My Klunkerz.

[novocaine]

I don't like the thing, but I want those forks.
I seem to remember there was a few other "beach cruiser" style bikes in you quiver, if you have something a bit more normal bike style you could build a fairly stunning "cafe racer" inspired bike. not sure you'd like the riding position though, low clip on bars .

I'm glad you've realised the "pink pedo" isn't the bike for you, stick with the non springung sprung .

[pistonpopper]

novocaine I reckon those forks are atleast half the weight of the whole bike. But I think if they were on some other bike they probably wouldn't look a lot different to this.



My Real Easy. To be fair though the cafe racer look was sort of what I was going for with this when I found the forks, and I did even go as far as to think about having some clip ons on that too. But the trouble with that is the same as the trouble I have with dropped handlebars... My belly would be bouncing on my thighs as I ride along. Not only is this not a good look, it's not very comfortable either. Although, perhaps I should atleast try to build something with these looks once, even if I can't ride it, it might be good to look at.

Sadly you've not seen the last of the 'pedo flyer yet. I said I'd ride it for about a month and that still leaves about 17 days or riding and experiencing it left. But I can't help feeling that I'm never going to love it, although it does have to be said that it's a lot better than it was when I started. But that still doesn't mean its good, or anywhere near good either!

[pistonpopper]

Episode 159. Giant Rincon. (Part 1).

[jpr1977]

Good work on both the bike and putting Irate of Winchester in her place.

[novocaine]

I read you "adventures with drop bars" with a smile on my face and figured it would be your response on clip ons.

I had dejavu, I went and checked. I've already said about the forks. useless brain.

happy riding.

[duncanmartin]

Top quality bike throwing from little monster.
And top quality parenting from you. As well as the discussion with the BMX mum, the answer to any problem with bikes is always n+1.
I wish I could persuade my little monster to ride to school. I'm driving her (and her mum) at the moment - she wants to get the bus but has been banned from that 'cos Covid.

[pistonpopper]

Episode 160. Torpedo Flyer ZX 3000. (Part 3).

[astranaut]

I've never got on with full suspension bikes, even high end ones. My stepdaughter had one when me and the wife got together and on a ride she was noticeably more tired than the rest of us, because she was bucking and trying to ride through it. Sacked it off and got her a Giant hard tail from our favourite source, problem solved

[duncanmartin]

In theory you could fit a higher rate spring to it. Or a longer shock and just let it preload more. Nothing is going to change the fact that it's heavy and slow, so I wouldn't persevere with it, then again, you have a lot of bikes I would probably put into that category.

[pistonpopper]

Oct 4, 2020 20:11:05 GMT astranaut said:

I've never got on with full suspension bikes, even high end ones. My stepdaughter had one when me and the wife got together and on a ride she was noticeably more tired than the rest of us, because she was bucking and trying to ride through it. Sacked it off and got her a Giant hard tail from our favourite source, problem solved

It is a very hard thing to ride because as you say, you're having to work twice as hard because of the added bouncing. I think that even the most expensive ones would be awful to ride on the road mainly because that just not what they're designed to do. Having said that I've really no idea where this is designed to be ridden!

Oct 5, 2020 8:12:21 GMT duncanmartin said:

In theory you could fit a higher rate spring to it. Or a longer shock and just let it preload more. Nothing is going to change the fact that it's heavy and slow, so I wouldn't persevere with it, then again, you have a lot of bikes I would probably put into that category.

I must admit that the more load there is on the spring the better it is to ride. Although, like you I am wondering why I am perseveering with this monstrosity... Never mind, nearly made it through a full month of riding it, it'll soon be over... And I'll be glad!

[pistonpopper]

Episode 161. Torpedo Flyer ZX 3000. (Part 4).

[pistonpopper]

Episode 162. Schwinn Cruiser Six. (Part 1).

[pistonpopper]

Episode 163. Torpedo Flyer ZX 3000. (Part 5). link

[duncanmartin]

That BH looks interesting. The forks are likely to be rubbish, but the suspension design is not terrible, and hopefully the linkage system will reduce the absurd bob you get on single pivot stuff like your torpedo. The worst thing about your story of the kid getting it for christmas is that they won't be saying "this is the worst bike I've ever ridden", they will be saying "I hate bikes".

The Schwinn looks cool. If the seatpost is stuck and it's aluminium, and you are up for a science experiment, try dissolving it out with caustic soda. It's important to use the proper PPE, but it's an interesting process as you see a solid metal seatpost turn into lace (and generate a large amount of heat!). I did it on a nice 653 road frame many years ago. I sold it 2 years ago, and I saw it yesterday riding around Oxford, looking pretty decent still.
The seatpost:
Seatpost 2
And the bike that chemistry saved:
2016-10-15_02-45-12

[novocaine]

I don't think that BH is as old as you think it is. the design looks to be from around 1994-1996 ish and the forks would fit with that too. the suspension design is somewhat more modern than that, although giant was messing about with a full rear triangle suspension around 98 to avoid having to pay specilized for the horst linkage (pivot just in front of the rear axle on the chain stays) that they held the patent on having bought the design from Turner.
some more pictures please, I'd like to go on a bit of deep dive to see what I can track down, I'm almost certain that it will be a rebranding of something else.

[duncanmartin]

There were definitely some Yetis around with that sort of suspension design for a while.

[novocaine]

ah yes, the Yeti A.R.C. that was an expensive ride.
crack and fail, Kona, Marin and Klein all had similar under top tube suspension designs with the fobar rear linkage. BH are a strange one, they have heritage but in the 90's were pretty much unheard of in the UK (being a Spanish manufacturer).
all of these would have been running much higher level suspension though, with RockShox judy being about from 92ish.
the threaded steerer does suggest older (A head being the norm in high end MTB from around 94) but it doesn't preclude it being from the same vintage. what are the forks? they look like those found on a Raleigh activtor from around 94. terrible things but certainly of their time. they would suggest a fairly low end bike.
still a better suspension design that the pedo flyer though.

these really were the infancy of the full suspension bike that we have today, when all sort of crazy ideas were being played with.

[pistonpopper]

Oct 24, 2020 8:49:27 GMT duncanmartin said:

That BH looks interesting. The forks are likely to be rubbish, but the suspension design is not terrible, and hopefully the linkage system will reduce the absurd bob you get on single pivot stuff like your torpedo. The worst thing about your story of the kid getting it for christmas is that they won't be saying "this is the worst bike I've ever ridden", they will be saying "I hate bikes".

The BH is quite interesting, and like you say the forks are rubbish, I've been squirting them with WD-40 and they just appear to be seized solid, so it's got the forks from the Torpedo flyer for now at least. I know they're not great either, but atleast they move.

Oct 26, 2020 13:28:47 GMT novocaine said:

I don't think that BH is as old as you think it is. the design looks to be from around 1994-1996 ish and the forks would fit with that too.

I thought it was pretty much early to mid nineties myself, and to my way of thinking, at 25 odd years old, thats pretty old for a bike.

Oct 26, 2020 13:28:47 GMT novocaine said:

some more pictures please, I'd like to go on a bit of deep dive to see what I can track down, I'm almost certain that it will be a rebranding of something else.

I'm not sure if it's a re-branding of something else, or these are re-branded as something else, but today while doing a bit or research I can acorss this Peugeot...



Which much like my BH would appear to have gotten it's self a different set of forks than it left the factory with. I would say that it is the same bike, it's hard to tell in the photo, but I reckon it's even the same colour. Anyway, here's the current state of play with my BH...



I've not touched it in about three weeks, but I'm liking the direction it's going in.

Oct 24, 2020 8:49:27 GMT duncanmartin said:

The Schwinn looks cool. If the seatpost is stuck and it's aluminium, and you are up for a science experiment, try dissolving it out with caustic soda. It's important to use the proper PPE, but it's an interesting process as you see a solid metal seatpost turn into lace (and generate a large amount of heat!).

I think that it was you who suggested that when I had that stuck seat post in my Diamond Back Topanga and it worked really well, although, by the time I had decided to go along that route I had ruined the paint on it with fire. But you live and learn... Hopefully! Unfortunately with the other Schwinn the seatpost is below the downtube, and both the frame and seatpost are steel. I feel it may be a bit of a lost cause, although I have toyed with the idea of cutting the whole seatpost out, and welding another one in from another steel frame instead. However, now I have the Schwinn I can ride I must admit my enthusiasm to do anything with this other frame has dwindled a bit. This is the frame in question...



This was the state of play when I got it, and it was pretty mullered when I started, as not only is the seat post jammed in there, but so is this screwdriver blade. I have tried removing the screwdriver blade, and even heated it up to form a hook at the top that I can get my slide hammer on to. but I still can't move it. I think it really is a lost cause, but now it's become a bit more of a challenge and I almost feel compelled to ride it again. Although as I said having the Schwinn I can ride now has taken the urge to make this one rideable away somewhat.

[pistonpopper]

Episode 164. Peugeot Swan 20. (Part 1).

[novocaine]

Careful with those forks on the bh. It hasn't got the needed gussets (snicker gusset) for a triple clamp/dual CROWN fork and could damage it (forces moved to above the head tube). don't ask why I know this, ask my dad who had to weld the frame back together for me 😂.