Author Topic: Project Q - Prototype Build (Read 48038 times)

Mikku · « **Reply #75 on:** October 31, 2020, 10:45 AM »

I've been using the Quamen as my regular rice-field rider for a few months now but have decided to swap out the Renthal chainring for a Profile Elite. Mainly because I want the Renthal for my UB2 but I actually think that the nickel-finish Profile looks great on Project Q!

Mikku · « **Reply #76 on:** December 31, 2020, 11:41 AM »

Is it ever possible to actually finish a bike?! I'm loathe to throw money at bikes, especially when they work fine but I've been unhappy with the look of the Avid brake lever since it was on there. I like the lever it's just too new and bright for the rest of the bike (the same can be said for the alloy seatpost but that's another story for another post), so have been looking for a suitably cheap replacement. I finally found this SRAM lever today and grabbed it pdq. So far as I know, the SRAM levers (or at least this one) is the same as my Avid one but this one has a titanium finish which is (hopefully) a much better match for the raw finish on the Standard bars. Will find out when it arrives in the New Year, which gives me more time to find a suitable seatpost!

Chilli Rinse · « **Reply #77 on:** December 31, 2020, 03:46 PM »

That will look great when it's fitted

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #78 on:** December 31, 2020, 04:29 PM »

Nope, a bike is never finished. Not ever.

If you can find one look out for a TRP Donnie Robinson carbon lever. Yeah, it's *that* Donnie Robinson. I absolutely love mine !

Mikku · « **Reply #79 on:** January 05, 2021, 10:25 PM »

Yeah, one of those would look great but they aint cheap!

I have the caliper on my Crupi though, and it's a nice set-up for sure.

Mikku · « **Reply #80 on:** January 29, 2021, 01:52 AM »

I've received the lever and I think it'll look great... when I get round to fitting it!!

I'll need to remove the grip for that which, as we all know, is a royal pita, so that's going to have to wait until the weather warms up! Talking of which, I took the bike out for a spin the other day - my first of the New Year. Bloody cold but great to blow away the winter cobwebs from both bike and rider!

Mikku · « **Reply #81 on:** February 06, 2021, 02:25 PM »

More late night purchases on Yahoo Auctions Japan!

Mikku · « **Reply #82 on:** February 11, 2021, 12:36 PM »

Fitted the post this afternoon. It's got scratches, paint loss and surface rust - it's perfect!!!

Picklez · « **Reply #83 on:** February 11, 2021, 11:28 PM »

Love it

. Suits it perfectly Mick.

Mikku · « **Reply #84 on:** February 14, 2021, 11:15 PM »

Thanks mate! I think it's got just about the right level of "patina" for the Mad Max look of this bike!

Mikku · « **Reply #85 on:** March 20, 2021, 10:40 AM »

Got up nice and early this morning, so went for a ride around the rice paddies. Then thought I'd switch out the brake lever but gave up after about 40 minutes fighting with the plastic bar end! I eventually prised off the fooker but not before ripping off half of my thumb nail! Grrrr!! Tomorrow I'll have a go at the grip, hopefully will less pain but you know how these things go!

Mikku · « **Reply #86 on:** April 11, 2021, 10:00 AM »

Yesterday I finally got round to swapping out the Avid lever on the Quamen! Man, I'd forgotten what a pita non-locking grips are to get on and off. So much so that I'm seriously thinking of getting something else before I put the Cult/Vans one back on. Watch this space!

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #87 on:** April 11, 2021, 01:21 PM »

Yeah it's a pain if you don't have a compressor and use air. I don't, so I never look forward to it.

HUTCHMAN · « **Reply #88 on:** April 11, 2021, 07:47 PM »

Quote from: Mikku on March 20, 2021, 10:40 AM

Got up nice and early this morning, so went for a ride around the rice paddies. Then thought I'd switch out the brake lever but gave up after about 40 minutes fighting with the plastic bar end! I eventually prised off the fooker but not before ripping off half of my thumb nail! Grrrr!! Tomorrow I'll have a go at the grip, hopefully will less pain but you know how these things go!

lovin the early morning pics

Mikku · « **Reply #89 on:** April 11, 2021, 10:48 PM »

Was outbid on these last night. Shame as they would have been just the ticket. I have a Plan B though.

Mikku · « **Reply #90 on:** May 03, 2021, 12:18 PM »

Have been neglecting this recently, mainly because I'm back at work but also because I've taken to riding the UB2 as much as I can. However, I "whipped" off the other Cult/Vans gip today (whipped = 15 minutes of fun and games with water and elbow grease) and in the absence of any other Yahoo Auction Japan purchases, resorted to Plan B! B stands for the box of spare parts that was given to me by an American guy who was returning to the States and wanted to off-load BMX stuff before he left. That box included the Eclat seat and post combo (that went on Project Q for the original build pics) and a few pairs of grips, including some old, dirty, blue ODi Ruffians. So old and dirty in fact that I thought they might actually work on the Quamen, at least until I find another pair of used alternatives. Sounds like a crap idea but hey, they're free and I actually they think that they look ok. Oh, and I like the new lever too! Pics below!

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #91 on:** May 03, 2021, 07:42 PM »

Sometimes I wish I just had one bike. Would make life a whole lot easier

Mikku · « **Reply #92 on:** May 03, 2021, 11:44 PM »

Easier but not as much fun!!

Mikku · « **Reply #93 on:** September 06, 2021, 08:19 AM »

Decided to go for a long Sunday ride yesterday, so thought I?d dust down the Quamen for its first outing in a while. That gave me the excuse to fit the Maxxis Holy Roller that I picked up to give me a matching tyre set. I liked the smaller DTH that was on the back but it was used when I got it and has worn some more since then, so thought it was about time to replace it. I must admit to preferring the look of the fat/skinny set-up but it's nice to have the extra grip. Pics below.

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #94 on:** September 09, 2021, 12:40 AM »

Always wanted to go to Japan. Had this mad thing about Japanese birds when I was a teen. Beautiful scenery there dude !

Mikku · « **Reply #95 on:** September 10, 2021, 10:38 AM »

Quote from: Midschoolfool on September 09, 2021, 12:40 AM

Always wanted to go to Japan. Had this mad thing about Japanese birds when I was a teen. Beautiful scenery there dude !

Well I live in a big ol' house in the Japanese countryside, so you're welcome to stay over if you ever make it here. Plus, as you know, I have several BMX you could use to cruise around the rice paddies.

Mikku · « **Reply #96 on:** December 31, 2021, 07:43 AM »

I now realise that those old, ODi Ruffians were taken off for a reason - they'd gone gummy! Even with gloves on, the feeling was still meh, so even though I liked the look of them, they had to go. I therefore replaced them with these Northshore ones by Lizard Skins. They were missing the plastic end caps but I had some unused Odyssey Par Ends lying around, so paired them up with those. They're a much chunkier grip than I'm used to and the trade-off for that extra cushioning is less feel. Fine for hooning it around the rice paddies but I'm not sure I'd like to race with them. Anyway, I think they look good, so they're staying.

Mikku · « **Reply #97 on:** March 18, 2022, 11:29 AM »

I was racing last weekend and one of the elite riders was the ex-Quamen pro that had the white "RF3" prototype mentioned earlier in this thread. I therefore took the chance to introduce myself and told him about my Quamen. He was understandably surprised and Airdropped some of my photos of the bike. He also said that he still had his Quamen at home! That means that at least two of the three prototypes are in Japan!

He also has his own bike park/race track and invited me to visit sometime. I said that I'd go and would also take the Quamen along, so that's the plan for later in the year!

Midschoolfool · « **Reply #98 on:** March 18, 2022, 12:50 PM »

Stunning pics as ever mate.

Mikku · « **Reply #99 on:** March 21, 2022, 06:23 AM »

Thanks man! Now if I can just snap some shots of the two prototype frames together, I'll be a happy chappy!