Frankenbike - anyone created one?

Surveyor11

Haven had my commuter bike stolen recently, I’m going to have to replace it. Have looked at second hand bikes online, which there are plenty of, but I've also looked at my old mountain bike languishing in the shed in another light given my recent mis-fortune. It’s a Scott Sawtooth, 1995 vintage – Deore LX mainly equipment wise. Tubing is cro-mo (need to check – could be 4130?). Frame in good enough nick but would more than likely strip and have it sprayed (if this mad project goes ahead).

Plenty of steers out there for these projects – there seems to be a whole sub-genre of people (usually American for some reason) that convert these into commuter / utility bikes, usually with drop bars (I know, I know). Geometry & weight wise I know it’ll never compare to a road bike, but here’s what I’m considering:

First up, the forks are jammed on. It's an old quill stemmed yoke, so these will have to be cut off and replaced with something else (either butchered from an existing bike or buy a new set). Converting it to drop bars will require a new headset / stem combo which might be difficult to do with this frame. Waste of time or not?

Will be using a pair of road wheels. Clearance wise, it will take pretty much anything - I'd probably use 28, maybe 35's. Slicks like Gatorskins / Panaracers.
8-speed cassette (I think!), old Shimano Rapid-fire shifters (which are both knackered). So will have to check if I can either replace this or use a ‘newer’ 9 speed.

Brakes are Deore LX cantilever which I will retain. Aim would be to source some 9 speed Tiagra shifters (If I can use these – or maybe SRAM if I can get these to work) and have the whole lot controlled up front.

The crank set is Deore LX biopace triple – seems ok, no sign of bottom bracket movement, but it hasn’t been used in tears. Probably good enough to get me going (provided all the rest of this monster can be brought together) but would plan to swap this out with a compact crank set. Will have to check if this is even possible – could be a case the cranks are jammed on.

So that’s it. Not going to win any prizes appearance wise (perhaps an 'Images of Ugliness' thread?) , but could prove to be a trusty (if a bit weird looking) and potentially heavy commuter. Anyone considered or even done such a project?

Lumen

Surveyor11 wrote: »

Anyone considered or even done such a project?

Yes.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81316870&postcount=4931

valleyoftheunos

I put one together about 15 years and I think you're contemplating way too much money, for me a Frankenbike should be cobbled together with parts salvaged from friends/skips/the Liffey, any parts that must be bought should be obtained at the cheapest price possible for decent components. Frankenbikes only make sense if their Frankeness is an essential part of it, thus "Frills" of any sort should be avoided.

Merely my thoughts of course:pac:

fightireland

God I didn't realist until now but I think I do own a Frankenbike.

1980s Raleigh pioneer > transformed to this!

See pic

Surveyor11

fightireland wrote: »

God I didn't realist until now but I think I do own a Frankenbike.

1980s Raleigh pioneer > transformed to this!

See pic

Nice, not as freakish as what I'm thinking of!

lennymc

frankenbikes are cool.

OldBean

I've a decent 26" steel single speed mountain bike I've been using as a commuter up for sale on Adverts at the moment, but it's not shifting. I reckon if it doesn't go in the next fortnight, I'll put her up on the slab and start working on her. Unfortunately I'm also building up a vintage tourer at the moment, so it'll be on the backburner. I'm thinking pursuit bars and a road fork to start with. I'll see what's cheapest and most cheerful.

Finnrocco

Bought a broken Moser frame off a lad here recently, hopefully going to fix it up with whatever parts I have lying around.

will post some before and after pics.

feck sake lads

fightireland wrote: »

God I didn't realist until now but I think I do own a Frankenbike.

1980s Raleigh pioneer > transformed to this!

See pic

thats a noce job whats's the story on the chainset is it a bashguard of some kind.:cool:

fightireland

feck sake lads wrote: »

thats a noce job whats's the story on the chainset is it a bashguard of some kind.:cool:

To be honest I'm not sure it was on the bike originally, the text says
"Light Sports no.629 by Sakae"

The original stem and pedals were also by the brand but I have never been able to figure out the significance...

feck sake lads

fightireland wrote: »

To be honest I'm not sure it was on the bike originally, the text says
"Light Sports no.629 by Sakae"

The original stem and pedals were also by the brand but I have never been able to figure out the significance...

Thanks,
is it a double or triple crankset, thinking i'll have to hunt one out:cool:

fightireland

feck sake lads wrote: »

Thanks,
is it a double or triple crankset, thinking i'll have to hunt one out:cool:

It's a double, sure who needs three! ;-0

feck sake lads

fightireland wrote: »

It's a double, sure who needs three! ;-0

:D:D eh i do .