished it out and it was part of another bearing cage!
I put 2 balls back in the cage but it's kinda bent.
Have some cartridge bearings may upgrade...

 

[user 31668]

I had one of these as a hotel bike that was eventually stolen. However, I have nothing but good things to say about this super light frame. I repacked the crank and wheels, put on slicks, better pedals, a flat bar and a longer seat post and lighter seat. It was fast as heck yet pretty dam durable for jumping curbs and city life abuse. Definitely an under rated bike with great potential. Some a hole cut the bike rack it was locked to inside a hotel courtyard. Devistating

 

[horsefarmer]

Study of 3 pc bb adjustment led to a Park webpage where they recomended examinating the bearing cups - here is the existing fixed cup

and a good used fixed cup.

Wow!

 

[Big Fat Whitewalls]

Looks like I used the same bike when I built this in 09.