Mountain Biking - Klunker!

Found this old huffy steel frame at a scrap yard. It was in fairly ruff shape...original wheels with coaster brake were trashed, no handlebars or saddle. I saw some potential in it and have been wanting to do sort of frankenstein klunker. So I added some decent Bontrager wheels and saddle, crowbar handlebar, and a ghetto Avid single digit 5 brake on back. future plans are to upgrade bottom bracket/crankset, pedals, fork (anyone have suggestions on a good rigid 1" threadless MTB fork or even 1" threadless suspension fork?), headset,....I will use the Truvativ adapter from American BB to Euro so that I can use a mountain BB and crankset. Let me know what you all think or suggestins...

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/993/klunker.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/klunker.png/)

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Mocked up with 1 1/8" manitou suspension forks from the parts bin. Just need to bore out the 1" headset a few thousandths at work. More pics to be posted.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8731/klunker2.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/525/klunker2.png/)
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1" cup bored out .030"
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1016/cupya.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/21/cupya.png/)
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Progress is progress.
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7742/progressj.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/progressj.png/)
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Very fun . . and nice lines to the frame. I have an early-'60s Schwinn mid-weight cruiser frame that I intend to Frankenstein together similarly - - since most of my spare partz are mtn. Probably a good idea to the BB adapter route . . . I'm going to just pirate a crank from one of our old BMXs.

Very fun . . and nice lines to the frame. I have an early-'60s Schwinn mid-weight cruiser frame that I intend to Frankenstein together similarly - - since most of my spare partz are mtn. Probably a good idea to the BB adapter route . . . I'm going to just pirate a crank from one of our old BMXs.

Sounds like a fun project. I am still up in the air about a rigid MTB fork or a suspension fork. I remember reading somewhere that somebody did a similar build and used a fork with an 1 1/8" steerer in a 1" head tube. I believe it was a mix and match of 1" threadless and 1 1/8" threadless headset parts.

I think a 1-1/8" steerer tube won't fit through a 1" headtube, you may be remembering backwards.

You can still find lots of old 80-100mm 1" forks though and still use a threadless headset.

If you're going true clunker stay rigid!

I think a 1-1/8" steerer tube won't fit through a 1" headtube, you may be remembering backwards.

You can still find lots of old 80-100mm 1" forks though and still use a threadless headset.

If you're going true clunker stay rigid!

I remembered where I read about using a 1 1/8" MTB fork in a 1" headtube:
http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?38933-Klunker-Build
"1'' cups, 1 1/8'' cones, 1 1/8'' bearings taken out of the cages. O rings to seal..."

So next upgrades will most likely be a MTB specific, chromally, rigid fork...and a suspension fork to change things up now and then....maybe even disk brakes..

I'd say you'd better go one point five.

You should definitely change the fork regardless, and not just because of the brakes. Huffy forks have a tendency to break in the threaded portion of the steerer tube, sometimes just while tightening the top nut! Thin soft tubing+deep threads=dangerous to your health! Anything from the mid eighties til rigid died should do the trick. CrMo became the norm about that time. In fact I would go over the frame and check for unfinished welds while you're at it too. Huffy is also notorious for leaving gaps in out of sight areas of the frame. Finish the welds, and you should be good for a little while. At least until the dropouts bend;)?,,,,BD

That is one boss bike!

I have really always wanted to build one of these, but there's one major setback in my way. Most beach cruisers come in one frame size,which is usually around 17-18 inches. I usually ride a 21" mtb, so I feel like my butt is five feet in the air by the time I get the seat high enough. Unless I used a loooong stem, all my weight would on my hands. If I could ever find a Schwinn King Size American frame though, I'd be all over it for a retro project.:) They're pretty rare though, only ever seen a couple online and never in person.,,,,BD

first link is a king size, second is regular size. They look similar until you notice the head tube length!

http://ltzer.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1962redkingsizeamerican.jpg

http://ltzer.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1961greencorvette.jpg

Mocked up a manitou 1 1/8" suspension fork from the parts bin...fits through the 1" heartiness fine. Need to bore out the 1" cups and find caged bearings to fit or use looseball. Enroute is the BB adapter for MTB bottoms bracket and cranks and a chromoly MTB rigid fork so can switch from true klunker to modernized klunker when I want. I will also be welding on a rear disk brake tab and a gusset on the front headtube for added strength. Paint will also be stripped. I am thinking raw metal, OD green, or flat black for new paint...any thoughts? I will post progress pics tomorrow!

Mocked up with 1 1/8" manitou suspension forks. Just need to bore out the 1" head set a few thousandths of an inch at work. More pics to be posted....

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8731/klunker2.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/525/klunker2.png/)

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Sweeeeeet

reminds me of my Klunker build I did earlier this summer. This was with a Schwinn Point Beach aluminum frame that was available at every Walmart. Only thing from the bike I used was just the frame. Fork and bullhorn bars are from a old Ross mountain bike, headset is a Campy Nuovo Record, wheels are some cheap early 90's Shimano LX/Ritchey rims, cranks are from my old Paramount and brakes and shifters are all brand new stuff. Cool bike and fairly light as the frame was just a little over 3 lbs. I'd be safe to say low 20's. I think I have like 300 in the whole bike. I originally had the frame stripped to bare aluminum and it looked cool. I just went with a Molteni look as I'm more of a vintage road bike guy.
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m609/FoxValleyVintageVelo/Snapbucket/D5ED75C2.jpg

I have really always wanted to build one of these, but there's one major setback in my way. Most beach cruisers come in one frame size,which is usually around 17-18 inches. I usually ride a 21" mtb, so I feel like my butt is five feet in the air by the time I get the seat high enough. Unless I used a loooong stem, all my weight would on my hands. If I could ever find a Schwinn King Size American frame though, I'd be all over it for a retro project.:) They're pretty rare though, only ever seen a couple online and never in person.,,,,BD

first link is a king size, second is regular size. They look similar until you notice the head tube length!

http://ltzer.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1962redkingsizeamerican.jpg

http://ltzer.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1961greencorvette.jpg

Know anyone in Flagstaff, AZ? Asking $300 for a 1962.

http://flagstaff.craigslist.org/bik/2769748912.html
http://images.craigslist.org/5I75Ge5Ff3Fb3Nb3Hcc11555ca83bff1b1d1f.jpg
(http://flagstaff.craigslist.org/bik/2769748912.html)