I've lurked here and posted some quips about various stuff, because lately I've been thinking about getting a BMX bike for a few reasons. Mainly to improve my bike-handling skills for MTB (getting comfortable with jumps, manuals, bunnyhops, etc.), and even thinking about racing a little bit. I've got a pretty solid cycling background, so the mechanics are all (mostly) familiar to me. Anyways, I've got some questions, so I'll just line 'em up so you can knock 'em down...
1. I've got a line on a Haro F3 freestyle bike. It's an '06, and $90. Considering it comes with 3pc cranks, full cromo frame, and a not-too crappy looking parts spec, I think it's a deal. Would it be absolutely retarded to expect to be able to take the pegs and Gyro off (just more stuff to break/hurt myself on) and take it dirt-jumping and maybe even race it? Or would it be a waste of money?
2. If that is a stupid idea, are there any frames/completes that you could race on without looking like a fool and jump without killing yourself? Or are those two scenes non-overlapping at all? For instance: I'd be willing to race a trail bike in an XC race, but I wouldn't race an XC bike in a DH race. Maybe that's a bit too MTB...
Thanks.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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kind of sounds like me. i just want one to have fun on. i don't think i have been on a 20" bike in 17 yrs! i can't wait for my new parts to come in. a couple things are back ordered but everything is supposed to be in by the 20th.
why don't you just get a new bike? or get 2 for what you need. technically the race bikes are more "delicate" just like the xc mtb. if i was going to race in a bmx event, you bet believe i'd be on something that was made for it. it's funny, i actually thought about a race in the future too. it never had that much appeal to me...but it might be fun. my heart is really in motocross.
what part of CT are you in? i was born and raised there. from the danbury/new milford area and a small town named warren before then.
premiumbmx2005
im from wolcott...not really near danbury but still cool to see people from CT
Aeroplane
I'm in the home of the World's Leading Cable Sports Network myself.
The reason I don't just get a new frame, or two, is because I'm not sure what I want to do with it. I'm wondering if a freestyle/street/whatever-you-call-it frame will be versatile enough to do what I have interest in. I'd hate to blow $300+ on it if I don't like it.
mx_599
im from wolcott...not really near danbury but still cool to see people from CT
:D
everything is close in Conn...this is what i have come to realize after spending time in AZ and currently MO
premiumbmx2005
for me, the definition of close is within 10 minutes.
mx_599
I'm in the home of the World's Leading Cable Sports Network myself.
The reason I don't just get a new frame, or two, is because I'm not sure what I want to do with it. I'm wondering if a freestyle/street/whatever-you-call-it frame will be versatile enough to do what I have interest in. I'd hate to blow $300+ on it if I don't like it. i see what you're saying. i ended up buying a street build because i wanted something that i knew would last many years. whether or not you could race it, i know i would not. if anything, maybe it would give me a good excuse to build a 24" cruiser for race :D
i would have to investigate the available classes for someone my age and skill.
at any rate, i wouldn't try to get an all purpose bmxer...that's just me. it kind of sounds like you just want a bike to kind of goof off on and have some fun, like me. so i would go street
wethepeople
Buy the bike and run with it, it's a deal.
Also, go ahead take the pegs off, no big deal. Same with the gyro, most people dont even use one.
mx_599
for me, the definition of close is within 10 minutes.
oh...okay :D
FitRider 921
Good deal.
Aeroplane
I got the fiance's seal of approval for purchase... If I am able to get it, I'll post up a shot. Thanks for your thoughts folks.
mx_599
I got the fiance's seal of approval for purchase...
bummer, i wouldn't ask.
;)
Aeroplane
bummer, i wouldn't ask.
;)
That's a good way to lose a deposit on a church. ;)
Brian
Every time I get a new bike, camera, or other toy, I just get the missus one too.
Aeroplane
I got it yesterday, rode it around, and promptly dumped myself on the sidewalk by riding too close to a curb and one of the pegs hit it. I knew I should have taken the pegs of first. Anywho, here it is, sans peg and sans gyro, which introduced a new problem...
http://static.flickr.com/116/310705347_cc53632938.jpg
Here's the brake:
http://static.flickr.com/122/310705352_52a5768d76.jpg
Note how there is no bolt that holds the bridge cable in place. That's because with the gyro, there were two cables going to it, each pulling on one side. Now I want to have just one, but the bridge cable I have only has a metal stopper thingy on one end, and that doesn't even fit in the brake well. Also, there is no cable stop on the top tube for the cable housing. I went to the bike shop (without the bike, I thought I'd be able to describe it well) and they sold me a braze-on for the cable stop to have that welded on. Anybody else have any thoughts or tips for me on this?
wethepeople
Dont weld it, you can get stick ons.
Also, try lowering your seat and fixing the chicago'd bars.
MadMan2k
Holy crap.
Yeah, BMX bikes aren't made to fit like normal bikes, or to be ridden sitting down with your legs going the way they do on big bikes...
The seat is supposed to go a couple inches from the bottom, or at the bottom, and you can sit on it with your feet on the ground to rest, or when you do tricks you can pinch it between your legs (ankles, ish) so the bike doesn't fall away if you do a suicide no hander or something. The bars should be parallel with the fork blades, it improves handling a LOT.
Of course, you could be like Prozakk and just do whatever you want, but why make it harder on yourself by having the seat up your ass and the bars at a weird angle? Manuals are a lot easier to pull up, and bunnyhops are easier, with them parallel.
Hassan347
get rid of the brakes and cut that seat post
Aeroplane
Yeah, I was just messing around with the seat post. No need to cut it yet. The bars aren't actually chicago'ed that much, the angle and turn accentuates it a lot in the photo. I will look into it though.
Where can I get stick-on cable guides? I know the cable guide is basically just to keep the housing from coming out of the lever, but will it be strong enough to do that if it's not welded?
Also, any advice on the straddle cable? Mine only has one knob, and that one doesn't fit the brake real well.