RADBMX.CO.UK
Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: e5dcb on August 23, 2011, 11:08 PM
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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
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/294529_10150342745589188_512919187_9834395_3734810_n.jpg)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293114_10150340995959188_512919187_9812180_1094946_n.jpg)
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/226104_10150340995514188_512919187_9812171_1167575_n.jpg)
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/291909_10150340996514188_512919187_9812189_3118244_n.jpg)
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
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312496_10150349567349188_512919187_9906313_469301_n.jpg)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/313221_10150349567484188_512919187_9906316_4834336_n.jpg)
Next up was some blue victor pedals
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/305351_10150349567664188_512919187_9906320_828626_n.jpg)
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.
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296806_10150349572624188_512919187_9906391_8073296_n.jpg)
More updates to follow :)
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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.
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/306396_10150358766659188_512919187_9992158_6536821_n.jpg)
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nice :smitten: - pull them bars back a bit :shocked:
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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.
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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 :daumenhoch:
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Yep there en route direct from BMX products (ebay) right now haha . Should have them by next weekend for the vanfest meet in Malvern.
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nice build :smitten:
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(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297417_10150361957754188_512919187_10021160_532195_n.jpg)
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.
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Very nice is that well done :daumenhoch: lookin forward to gettin mine done ;)
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very nice :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
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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.
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just a change in style - the gussets just made bikes look older....
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Oh I see, simple as that.
Might have to keep my eye open for 80 F+Fs
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These turned up today.
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/311590_10150366393184188_512919187_10053458_930463675_n.jpg)
Now fitted to the goose
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/296623_10150366393369188_512919187_10053462_951757804_n.jpg)
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/304270_10150366393604188_512919187_10053467_35315973_n.jpg)
Looks alot better imo... 8)
Still waiting for grips n decals then its done.
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WOW that looks sooo right blue with chrome :smitten:
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That's looking really nice. Gotta love a Cali. :daumenhoch:
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Looking very nice :daumenhoch: you just can't beat blue n chrome . :smitten:
Now get some shots out in the sun . ;)
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Thanks for all the comments 8)
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..
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/318318_10150368664789188_512919187_10070134_1693586247_n.jpg)
(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/316605_10150368671049188_512919187_10070176_1331378775_n.jpg)
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309366_10150368653089188_512919187_10070063_193515291_n.jpg)
Mine and a mates GT
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298884_10150364877827184_559067183_10241803_1514311752_n.jpg)
(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/300024_10150364890342184_559067183_10241915_2034929524_n.jpg)
Awesome show and lots of Bmxs cruising about.
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Mother of god that goose is the, need i say :smitten: :smitten: 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 :daumenhoch:
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Cheers Rick.
Yeah those axles are abit long as standard :LolLolLolLol: Will have a look at them at some point.
On the look out for another frame now to start a build in Black 8)
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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 :daumenhoch:
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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.
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Nice bike mate, top job.
Swap that seatpost out and it is perfect!
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Great transformation :daumenhoch:
Looking nice and fresh :smitten:
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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 ;)
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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 ;)
:LolLolLolLol: with yer on that leave as it is ,hey its a rider :daumenhoch:
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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 ;)
It's an odd looking seatpost, that's all I'm saying!
But, if you aren't 12 years old . . . .
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looks nice! love a nice goose :smitten:
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Its a layback post- I dont like those ones with the support bar as they look crap imo.
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Its a layback post- I dont like those ones with the support bar as they look crap imo.
I'm with you there!
But the ones with a curve look better. You have spent a bit of time (and money!) on this badboy.
A nice blue anno'd post would look sweet!
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Any links to one fella?
I couldnt find many lay backs when i was looking on the bay
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(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8675/cw1vw5.jpg)
This sort of style seatpost, that kind of curve, if you have to run a layback!
Personally on a rider, I wouldn't run one at all, if you can get away with it.
You can gain more room (if you are really long limbed) with a longer reach stem.
Also you can slide the seat back on the runners a fair way.
I think renthal did the annodised ones, maybe.
No offence intended though, just that post you have with the bend half way up like that doesn't suit the bike, but only IMO.
Love the bike though. The blue and chrome is a killer old school look. And those bikes ride really well.
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I see what you mean fella. Mine just has a kink in the middle rather than a nice bend so to speak.
The seat is as far back on the rails as it will go.
So if I found a better post it may make it abit better to ride also.
Now you have flagged it up I keep looking at it now lol
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Got a GT layback post to fit now ;D
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Nice one :daumenhoch: now get some more pics up bloody love this build :smitten:
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Looks and rides alot better with this one.
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/303070_10150383282104188_512919187_10169612_1235426913_n.jpg)
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That's perfect now buddy!
Very nice! Those skinwalls rock.
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Awsome result mate well done :4_17_5: By far the best cali build ive seen in a long time .
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Thanks Guys - Makes it all worth it :)
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Nice goose mate :daumenhoch:
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Thanks fella -
Loving your collection very cool :daumenhoch:
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Hello Daz loving the bike :daumenhoch:
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Here's the man that started it all again for me ha ha. Alright bud. ?
Since this build I now have bought 4 mongooses. ;D