Author Topic: 1984/5 Piranha Freestyler - Who Had / Has One (Read 4786 times)

Retrodan72 · « **on:** October 19, 2013, 09:19 AM »

I had one in 1985, and managed to get one again recently.

Many have said to me that they didnt know Piranha made a twin top tube freestyler, which has led me to think, just how many are there left?

I know Jojo on RB.com has one and Andy Tosh sold one to his mate.

But who else had one BITD and has got one now.

factory pilot · « **Reply #1 on:** October 19, 2013, 09:49 AM »

Any chance of some pics Dan? Did they still come with those spirally metal mags ? What colour was yours bitd ?
I have no recollection of myself..I guess we should call it rare exotica

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2013, 11:13 AM »

Definitely not classed as exotica Ant, as they were regarded as cheap POS's BITD.

They were cheap though for a reason, £99 for a full bike compared with £75 for a DP Freestyler frame and forks.

The welds are crude and the tubing is heavy. I don't think a lot sold back then, and the ones that did probably snapped, so yes, nudging their way into the rare category now, but only by default.

Here's Jojo's...

Here's mine...

...and how it looks with fresh powder...

factory pilot · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2013, 12:09 AM »

I see what you mean Dan ( tbh Piranha always meant POS to me bitd

) but none of us here on rad follow the crowd

we all follow our hearts even if they lead us down some crazy paths at times

Surely there can't be many others left if any?
I hope to see it completed with you on it in the new year mate

I remember a semi-joke thread I started last year about the Yes Freestyler and a couple appeared from nowhere..so you never know

best of luck mate

Looking at those pictures the angle of those twin top tubes do look dangerously steep for attempting any framestands

BMX1973 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2013, 08:08 PM »

I remember them wheels. I think they were metal.

Quote from: factory pilot on October 19, 2013, 09:49 AM

Did they still come with those spirally metal mags ?

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2013, 08:21 PM »

Quote from: BMX1973 on October 20, 2013, 08:08 PM

I remember them wheels. I think they were metal.

Quote from: factory pilot on October 19, 2013, 09:49 AM
Did they still come with those spirally metal mags ?

As far as I'm aware, only the standard gusseted frames came with the 'banana' mags.

The Freestylers all came with Aero Zytecs.

factory pilot · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2013, 10:18 AM »

That's a phrase I've not heard in years.."banana mags".....ofcourse...classic!

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2013, 11:18 AM »

Parts I've collected for mine...

Prismatic decals now fitted, these are what I had BITD...

bodamus · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2013, 08:25 PM »

I like it and I really like the old Piranha prismatic decals

bodamus · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2013, 08:28 PM »

That would look great with some Black ACS Z Mags on it

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2013, 02:15 AM »

Quote from: bodamus on October 25, 2013, 08:28 PM

That would look great with some Black ACS Z Mags on it

But they're too good on a shit build.

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2013, 09:43 PM »

Quick update on the build.

wazza · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2013, 09:58 PM »

Coming on lovely

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2013, 10:05 PM »

Cheers Waz, just waiting on some wheels and the padset off Steve then I can finish building her up.

pickle · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2013, 07:46 AM »

cracking that Dan

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 29, 2013, 07:56 AM »

Cheers Rob, how nice is it to build a bike regarded as a POS BITD? Not having to shell out on branded parts.

Your Panda looks great, love that red.

What do you think about a POS tent at MK14?

pickle · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2013, 08:04 AM »

sounds like a plan Dan

I will be riding mine, saw it hanging on Mr Smooths stall at MK and loved the look of it. it gave me a hernia though lifting it off the hooks

Hope to sort the seat post out at the weekend, it has some weld inside the seat tube so i need to attack it with a file as the seat post only goes in 4" at the mo

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2013, 08:12 AM »

Quote from: pickle on October 29, 2013, 08:04 AM

sounds like a plan Dan I will be riding mine, saw it hanging on Mr Smooths stall at MK and loved the look of it. it gave me a hernia though lifting it off the hooks

Hope to sort the seat post out at the weekend, it has some weld inside the seat tube so i need to attack it with a file as the seat post only goes in 4" at the mo

Niggly, shoite jobs, worth it in the end though.

Thinking about weight of these bikes, I'm not sure taking it to MK may not be such a good idea, that 4 mile from the station is a killer, I'd need legs like steel to get it to the track.

pickle · « **Reply #18 on:** October 29, 2013, 09:57 AM »

i'm sure we could pick you up, although i'd need some petrol money if the bike comes along for the ride

Discostu · « **Reply #19 on:** October 29, 2013, 03:23 PM »

Nice job dan, it looks great.

I like the shape of the frame but I wonder how the twin top tubes/seat stays/loop tail/chain stay loop was bent as it all seems to be one tube? That must be a bit of a mission.

I look at a lot of frames and wonder how they mass produced them without spending hours on each frame, bearing in mind in those days the machinery wasn't computerised like now, so bends had to be done manually.

rick1970 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 29, 2013, 05:17 PM »

gunna be a nice wip that ...
like the Union Jack

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2014, 07:12 PM »

The wheels arrived today courtesy of Brettypeeps via Magicat, cheers fellas.

They're Aero Zytecs, the original wheels that came on this bike. To be fair, not in to bad a shape, so I've started a little light resto on them.

Sorry for crap pic, phone battery died.

factory pilot · « **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2014, 07:18 PM »

It's starting to look real sweet now Dan! Can't wait to see it finished now.....those aero wheels are cool

A nice change from the usual tuffs