Alternate title, "stuff a guy probably shouldn't do in his late 30's" or "how long before I end up in a cast".:laughing:


I haven't ridden a 20" since the late 80's, used to ride ramp, flatland, dirt, just about anything. Lots of time has passed since then and it's been mt bikes ever since. For the last few years I've halfassed thought about getting another small bike just to play around on for shits and grins. Well, over the thanksgiving vacation to see a friend, I found one in her barn that the previous owner had left there years before, so I brought it home. Some google searching says it's from around 1999 and when new was a dept store quality bike at best. Goon enough for me.

Here it is in all it's glory fresh from a barn where it's been sitting for a LONG time (notice the flat spots in the tires). This thing wobbled like crazy, I picked it up and shook it and everything moved, cranks, wheels, headset, everything was loose.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/DYNO%20bike/SAM_0094.jpg


Few minutes worth of wrench turning and here's what I'll be keeping. I'll be cleaning everything up and making sure everything is 100% before I end up riding.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/DYNO%20bike/SAM_0095.jpg

And the pile of junk that I need to replace. I'm guessing I should be able to end up with a ridable decent quality bike for under $200 when all is said and done, but I'll have to see how things shake out.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk58/kwrangln/DYNO%20bike/SAM_0097.jpg

The wheels are probably cheapos, but seem ok to start with, not sure why the different spoke lacing, but whatever. I'll give the hubs a quick going through and call em good.

Here comes the questions. Since I've been out of the game for over 20 years, what's decent for brakes these days? How about a decent set of 3 piece cranks? What kind of gear ratios are people running these days for flatland stuff? I always ran 44/16 back in the day but from watching some youtube vids folks are running much lower gearing these days.

I'll take any imput yall have, and probably stop by a local shop tomorrow to see what pricing on parts looks like these days.

Damn, no help at all.:flipoff2:

I bought my 2 oldest kids some 20" bikes at Walmart last month for $100 each... your project looks like too much work :p

I should post up pics of my micro pocket bike I ride around (wheels are like 6") :laughing:

I thought about picking up a cheap bike from wallyworld, but I remember all the parts I broke back in the day. I'm about 20 lbs heavier now, and when it comes to doing stupid stuff I've become a champ so I figure I better build it right.:laughing:

As for anything with 2 wheels and a motor, forget it. I've never been able to not push the limits on anything with wheels, I'd kill myself on a motorcycle of any type.

Honestly I wouldn't dump any cash into an out dated bike like that. My LBS has some nice 20'' bikes by FIT for around $280 new. There are also some nice closeouts on Dans Comp usually. And if you're open to used I have seen kids sell Colony and other high end bikes on craigs list for ~$300 that had parts lists over $1500.

Bottom line is you'll spend more money buiding a bike than buying a complete so unless your wanting to spend alot on a ''custom'' build, you'll be miles ahead of that old piece with a late model complete.

Update your tires, tubes, chain, brake pads, handlebars, grips and seat....maybe pedals...

Clean up the rest and have a blast.....Start simple and get your groove on...before you bump the big bucks into a platform that may deform with your change in center of gravity ...don't ask me how I found that out