RADBMX.CO.UK

Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Race (riders ready, pedals ready... GO!!) => Topic started by: AL_B on January 23, 2015, 04:27 PM

Title: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: AL_B on January 23, 2015, 04:27 PM

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, but its been a great source of information and pics.

This is the restoration of my BITD Mongoose BMX. The bike I used to rag around on with my mates and do my paper-round on during dark, cold and wet mornings. [shudder]  The bike has been in my dads shed and then loft for the past 30-odd years.

As a kid, I sold my original Team Murray BMX and bought this one of another kid, circa 1982-1984. The serial number indicates it was built in 1981, but investigation via www.VintageMongoose.com showed that although it was built in August 1981, it featured second generation drop-outs and parts (as seen in the '82-'83 catalogue on VintageMongoose). Such as gold full-clamp step, two-piece chain ring / spider, pro-class wheels.

Here are some before and after pics.

The bike has modifications done BITD:
- As a kid I'd sprayed the frame black (covering the original white)
- Seat replaced with an Elina Ultra Light
- Seat clamp replaced with a Tuf Neck "style" clamp
- Red brake cables, possibly Power Glide
- Pedals Shimano DX, again sprayed black
- Bars, possibly early Robinson bars (having looked at the handle bars thread in Tech & Restoration)

Here is the bike in my dads loft:

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/4511C9ED-EBBF-4E5A-97D0-5F5EFCFA0A88.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/4511C9ED-EBBF-4E5A-97D0-5F5EFCFA0A88.jpg.html)

In my garage:

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/51A3393E-1B7E-47B9-9B7A-50D6445DC329.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/51A3393E-1B7E-47B9-9B7A-50D6445DC329.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/227FA800-7684-4EB8-8CD4-97F3C03B51B1.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/227FA800-7684-4EB8-8CD4-97F3C03B51B1.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/34955F38-CF6A-4982-836C-E6CB0FCCDC83.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/34955F38-CF6A-4982-836C-E6CB0FCCDC83.jpg.html)

So here is the finished bike, re-fitted with all its original 80's parts - even the tyres!!

New items are:

- Frame chromed
- Repro decals
- Dia Compe cable clamps
- 4 spokes in front wheels
- Shimano DX pedal caps
- Official reproduction mongoose grips.
- Bearings for headset

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/97F19F30-4E95-40E2-9E9C-AFF4B6CDE311.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/97F19F30-4E95-40E2-9E9C-AFF4B6CDE311.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/B89AA265-550A-4E3A-A205-1FCE0CEF1301.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/B89AA265-550A-4E3A-A205-1FCE0CEF1301.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/BFDDEA2F-D3AF-40EF-93C8-FA6A4ACB3ADD.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/BFDDEA2F-D3AF-40EF-93C8-FA6A4ACB3ADD.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/BF52F3B3-08B8-420F-8D94-B8B0F3813FA6.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/BF52F3B3-08B8-420F-8D94-B8B0F3813FA6.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/7DCEE342-3CAA-4277-8F8D-2D88429CA714.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/7DCEE342-3CAA-4277-8F8D-2D88429CA714.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/B221B249-F2DF-4483-B7AF-D413D3EF00AC.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/B221B249-F2DF-4483-B7AF-D413D3EF00AC.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/37936211-E3E8-4406-83C6-F5CCE69012B9.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/37936211-E3E8-4406-83C6-F5CCE69012B9.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/CEE7D916-50E7-40FD-A02F-D925B00BE473.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/CEE7D916-50E7-40FD-A02F-D925B00BE473.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/01823BB5-C39F-44F4-841B-BCC0A37FC661.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/01823BB5-C39F-44F4-841B-BCC0A37FC661.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/C0E95C6B-D451-4CFB-B144-32F7BD1C26FC.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/C0E95C6B-D451-4CFB-B144-32F7BD1C26FC.jpg.html)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n565/AL_1_B/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/4576528E-F828-4B3F-84BA-FBBEA317D05D.jpg) (http://s1140.photobucket.com/user/AL_1_B/media/Mongoose%20Restoration%202014/4576528E-F828-4B3F-84BA-FBBEA317D05D.jpg.html)

Frame: Original, survivor, 1981 Mongoose, 2nd Generation.
Built in August (H), 1981 (1).
   Gusset
   Closed bottom bracket brace, with hole.
   Drop-outs shape mean it’s a 2nd Generation frame.
   Brake bridge:
   1 hole = motomag 2
Forks: Mongoose. Original chrome. Short neck tube.
Headset: Mongoose.
Stem: Mongoose full clamp, gold and black.
Bars: Not Mongoose. Possibly Robinson. BITD fitted.
Grips: Repro Mongoose (I do have 'Octopus' grips original 80's)
Wheels: Mongoose Pro-Class wheels, with Suzue short flange hubs. Original spokes apart from a few new ones in front wheel and original rim tape.
Freewheel:  Suntour 16T
Tyres - Front: Ti Yung  20 x 1.75
Tyres - Rear: Original Tioga Competition III. 20 x 1.75
Crank: Mongoose one-piece.
Sprocket: Unknown T44
Star: Mongoose.
Bottom Bracket: Mongoose.
Chain: Unknown, but was what came on the bike.
Pedals: Shimano DX in anodised blue. Now stripped to silver, with new repro pedal end caps. Original 80's BITD fitted.
Seat and Seat Post: Elina UL. Original 80's BITD fitted.
Seat clamp: Tuf Neck "style" clamp, in anodised red. Original 80's BITD fitted.
Brakes: Dia-Compe 890. Serial: 0282
Brake Levers: Dia-Compe Tech III's.
Brake Cables: Red unknown make, possibly Power Glide. Original 80's BITD fitted.

I'm really pleased with it. Feels great to ride it again!  ;D

Cheers

AL

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Andy1970 on January 23, 2015, 05:47 PM

Looks great.  :4_17_5:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: In2bmx on January 23, 2015, 06:12 PM

Looks great  :4_17_5: good work  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Jaymz on January 23, 2015, 06:18 PM

That's lovely, nice to see you didn't go bat shlt polishing everything, keeping the history instead

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: region11 on January 23, 2015, 06:21 PM

excellent....always nice to have your back in the day bike still :)

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: AL_B on January 23, 2015, 09:13 PM

Thanks guys.

@jaymz. I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or sarcasm! :-)

I've spent hours polishing every nut and bolt. I clearly didn't do enough. :-)

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: oldscool on January 23, 2015, 09:40 PM

Very nice love an old goose nice original look. Not machine mirror polished is probably what JAYMZ meant . :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: griff on January 24, 2015, 02:34 AM

Nice work  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Retrodan72 on January 24, 2015, 08:02 AM

Top job buddy, turned out great.  :4_17_5:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: snoopy72 on January 24, 2015, 08:32 AM

Well done with the build  :daumenhoch: Your  bike is  a motomag, the rear dropouts changed to that style in May 1981 also with a hollow cigarette box behind the bb.

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Devilock on January 24, 2015, 08:43 AM

Fantastic work executed with love.

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: rodriguez on January 24, 2015, 01:37 PM

If you are going to restore a bike that's the way to go, cracking job   :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Mikku on January 24, 2015, 02:45 PM

Great job!  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: insectbones on January 24, 2015, 04:07 PM

Well done, you've done a nice job there  :daumenhoch:

Nice that it is yours from BITD too  :coolsmiley:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: bigfatolly on January 24, 2015, 10:08 PM

That's really nice,they are great to ride too...

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Bfellows on January 24, 2015, 10:12 PM

Nice work, love a resto project ;)

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: AL_B on January 26, 2015, 12:41 PM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your comments.

There is one problem that I have. There quite a major ding / buckle in the front wheel rim - the face that the brake pads close against. I have no idea how to get this straightened.

I've done lots of googling...and tried (gently) to bend the rim back out using an adjustable spanner. But obviously I didn't want to go too far with it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of anyone who can straighten Pro Class Rims?

Cheers

AL

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: CustardLips on January 26, 2015, 12:51 PM

Quote from: AL_B on January 26, 2015, 12:41 PM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your comments.

There is one problem that I have. There quite a major ding / buckle in the front wheel rim - the face that the brake pads close against. I have no idea how to get this straightened.

I've done lots of googling...and tried (gently) to bend the rim back out using an adjustable spanner. But obviously I didn't want to go too far with it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of anyone who can straighten Pro Class Rims?

Cheers

AL

Pm Steve (Animal) sure he's got a homemade rim straightening tool that's done the rounds with a few Radsters.  :daumenhoch:
Nice work on the Goose btw... looks well.  ;)

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: NORTY40 on January 26, 2015, 01:13 PM

Great resto  8)  done a good job there mate  :daumenhoch: 

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: BMX1973 on January 29, 2015, 09:31 AM

You must have spent a lot of time on that, well done  :4_17_5:

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Bob_Acid on January 29, 2015, 11:31 AM

Great job!

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: 20to26 on February 01, 2015, 07:21 PM

 :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:

Gem!

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: AL_B on February 23, 2015, 04:28 PM

Quote from: CustardLips on January 26, 2015, 12:51 PM

Quote from: AL_B on January 26, 2015, 12:41 PM

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your comments.

There is one problem that I have. There quite a major ding / buckle in the front wheel rim - the face that the brake pads close against. I have no idea how to get this straightened.

I've done lots of googling...and tried (gently) to bend the rim back out using an adjustable spanner. But obviously I didn't want to go too far with it.

Does anyone have any advice or know of anyone who can straighten Pro Class Rims?

Cheers

AL

Pm Steve (Animal) sure he's got a homemade rim straightening tool that's done the rounds with a few Radsters.  :daumenhoch:
Nice work on the Goose btw... looks well.  ;)

Hi.

I have PM'd Steve (Animal) but I didn't get a response. Is he still around?

Cheers

AL

PS:

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Title: Re: 1981 Mongoose (BITD bike restored)
Post by: Taipan on February 23, 2015, 05:19 PM

Very very nice  :4_17_5: :daumenhoch: