Full suss project for my lad

[Silver940]

There isn't much reasonable in the way of Full suss for 7+ year olds, I know there are some but way out of my price range.

My lad rides a Frog bike at the moment that I fitted some cheap forks to at Christmas, he is well chuffed with that but wants a Full Suss next. I know he'd be much faster on a bigger Frog but there's no telling him. So doing some research I have found some good projects based on the Carrera Detonate. The Frame and linkage is pretty good, made heavy and let down by the Forks/Rear shock etc.

So after a few months of waiting and looking I picked this up last week

DSC_2152 by scoop940, on Flickr

In need of some TLC, the bottom bracket was toast, was grubby but most other stuff worked. I have been watching these go for 80-110 quid recently but as I want to junk lots of it I didn't really want to pay that much. This cost me £30

Had a couple of days off last week so gave it some TLC and raided the parts shelf in the garage
It's now 1x9 with some old parts I had, I have at the moment pinched some shorter cranks of an old bike but need to find some 127mm ones, ideally 32/34T chainring and alloy cranks but that seems a tall order. Also fitted an old stem and some old riser bars I had. Looks like I have some Hydraulic brakes lined up for it too. Then gave it a good clean up. So after that day off it now looks like this

IMG-20160608-WA0008 by scoop940, on Flickr
13335651_10154931360907586_4929573280888385606_n by scoop940, on Flickr


Still to do, find some cheap air forks, an air shock for the back and some light tyres. Hopefully get the weight down a bit from the current 14kg!

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:05

[Woody]

Good luck with the project.

The frames are pretty decent on the Carrera's.

I built up the HT version for my lad last year:

Carrera Blast Refurb

Here's a link to a refurb of the Carrera Luna (girl version FS)

Carrera Luna Refurb

With a bit of careful buying you can get a decent spec/weight.

Keep us posted!

Edited by Woody on Wednesday 15th June 14:35

[Silver940]

Cheers, it was that thread on the girls bike project that got me going on this The blast you have done looks great I had seen that before too

I'm trying to keep a lid on the budget to keep the missus happy, found a 150mm air shock for the back for just under 50 quid that should ok. A mate has offered some Avid brakes ( in fact two mates have so I am suspicious! ) I'm sure I can make them work ok. Forks will be the costly bit I reckon.

Oh and tyres, not yet decided between the Jacks or spend a bit more on some Rocket Rons that are lighter.

Been watching wheels on ebay too...

Alloy cranks seem hard to find as well, I want some 127mm to start with and then go bigger as he gets bigger.


Good fun building it, just hope he appreciates it when he gets it

[Woody]

I'm looking at putting a set of these on my lads later in the year:

Thorn triple 150mm crank spider

I have found these though in the length you're after:

Thorn 125mm Alloy crankset

Not sure about the PCD though for chain rings.

[Usget]

I've got some Tektro hydraulics (no rotors) which I dont want, which you can have if the Avids fall through for whatever reason.

[Silver940]

Cheers, might have a look at shortening some cranks, doesn't look too hard to do.

Will let you know on the brakes, thanks!

[Woody]

Shortening cranks can be expensive. I enquired a couple of times and was either told it's too much hassle or massively expensive.

[Silver940]

Was planning to do it myself, got an old suntour crankset in the garage a drill press around somewhere and pedal taps are around for £16/pair. I'll have a go at drilling and shaping before buying the taps and see what happens.

[vwsurfbum]

how long is the shock?
I may have a air one you can have.

that will save a kilo

[Silver940]

vwsurfbum said:

how long is the shock?
I may have a air one you can have.

that will save a kilo

150mm, quite short it seems.

[vwsurfbum]

bugger

[vwsurfbum]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXA-FORM-Air-adjustable-...

[Silver940]

vwsurfbum said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXA-FORM-Air-adjustable-...

Cheers, that's the one I've seen. Doesn't look to be many other options that size, I've seen others fitted with a 165 and it's too big.

[Silver940]

Small update, the air shock has arrived and I got round to fitting it. Transformed the rear suspension and 187g vs 450g for the old one

2016-07-15 14.52.52 by scoop940, on Flickr

Have been given some Avid Elixr 5 brakes to go on so need to find time when the boy isn't about to do that.

Might be able to get some 140mm Cranks with 34T chain ring from Frog bikes, need to speak to my friendly LBS though as they don't supply spares direct.

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:09

[vwsurfbum]

spinner forks next

[Silver940]

Bit more than I want to spend, looking for some light 26" air forks second hand at the moment.

Also got the freebie brakes fitted. Hoses a bit long but they work much better than the cable ones.

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:11

[Woody]

Looking good.

I picked up some 80mm travel fox floats of one of the local facebook MTB pages for £50 for my lads build.
The axle to crown wasn't massively different to the crappy forks I took off so it didn't alter the geometry that much - probably slackened it by 0.5 degrees at the most.

[vwsurfbum]

Yeah i got my daughter some fox float R's from a mate, 100mm travel, nice and light and you wont notice the flex.

[Silver940]

That's the kind of thing I am looking for, Some Old SIDs etc. Just have to be patient something will come up.

Some Rocket Ron's are another expense to come but they are lightest compared to other options ( Black Jack etc).

[P-Jay]

If you can't find suitable 26" forks, (they're getting thin on the ground now).

These are about the best kids bike forks you can get, aside from the £700 White Brothers ones.

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/f1rst-air-24-mt...

A bit spendy, but they're good.