Author Topic: The mystery Kink. Mystery solved... (Read 16795 times)

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #25 on:** September 10, 2021, 01:17 PM »

Always wanted one. It's time..

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #26 on:** September 10, 2021, 01:42 PM »

Fork is done.

Will do the steerer tube tomorrow.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #27 on:** September 10, 2021, 02:28 PM »

Did the top bolt too earlier.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #28 on:** September 10, 2021, 05:19 PM »

Ok the steerer is done. It was probably the only other thing (other than the frame) that needed painting so I wanted it done.

Went up and dug out the Profile axle. Was fine. Tiny gouge in the middle (god knows) was stopping it going through the bearings, so I sorted that. Need to go up and look for a sleeve later. I also got all of the sticker crap off the frame. I hate doing that also (more than sanding) and the frame was pretty filthy. Have removed the left side grip and lever too for when the Paul one comes.

OK, so I said I am hopeful that the only thing to paint now is the frame. I had a choice with the brake. Either buy a can of etch primer for about 8 quid and etch and paint it, or, go for flat alu. I chose the latter. It cost the same. If it's not anno then it's paint, which means if this doesnt work then the stripper will.

I'd really like it to match the lever. So we'll see. Tomorrow the spokes should arrive so I will have plenty to be getting on with then. May sand and prime the frame on Sunday, depends how knackered I am and how the weather is.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #29 on:** September 10, 2021, 05:32 PM »

Right, now the fookers won't rust.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #30 on:** September 11, 2021, 04:09 PM »

Rear wheel is done.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #31 on:** September 11, 2021, 05:58 PM »

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #32 on:** September 12, 2021, 01:56 PM »

Fallout : New Bike.

Looking at the clouds I would say it was wise to wait for it to flash

Later - fun with caustic soda.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #33 on:** September 12, 2021, 04:45 PM »

Before.

After.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #34 on:** September 13, 2021, 05:58 PM »

I'm pretty confident this will be my last full build. It's done, and it looks fine. Couple of spits from the paint but I really couldn't be arsed risking it to get rid. I'm very happy with it, yet very tired. I don't often tire of things (Autism) but I think I have just been doing this sort of stuff too much. No doubt I will change parts around and tinker, but I just don't think I have another one of these in me. Which is probably for the best, given I have no more space.

I've got my truing stand. Sadly I just can't seem to get it right. The other wheels I built were what I consider perfectly acceptable (and I am fussy) but these wheels are kicking my ass. Again it could just be because I am burnt out. I may take them to Custom Riders and get them sorted, we'll see. The cranks are fighting me too. They are really, stupidly tight on the spline. So I know once they go on they are never coming off, I am just praying I can get them on enough first go. Or I will have to literally cut them off and get something else. I have the right side on. Not enough really, but more than enough to be safe. Might have another go later when my hands and arms stop hurting.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #35 on:** September 13, 2021, 09:19 PM »

Fudge it. Ordered some cranks. They were on sale. I'd kick myself after all of this work and the fact it is the last build if I put cheap cranks on.

Sticker therapy.

And lever.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #36 on:** September 13, 2021, 11:16 PM »

Missed the part where a Profile axle does not fit the KHE cranks and I destroyed them

Mikku · « **Reply #37 on:** September 14, 2021, 03:57 AM »

Love the Paul lever, but then who doesn't! There's a blue one now for sale over on BM but I can't bring myself to spend that much money on a lever that I really don't need. That said, I'm sure I can justify it somehow!!

Those stickers came out great! Likewise the frame and caliper.

Good luck with the wheel-truing - one reason that I've never gone down that road.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #38 on:** September 14, 2021, 02:24 PM »

Don't meet your heroes. TBH? I am hugely underwhelmed by that lever. Thankfully I "only" paid 45 quid, but man if I had paid 90 I would be gutted. It looks like but that is about where it ends. In every other way? it's just a light small lever.

I got the fork and bars on late last night. Will snap some pics later.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #39 on:** September 14, 2021, 11:18 PM »

Ain't gonna lie I absolutely love it. That said I really don't want to do any more. It's deffo a love hate relationship when shit goes wrong, and I would rather love it than totally hate it.

I fitted the front peg. I kinda knew my drill bits would not even touch hardened 4130 and I was right, so I will have to send the back peg off to my friend to be done properly. Just waiting on the cranks, they should be here on Thursday.

One thing I will say is I like how much the lever pulls. So apart from being massively underwhelmed it does seem to do the job very well indeed.

Mikku · « **Reply #40 on:** September 14, 2021, 11:22 PM »

Looks great! Not normally a big fan of coloured spokes but they work well here.

Don't meet your heroes - I like it!

The lever I'm looking at (pictured below) costs about the same as you paid but then I have to get it over here, so I'm probably going to leave it. Probably!

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #41 on:** September 14, 2021, 11:40 PM »

Well it ain't heavy so postage should be cheap

I've always wanted one. Always. I love CNC stuff. No one seems to make CNC BMX brake parts any more. Mostly I guess because dippys ride them without brakes these days. What made me laugh though was the real reason why they started doing that... They don't know how to set them up

Christ could you imagine that in the 80s and 90s?. I suppose with everything coming mostly assembled these days there's no need to learn.

I would say 45 quid is what it is worth really. Paying a ton of postage etc? yeah, I wouldn't bother. I think Chrome cranks will really make the bike pop too, so I am glad now that it happened. No point harking on about screwing up. Worse things have happened. Thankfully they were only 45 quid and not 200....

TBH the red spokes were bought simply because they were cheap AF. I do like them though, but if you chip them etc? they look pony. I think that is why people stopped using them. I'm not going to go hard on it. I cant any more. I just want something I can ride without thinking "Well if I screw up there goes two grand". The wheels aren't true either. Couple of mm side to side but again, nothing that will stop it riding perfectly. There's no point being uber fussy with it as it really is just a winter rider. I have spare decals too, so I really need to get over worrying about it. Just ride the bloody thing.

Got my holiday coming up soon. I really need it. Been literally stuck indoors since Lockdown began. I don't go out much as it is, but losing my week in Feb and week later in the year at my fave place has been pretty hard. There aren't many places I can go and feel safe, but this is one. I've been going there 40 years I know it better than most of the places I've lived tbh.

Hoping to ride on Thurs. This. Want to go to Littlehampton, not been there since lockdown started. There's a new skate park there but thankfully I don't have my pads or helmet so it will stop me doing something I would absolutely regret if I manage to find it

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #42 on:** September 15, 2021, 01:06 AM »

Things I forgot to mention. I bought some legit casino dice from Caesar's Palace in LV/NV.

They cost me 6.99 I got them here. They are also matched pairs with the same serials.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303281685165?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D294126b639614587b8723ca2883f5264%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D303281685165%26itm%3D303281685165%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2506613&_trksid=p2506613.c100290.m3507

Price was very agreeable too. Usually drilled and ready to fit they are 20 quid a pair. Drilled them out myself with a 10mm bradpoint and glued in two plastic caps. Cable is a Fibrax (had it left over) and the strap is a Fit Bike Co I had left over. Same goes for the plastic S&M bar ends.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #43 on:** September 16, 2021, 03:23 PM »

What a ride. If I closed my eyes I would swear I was riding my Metal. This is good, very good. Sadly I forgot my Vans, and most importantly gloves. It's burning hot out there and within about a mile my hands were sweating so bad I couldn't hang on lol.

What I had to put on my feet wasn't helping either.

I need my Vans dammit !

Mikku · « **Reply #44 on:** September 17, 2021, 11:46 PM »

You're right, those cranks do make it pop! Much better than the black ones imo.

Funny you mention gloves. I never, ever wore them bitd but since I've taken up racing again, I literally never ride a BMX without wearing a pair, even for just riding around the rice paddies. In fact, I bought two more pairs this year!

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #45 on:** September 18, 2021, 12:20 AM »

Yeah I go through them quick tbh. Had a couple of pairs of Giant, then some race gloves that fell apart after three uses (forget the name now) and now I have S&M. My hands sweat something rotten, and with my hands not being what they once were I can't hold on lol.

Plus let's face it, digging gravel out of your palms was never fun.

This has been a shit month for cranks. I sold those SNAFU, Hermes lost them and now they are saying I need to wait 28 days whilst they "investigate". Meantime I have had to pay the bugger back, and knowing my luck they will find them and deliver them and I will be out cranks and the money ffs.

TBH I am amazed I haven't had serious shit at all since I started doing the bikes again. Maybe it's a sign. That said I really do have what I want now bike wise. It's nice to see the Kink all dirty. And the fact that I am quite happy to see it like that

I don't reckon I have much left in me physically now. So I really want to just enjoy riding whilst I can.

BMX1973 · « **Reply #46 on:** September 18, 2021, 11:45 AM »

Your hard work has done you proud. This build looks great.

bobafett · « **Reply #47 on:** October 18, 2021, 02:54 PM »

Looks great - and the dice are a great little touch

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #48 on:** October 19, 2021, 02:44 PM »

Thanks. Been trying to find some purple ones for the FBM, but proving difficult atm. Will have to keep looking