RADBMX.CO.UK
Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: Macmania on March 11, 2013, 01:13 PM
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Well it's taken me four years of searching but last year I finally scored my Holy Grail - 1983 MT Racing Aeropro. I know of only one other that's located in Oz.
I did a deal on the bike in May 2012 (with the original owner :shocked: ) and imported the bike complete from Ireland. There was one major issue though...............the forks had been broken bitd and had gone missing :'(
This left me with a dilema :-\ do I search for a matching pair (impossible), stick some generic Akisu forks on or do I go down the bespoke route ?
After much deliberation I decided to contact Phil (Sawzall) and asked if he could work his magic if I found a suitable pair of donor forks and furnish him with all of the correct measurements etc. To my surprise Phil said "no problem" :shocked:
I finally managed to source a suitable pair of bladed forks from the US and then set them up on a frame complete with rim and tyre so that I could gauge the correct measurements. They were then stripped of their chrome before being sent to Phil.
After a couple of months and a fair few pm's the forks arrived back and were then sent with the handlebars and crank down to Hockley for a re-chrome.
Here's the story in pictures :D
How the bike looked just before it was shipped -
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/photo-11_zpsec4d10a3.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/photo-13_zps8662429e.jpg)
Here' a few pics of the bladed Akisu donor forks -
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/DonorForks_zps0999f3ab.jpg)
These are the pics that Phil worked from -
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Forkdropouts1.jpg)
Pics of Phil's awesome work :4_17_5:
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/IMG_2879_zps255aaf78.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/IMG_2881_zps0fc4da21.jpg)
Couple of magazine ads from bitd -
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/April83Aeropro_zps1e3d5c40.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled-17_zps5e7496ba.jpg)
And one in action -
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Article1_zpsd043a2e3.jpg)
Now finally finished :smitten: (sorry for the crappy indoor pics) :(
Fully 4130 Chromoly Frame and Forks. 19.5" Top Tube.
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled0_zpse55d6b8c.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled-17_zpsa13d9b98.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled9_zps21b23666.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled3-11_zps3b83e94b.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled8-3_zps8a324580.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled6-3_zps8e0e00d1.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled4-6_zps179c5b02.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled7-3_zps7c06afaf.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled2-19_zps87ec7962.jpg)
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Aeropro/Untitled8-3_zps8a324580.jpg)
And here's one of the collection so far -
(http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af181/MTracing/Untitled10_zps31fd4f1c.jpg)
Massive thanks to Phil who has done an amazing job :smitten: :4_17_5:
Thanks to Joff for painting the Stem and Seat Clamp :4_17_5:
Also, thanks to Del for the fork decals :4_17_5:
Cheers
Nath :)
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that's cracking! awesome work on both your parts :daumenhoch:
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Best build and restore I've seen in a long time . Contender for a winner of boty :4_17_5:
Well done to all involved
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Stunning :4_17_5: great work as always Nath
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WOW.... great stuff :4_17_5:
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Best build and restore I've seen in a long time . Contender for a winner of boty :4_17_5:
Well done to all involved
x2 thats ace nath
well done mate x
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WOW!An amazing and rare beast.The forks are off the chain.Top work all involved.As said BOTM contender :daumenhoch:
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Awesome Nath.
Bike of the month for sure this month....no point entering mine so will hold off fitting the chain till next month instead !!
Your best so far me thinks??
Steve
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Excellent job all round :daumenhoch:
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Fook me, awesome job..... both of ya!!! :shocked: :4_17_5:
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loving the forks on that and a great collection nath and brilliantly set out as well :4_17_5:
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Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom :smitten:
Thats afooooooookinmazing :4_17_5:
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Awesome Nath.
Bike of the month for sure this month....no point entering mine so will hold off fitting the chain till next month instead !!
Your best so far me thinks??
Steve
:LolLolLolLol: Cheers Steve :D One thing is for sure, it's certainly required the most amount of thought and time.
Thanks for the comments guys :daumenhoch:
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Great work from both you & phil , really good detail ;) :4_17_5: .
I see variations in the hub colour & that the powerdisc was mounted in front of the chainring , quite typical of bike companies bitd & that sometimes things that hit the shops were'nt always exactly as the ads or as tested ;)
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Great work from both you & phil , really good detail ;) :4_17_5: .
I see variations in the hub colour & that the powerdisc was mounted in front of the chainring , quite typical of bike companies bitd & that sometimes things that hit the shops were'nt always exactly as the ads or as tested ;)
Well spotted :daumenhoch:
This particular bike came with the powerdisc mounted behind the chainring and the black Kuen Teng alloy hubs are also original - basically the same as the bike being give some air by the BMX Plus Test Pilot ;)
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awsum thread , great work guys :daumenhoch:
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Wow that is some great work there and great to see that the extra mile up hill has been taken here in the build !
Top job by you to get a rare bike and bring it back to life with some hard work and time :4_17_5:
The man has done it again with the forks :shocked: it's like the kid can do magic blindfolded :shocked:
Great line up - some sunny day you will have to get that shot with them all in the sun just shinning away
Top work there :4_17_5:
Cheers B ;)
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wow nath that looks stunning,as usual you have built another great bike
with fantastic finish and detail, your collection is a credit to you ;)
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Amazing build right there. :smitten: You have a proper nice man cave as well! :LolLolLolLol:
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Fantastic resto job! Top skills :4_17_5:
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Brilliant
Great work Nath & Phil :4_17_5:
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Great thread, always enjoy reading about something someone is into :4_17_5:
Very nice build :daumenhoch:
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Absolutely gorgeous build! And the fork work from sawzall is a work of art! :4_17_5:
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:daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:
Both of you.
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Beautiful build fella 8)
Good skills Phil ;)
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Nath , you already know my thoughts on this , love it :smitten:
Made up for you as i know how much and how long you have wanted this framset/bike :daumenhoch:
I remember a few months ago when you were showing me the plans for the forks and the preview pics Phil had sent you , i was amazed by Phils attention to detail and the workmanship he had shown . Phil ... your a RAD legend :4_17_5:
Top work lads .... defo a BOTM contender this Nath 8)
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wow nath that looks stunning,as usual you have built another great bike
with fantastic finish and detail, your collection is a credit to you ;)
Wouldn't have been possible without your input Phil - thank you :daumenhoch:
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Nath, again you've exceeded all standards and produced an immense build. Attention to detail is spot on. :4_17_5:
Great work from Phil again too. :4_17_5:
As Craig said, a definite contender for BOTY. :daumenhoch:
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Most awesome !
Proper BMX thread
:4_17_5:
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quality job again nath.. :smitten:
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What an ace build and amazing collection. Love it, and love Philz skillz :daumenhoch:
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Great fork building job by Phil. :4_17_5:
They finish the bike off nice. :daumenhoch:
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Nath ,
Probably a daft question but have you contacted/communicated with Robby Rupe regarding his MT days ? .
;)
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quality build again nath with all the hard work that goes into your builds :) and what an amazing line up of
your stable ;) so is that it or is there more to come? :daumenhoch:
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YEAH ROYEEE!! 8) 8)
Totally chuffed you managed to get this Nath. Amazing work mate.
Epic Phil skills on the forks too :shocked:
(http://ebengregory.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/flavor_flav_big.jpg)
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Skills. Real nice bike that and awesome collection :daumenhoch:
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simply stucking funning work, not a race bike fan but can appreciate the time & effort put into that....
you only have to look at the end result, brilliant :daumenhoch:
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unbeleivable Nath!!and as for phil he should be the new pope!! :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5:
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PERFECTION :4_17_5:
As always from you Nath , down to every last detail :daumenhoch:
Needless to say you must be truly made up finally owning one of these in your stable :smitten: :daumenhoch:
Hats off to Phil the magician another work of wonder :coolsmiley:
and no work is complete without the fine work of Lord Poon of Leeds 8)
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Great thread and stunning result :smitten: 8)
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Nath ,
Probably a daft question but have you contacted/communicated with Robby Rupe regarding his MT days ? .
;)
Hmmmm......................................in a word NO ???
I don't do the social networking thing so I suppose I might be struggling :-\
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quality build again nath with all the hard work that goes into your builds :) and what an amazing line up of
your stable ;) so is that it or is there more to come? :daumenhoch:
Thanks Dan :daumenhoch:
Still got a couple more that I might end up building and there is still a couple that I would like to add to the collection ::)
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amazing jobo on the forks fella...lovely bike
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PERFECTION :4_17_5:
As always from you Nath , down to every last detail :daumenhoch:
Needless to say you must be truly made up finally owning one of these in your stable :smitten: :daumenhoch:
Hats off to Phil the magician another work of wonder :coolsmiley:
and no work is complete without the fine work of Lord Poon of Leeds 8)
Cheers Christian :daumenhoch:
Made up is an understatement. At one point I actually thought I wound never find one.
And yes Phil has done an awesome job finished nicely with a small touch from Lord Poon :D
Thanks for all the kind comments chaps :daumenhoch:
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Stunning work Phil; stunning collection Nath :smitten:
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FLIPPIN' BRILLIANT :4_17_5:
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Impressive
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Ridiculously good thread. Congrats to all parties involved :daumenhoch:
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nice1 Nath, glad you finally managed to get your hands on one, the finished result is fecking awesome :daumenhoch:
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Wow, I was actually speechless for a bit seeing this.
The time, frustration, patience & then elation. I could imagine you must have felt it all Nath in getting this together, what a roller coaster but so worth it to see the end result.
Outstanding story a pleasure to see.
Seeing these sort of struggles in the flesh at mk really is a joy. :coolsmiley: :4_17_5:
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Awesome. that is all.
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Another cracker Nath, and I love the story behind it. Well done! Credit must also go to the master - Phil. Supurb work as usual :4_17_5:
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Wow, I was actually speechless for a bit seeing this.
The time, frustration, patience & then elation. I could imagine you must have felt it all Nath in getting this together, what a roller coaster but so worth it to see the end result.
Outstanding story a pleasure to see.
Seeing these sort of struggles in the flesh at mk really is a joy. :coolsmiley: :4_17_5:
You summed it up perfectly :daumenhoch:
Actually thinking of taking the whole collection down to MK this year :-\
Thanks for all the positive comments. Makes it all worth while :)
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liking that :daumenhoch:
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yes Nathan back with a BANG ......................................... BOOM :coolsmiley:
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super cool bike with some excellent work and thought gone into it. Top marks indeed :4_17_5: :4_17_5:
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Totally missed this thread :buck2:
Awesome work, and what a line up :coolsmiley:
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Love it Nath mate - awesome build :coolsmiley:
and Phil's work is ridiculous as always :shocked:
:4_17_5:
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wow, you're a MT maniac ! That collection is just perfect - keep it that way :daumenhoch: fookin flawless, it's ridiculous, full on #1
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amazing work done there nathan to bring that back from the dead 8)
how many bikes are in that room :shocked: