Like most bicycle projects, this one started out with a small idea. I was thinking of changing a few things on my Dyno, and how cool that Felt fork would look on the old cruiser. That small idea grew to Godzilla like proportions, and ravaged though my brain space (and bank account) like the Lizard King attacking Tokyo.-
But, of course, it always ends up being about far more than just fixing up some old bike. There's a lot of life going on right now, and sometimes a good diversion is like a rock in the rapids; it gives you something to hang on to so you don't lose your footing in the current. Having a concept catch fire in your head, Creating something new, twisting some wrench, seeing a project through, and having something wicked cool to show for your effort- right now that's medicine.
I bought the Dyno Moto 7 for myself as a birthday present (with ulterior motives) back in '99, and I've had a love/hate thing going with the bike ever since. The motive was the same ulterior that motivates 90% of any guy's thinking. I wanted to get a chick. You see, she was working at a frame shop, and we used to talk when I went there to do business. After a while the store owner started inviting me along when she and Mary, and her friends went out for wine. We talked more. Mary had a bicycle. Would I like to go riding some time?
I had given my last rider, a GT Mountain bike, to my brother. My classics were all crated up. Some woman I'm interested in wants to go riding. I had a birthday coming, and a few extra bucks.
TIME TO BUY A NEW BICYCLE FRESH OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR!
So I paid a visit to my local bike shop. I wanted something a little different than anything I'd had before. I spotted the Moto 7.
I guess the Moto 7 was Dyno's attempt to appeal to the klunker market- a retro style frame with low bars, a mountain bike seat, and off-road tires. It looked cool as hell on the floor.
I loved the way the bike rode, and the internal seven speed hub was just about the coolest thing of all time- enough speeds to make a difference, and no ugly derailleur. But it didn't take long to get tired of the butt splitter seat, and dirt bike handlebars. That's a great set up for performance riding, but the bike always felt like it would really rather cruise. There was soul in the machine, but it was wearing all the wrong stuff. Like inviting a girl out to dinner, and she shows up dressed to go rock climbing. I finally got tired of the dirt bike set-up, and put on the semi apes, and the fat Bontrager saddle a few years back. This improved the ride immensely, but the high bars and bulbous seat don't complement the lines of the frame, and they give the bike kind of a chopper vibe. I've never been completely happy with the way it looks.
Wee the cat helps out.
The Moto frame is a slightly taller likeness of the one used on the old Monark/Firestone Supercruiser DX from the 1940's and 50's. Here's Axsepul's excellent restoration of a full dress Monark:
I want to emphasize the Monark roots of the Moto design, so I'm restyling it as a roadster. Basically, the bike will resemble a Supercruiser DX all stripped down to the bones. Sort of like this very cool rat belonging to benz:
But simple, old school style is not enough. This bike is going to be a serious rider. It's going to be my daily cruiser, the bike I take out for those thirty and forty mile expeditions. So I'm going to change out a few things. I'm looking at a sealed bearing headset, and bottom bracket, a new fork, new wheel set (8-speed internal with coaster brake, sealed bearing front hub), new saddle, bars, and grips. Other than that, I'm going to leave the bike just as it is. Except for the paint. I'm still undecided about the color. Thing is- I want the bike to look clean, but I want to keep it low key. I don't want another bike that draws a lot of attention. It should be sort of a stealth cruiser- a Rat Rodder would spot it a mile away, but it will be just another beach bike to the untrained eye. So here's the plan:
The next step is getting all the stuff. Here's where the project went way over budget, and I went for it anyway. But I'll bet I'm the only one here who has ever done that.
to be continued...
JWM