Restoring a Predator Qualifier from ‘80’s...
08-07-18 | 03:41 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 6
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Bikes: ''71 Gitane SC, '13 Trek 3500
Restoring a Predator Qualifier from ‘80’s...
I have had my son’s old bike in the barn 20+ yrs and would like to restore it for his son. It’s chrome and has two different sized knobby tires on it, narrow in the front and fatter in the back. Are these original sizes? Looks like the chrome would come clean, and the decals are beat up, but I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions as to fixing it up before I start to take it apart?
08-08-18 | 11:53 AM
#2
BMX Connoisseur
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 774
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Bikes: 1988 Kuwahara Newport, 1983 Nishiki, 1984 Diamond Back Viper, 1991 Dyno Compe
Well you need to have 10 posts to post pics, but I'd love to see what we're working with here!
The two different sized tires was a old racing trick BITD. People would put a larger one in front so you would have a softer landing, and some claim it gave better handling. There's all sorts of different tricks for restoration. For instance you can give rusty parts and frames a citric acid bath! You might want to get a account at www.bmxmuseum.com as there are people on there that sell new decals for old bikes.
One thing to make sure you do is clean and re-grease all bearing especially the wheels. Kids didn't change it out bitd and quite often it's still the same grease from the 80's! And riding around will actually wear things out pretty fast
The two different sized tires was a old racing trick BITD. People would put a larger one in front so you would have a softer landing, and some claim it gave better handling. There's all sorts of different tricks for restoration. For instance you can give rusty parts and frames a citric acid bath! You might want to get a account at www.bmxmuseum.com as there are people on there that sell new decals for old bikes.
One thing to make sure you do is clean and re-grease all bearing especially the wheels. Kids didn't change it out bitd and quite often it's still the same grease from the 80's! And riding around will actually wear things out pretty fast
