Author Topic: 1983 Mongoose Californian (Read 12172 times)

e5dcb · « **on:** August 23, 2011, 11:08 PM »

I started getting back into BMX after a friend started building old skool bikes.
He had this one and I snapped it up before he put it on ebay. Its great condition so just had to have it.

This is how I bought it.
1983 Mongoose Californian.

Aero Zytec Mags
Blue amber wall tyres 20x1.75
Mongoose 1 piece crank and mongoose spider.
Suntour 44T chainring
SR Pedals
MX brakes with MX LEE CHEE levers.
SR Stem
OGK bar grips
mx clamp
std seat post
Aero Viscount Seat

So was pretty happy with the bike but wanted to do a few changes to make it ride better.

First up was a layed back seat post and a Blue suntour 42T nos chainring. Also added some temp pedals as 1 SR had lost its bearings.
Added a Campagnolo bolt as 1 was missing too. Bit hard to track down lol

Next up was some blue victor pedals

Also with the pedals I picked up some Blue brake blocks as I had black before and they were marking the mags.
So this is how it stands right now.
Next is some oe silver brake cables , some mongoose stickers (But keeping the old 1983 stamped info one) , and some blue mongoose grips. And poss some new nuts through out to replace the old ones.

More updates to follow

e5dcb · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2011, 06:44 PM »

Closer inspection of the bike while cleaning it the other weekend found the 80s Aero mags to have some cracking around some of the spokes

. UV degradation the likly cause and the fact there blumming old.

Anyway I dont fancy riding about on it and coming a cropper so these turned up today.

sid1972 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2011, 07:41 PM »

nice

- pull them bars back a bit

e5dcb · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2011, 09:03 PM »

lol yeah they do look abit forward . I got some new grips coming so once I get them il sort all that out as the allen key bolts are abit rusty too.

NORTY40 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2011, 09:43 PM »

It will make a nice rider when it's done , like you say, some Blue goose grips and a set of decals and your not far off

e5dcb · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2011, 10:00 PM »

Yep there en route direct from BMX products (ebay) right now haha . Should have them by next weekend for the vanfest meet in Malvern.

BMX1973 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2011, 10:19 PM »

nice build

e5dcb · « **Reply #7 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:15 PM »

Small update,

Fitted the new Skyway Tuff II, a new freewheel and a new chain as the old one was stretched.
Gave the frame abit of a clean up too and moved the bars back a tad.

rick1970 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:42 PM »

Very nice is that well done

lookin forward to gettin mine done

Badbaldie · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:47 PM »

very nice

e5dcb · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2011, 12:39 AM »

Question for anyone that knows?
Been bugging me for a while - Why did the older frames have a front gusset and these didnt? Surely they made the frame stronger?

When I owned a californian back in the late 80s, i use to always crack the lower bar of the frame where it meets the front

from jumps etc. Im sure if they had the gusset it wouldnt of happened.

sid1972 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2011, 08:06 PM »

just a change in style - the gussets just made bikes look older....

e5dcb · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2011, 08:56 PM »

Oh I see, simple as that.
Might have to keep my eye open for 80 F+Fs

e5dcb · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:31 PM »

These turned up today.

Now fitted to the goose

Looks alot better imo...

Still waiting for grips n decals then its done.

rick1970 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2011, 05:45 PM »

WOW that looks sooo right blue with chrome

mattuknc · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:23 PM »

That's looking really nice. Gotta love a Cali.

In2 bmx · « **Reply #16 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:31 PM »

Looking very nice

you just can't beat blue n chrome .

Now get some shots out in the sun .

e5dcb · « **Reply #17 on:** September 11, 2011, 11:12 AM »

Thanks for all the comments

The Decal set and Mongoose grips turned up Sat morning so I fitted them to the bike just in time for the Malvern - Van fest..

Mine and a mates GT

Awesome show and lots of Bmxs cruising about.

rick1970 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2011, 06:50 PM »

Mother of god that goose is the, need i say

one little teeny weeny thing tho wind them axel's in grind off one side and stick some coloured nuts on ,but thats just me, well done bro love it

e5dcb · « **Reply #19 on:** September 13, 2011, 07:06 PM »

Cheers Rick.

Yeah those axles are abit long as standard

Will have a look at them at some point.

On the look out for another frame now to start a build in Black

rick1970 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 13, 2011, 07:15 PM »

Ive got an 84 cali surviver f+f , tiz me winter project going the black skyway route but i doubt it will be as nice as that ,in fact i know it wont

e5dcb · « **Reply #21 on:** September 13, 2011, 07:31 PM »

No reason why not mate all the bits are out there to pick up.
This one was very good nick when i picked it up but im sure there are more out there.

theRuler · « **Reply #22 on:** September 13, 2011, 08:06 PM »

Nice bike mate, top job.

Swap that seatpost out and it is perfect!

brettypeeps · « **Reply #23 on:** September 13, 2011, 08:57 PM »

Great transformation

Looking nice and fresh

e5dcb · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:26 PM »

Cheers Guys..

What do you mean swap the seat post out? to the old straight one?
I do like to ride the bike at shows etc and with the straight post its near on impossible to ride. $:-\$ Im not 12yrs old anymore

Author Topic: 1983 Mongoose Californian (Read 12172 times)

e5dcb

e5dcb

sid1972

e5dcb

e5dcb

e5dcb

e5dcb

sid1972

e5dcb

e5dcb

mattuknc

In2 bmx

e5dcb

e5dcb

e5dcb

theRuler

e5dcb