I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of "...just splurge..." type responses - but I have too many financial obligations to sink $$ into a bike right now - and a baby (3rd) a few months away. This doesn't curb my desire to ride, however.

I'm trying to get more into the urban-street thing since I'm an ex-freestyler (well, I was back in the late '80's anyway). Right now I'm on a real P.O.S. - a circa-1999 Sam's club Mongoose MTX (full-trash suspension) that appears to be built from a combo of steel and lead (read - HEAVY), and I've thrown a pair of riser bars on there, and cut the seatpost down to get me in a more comfortable position for wheelies/hops/etc. I'm wanting to go single-speed - that would be another $50 into that heavy piece-o-crap, I might be able to swing a $100 - $150 frame in the near future (used Azonic or sim.) but I'll have to throw my junk components on it until I get more cash (and/or start breaking things).

My question - what should I do? Should I even consider getting another frame and bolt my old junk onto it - or just keep riding this crappy bike until I can afford a better complete bike (STP or similar)? A complete bike probably won't be possible until summer BTW - that is a long way away to me - about 150 possible days of riding from now.

Also - if I do end up getting a frame and try to bolt my garbage onto it - what potential other problems might I run into involving $$$ (i.e. chasing BB threads, brake cables, etc) - and how much can I expect to spend on that?

get iro to send ya a bike. you'll be happy.

I would hit garage sales and pawn shops and ebay. Sounds like the bike you have now is ok for the moment but not worth messing with. Maybe ride the thing and take 10 bucks a week and sock away towards a bike. Then if you do happen across something at a yard sale, a thrift shop, or a pawn shop, you can buy it.

what is it with you guys? any time anyone says "what bike" you say "iro! iro!" without bothering to read what kind of bike the guy actually needs

the guy is coming from freestyle bmx and wants to replace a crappy mtb with an urban ss for hops, jumps and other trials-ish tricks etc.

which iro did you have in mind for that?

iro highlander... single speed aluminum mtb with canti mounts. i have one. it's sweet.

calm down eddie! just get any of 'em and you'll be happy!

highlander probably wouldn't be bad.

but with the money...i say grin and bear it for now (i typed "gin and bear" it at first, and if that's your preferred route....), but put away a bit, and if you want more of a road type frame, or whatever...check out thrift stores, pawn shops, garage sales, etc. get a new frame, transfer wheels (if yours are nicer) and any components nicer than what's on the new bike, and call it done.

as far as compatibility, i wouldn't worry much, however...get a new bike that doesn't have that bad of parts, so if you can't transfer parts (or even if it has nicer parts in the first place) you don't have to worry.

I say haunt the yardsales. I don't know that much about suspension MTBs, but I imagine bolting Junk Goose components on a decent frame would be a bad idea if it were even possible.

You could certainly splurge on a good SS wheel, and use it on the Mongoose in the meantime though. Just keep the old wheel, derailures, etc handy, so you can put it back together for your own yardsale when you get something better.

+1

my bro just built a very sweet bike. 35$ Nishiki from a thrift shop and a 100$ wheel from Iro. hit the salvation army, thrift shops, garage sales, etc.

That sounds like the kind of bike I want to build.

Thanks everyone!

The MIA is cheaper than the highlander. Or, you could save up for the Redline Monocog. Both are fairly respected SS's that you might be able to get a deal on through online classifieds (mtbr.com, dirtragmag.com) or ebay.

i think you should have posted this in the MTB section. these people have no idea, except maybe eddie and isotope.

come on people, he's looking for an urban MTB, not a road fixed conversion to do some 5ft drops on.

oh ya, and i def. wouldnt SS the mongoose, unless you use a derailluer as a tensioner. as the suspension moves, the chainstay length changes which could throw your chain as you land whatever you're jumping off, which could lead to more bodily harm than just jumping off stuff alone.

redline monocog is probably the simplest, burliest, singlepeed, big kid BMX bike, your gonna find.

i'd save your pennies and look for a used one.

other good frames might be a surly 1x1 or maybe something like this if your purely wanting a huck bike (ie. not so comfy for trails or normal riding).

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...+Frame+05.aspx

i used to own a .243 set up ss with 24"s. it's an oversized bmx, essentially, super overbuilt cromo. absolutely fantastic ride. it's also a particularly good deal, and that it comes from a small independent company that makes a small range of really good quality tig welded black bikes with white logos. so it's nearly an iro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.243racing.com

i love their frames. i would eventually like to replace the highlander with something steel... though i'm so pleased with how light my highlander built up and it's ride quality. my vicious cycles fork and carbon bars really make the aluminum feel good and save my poor arms and hands... plus keep it light.

but back to the topic at hand... if you're broke, look for an older steel hardtail or rigid bike. if you're going to be doing anything urban or attempting trials with it, look for something small... like a 14" frame. get a rigid fork and good brakes and good tires. you could still use the rest of the mongoose stuff until it breaks.

Yeah, I think a 24" is in order here. Robinson is possible too. I think $350 would get him a whole bike new.

Beg, borrow, steel.

Redline monocog is probably the best value for a bmx-y 26" singlespeed. you can probably get one used for less than $300, new for sub $500.

Also worth considering is the diamondback assault 24" bike- quite heavy, but also really durable. a new one is ~$280.

dk general lee 24" cruiser is also a good bike for a good price. danscomp often has good clearance deals on last year bikes too

that is indeed a nice bike for nice price, but it doesn't have bosses for a front brake, making urban stuff rather tough. bmx cruisers are so fun and fast though.

last one of those i had i ran a 3" travel manitou black on the front. i never ran a front brake, but could have, of course. that was such a fun play bike. champion stairgapper

A 990 brake+plate actually works pretty well without cutting into tire clearance too much. There are v-brake plates, but i've never tried them.

also

https://www.framebuilding.com/Bosses.htm