So, while I love my karate monkey, i'm always worried about smashing it up riding trail centers as i can't really afford to replace things like wheels (I know I should learn to ride lighter, but this is a good excuse for a new bike). So instead of spending loads of money on a fancy full suspension that I can't afford, i'm going to build a "klunker." The frame is a schwinn replica of a classic cruiser that i've bought (and am picking up this weekend) for £45 and i'm going to build it up for as little money as possible, this way, if i smash a wheel, naff all money has gone down the drain! I also plan on using it to race events which are usually attended by people with far to expensive bikes ahem*enduros*ahem.
I'll post some pictures when i get the frame

Good stuff.. always fancied building a klunker, not quite enough to start making space and spending when I ride a rigid SS most of the time anyway. Interested to see what the frame's like.

I built a clunker when I was at uni, 1/8" chain and rings, singlespeed, rigid, v-brakes, old wheels, square taper Bottom bracket. It got used quite a lot! Did Strathpuffer on it twice and a very muddy Mountain Mayhem, even brazed a disc mount onto the frame eventually.

They're good, you don't have to worry about them


Mountain Mayhem (2012) by zippyonline, on Flickr

Ooh nice. I've been toying with the same idea for a while ... looking forward to seeing what you turn up.

Zippy wrote:I built a clunker when I was at uni, 1/8" chain and rings, singlespeed, rigid, v-brakes, old wheels, square taper Bottom bracket. It got used quite a lot! Did Strathpuffer on it twice and a very muddy Mountain Mayhem, even brazed a disc mount onto the frame eventually.

They're good, you don't have to worry about them


Mountain Mayhem (2012) by zippyonline, on Flickr

Klunker.....or just an old bike?

My old project! My clunkeresque raw Giant Stonebreaker shortly before I took it apart a few years ago to re lacquer it and never got around to putting it back together. Maybe in the New Year ;-)

ss3 by Dittisham Stickleback Breeding Station, on Flickr

mirror 026 by Dittisham Stickleback Breeding Station, on Flickr

Zippy wrote:I built a clunker when I was at uni, 1/8" chain and rings, singlespeed, rigid, v-brakes, old wheels, square taper Bottom bracket. It got used quite a lot! Did Strathpuffer on it twice and a very muddy Mountain Mayhem, even brazed a disc mount onto the frame eventually.

They're good, you don't have to worry about them

I ride my 853 V-braked S/S Inbred on a daily basis as well as my modern stuff

johnnystorm wrote:

Zippy wrote:I built a clunker when I was at uni, 1/8" chain and rings, singlespeed, rigid, v-brakes, old wheels, square taper Bottom bracket. It got used quite a lot! Did Strathpuffer on it twice and a very muddy Mountain Mayhem, even brazed a disc mount onto the frame eventually.

They're good, you don't have to worry about them

Klunker.....or just an old bike?

I bought the frame second hand off eBay, and then I think I bought a headset new, and the forks. Everything else is then stuff I had kicking about, every single "upgrade" was from stuff I had laying about. Oh, and the 1/8" stuff was new too...but apart from that!

RobMac wrote: I ride my 853 V-braked S/S Inbred on a daily basis as well as my modern stuff

The V-brakes physically wore the rims out at Strathpuffer (I'd dinged the rim once which you could feel when braking, but this was smoothed out by the end!), so then by this time as I had a nice race bike, and old set of wheels and disc brakes were available for going on the clunker, and hence with the addition of brazing a new mount on, it had dis brakes!

Yeah, clunkers are ace, and get you fit.

...only ride the commuter these days though

Isnt a clunker just the bike equivalent of bangernomics?

It should cost as little as possible and you get extra points for things that don't match

I think Ben is meaning Klunker as in Marin County rather than old pile of scrap

s8tannorm wrote:I think Ben is meaning Klunker as in Marin County rather than old pile of scrap

Exactly that, it'll have cost peanuts but its still gonna look nice! its also gonna have just a coaster brake for that original no brakes at all feel

Klunkers don't gotta be cheap.

http://www.transitionbikes.com/2015/Bikes_Klunker.cfm

Zippy wrote: I bought the frame second hand off eBay, and then I think I bought a headset new, and the forks. Everything else is then stuff I had kicking about, every single "upgrade" was from stuff I had laying about. Oh, and the 1/8" stuff was new too...but apart from that!

That's a 'beater' not a klunker.

mountainbaker wrote:

Zippy wrote: I bought the frame second hand off eBay, and then I think I bought a headset new, and the forks. Everything else is then stuff I had kicking about, every single "upgrade" was from stuff I had laying about. Oh, and the 1/8" stuff was new too...but apart from that!

That's a 'beater' not a klunker.

Well that's that project down the drain, the frame was a wild goose chase and its now not making its way to me, so this project will have to be put on hold

Ben, if it's a frame your after I can give you an old Marin?



Could bring it to the Fiesta

19" from Memory

Fantasticmrmatt wrote:Ben, if it's a frame your after I can give you an old Marin?



Could bring it to the Fiesta

19" from Memory

How much do you want for it Matt? I think i could work with that

Nowt!

The clue was the word "give"

How very kind good sir! I shall give some money to charity as payment
Thank you very much!