This is my old race bike from the '90s. I'm pretty sure it's a red line? But don't know that for sure. I took it into my LBS, authorized whatever repairs would be needed. After a couple weeks they called and said the seat post clamp is no longer made and you can't buy that size. Making the rest of the repairs useless.
Surely there's an alternative out there?
That's my only question, but a little fun history with his bike! Keep reading
My brother and I raced when we were kids. We raced each other on little 12-in bikes around our neighborhood. After watching our cousins race in the bigger age groups we decided to give it a try. The track gave us a pass for a few races just to get more riders interested in the sport. (Even though pedal brakes weren't allowed.) Me and my brother had been racing each other so long it turns out racing others wasn't a big deal. We were beating kids with fancy race bikes, pedaling our hearts out on 12-in wheel, steel, pedal brake bikes. This bike (in photos above) and my brother's matching bike was bought from a guy named Dan who would sell bikes out of his trailer at the race park. It was the early days for Dan's Comp. We got these bikes and some proper gear with his name on it and within a year or two ended up 3rd and 4th in the state of Indiana.
Now I have a son of my own and at 9 years old, he's already riding some mountain bike trails with me and this bike is just right for him to ride. (Not on trails, but campgrounds etc). Also, when those bear claw pedals take core samples of shin bone, my boy will become a man. 🙂
But in all seriousness, that's why I was willing to spend money makimg it rideable again. However, it seems out of reach unless you internet BMX gurus can work your magic.
by MeatyOkraPuns
14 Comments
PorkchopBMX or PlanetBMX should be able to provide older sized clamps, and you can always check in over at BMXmuseum.com.
Alan’s bmx could probably sort it if you’re in the uk
Completely possible but it would be an odd combination of parts if the frame is a Redline. The three piece cranks are not Redline that I recognize. The handlebars with the curved grips are Powerlite and are super dope. Usually they were matched with GT brand secondary parts. Everything I say is based on my own memory of a small window of time in the mid 90s 🤣. I don’t believe for a second that a seat clamp for that bike can’t be sourced. If I were in your shoes and wanted to get the bike functional again, before giving up, I’d go to literally any machine shop and ask them to make one. Your bike looks like a survivor with a lot of potential, stick with it and good luck!
Is the seat post clamp broken, stripped or is the seat post frozen in the frame?
The people that work at the bike shop you went to have no idea what they are talking about. That bike is fine. Spray all the bolts with lubricant. Take an allen wrench to that seat clamp. Beat the seat into place with a rubber mallet. Tighten with Allen.
They probably did not even make an attempt to fix this.
If you want to post closer pictures of the seat clamp and any markings on it, im sure a used or NOS one is on Ebay or we could identify a replacement.
Yeah that bike is great and should may just need a few replacement parts. Honestly I would keep it as original as possible. New tires, tubes, bearings,then see if everything else functions right.
Thats really shameful that a bike shop told you this. Most people would put it by the side of the road after hearing that. I would have that thing running quick.
All parts for that bike are available either used, NOS, or reproduction. You should buy the replacement and fix it yourself, then take it to the bike shop and show the person who told you that how great your old bike is running!
I seriously doubt it’s a non existing size in bmx for a seat post clamp. Ok sure it looks like it’s smaller than the 28.6 clamps used on many modern bikes, it’s likely 25.4 or a 22.2.
Aluminum foil rolled in a tight ball is great at removing rust without scratching the frame up.
Worst case, ditch the seat clamp and put in a wedge post.
That looks like a Robinson
Your LBS is lazy and they just want to sell you a new bike. I recently went into a shop to ask a mechanic about center pull brakes for a bike i was repairing. He was completely clueless. He o lying knew how to repair the bikes they sell and that was it.
If its possibly late 80s maybe 90, and is a redline, it could be an ishiwata tubing redline, is there a triangular cutout in the rear dropouts? Nice bike if so, Ive got one in the basement, and geometry and front gusset match, can’t see the rear drops well though.
Shame a bike shop called themselves a bike shop and couldn’t get this taken care of.
BMX museum and planet BMX can help, also redline is remaking retro parts like the flight cranks they may do clamps so you may be able to get a redline one.
The whole bike is $$ to collectors, I personally stopped and sold most mine off some years back but I would snatch that stem up in a heartbeat, give ya $100 shipped for it lol. For real tho, naw, lol. Nevermind I just looked and I still have mine I didn’t sell it. Cranks are even the same! Tracer I believe? was your brothers cranks the bronze color? Would be crazy if your bros old bike found it way to my collection lol. Got mine from Wichita though I think.
BMX museum forums might be able to find someone local to you can help. If you’re in Kansas city, or any Texas big cities or in New Mexico, I can lead you to some guys that would help you have that looking like you just got it in 1990 in just a few weeks and little elbow grease with the kiddo. If ya run across any D€4L guys in you search tell em to eat a D … In love of course lol. Man, you made me miss my 20″ biker gang/cult bros lol.
Nice bike, easy fix, fun project with your kid.
I could get that bike ready to ride with what’s already there in an afternoon.
It’s a Redline mini with a DK seat clamp and stem. Powerlite mini bars, Sugino cranks, VP pedals and Sun 1 3/8ths rims with what looks like Suntour loose ball hubs. Pretty high end parts for the day and a lot like what I would build from around the time, if I wasn’t already driving.
Here is a link to several DK seat post clamps for sale
https://bmxmuseum.com/forsale/search?category%5B%5D=100&company%5B%5D=95&price_low=&price_high=
However, there is nothing wrong with your clamp unless it’s split somewhere that we can’t see. The bolt is likely rusted, so, penetrant, heat, leverage, drill bits, etc.
They didn’t want to work on it. Sorry. As a bike shop veteran of 22 years. Almost everything is fixable. It usually comes down to how much you want to spend on it too
uni seats need a shim.