Backup bike all hybridified-photos
 

Before:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2543/...8408b06d_b.jpg
Mismatched tires, some gears not working, rusty old cables, loose crank arms, no fenders, no rack, no drink cage, no lights etc.

After:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/...ffed9cfc_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2598/...05200f45_b.jpg

Cost me $150+ for parts and labour, taxes included. Basic Tune up was $45. Chain was fine, didn't need replacing.

Bottom bracket was actually fine, at first the guy thought it needed adjustment. One innertube replaced, brake pads are fine, they did something to the gear housing (whassat?) fixed brake housing, brake cables replaced. I'm a bit ZOMG at the cost but I think in the end, it's worth it. At some point, I'll probably get different handlebar grips and slap some bar ends on her and have a bike puter put on.

Wow! That's a great job! Nice! You have a great looking machine there. I'll put a copy of a picture in my BF-related Hybrid-file.

Hope 'he' looks like a UAB - Urban Assault Bike. :D

Nice job! Why did you settle on the knobbies.

Well, they're meaty enough to withstand going off curbs, bad roads, grass, bit of gravel here and there and duder said the middle part is smooth so the tires can be used for pavement, too, or something. The price was right, I wanted tires that are not likely to get a flat, like my A bike's tires, had that bike since May and nary a flat.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/...a42f38e2_b.jpg tread detail...

What brand of tires are those? That's some tread-pattern!

Do you know what brand of bike-computer you want? I have 2 Cateye Strada Wireless on 2 of my bikes. Really easy to mount and program. They work very well.

Are there any stickers intact giving the frame material? If you're really lucky you have a double butted chromolly bike in what looks like mint condition - not at all cheap to buy new! (As in: more for just a frame than your Trek 7.2 cost.) And what does the writing on the derailer say?

It's not a lugged frame, the other kind (65 has a lugged kuwahara.) My bike is a steel MTB from the early 90s. A Trek frame here would cost A LOT more than $150. My "cheap" hybrid "Asama Luddite" assembled cost $320 before getting fenders, rack, drink cage, lights, computer etc etc.

"Exage 300 LX" on the rear derailleur.

A quick look at a LBS that carries Trek, Trek 7.2FX (didn't find one without the FX) costs nearly $600 BEFORE any taxes, it does not have fenders, rack, lights, bell, computer which would cost a significant amount to buy and pay to have installed. My hybrid I bought new in May was only $320! I got this bike for virtually free (bf says he wants $20 for it now) and I put just over $150 with taxes for tuneup, cable replacement, tire replacement, one inner tube replacement, fenders, rack, drink cage, lights installed and a bunch of other mechanical things it needed. I'm not into buying just a frame, ever. I do not build bikes, the most I do is clean and grease my chain. Don't start with the "learn how to build/fix yourself" thing, not everyone is mechanically inclined. MEC is extremely reasonable for repairs/installation so I go there.

It's steel (which I prefer) I don't 'dig' aluminum. Nice strong classic MTB great for hybridifying and riding.

eta: the front fork says" cro-mo steel tange" judging by the weight of the bike, it's definitely steel. The weight is comparable to my new hybrid. Rather tank-like which is fine by me.

Kenda Alpha Bike 26 x 1.95 Wire Tire.

Personally, after using Kenda tires on my A bike (the Luddite) I freakin' love 'em. No flats, no shenanigans. :thumb:

The tires I just got put on are $10 a piece, rather frighteningly cheap.:lol:

Lud - The Kuwahara looks fabulous and Tange stickers don't come on lower end bikes as it is very good tubing.

I don't think you can call it a B bike as it is every bit as nice as the A bike.

Ah, so it's a quality mtb from back in the day, not a "cheap" ***?

It's a decent entry level Kuwahara that was probably pricier than your Asama when it was new...

Ah, gotcha, so worth it to put $150 of repairs, accessories etc into it. :thumb:

Great job, sweet looking pooch also.

WOW! Thats a hellava bike! I love it. :love:
Ernest

Well, yes - the photos clearly show it is welded not lugged. But is the framed doubled butted? (Double butted tubes have thinner walls at the middle, making them lighter and ride better. Lugs are external connectors that join tubes together.)

Not glamorous, but functional and very long lasting - the bottom level of "real" MTB components.

Tange is one of the world's best bike tubing producers. Good bikes often have cromo forks even if they are alu framed (it's tougher). If you're curious and can't find any frame stickers you can test the frame for steel-ness with a magnet. (Steel is more bang-resistant but can benefit from a little more care regarding rust. It's worth knowing what material the frame is.)

Darn, wish I had a magnet handy. I'm sure the bike is steel, rather than aluminum (were they making MTBs out of aluminum in the early 90s?) the bike is just as heavy like my new hybrid which is made of steel.

The frame is steel... it does have a partial lug at the seat post.

You may never be able to wear out that 300LX derailer... they are bombproof.

Awesome! :D

Sixty Fiver, did Kuwahara even make an aluminum frame?

Luddite, is there not a sticker on your downtube that states what the type of steel the frame is made of?

No sticker, but the bike is just as heavy as my new hybrid.

If in doubt whether a frame is steel or aluminum, there a very simple test you can conduct - assuming the bike has wheels on it. Place the ball of your foot on the center of the bottom-bracket on the cranks. Holding the bike by the stem and seat - push. A steel frame you will feel flex and spring back. An aluminum frame will hardly budge.

A magnet off your 'fridge can also be used. It will stick to a steel frame.

I can't believe I didn't think of the fridge magnets..duurrrrrrrr :(

Anyway, the magnet "stuck" as I deduced, the bike is constructed of steel.