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

[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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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).

[Silver940]

Well I picked some of these up cheap well £50 seemed good value after watching lots of very old tatty Sid's go for over 100 quid.
IMG_20160815_215443 by scoop940, on Flickr

They are 26" with 100mm of travel so are a bit long. I believe they can be converted to 80mm, waiting for a reply from RST about that. I did just try letting some air out so they drooped a little and there was still plenty of resistance for a 7 year old so that might be an option. Will trial fit them when I get chance and see what the look like.

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:12

[Silver940]

Oh and I picked up some shimano cranks for 7 quid on ebay that I'll have a go at shortening and tapping. Can fit whatever size chain ring I want then.

[Silver940]

Woody - Did you go with 2.1 Black Jacks or 1.9?

With the way my lad pulls skids everywhere really can't justify £45 on a pair of Rocket Rons - that's more then I have ever paid for my 29er tyres! This project is adding up a bit as it is!

[Silver940]

Cheers, was my thinking too

[Silver940]

So bought some 175mm cranks on ebay for 7 quid. 12.99 for some taps from Superstar and a bit of time I now have some 140mm cranks ready to fit.

IMG_20160820_105913 by scoop940, on Flickr


Just totted up what I have spent, £187 including the chainring I have just ordered, glad that is about it now.

Need some time when the lad is out to put it together now!

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:13

[Silver940]

nipped round mum's where the bike is hiding for half hour. Fitted the tyres and trial fitted the forks. Starting to look good I think

I let a bit of pressure out of the forks, will have to see how that goes when he's on it.

IMG_20160820_172728 by scoop940, on Flickr

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:37

[Silver940]

Wasn't too bad. had an old drill press about that I managed to make fit a current drill to hopefully get the holes square. worked up in drill sizes to 13mm.

Because they are alloy cranks the thread taps went through easily. Then I just used a hacksaw to shorten and a grinder to round the ends off. They aren't perfect but by the time he has battered them no-one will notice. Finding cranks that are ok for it is tricky as many are hollowed out on the back.

Chain ring should be here this week so I can fit them and see if I got it all right

[Silver940]

Sneaked half hour earlier to fit the cranks, new grips and stem. Pleased to say the cranks work perfectly, really pleased with them. Need to cut the steerer and fit the star nut etc. New saddle coming and a bit of tidying up and it will be finished.

JiJP5k83yAqpBLevltUxSAWYXJRrisyvqZJ81h5qshspX92IB by scoop940, on Flickr

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:26

[Silver940]

Was the boys birthday on Saturday, safe to say he was really chuffed! It's a bit big for him but he manages it much better than I thought he would.


2016-09-17 08.04.20 by scoop940, on Flickr
2016-09-17 07.06.48 by scoop940, on Flickr

Edited by Sk00p on Wednesday 15th November 09:27

[Silver940]

Woody said:

Nice one!
Looks like he's got no issues riding it!!

What weight did it come in at in the end?

You know what I haven't weighed it, I'll see if I can remember to later. It's probably around 13kgs still though, not as light as I'd like but replacing something like the wheels would be very costly.

[Silver940]

Woody said:

Nice one!
Looks like he's got no issues riding it!!

What weight did it come in at in the end?

Finally remembered to weigh it, my guess was right. 13kg not sure where I could get significant weight off it now though without spending £££