I impulsively bought this about 6 months ago for pocket change and had instant buyers remorse lol. Chinese and maybe the heaviest bike I’ve ever lifted. Both shifters are inoperative and the outer big chainring is slightly bent. Other than that, the rest is in pretty good shape, especially the frame. Ive had it on FB for $20 and no one wants it so about time I at least get it running. I’ve run through my head about what I can do with it but I don’t want to spend much money. I have a spare new set of 26” Kenda BMX tires I can put on. Id like to get some high rise bars and some generic $7 friction shifters to get it going. What else can I do here to make this zing?
by Imnothere1980
32 Comments
Make it run and sell it
This time of year is bad for selling. I’d try to sell it again in the spring. In the mean time look for a better project.
Low gear cheap single speed conversion wide mustache bars. And the fattest knobs u can squeeze in there 😂
It doesn’t have twist shifters and the paint/components are in really good condition. Make it run and sell it.
Lazy SS conversion with the middle chainring, ditch the kickstand, ride it on trails. That’s 100% free, easy, the bike will be slightly lighter, and most importantly… it’s fun
If you are bored or hungry – Maybe just eat it? 🤷🏼♂️
I’d pop a sick wheelie and smoke a fat blunt afterwards, chased by a Coors Banquet
Semi horizontal drop outs?
Ride it
I arrive in a city. I have no wheels. I see this bike for $20. I have my tool kit with me. Nothing is a major on it. I tidy it up and ride around the city having a great time. A GREAT TIME. I need to leave, I see a person walking who looks like they need a bike. I say hey walking person can I introduce you to cycling ? It’s way more efficient than that pedestrian hoopla… They get excited. I leave town. They get even moar excited and start to bike further out of the city, every time going more deeper into the wild crazy un paved part of the planet, until one day they decide to take a tent and stay the night… and this, kids, is how X-Biking starts.
**One absolute dog of a bicycle at a time.**
Heck.
Single-speed it (might as well make use of those semi-horizontal dropouts), loss of the cassette and 2 rings will drop some of the weight.
700c conversion into gravel bike.
Ayooo had one of those growing up my dad found at the dump. I still remember the melting foam grips sticking to my hands in the summer lol
I’d measure chain line on inner and middle rings–might get lucky and be able to do fixed/ss without changing anything up front!
Give it to the bike Co op
Fucking shred
Ride that beast!!
Those cheap falcon shifters work incredibly. Used them on 9 speed deore with no problems.
You can probably revive the shifters unless they’re super rusty. Blast em with penetrant and work the pawls back and forth until they free up, assuming the problem is stuck pawls, as it often is
I’ll buy that thing for $20
First thing would be remove everything down to basic frame. Then dig in the parts bin and rebuild as far as I could with that.
No parts bin? What are you even doing then man.
Donate it to a local bike workshop or kids program
Single speed ATB or Fixed gear MTB.
Shifters can be brought back to life with a flush of tri flow and moving the pawls back and forth. I’ve brought back a number of shifters from what I thought were certain death.
Switch the tires to gravel king SKs, go drop bar with a stem adapter, new seat, new pedals, Microshift 9 speed transmission, Leh cycling leather bar tape, no kickstand and keep the rack.
Ditch shifters. Ditch brakes (keep front?). Disassemble rear wheel and rebuild around a coaster hub. Use middle chain ring. Bmx stem and moto bars.
Fuckin shred it dude
Take the covers off the shifters and shoot some 90% isopropyl in there, then tooth rush and pipe cleaners. Then apply line of choice. I’ve revived “dead” shifters this way
Did you see the recent posts by the guy using a hydraulic spreader to convert frames to 26+?
I was inspired. I went and got a Chinese hi-ten Diamondback that’s nearly identical to yours, and the 26×3 tires are being delivered tomorrow.
https://preview.redd.it/gy1lokpysade1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b0d1bcc4966337509325846ef5064e4e2932f06
Perfect base for a monstercrosser!
Tune it up and ride the piss out of it. 9 times out of 10 the shifters just need cleaning. Who uses the big chainring anyway?
It may be heavy but it has horizontal dropouts. Single speed
drop it at the co-op.