Bicycle Mechanics - building an urban assault bike, out of a beach cruiser

Hi guys,
Ive been lurking this board for a while, and Im starting a beach cruiser project.
I've got the bike, an old huffy, and I have some new parts to get it rolling but I want to continue past that.

I was wondering what your thoughts on putting a rigid mtb fork with front bmx brake and going freewheel in the rear, or keeping the coaster and just servicing that.

Ive built a fixie that I later turned into a s/s, so Im not totally lost, but Im really confused with what parts I can use on this bike and the size's... like this
http://bikepartsusa.com/product_info.phtml?p=01-103982
I think I can use it but I dont know if there is a place I can look up the sizing I need to know and also if it'll fit my beach cruiser front wheel... and if it cant fit the cruiser tire, what I should be looking for...

and If I decide to go free wheel, can I reuse my coaster hub and slap a freewheel on it?

I dont know where to look for that sort of info and searching google isnt really helping so much.

Problem is, beach cruisers often have very lax geometry and thus won't make a very agile bike.

I think you'd be better off starting from a better frame, it would be much more fulfilling.

I'd keep the coaster brake, ftw.

Problem is, beach cruisers often have very lax geometry and thus won't make a very agile bike.

I think you'd be better off starting from a better frame, it would be much more fulfilling.
+1

Tim

I had a cruiser, and I found it to be one helluva urban assault bike as it was. The thing was like a giant bmx bike, it could do stairs, bunny hop, and for its size, it was suprisingly agile. I think it sounds like a good project, but what are you thinking of modifying?

So far Ive put on a new bmx stem and bars, and serviced a few parts. I was thinking about that fork^ , a BMX front brake and a freewheel on the rear, some skinny-ish cruiser tires. a basket... I think Im going to stick with the 1pc cranks because I have them and they are ok.

Im ganking whatever I need/can use from my s/s conversion bike, was thinking about just taking the hub from that if I cant fit a freewheel on mine. Either way Im going to be riding the coaster for a while, and I might fall in love and not care about it anymore...

I dont know what sizes are common for a Beach Cruiser... when I picked my stem I just sorta picked the 21.1 because there were more 21.1's... so I figured it was more common. :)

What size fork would fit? I cant find a beach cruiser specific fork that has actual measurements on the page... I was thinking that running a slightly more aggressive fork will help the geometry, and make it a little more snappy

I would like to suggest what you've just did: BMX stem and handlebar, from V-brales, rear coaster brake, tires 26X1.9 and you can ride everywere, even jumping sidewalks. About the fork, take any rigid mountain bike fork with V-brake bosses.
some pictures whould help us on the parts you need.

What exactly is 'urban assault'?

Are you trying to build something like Derek Young's urban cruiser?
http://www.queuebert.com/other/bicycle/
(Awesome CNC action with the disc brake mount and stem)

I'm sure he can give you good tips/advice/measurements if you contact him.

What exactly is 'urban assault'?
Just some term I heard thrown around, but I thought it illustrated my goal well enough. Somthing I'd feel comfortable enough bombing my neighborhood with... :rolleyes:


Are you trying to build something like Derek Young's urban cruiser?
http://www.queuebert.com/other/bicycle/
(Awesome CNC action with the disc brake mount and stem)

I'm sure he can give you good tips/advice/measurements if you contact him.
no I havent see that, thats REALLY cool looking. amazing ammount of work in that! I'll try asking him a few questions to.

this is the bike that started this,
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2006/mar/JasonRadcliffe.htm
but I want some slightly fatter tires :)

but here is a little gallery I compiled for this project, most I think are from fgg.
gallery (http://jazz.sdsc.edu/photo/index.php?folder=/miscinformation/cruiser%20ideas/)
some are ideas for my other bike to, I just kinda slapped them all in one gallery.