1983 Robinson Expert

[anthony]

Hi all,

I picked up this frame, forks and bars around 4 or 5 months ago and went about finding the parts for them across the internet. It's my first build so I was a bit worried about getting the types of parts right (being a race bike), and I don't really know what the original spec of these was.

I picked up most of the remaining parts from Alan's (a bit pissed they sold out of the profile box cranks  ), and on Wednesday I took the day off to go up there and buy the remaining parts and basically get it finished off and ready to ride for Saturday's Santa Cruise.

With pads



Without pads (now with dia-compe clips in red)



Instagram link to Alan's BMX page for a few (better) photos

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcpGq84FRh1/

I did make a mistake when I took the bike up there, I put the front brake on the rear, so Tom put a spacer in there to make it work. I'll change it after Saturday. In the future i'll take it apart and get it all restored and polished but for now I just want to ride it.

Spec:

1983 Robinson Expert frame and forks
Robinson bars
Ukai rims, Suzue hubs, comp 3s
S&M straight seat post, Kashimax aero red seat
Haro group 1 vintage stem in white (the red was too light to match any of the other parts)
Sugino 44T chainring, sugino bolts
DID chain
MX 1000 brakes in red
MX 1500 2-bolt seat clamp in red
ODI mushroom II grips red/white
Haro fusion DX pedals in red
Mirage single pinch 3-piece crank
Profile vintage American bottom bracket

I know a lot of it is 'repop' stuff but as I've mentioned before, I can't be bothered with looking for old parts, to me the current old school parts look and perform just as well.

The bike has come out just as I envisaged. I think the colourway of white and red works nicely and looks really old school thanks to the Ukais. I was thinking about getting them anodised in red but on reflection I'll leave this as it is.

Thanks for looking

Anthony

[deeman]

Looks great from where I am standing.....

[In2bmx]

Very nice and from my Neck of the woods ..

Got to love a Robinson 

[CustardLips]

Tidy. 

[hotdog]

Looks classy!

[Mikku]

Nice one Anthony! A Robinson was one of the bikes that I really wanted bitd - a sexy gusset and looptail in one package!

Tbh, I wouldn't worry too much about era-correct parts, especially for your first build. The main thing is that you're enjoying building and perhaps more importantly, riding the bike. & fwiw, I think you did the right thing not anodizing the rims - they look great as they are.

All you need to do now is get the bike in December's BOTM!

[stu27]

That looks sweet

[morocco]

nice bike

[Retrodan72]

Tis a nice looking bike Anthony and great to see someone share the same ethos with me regarding repop parts and not being afraid to use them however, I'd steer well away from the repop DC MX1000's in future, nasty things.

[anthony]

Tis a nice looking bike Anthony and great to see someone share the same ethos with me regarding repop parts and not being afraid to use them however, I'd steer well away from the repop DC MX1000's in future, nasty things.

I know that now... I'm looking at replacing the brakes for something more effective, and maybe changing the tyres for snake bellies in red... The Comp3s are a little rough for general street use and I'm not really going to go racing on it in all honesty 

[Retrodan72]

Tis a nice looking bike Anthony and great to see someone share the same ethos with me regarding repop parts and not being afraid to use them however, I'd steer well away from the repop DC MX1000's in future, nasty things.

I know that now... I'm looking at replacing the brakes for something more effective, and maybe changing the tyres for snake bellies in red... The Comp3s are a little rough for general street use and I'm not really going to go racing on it in all honesty 

I'd stick with those tyres mate to be honest, they look right IMHO. Snakes always look too far to me, even 1.75s.

The repop DC 890's are OK as they are less complicated by not having the adjusters (which don't work anyway) and they don't have that gold looking plated hardware (which looks shit). I had white MX1000's on my Haro, couldn't set them up at all.