im building a klunker, with a slight twist
 

So i recently bought this madwagon cruiser:
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...IMG00007-1.jpg

and i want to turn it in to a klunker but instead of building it up like the original ones i plan on using a lot of mtb parts (and some bmx) from the mid 90's. i have a set of magura hydro rim brakes that will go on shortly as well as some odessy shark bite pedals. i would like to build up a set of wheels using some bullseye hubs and i am keeping my eyes out for a unique crank (cook bros, kooka, ect).

any ideas on some parts that would work good for this?

888

Can't help you. But I love the idea. Please, please update your progress.

A guy posted pics in C&V of his Schwinn Varsity that seemed to be going for a similar effect. Most notably he converted it to 26" wheels and big tires. For some reason, such a set up speaks directly to my soul.

j

Love the suede paint. What did you use - - automotive paint? I'm curious, because I have a Schwinn mid-weight crusier frame stripped down to bare metal awaiting primer/paint that I am going a similar route on. My HVLP gun is itching to shoot something other than polyurethane on house projects.

Very nice basic finish on that, cant give you much advice but would love to see updates.

that is actually the original paint. you can't see it but on the top tube next to the head tube madwagon is ghosted in.

I stripped my junker down and shot it with John Deere flat black paint. It has held up well to a lot of abuse over 3 years and is fairly cheap. Add a nice clear coat over the top and it wont fade like mine has.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...iant/016-2.jpg

best pic I have of it at the moment but you get the idea

Phil hubs would be an excellent retro spec.

Thumbies.

Good idea for the crank possibilities. Add Caramba to that list.

Suntour XC Pro stuff would fit in well, too.

I forgot about tractor paint. Good idea. Yeah, the stuff is durable; and we have a couple of Big Rs in town.

Now, JD green or AC orange . . . ?

Newholland blue.

Minneapolis Moline yellow.

Im biased with since I own a flat back bike and say go your original route.

Now the bike I am working on is going to be storm trooper white and black, I like simple colors.

To be honest, I still like hot rod black (suede rather than flat); but I think I'd like to dig out the airbrush and do a gloss green-to-yellow flame job. Hmmmm . . . glad we had this little talk.

Glad I could help you with your decision!

Oliver Green

fecal brown

That's the prettiest shade of green!

OH DUDE. I need to get a pic of my brother's "Beers, Not Gears" bike. It's a local Santa Cruz ride we do in the middle of the winter in a storm where everybody gets shuttled up and we downhill on coaster brake bikes.

My brother "cheats" with his bike by building it very similar to what you have started there. I know you're probably set on going with some expensive wheels, but I would consider some coaster brake action.

You can use an old school BMX stem and BMX cruiser handlebars for starters and finish it all up with some Kenda KRad tires or Small Block 8's. Here are two "klunkers" I've built before. I'll get a pic of my current klunker later. I call them my "get-around-town" bikes.

Schwinn with 700c coaster brake wheels squeezed on with 3-piece cranks and BMX cruiser bars.

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs261....9_940653_n.jpg

Frankenbike. This is an old Sterling that I outfitted with all kinds of crap I had leftover in my garage. Somebody offered to trade me a bunch of BMX parts for this, so I went for it.

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs241...._7010910_n.jpg

well for the tractor paint since my family used to own a john deere dealership that is what i would go with, if i hadn't already repainted a cruiser that way.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...ullan/bike.jpg

and yes that is a working car horn

What battery did you use for the car horn? I wanted to go for the same thing on my current klunker but wasn't sure what would power it.

the batter is just a small rechargeable 12v. by small i mean roughly 3"x2"x4" it will run for several rides between charges.

well i the brakes came in so tonight i will install them. is there anything special that i need to know when setting up hydro rim brakes?

Sorry, no experience here.

Magura rim brakes Forum:http://www.support-english.magura.co...hp?showforum=9

well i just got some amazing pedals.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/DSC02992.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/DSC02993.jpg

Nice Old Stock