Author Topic: Newbie looking for help (Read 1746 times)

virtualmeuk · « **on:** December 14, 2007, 02:06 PM »

Hi All,

New here and was looking for some help!

In the early eighties i won a frame and fork set in a competition from BMX Action Bike or BMX Bi-weekly i cant remember which. It was for a 'Firebird Freestyler Limited Edition GL Plus' (Thats what i remember it being anyway) I built it up with skyways and other parts and all was good till somone knicked the back wheel. It then got put into the garage and never saw the light of day again till a month or 2 ago when my mum dumped it on my doorstep as they were clearing the garage out. So its been in my garage now calling me every time i pass it to give it some TLC. (Boy it needs it!) Anyway i have started to strip it down and this is what i have found and the questions i am trying to decide on:-

First question.....

1) Is it worth restoring?
2) Is it worth any money? ( i dont think i would ever sell it but would be nice to know!)

Frame and forks are structurally sound. Need stripping and powdering to bring it to its full glory.
3) Do you know anyone who can reproduce the stickers or where i can get any from?

$) Front wheel is yellow not white and i am unsure of the best way to clean it and hunt for a rear or to buy some new skyways.? Trouble is all the skyways i see are plastic hubs and mine are aluminium so would like to get some like that?

4) Will it look crap if i use the modern skyways with sealed bearings?

5) I Used to have panaracer freestyle tyres on it(White). Do they still make em or is there a similar alternative?

6) Finally does anyone know where i can find any info on the dp frame? All the ones i have seen have the cables on the outside and mine runs through the frame and forks?

Any help / chat / banter etc would be appreciated.

So glad i found this place so i can see i am not alone!!!!

Swivel · « **Reply #1 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:12 PM »

Piccy's would help but in a word, YES restore it

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:26 PM »

Your wish is my command.

Dont know how to add images so will have to like them instead

Frame and forks attached. Will do the other bits when my hands have thawed out!

Please bear in mind that this is 20+ years old and has not been touched ( Poor excuse for the condition i know!!)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9461/dsc03589yw7.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/2968/dsc03591sw0.jpg

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/2375/dsc03595yw9.jpg

Will do a complete run down of the spec later and you lot can tell me if any parts are duff and should be replaced!!!

Let me know what you think

jimwise68 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:26 PM »

Welcome aboard, and yes as already stated RESTORE it.

You will be able to find the bits you are looking for it is all out there.

There are some repro'd decals about as far as I know, sure someone will post on here who does them.
Tyres and wheel will be achievable but the skyway will be quite expensive.
With regards to getting it repowdered, then SUPERBIKEDAN is THE man.

A lot of people use the newer plastic hubbed skyways, having original style alloy hubbed will be obviously better, if you are gonna ride it then the newer ones will be more than okay. Plus you wont be ruining a rare set of wheels.

More importantly have fun and enjoy, and you are not alone!

kowalski · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:29 PM »

defo restore it

del on here does stickers they are a1 drop him a pm
hubbed tuffs are the way forward and they are still accessable, but obviously new tuffs are cheaper although not to many peoples taste (i have a set)
and obviously if you are really unsure about the bike i think it would be best for all concerned if i just take it off your hands for a token £12 and you should count yourself lucky you get that much

jimwise68 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:33 PM »

It aint that bad, seen worse.

As long as the frame isn't bent or dinged, once it has a fresh powder and sticker set on it, it will look better than new.

Rebuild it to its former glory

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #6 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:36 PM »

i was always planning to restore it as it was such a big part of my younger life. I Would like to restore it and keep it forever as it reminds me of such happy times. The only hesitation was how can i justify it to the ball and chain ie. "but its worth more money if i restore it!!"

stidds · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:37 PM »

That will clean up a treat and be a wicked looking bike. It will be good to see it restored.

As for the wife, do what we all do........... LIE

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:38 PM »

does anyone know how to get the colour back on the wheel? i read somwhere somone used bleach but that scares me!

jimwise68 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:39 PM »

Stidds its not lying it is economy of the truth.

Plus there is the getting stuff delivered to work etc etc etc.

jimwise68 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:40 PM »

Check out the tech and resto section there are loads of bits in there about bleaching tuffs, dyeing tuffs and all manor of things you will be doing in your recently accepted challenge.

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:42 PM »

lol i can't wait. i am really excited about it now. Just need to decide what to do about the wheels and tyres really. All the rest of the parts are resonably ok.

Do they still make the mushroom grips? They were the muts nuts

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:45 PM »

just looking at the gallery. Where did moose get the white tyres on moose1? they look just like my panaracers

jimwise68 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:47 PM »

They make Mushrooms still for Moto-X bikes, so you need to buy 2 sets as one of them has larger internals to fit over the throttle.

check out a few of the OS shops online.

http://www.skatepool.com/action.lasso?

www.vert-ego.com

Plus a few others that seem to have slipped my mind, jeez old age has kicked in quickly.

also, you will be eating, living and sleeping EBAY.

stidds · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:49 PM »

You can still find any part you desire, it just depends on how much you want to spend. The parts are the expensive bits of a build, just think Dia-Compe MX1000 brakesets are anything up to £250 (yes that is two hundred and fifty pounds not a typing error).

Good luck

motomagII · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:51 PM »

that looks like easy resto bit powder coatin new stickeras it will be minted .

jimwise68 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:52 PM »

Vert-ego has white panracer freestyle tyres for £40 a pair.

jimwise68 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:54 PM »

So what is your next build gonna be?

I bet by this time next year you will have a stable of bikes.

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #18 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:56 PM »

Ohhhhhhh there goes the kids xmas presents!!!!!

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2007, 02:59 PM »

And next years holiday fund, and the Wii money, and the christmas bonus!!!

I can feel this is going to become a bit addictive!

jimwise68 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:02 PM »

Welcome to the mad world of OS BMX.

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #21 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:09 PM »

Well thats my domestic sorted with the wife for the christmas break!

jimwise68 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:11 PM »

It's gonna be a fooking long christmas then!!

pickle · « **Reply #23 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:13 PM »

that's a lovely Glyn Lewis special that is!! i'd love one of those! $:-\$

get it restored!! you'll love it!

virtualmeuk · « **Reply #24 on:** December 14, 2007, 03:19 PM »

whell when i am forced to sell it cos the wife is divorcing me for lack off attention and wasting money

you can buy it off me!!!!!!

Author Topic: Newbie looking for help (Read 1746 times)

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk

kowalski

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk

motomagII

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk

virtualmeuk