Reverse Clunker? (Mean Green Tailgating Rig)

[Green P1]

From what I've gathered it my time lurking here, a clunker is a cruiser turned mountain bike... right? What about a mountain bike gone cruiser style?

With my search for a proper cruiser bike yielding no returns I decided to gobble up this ugly old Huffy sitting by the dumpster at my apartment complex.

Saw hundreds of these growing up and always thought they were hideous (still do.)

First thing I did was swap out the crappy bars for a set my girlfriend decided she didn't want on the Higgins I'm building for her. Next I removed the front derailleur, cable and shifter to tidy things up a bit. To keep the flow of the bars clean I moved the remaining shifter to the frame and shortened the cable.

To further tidy this up I drilled the frame to hide as much the remaining cable as possible (no photo of this yet as it got kinda dark on me.)

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

I'm thinking different pedals, sprocket and seat. Maybe flat or kelly green with white wheels/tires. Might still do away with the front brakes to dispense with yet another ugly cable. I wanna keep this build as cheap and quick as possible as I'm not really in love with the bike and the girlfriend is already jealous seconds of my time are not being spent on "her" Higgins.

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

The wheels are white now... I realize the stupid brakes will make short work of a lot of it but oh well.

Almost got the frame primered up before I ran out of light, but not quite. Hoping to get it painted before the weekend's over. Going with the kelly green.

 

[Jake Sensi]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

HEY YA CWAZY WRATTER DID YA PAINT THOS RIMS WITHE TIRES STILL ON!!?! :shock: NICE :mrgreen: PEACE

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Yea. The tires are dry rotted trash.... but I'd like to ride it up until the point the new ones arrive.
So they got some paint.

The rest of the bike got painted this morning. Pics to follow at some point.

 

[Gdcast]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Yea. The tires are dry rotted trash.... but I'd like to ride it up until the point the new ones arrive.
So they got some paint.

The rest of the bike got painted this morning. Pics to follow at some point.

I like your free, rat spirit, well done! :wink:

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

The bike is green and back together.... somewhat.

It actually rides pretty well with everything cleaned/greased up. Waiting on the white tires in the mail, and still not sure what I'm going to so about the sprocket/pedals/seat. I want to keep this build as low $$$ as possible but those three are just too hideous to stay.

I've already laid the bike on its side riding with my dog leashed, but luckily my butt, leg, and pride bore the brunt of the crash. Only thing that will need touching up is the left brake handle and my wrist.....

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

The chains from cruiser/bmx/road/mountain bikes aren't interchangeable right? I've been looking at chainrings and I've realized I've realized I'm not sure what size i need. Since I'm wanting to go single up front I'm looking at bmx/cruiser but I have no idea if they'll fit.

 

[PabloAntonio]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Reverse Clunker! I love it.

I'm no authority on it, but the chain you'll need will depend on whether or not you're going with a single sprocket/chain wheel setup. It looks like you intend to keep the rear derailleur intact, so stick with the 3/32" chains. If you decide you want to go single speed or internally geared hub, you can use either 1/8" or 3/32".

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Got bored tonight and decided the chrome bars were just not doing it for me. As an electrician I've got an unlimited supply of colored electrical tape and decided to wrap them. Started with green but was informed that it didn't match the paint at all.... I'm colorblind. I think the neutral looks pretty alright though.

Ordered some white pedals tonight... didn't think about it until just now so I guess I have to hope the threads are the right size. crap
http://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Bikes-Rei ... B003BN78GM

Ive also decide it has to have a rack for the transportation of a cooler to UNT's new football stadium on Saturdays this fall.

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

My tires finally showed up. I think they really fix the look of it all.

I stopped buy a garage sale a couple days ago that had the exact same mountain bike for $20... I offered $4 for the little chain guard cover and he accepted. I think it will end my search for a new chain ring for at least a little while.

The new pedals and rack should show up this week and almost complete the look. I think my favorite part about this build is that absolutely everything can be transferred if/when I find a frame I like more.

 

[Galtbacken]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Those tires really tied everything together! Looks great, and I love the idea of a reverse klunker!

 

[someguy83]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

good work so far I think the addition of the trim on that chain ring and the two tone paint really changed the look of it for the better
simple lil things go a long way

 

[deorman]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Your bike takes 1/2" pedals. Unfortunately, the add doesn't state size. :roll: I hate that. :x

 

[ScurryMurray]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Nice conversion. It looks pretty cool.

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Pedals are a no go.

 

[deorman]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

You'd have to do a 3-piece conversion to use 9/16" pedals. You'd need one of these kind of things-
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_inf ... cts_id/942
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_inf ... ts_id/2728
plus arms and sprocket. Probably better off finding some other pedals.

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

You'd have to do a 3-piece conversion to use 9/16" pedals. You'd need one of these kind of things-
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_inf ... cts_id/942
http://www.bikeworldusa.com/product_inf ... ts_id/2728
plus arms and sprocket. Probably better off finding some other pedals.

You're probably right. I'll see if Niagra Cycle will take them back. Oh well.... spilled milk, cracked eggs and so on.

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Got the rack painted and mounted today. Here's how she'll look on gamedays.

Here's a better shot of the rear with the rack and license plate I modified.

If the dang pedals had fit I think it might be just about done(if I could ever call a project done.) Still looking to add some decals and a badge of some sort.

 

[Green P1]

Re: Reverse Clunker?

Got her almost exactly like I want her at this point... other than white pedals and a new saddle.

I think I mentioned it in my introduction thread but I'm also working on an old ColorFlow for my girlfriend. Its down to finishing up the chain-guard and passenger side fender skirt.