I've got an SE draft, which has a one piece crank and a Euro cartridge BB. I'm looking to upgrade the crankset and BB. This is what I was thinking. Would this work (i.e. fit)?

I just went to a LBS. Ended up getting a new fork, headset, handlebars, and stem. I've got full blown upgraditis.

should have got a new bike

It'll work, but I've got to say... that's a lot of upgrading/investing in a Draft. Of course, when you're ready for another frame, you'll have some nice parts to move over.

This. It's true its a high ten frame, but **** it. I've had it for a while now, and the frame seems fine if a tad heavy. It's not like I'm racing or anything anyhow. Also, I like how it looks (after I took off the decals), and I have fun with it. What really seems to suck is the components. That being said if I manage to find a cheap used IRO frame in my size I'm jumping right on it, and swapping my parts over.

I've also got an SE Draft, and the only money I've spent on it has been better tires. Even then, I now think that was a waste of money. Those cranks (S300) are way too good for that bike.

Way to good for the frame or the frame plus components? What's wrong with the frame besides the material?

The frame is very heavy hi-ten steel and most of the components are very heavy steel as well. Components like the seatpost and stem are cheap stamped pieces. The fork on mine was defective and had to be replaced. The wheels are heavy and cheap with junk hubs. By the time you replace everything, you will have spent enough to buy a much much better bike like a Wabi Classic, and still have a heavy bike due to the frame. You are trying to upgrade a turd.

I say go for it. Those parts can always be migrated to a better frame later on. You might've backed yourself in a corner however with the 1 inch headset though.

Which year SE draft is this? I know some earlier ones have one piece cranksets in which you'll need the converter that's made by truvativ too if you want to run a modern 3 piece crank such as the s300's.

And I say you've got it bassackwards. Get a good frame or frameset and build it with lower end components, then upgrade the components. Not the other way around.

But either way, we're heading to the same destination.

You'll still end up with a nice bike and this bike when all things are said and done.

Sure, but your approach involves a lengthy detour in the wrong direction first.

This. It is a bit more inconvenient to match a frame with components, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work the other way. I do see the fiscal benefit of buying a nice complete bike though. I've committed to the bike, and I'll ride it until the frame breaks.

Sometimes it's fun to travel off the beaten path.

OP can learn how to install components/ perform maintenance/ cycling skills on this beater tank of a bike so he would be ready to do the same on his newer nice bike with minimal risk of screwing up and dealing with the consequences.

Actually with the amount of standardization these days it's not hard at all for any bike, especially the simplicity of a fixed gear. It only gets tedious when you move up to geared bikes that cost as much as a car.

I'm pretty sure the draft has a 1-1/8" headset. Draft - Urban Series, Lifestyle Bikes | SEBikes.com

The newer ones are not as horrendus as the older ones. I assume you have some sort of 3 piece crank in there already I guess?

Then, yes, there should not be any issues for you whatsoever when it comes time transferring all of the nice components from this bike to a newer nicer one. As before mentioned, you can thank industry standardization.

Cor you lot can be negative. A frame is just a component like any other. The OPs got a dose of upgraditus, let him go for it and enjoy it - it's better to own a bike that makes you smile than any other.

Will there be any chainstay clearance problem?

I'm gonna bump this. I've been looking at my bike, and it might be a bit close. I ran the numbers for radius of a 48 tang, and I'm not totally sure it would work. Has anyone had experience with this?

After parts/labor...get a new bike.

Not very informative. Now, I realize this is your point of view, and that is what I was asking for, but some backstory would be nice. Also, this was irrelevant to this discussion as I already said I was staying with the bike. You needn't of posted.

No point putting a $120 crankset on a $200 bike. Get a new frame.

Not just to single out Elvo's remarks, but sometimes there are circumstances that encourage folks to put more money into a bike than it's really worth. It can be sentimental, a need for an immediate repair, desire to learn the mechanical side of bicycles, or any variety of reasons to upgrade a POS that's already owned.

If you wanna upgrade, go do it...it's your bike and money.

To learn more mechanics and ride while I did it, I put about $200 into a $25 vintage 60's dept. store 3 speed. Not sorry I did.



Oh, shoulda' checked in here before I spent another $18 replacing the clunky stem shown above. Damn, I waste a lot of money and time upgrading a turd.

When it's all said and done, it's YOUR bike, do what you need to do to keep YOU happy.