Nialls other project

[Niall]

Well I've always been into riding but haven't had a bike for the past 3 years now. After all the talk of riding on here lately, I decided its time to get back in the saddle!

So this was my old bike



Had this for about 2 years but sold it so I could buy my Saab and that was a bad move! Was a epic bike and I actually contacted the guy who I sold it to several times to try and buy it back. Said no several times and then broke it for parts

So onto the new bike. I've stuck with the same frame. This will be the third I've had now



It's a 15" dialled bikes prince Albert in Kawazaki green. Quite a boring looking frame but it's a very light steel frame that rides epically! Only a small company based in Surrey. Paid 220 for it brand new so got it a lot cheaper than they were at the time!

It sat in my room for several months but now I've finally decided to build it up. Picked up a headset from CRC in their clearance for the epic price of £5





Have also just ordered bars, stem, spacers, hollow tech bottom bracket, seat post, clamp and saddle. Got some great deals on eBay and CRC. Think this is going to be built on deals for the time being haha

Will get pics of the shininess when it all arrives.

[Carlos182]

Nice nice.
Green and white theme would look sexual as hell.

And screw you with your normal size headset :'(

[Grant]

1 1/8th is fine, on a frame like that there is no need for 1, 1/5th. Would wallow too much up front with that much suspension travel lol

Cant wait for this to be finished lol, its not even mine...

[Niall]

Nah going for green and black. Green and black headset, green and black saddle, green and black bottom bracket.

If budget permits, I will be getting Mavic 729 rims on green hope pro2s with green spoke nipples
Depending on what the new pro2s are like though. I shredded my last rear one as it was one of the early ally ones and the cassette ended up jumping around the hub a few teeth under heavy pedalling.

[Carlos182]

1 1/8th is fine, on a frame like that there is no need for 1, 1/5th. Would wallow too much up front with that much suspension travel lol

Cant wait for this to be finished lol, its not even mine...

! 1/8th would have done me fine!
!.5 inch takes the piss a bit tbh. Chances of snapping anything are somewhat reduces though haha!

[Niall]

Finding new forks in 1 1/8 is proving quite difficult. Most are a tapered steerer now which is a shame.

Ideally I want another set of bomber z1 sports. Loved them and they were made when marzocchi were in Italy. Apparently build quality has gone right downhill (see what I did there?........) since they moved to the far east. Even now the 2006 model is still fetching 150-200 for a set on eBay!

[Carlos182]

Finding new forks in 1 1/8 is proving quite difficult. Most are a tapered steerer now which is a shame.

Ideally I want another set of bomber z1 sports. Loved them and they were made when marzocchi were in Italy. Apparently build quality has gone right downhill (see what I did there?........) since they moved to the far east. Even now the 2006 model is still fetching 150-200 for a set on eBay!

If you're struggling I've got a set of Tora's sitting around that you can have for not a lot if you want?
I'll find a picture off my phone in a sec...

[Niall]

Me and toras don't get on. I had some on my first bike I built and even after I had stiffer springs put in, they were still far far to soft for my liking.
Got a few old set of zocchis I'm watching on eBay at the mo so will see how that pans out

[Carlos182]

Me and toras don't get on. I had some on my first bike I built and even after I had stiffer springs put in, they were still far far to soft for my liking.
Got a few old set of zocchis I'm watching on eBay at the mo so will see how that pans out

I'll have to agree with that one. When they're not locked out they're soft as shit!

[Grant]

Can't rate the 729 rims enough mate, should look porn on that black and green setup too!

[Niall]

Can't rate the 729 rims enough mate, should look porn on that black and green setup too!

Yeah I might consider 719s again just for the weight factor. They were plenty strong enough for my needs and nice and light.
729s might as well just be a solid disc of steel! Strong as fook but not exactly light!

[ginge191]

Needs 40mm lows on clones.

[Poodle]

Mmmmm crank bros... Don't like shimano bottom brackets - tend to shred the bearings - but sounds good otherwise.

[Louis123]

Needs 40mm lows on clones.

I was thinking 60mm?

[Grant]

Can't rate the 729 rims enough mate, should look porn on that black and green setup too!

Yeah I might consider 719s again just for the weight factor. They were plenty strong enough for my needs and nice and light.
729s might as well just be a solid disc of steel! Strong as fook but not exactly light!

I've never had any problems with their weight. On the setup your running, I shouldn't think a little extra at the wheels will even notice. The 729s are double wall as well so there is a lot heavier out there. Were you there that time I landed the judges seat drop at pitch hill straight onto that log? Those rims somehow didn't even budge.
Aren't the 717s v brake compatible too? Sooooo last millennium that stuff :p

[Niall]

Don't know about the 717s. Would tell you if I was buying them.......

Anyway nothing wrong with hydro v brakes. For instant stopping they are better than most brakes!

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Mmmmm crank bros... Don't like shimano bottom brackets - tend to shred the bearings - but sounds good otherwise.

Hmm crank brothers stuff looks nice. I had a set of 5050 pedals though and the bearings on them went to shit after about 6 months. Wasn't impressed tbh.

[Poodle]

That's pretty poor actually, especially considering the price. Never actually owned any crank bros stuff myself, just drooled over it, shan't bother in future lol.

[Grant]

Them black and pink crank bros pedals did look porn though Niall. Tbf every pair of dmr v8 and v12 pedals I've had, the bearings have gone to shit in a matter or months... Must be a pedal thing

[Niall]

The v8s have normal bearings in. The v12s have sealed roller bearings. I had a set of v8s from halfords and they lasted literally a month before the bearings shat them selfs. The v12s I had on my old light blue PA were faultless.

But yeah then 5050s do look great!

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Oh just picked up a set of hope m4s with 185mm floating rotors. Going to pick them up to it for £100

[Niall]

Well ed will be jealous that I will no longer be hitting people. I've got 4 pots





Just gone and picked them up. Cost me £100 which isn't bad considering they are in mint condition!

[mark_airey]

Mint looking condition and normally about £150+ each................bargain I would say!

[Niall]

£150 each new for just the caliper and leaver. These are about 5 years old but anyone who has ever used and even looked at a set of hopes knows the quality of them. I will be servicing them before they get use though.

[Poodle]

Billy bargain on the brakes, look tasty...

Bearings in my V8s lasted a good 18 months, that was greasing them every few weeks and a full service twice a year though.

[Niall]

Boom just won some forks on eBay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300727167127?s..._500wt_922

Not the same as I used to have unfortunately but should still be nice.

Also, few of my shiny bits turned up today

[Poodle]

Rode some of those with higher rate springs in them, were lovely. Barely bobbed under power and soaked up everything smaller than a tree trunk, mmmmm....

What's that bb, hope?



Mustn't start spending on the bike again....

[Niall]

Rode some of those with higher rate springs in them, were lovely. Barely bobbed under power and soaked up everything smaller than a tree trunk, mmmmm....



Mustn't start spending on the bike again....

Yeah my old bike had 130mm z1 sports on and they were sexual and felt so "secure". My old toras felt so unconfident and like they were going to snap!

From what I've read, these forks are basically the same as the z1 sports just 150mm instead of 130. Might fit a set of 130 internals if I can find some as the frame is set up for 125-145.

You know you want to start spending money on the bike! Once mine is built were going to chicksands. You need to come with!

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Oh and btw those forks won't be staying silver

[procta]

i wouldnt have a clue on how to build a bike up, how easy is it?
i have thought about getting another racer as my 1st one got nicked. i do have a mountain bike that my dad bought me after the racer got nicked over 10 years ago. laugh is since i bought my 1st car and moved onto the 306, my bike wasnt used until 2007 then again in 2009. since then its never saw the light of day.
plus with me having the rover on the road ( like having a motor bike as a toy) i knew id be wasting my money on buying another bike when the one i have had for over 10 years hasnt really had the time to be used.

[Niall]

It's easy. If you can do basic things on Car, you can build a bike. Only thing you might need to get a shops to do is face the bottom bracket and IS brake mounts if you have them just to ensure everything sits bang flush. Halfords have the tools to do it and it's only a 30 second job so they might do it for a drink.

[procta]

It's easy. If you can do basic things on Car, you can build a bike. Only thing you might need to get a shops to do is face the bottom bracket and IS brake mounts if you have them just to ensure everything sits bang flush. Halfords have the tools to do it and it's only a 30 second job so they might do it for a drink.

really, like i say i never played with bikes at all. building a bike more cheeper than buying one?

[Niall]

It's easy. If you can do basic things on Car, you can build a bike. Only thing you might need to get a shops to do is face the bottom bracket and IS brake mounts if you have them just to ensure everything sits bang flush. Halfords have the tools to do it and it's only a 30 second job so they might do it for a drink.

Depends. If you wait it out and get some eBay bargains, I reckon you could get a bike for about half the price.
I specd my last one up and the closest bike I could find to it at the time spec wise was a specialized and that was £2800. It cost me just under £1600 to build.
Nice thing is as well you can build the bike to you and your riding style. Even going out and spending 3k on something nice like a iron horse, you will still find that there's bits you want to change like the forks because your a skinny bastard and there too hard or vice versa.
really, like i say i never played with bikes at all. building a bike more cheeper than buying one?