New user / new resto project - Falcon Pro

[abz2002]

Hello all,


I had a Falcon Pro as a youngster which got nicked within 2 weeks of ownership  .  I thought finding and restoring one might give me some closure!

Anyway after being on the look out for over a year, I just bought this one.



 


Delighted by my acquisition but unfortunately, its the wrong wheels, seat and grips.  Mine were the white twisted Mags, white seat and white mushroom grips.

The decals are also suited to a blue bike and not a white one so I will need to get them custom made.  Mine may need silver shading where there is blue.  Can anyone make these up?

I'm looking for ideas on how/where to start my project!

I saw a post about PWS, is this a one stop shop for all my requirements?

The white twisted mags seem to be quite rare so I bought a donor bike off Gumtree so now have the right wheels and bought a new Salle Aeroyal seat in white?

The pads look knackered too and need to be in white but I can't remember what colour the words were on my origininal bike,perhaps silver or black?

[scott30]

Dels the man for decals mate give him a pm 

[brettypeeps]

Firebird may be able to help with the pads when you know what colours you want

Super bike dan for powder coating

PM them to discuss your requirements

[ozone]

I like it the way it is.  Looks like a nice survivor to me.   

[abz2002]

I like it the way it is.  Looks like a nice survivor to me.   

I hear you and don't disagree. Haven't had it delivered yet so will have to make a call when I've had a chance to look it over.

@Others, thanks for the tips/contacts.

[abz2002]

Well, I received the bike yesterday and ..............................

I was over the moon when I unpacked it!  It was in better nik than I thought, the drop outs were still perfect, unbelievable for a 25/26 year old bike!

Anyway there is surface rust throughout and it seems a powder coat is inevitable.

Watch this space for some before's and after's peeps.

[Jaymz]

welcome aboard, nice score off ebay, Im after a freestyler at the moment and something like that is right up my street, look forward to seeing the resto

[abz2002]

Thanks,

BEFORE

Took the opportunity to take some before's before stripping parts off:









Wasn't bad as it was from a distance but as you can see form the close ups, the surface rust was extensive.

I'm not a fan of the baby blue/lilac and so will not be reassembling as it is.

[abz2002]

MOCK UP

Here are some pics with of a mock using some of the parts I've already acquired (wheels, seat), excludes the cleaner pedals I've bought and chrome Dia Compe MX brake system and before powder coating, new silver decals and obviously new white pads.

Gave me some idea of what it's going to end up looking like and is very much a reminder of my childhood bike!

[abz2002]

DISMANTLING

[Jaymz]

none of your links work fella, copy and paste the ones that have IMG tags on wither end

[abz2002]

Doh,

Now fixed   

[abz2002]

Received decals from Del today, what can I say, the guy is a legend. 

Only just dropped frame off to SBD this morning and so won't be ready for a week or so but couldn't resist mocking the decals up on my other bike!:

[bobafett]

Looks like you're having fun - good man 

And you ain't hanging about with the restoration either   

[RATTY]

Looking good so far, cant wait to see your progress. I may have a couple of pads for that knocking about, Ill keep my eyes open when I finally get to unpack.

[oldschoolrb]

i  like these frames , nice little build you got going on there

[abz2002]

Cheers guys, definitely enjoying myself and haring ahead as like you, I can't wait to see the end result!!

Progress update:

Bought 75L cement mixing 'bucket' one of those plastic one's yesterday, bought 8 x 2ltr thin bleach, cheap Asda brand at only 27p each!!

In went both wheels (took bearings and drive shaft out first) and looking noticeably improved this morning (were like grey teeth to start), might leave in for another day or two as recommended in other threads, rinse off and then WD40 to prevent deterioration from the moisture being sucked out by the bleach. Although, not being a scientist, I have no idea whether plastic molecules have any moisture in the first place?!  I'm gonna WD40 them anyway!! Will post some pics up soon.

Bought a whole bunch of stuff from 'Bankrupt bike parts' on the bay including old school tryres, BB, headset and crank etc. Gonna try and recycle originals where possible but much easier to whack in some NOS parts if they're close enough.

Gonna drop SBD a PM to see if he'd be kind enough to do some pics of the dip stripping / different stages of the process as far as the frame is concerned.

Still having no joy on my wanted thread for a 'curved' seat post as opposed to kinked?!

[1mancity2]

Would a snake post cut down to make a slight layback be the sort of thing your after?

[abz2002]

Afraid not, I've got some example pics in my wanted thread:

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=126832.0

[abz2002]

Well, two days in the bleach and the result isn't bad but I was hoping for better.  Back in the bleach they went! Might have to see them out for the full 3 weeks some speak of on other threads?!

I might have to resign myself to the fact that they were probably never that white in the first place?!

Some snaps benchmarking them against my brand new Tuff II's.

BTW I managed to rub off the braking marks using some old oven cleaning compound I was suckered into buying by the misses several years ago, off one of these dodgy shopping channels! It's called Revive and I thinks it's basically very fine granuals of some sort. Using a non-scratch kitchen scourer and a bit of patience, I managed to get the marks out without any obvious signs of abrasion.

[1mancity2]

They look good,

[abz2002]

Well, SBD has done his magic and the frame is done!

Unfortunately I don't get it till tomorrow as I had a relative pick it up for me.

A few pics of the process.  Looks like he's been working hard  


Stripped.





Acid cleaned, machine sanded and hand flatted, masked and hung

ready for powder




No going back to survivor condition now!   

[abz2002]

Well, I knew the result was going to be good, but I wasn't prepared for BRAND NEW!!! 

Thank you so much buddy! Top job by a top man! 

You need someone you can trust with these things and I'm glad I decided not to do the lazy thing and go with my local powder coater, instead I did the somewhat mission of a trip and hand delivered the frame to SBD.  (Well you can't trust such a rare frame in the hands of a courier now can you?!)

Problem now is, making sure the other parts live up to the same standard!! Now that's going to be tough/impossible! 

Not going to rush it now as the major works have been done, gonna take my time to do the re-assembly and will set aside at least a day for this.

I'll let the pics do the talking.................

[abz2002]

Oh and before someone has a go at the state of my wall and skirting board, shown up further by SBD's top work, I have a 7 year old monster who likes to whack his beyblade against it and another one year old who likes to throw food at it!!!  

[BENDYCAT ELEVENTEEN]

looking sweet there and now the fun starts - just don't let the monster touch it -