Author Topic: 1984 Falcon Pro Beta (Read 13832 times)

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **on:** August 26, 2015, 03:41 PM »

Many of you will have seen my previous Falcon Pro build from last year. For those who haven't, here's the thread and the story http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,174156.0.html
Anyway, I thought it would be good to do a Beta build, which is basically the same bike with just a few slight differences. Here's the original advert from the Falcon catalogue

I managed to find a complete on ebay last year. The only slight issue was that the guy wouldn't post, so I drove down to Malvern one Sunday morning to collect it. I was hoping to bump into Cher Lloyd while I was there (as it's her manor), but sadly had no luck - well you can't have everything can you? The bike was fairly complete, but was really tatty and needed a full resto. How it looked when I collected it

One crucial part that was missing from the bike was the chainguard, and the only one I could find that was the same design/profile was on US ebay. It was designed for a larger bike (24 or 26"), so I took it to a local welder (the same guy who put the finishing touches to my VDC Changa), and he cut the chainguard down to the correct size, and adjusted the fixing bracket position by using the one of my Kappa as a template. The frame, forks and chainguard were then sent to Superbike Dan to be finished in candy red. The quality, finish and service, as you would expect from Dan were excellent.

The bike came with original rims and hubs. The hubs were in good condition, and a bit of polishing and a re-grease sorted them out ok. The rims needed more work. The red anodise look coating had dried and was flaking badly. The rims also had very bad areas of rust. These were taken to Leigh metal polishers who did an amazing job in prepping and re-chroming them. I then got a local painter to re-create the anodised look by masking off the rim walls and painting them using this stuff

The brakes were too far gone and badly faded, so they were sent off to Jay (anodiser chick). They needed a lot of polishing/prep due to the poor quality of the alloy, but the results were amazing.

The pads were also too far gone to restore, so I contacted Steve (Firebird), who made me up a new set based on the artwork I sent him - I scanned the pads from my Kappa, and re-drew the artwork from them to make sure the font/size were exactly the same.

Mark (BigBadSam) kindly let me have a CMA Cycles sticker (as that was my local bike shop bitd, and where my original blue Falcon Pro Kappa was bought from). I scanned it, then asked Del to tidy the artwork up and print a few off for me. He also did me a set of Beta decals from the originals I sent him.

Ant (factory pilot) came over last Thursday to help with a few final bits of resoration/pollishing, and helped to get it built up just in time for MK. I was over the moon (and still am) that it won 1st place on the Old School Street category. It looks great next to it's sister bike, the Kappa that came 3rd in the same category at MK14. The finished bike

Thanks to everyone who helped to get this build done - your help was much appreciated

oldschoolace · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2015, 03:46 PM »

Has to be said amongst all the exotica at MK your builds more than held their own Andy. Another stunner

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2015, 03:52 PM »

Quote from: oldschoolace on August 26, 2015, 03:46 PM

Has to be said amongst all the exotica at MK your builds more than held their own Andy. Another stunner

Thanks Clint. That Ryobi Dremmel tool really came in useful

NORTY40 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2015, 10:59 AM »

Love seeing the lower end builds on here and those two are superb Andy

Congratulations on the awards mate , obviously taking the bike of the show award with your VDC Changa was the icing on the cake

factory pilot · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2015, 11:18 AM »

I thought you couldn't top the blue one but you've done it... Superbike Dan's finish was stunning and immaculate... Looking at the Falcon catalogue picture you got the colour of the pads, grips and seat spot on mate!
She's a real beauty ... Top stuff Andy!

phantom photon · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2015, 01:55 PM »

Stunning

benno · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2015, 11:20 PM »

Another stunner from the best bike builder on RAD

Bloody lovely Andy 😎

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2015, 05:37 AM »

^^^thats a high accolade from someone who builds such quality bikes as you do Mike.

He's right though Andy, it's a quality build, love your attention to detail in all your bikes.

I'm so glad you've bought the house with a garage, so you've got room for more bikes, can't wait to see what you're doing next.

benno · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2015, 07:09 AM »

Andys attention to detail is second to none imo 👍🏼👍🏼

chubby · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2015, 08:48 AM »

Your display on the helipad was amazing Andy, the bikes seemed to gleam in the sunshine way more than others

. No surprise you did so with the trophys

Macmania · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2015, 08:22 PM »

Cracking job Andy

Love the attention to detail

region11 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2015, 08:46 PM »

Both bikes look great. Top job

....sorta need a retro early 80s freemans catalogue photo shoot for them

and maybe a couple of era correct chicks standing around them

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2015, 04:37 PM »

I'll put an ad in the local paper. WANTED - era correct chicks

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2015, 04:51 PM »

Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on August 29, 2015, 04:37 PM

I'll put an ad in the local paper. WANTED - era correct chicks

But no skanks.

Bit of Linda Lusardi or Maria Whittaker is what you want.

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2015, 08:38 PM »

How about a bit of Sam Fox? Can't get more era correct than that

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2015, 08:53 PM »

Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on August 29, 2015, 08:38 PM

How about a bit of Sam Fox? Can't get more era correct than that

Yeah, era correctness a must, heels and white lacy lingerie that shows the Velcro triangle.

johnjo74 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 30, 2015, 10:11 AM »

Cracking pair those Andy

Sorry wrong photo

Was great seeing your bikes in the flesh and talking to you and Ant in the Dog and Duck

markyp · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2015, 05:58 PM »

brilliant build,theres something ace about the cheap bmx's

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #18 on:** August 30, 2015, 08:39 PM »

Quote from: Retrodan72 on August 29, 2015, 04:51 PM

Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on August 29, 2015, 04:37 PM

I'll put an ad in the local paper. WANTED - era correct chicks
"

Bit of Linda Lusardi or Maria Whittaker is what you want.

I've never heard of Maria Whitaker, but just done a search on her and am impressed

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 30, 2015, 08:42 PM »

Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on August 30, 2015, 08:39 PM

Quote from: Retrodan72 on August 29, 2015, 04:51 PM
Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on August 29, 2015, 04:37 PM

I'll put an ad in the local paper. WANTED - era correct chicks
"

Bit of Linda Lusardi or Maria Whittaker is what you want.

I've never heard of Maria Whitaker, but just done a search on her and am impressed

Suzanne Mizzi was another from that era, Gaynor Goodman was a favourite of mine.

Sorry to go off topic Andy, but I know you won't mind, as we're talking grot.

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2015, 08:45 PM »

Not at all Dan

. This thread could rapidly go off track

....
But seeing as it's my thread, here's some era correct Gaynor Goodman

griff · « **Reply #21 on:** September 01, 2015, 05:35 PM »

very nice Andy

CustardLips · « **Reply #22 on:** September 01, 2015, 09:03 PM »

You've done a top job on both of them Andy.

Well done mate.

brettypeeps · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2015, 10:18 PM »

Always loved the Falcon Pros.
You are turning out some Beauties Andy
Nice one

deeman · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2015, 10:47 PM »

I love RAD! top 80's resto's and top eighties totty in one thread! Maria Whittaker was gorgeous bitd! Anyone remember Debbie Ashby??
beautiful bikes btw Andy, better than they came out the factory and well deserved of the trophy!

Author Topic: 1984 Falcon Pro Beta (Read 13832 times)

griff