Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My $65 Single Toy

Hi Singlespeeders and fixers, and I am part of another forum yeeeei! I just wanted to share my cheap project bike. I bought a pretty much a frame and rims from a goodwill store and after a week into sinking another $45 into it I am finaly pedaling.
Yes I know it needs a paint job, and those red reflectors going to be gone next week.
Here it is my Kabuki bike.

Oh btw you can clown on it, I dont care :), comments and critics are more than welcome!

Pumaguy

I think that looks pretty legit. I'm actually doing the same thing and I'm trying to figure out the quickest and cheapest way to turn an old Specialized Sirrus with almost no components into a singlespeed freewheel. What parts did you get with the $45 bucks?

looks pretty clean but get a new brake lever. What ratio is that?

I bought 2 tires at $13 a piece, single freewheel $12, and 2 tubes for $7 bucks. I had Lbs take the old 9speed freewheel off for me, since they couldnt offer the tool that takes it off(freebie).
Took off the 2nd chainring, and left the outside 52 tooth on, and 16tooth rear cog in the back.
The hardest thing was aligning the rear wheel so the chain is straight.
Yes, I am looking for a new brake lever as we speak.
I deleted the rear brake, front and rear derailers, and shifters

Krevo: ebay is your best bet to get the parts and everything else.
Forgot to mention this bike is pretty fast
Thanks guys

If you are going SS, add a rear brake :)

+1
you will want a front brake

Front brake is there, rear is not and it stops like crazy with just a front one.

Why add rear? please explain.

Front brake is there, rear is not and it stops like crazy with just a front one.

Why add rear? please explain.

Freewheel + one brake = bad contingency planning.

Freewheel + one brake = bad contingency planning.

What? I read that Ted Shred post. It looked okay. ;)

too bad it doesn't fit you. grow a foot.

Front brake is there, rear is not and it stops like crazy with just a front one.

Why add rear? please explain.


Handling: Turning while braking, also extra control in: snow/ice/rain/leaves.

Safety: You can bust a cable and still stop. You can alternate brakes on a long downhill too keep rim temp down and avoid tube failure. Little extra stopping power when rims are wet.

ianjk is giving wisdom - listen to him. Once you freewheel the rear, you need a rear brake to control it and it gives you more safety options. Unless of course you're well insured and have a written will...... ;)

Thanks for the nice comments and feedback, but I have another bike that I ride most of the time that has both brakes and more speeds. This is just a project and have fun bike.:)

my SS only has a front brake as well. no problems with that set-up. my contingency plan is my foot over the back wheel, bmx style.

What kind of tires are those? I am looking for similar ones with a puncture/flat resistant type.

...Oh btw you can clown on it, I dont care :) ...Pumaguy

Clown, schmown...I think it looks pretty good. Doesn't need a paintjob either. :thumb: I'm a fan of 'original' in ss/fx conversions. 52x16 is pretty stiff gearing...hardcore. www.bikeisland.com has a single cross lever for 25.00...not sure what it includes. And they've got a set of calipers, levers, cables and housings for 40.00 if you want to go the complete route. Chainline looks good, too. Nice job. Have fun.

too bad it doesn't fit you. grow a foot.
It's vintage fitting. It's all cool. :p :D

Thanks guys!
Darwin: Which tires are you talking about? on the trek bike they are original bontrager that came with the bike, on kabuki they are some cheap 27X1.1/4 lbs mechanic advised for price.

Nash: Last night stripped all the paint off the bike, cleaned rust and today sent the frame to get it powder coated thats another $60 at a local pcs. Its going to be black I just couldnt run with rust.
Cant wait.

Will post some pics when I get the frame to update.

52x16 isnt bad, IF you can coast when you get tired ...

Nice sheldon brown "death stem" & QR seat.


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nice bike for sure, How did you get the chainline so straight using the outside chainring? How did you space the axle?

Thanks Jhill, I just removed the insinde chaingring, after shortening the chain to the right length I just pulled the rear wheel back as far as I could making sure the wheel/tire doenst hit the frame and it all naturally came in place. As you can see in the pic I used couple of nuts instead of spacer, but dont know if that made any difference. Oh almost forgot, I had to take the rear axel apart to space the thread a little to make it all look straight.
Hope that helps

52x16 isnt bad, IF you can coast when you get tired ...

Nice sheldon brown "death stem" & QR seat.


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I highly doubt the death stem would be found on a mid to low level japanese bike, considering they really only came on high end peugeots


that design was really common during the time, it's like pointing at any compact car and saying it's a POS k-car

Looks good!
Now, watchout... some dood who spent $65 on bar tape will be along shortly.
Be careful on that thing though... maybe some straps?

Got an update for you guys.
Got the frame back from the powdercoater couple of days ago and it looks great! They only charged me $50 for a frame and the fork.
I dont know wh,at death thing is but you probably can tell in the pics
I still need newer pedals brake handle and may be a crank set.
Here are some pics for you, I decided to go with black powdercoat
Enjoy!

Edited: Thanks for kind words guys :)

Btw the steering tube and the seat tube were like weird, they were like 2 pieces held together by a long bolt, so when you tighten the bold from the top as you can see in the #13 pic, the bottom tube piece expands and thats how it tightens.
After tightening the seat tube and steer tube I tried to adjust a handlebar good luck! I couldnt even move it, I had to loosen the top bolt and push down on it, in order for me get it straight.
Crazy!

Thanks guys!

Nash: Last night stripped all the paint off the bike, cleaned rust and today sent the frame to get it powder coated thats another $60 at a local pcs. Its going to be black I just couldnt run with rust.
Cant wait.

Will post some pics when I get the frame to update.

Did the same w/an 80s Fuji Del-Rey. SB/PC...try to get the painter to salvage the chrome tips on the forks. My guy saved em, polished 'em and clearcoated the entire frame/fork for zero extra dineros.

Did a Rocket Ring 46t chainring w/170mm Bulletproof silver cranks and a silver 1/8" kmc chain. 16T Acera freewheel w/the Tektro duel pivot calipers from bikeisland. Sugino 103mm bb, stock nitto bars, stem, headset, seatpost and an old Specialized 'Ergo' split that looks pretty sweet.
The rims are Sun-CR 18, 36h rr, 32h frt. w/Schwalbe Marathon Plus 25mmx700 tires. Old Schwinn rebuilt hub and rsx hub for the frt. Stainless 14 guage spokes. Also, have a sweet little front rack mounted on top of the fork crowns that carries a jacket, shoes, etc. w/a couple of bungees. With everything I got in for under 400.00...not bad. Also, a friend of mine did a 'harlequin' wrap on my handlebars in black/white alternating that looks distinctive. Wellgo dual sided clipless. Nice ride...I took pics, but have been unable to post...I'll keep at it...:p

My bike is coming together and looks very similar to yours. Instead of getting mine powdercoated I am opting for some DIY pickup truck bed liner in a spray can. Has anybody heard of someone doing this? I already bought the stuff so I'm committed to doing it. I'll for sure post before and after pics

Front brake is there, rear is not and it stops like crazy with just a front one.

Why add rear? please explain.

modulating speed during a descent.

i just got done "painting" and re-assembling things. the bike looks amazing. the stuff turned out pretty well, not professional, but pretty good, I'll post pics when i get my camera charged

My bike is coming together and looks very similar to yours. Instead of getting mine powdercoated I am opting for some DIY pickup truck bed liner in a spray can. Has anybody heard of someone doing this? I already bought the stuff so I'm committed to doing it. I'll for sure post before and after pics

Not sure about on bicycle frames... But among the Streetfighter crowd (motorcycles) bedliner is used quite a bit. it is durable and comes out looking pretty solid. I'm debating on doing it to my 600 after I finish the subframe.

Should work well on a bicycle.

Jhill post pics I want to see your ride. I am still trying to install mtb brake lever, havent got a chance to do it after its been powdered.

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=a67e6ff66b&view=att&th=1205e84f7b939382&attid=0.0&disp=inline&zw

Sorry for the cell phone pic, grip tape is on it's way in the mail

ok i don't know why the picture didn't post, it sucked anyway. here is a better one. http://www.flickr.com/photos/36763974@N07/3407003399/

Nice! I think we share a same chainring :)

That looks like a fun bike, but I'm going to be a nag here and suggest that you put a rear brake on it, it's just not safe like it is. If you're going to run only one brake, it's probably a better idea for it to be the back one.

Have fun.

That looks like a fun bike, but I'm going to be a nag here and suggest that you put a rear brake on it, it's just not safe like it is. If you're going to run only one brake, it's probably a better idea for it to be the back one.


Thanks mom, haha I'm kidding. I suppose the debate rages on and you're probably right. It's not too hilly around where I live so I've never been too out of control. Also your signature is hilarious to me because that's exactly how I removed my cable stays

Just figured out what bosses were, when I was stripping my frame I removed them completely. So I dont think its an option at this time install the rear brake or is it?

SS with front brake is all you need!!!!

no, it is. you can use plastic clips and just route a brake cable allong your top tube, but I wouldn't.