Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) I thought some of you might like to see some of the progress I’m making with an Ashton ET build. Loved these bikes when they came out, but soon became so engrossed with work that trials fell to the wayside and Enduro riding took over. Inevitably trials moves started to emerge whilst I was out on trails on my full suspension rig, fuelling the desire for a trials bike again. I’ve been patiently looking for a cheap 24inch project bike to put my own stamp on when I saw this on eBay. Needless to say I won the bid, and now I have my ‘do a upper’ Edited August 15, 2018 by Private Repress Typo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 First thing was to change the bar and stem, and get some colour coordination, so with a bit of advice from @Ross McArthur on geometry I went for inspired riser bars and a 90mm 35 degrees trial tech stem, some new grips and managed to find a NOS black middleburn bash ring on eBay - happy days! @Ross McArthur thanks for the advice, the bar and stem set up feels great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Next thing I decided on was having the frame powder coated. Colour wise it was a tossup between black and gun metal grey. So I stripped the bike down on Sunday just gone, took a hacksaw and a file to the cable guide tabs (didn’t like doing that!) and dropped it in at the spray shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) Decided on getting the forks done at the same time as the frame and settled on grey for the colour. Shot blasted and powder coated for £30 (frame and fork) seemed a bargain to me! I’m collecting them this afternoon so fingers crossed the finish is good! I had a bit of time on Monday evening spare, so up next was the wheels... I kind of like the white rims but they were tatty - I didn’t want to eat into the budget changing them, but the paint finish was old and flakey so I decided to strip the paint instead: I used Nemesis paint stripper from screwfix, it was £25 but I didn’t have to use much, there are some good alternatives out there too, Wicks’s own brand stuff is very good and is sold in smaller amounts. https://www.screwfix.com/p/nemesis-paint-varnish-remover-2-5ltr/2698t Wasn’t to sure how they would look, but I’m delighted with the results... makes them look like new! Edited August 24, 2018 by Private Repress Typo and failed picture upload 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Proper job. These frames are great fun and, evidently, still look good today. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 A delivery of goodies for the build arrived today: Black Magura HS33R - I’m 31 and and receiving a brand new magura in the post was like being a kid on Christmas Day! Amazing how it brought back all the nostalgic memories and feelings! KMC cool chain - ran one of these on my Giant Trials Team, still going ‘strong’ today having fitted it around 12 years ago 4-Jeri chain tensioner - can’t wait to tidy the clutter at the rear triangle and take that horrendous rear mech off. The bike should look a lot cleaner. Planning to run the chain pretty short. DMR V12 pedals - the bike came with some battered V8’s with less teeth than Sam Pilgrim, so was toying with the idea of V6 plastic alternatives, but in the end I’ve used V12’s on all my bikes for years with no complaints or foot cramps! Magura storm 180mm rotor - the bike came with a hope mono trial brake, whilst it’s in good condition, I’m not a fan of the bleed system - and I know magura inside out having ran both MT5’s and MT7’s on my Enduro rig. So I found a cheap MT4 on eBay (£35) which has been taken off an eBike. The lever is similar to that on the HS33 bizarrely. So in prep for that being delivered (hopefully tonrrow) I ordered the new disc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 6 minutes ago, Luke Rainbird said: Proper job. These frames are great fun and, evidently, still look good today. Cheers Luke, can’t wait to get it finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Very nice. Happy to have helped on that bar and stem combo! Looks spot on. Funnily enough, I used to run a 120mmx15deg stem on mine with 1.5" bars haha. Nice on the back wheel but hard as hell to pull up to manual. Good decision on stripping the rims btw. They look great in that raw alu. Excited to see what the frame looks like once painted. Are you thinking of getting stickers made up for it too? Hopefully you can get a good tension on that chain with the single wheel pully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 14 minutes ago, Ross McArthur said: Very nice. Happy to have helped on that bar and stem combo! Looks spot on. Funnily enough, I used to run a 120mmx15deg stem on mine with 1.5" bars haha. Nice on the back wheel but hard as hell to pull up to manual. Good decision on stripping the rims btw. They look great in that raw alu. Excited to see what the frame looks like once painted. Are you thinking of getting stickers made up for it too? Hopefully you can get a good tension on that chain with the single wheel pully. Cheers Ross - yes I was after something that could manual well, and it certainly does with this cockpit. Debating whether to run a grind on the rear wheel or not, just can’t be doing with the screaming brake at skateparks, but I need something dependable. I’ll be collecting the frame and fork today and getting the build done early evening - so excited to see how it’ll look too. I’ll be sure to get an update up on here later. Definitely going for some custom stickers, I know a guy that can do them. Debating on having ‘Ashton’ or ‘Trials Noir’ at the front of the top tube (or at the bottom of the down tube possibly), but definitely decided on one for the badge location - moon with E.T in the bike basket sillouette haha... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Also the tensioner was a bit of a dark area, never used one, but I’ve heard that the 4-jeri can be converted to spring upwards as opposed to pulling the chain down... anyone know how this is done before I start experimenting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 First of all. If you put "Trails Noir" on that thing I'll slap the face off you Trial Noir! Good idea! It'd have to be in the text Chris used too?! Im not 100% on that model tensioning up but if it can and you can get the tension right it would be a good move. It'll be something along the lines of taking the spring out and flipping it round? I recently found a super cheap tensioner on ebay which does exactly that. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202382814823 doesn't come with a bolt to mount it though... I've had mine on for a while and it works a treat. Personally I wouldn't go with the whole Phone Home stuff... too much of a gimmick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikee Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 I had one of those tensioners and modded it to push up. It was a long time ago though. I made a new spring out of a spoke, as the the original spring (in mine at least) couldn’t be flipped. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 22 minutes ago, Ross McArthur said: First of all. If you put "Trails Noir" on that thing I'll slap the face off you Trial Noir! Good idea! It'd have to be in the text Chris used too?! Im not 100% on that model tensioning up but if it can and you can get the tension right it would be a good move. It'll be something along the lines of taking the spring out and flipping it round? I recently found a super cheap tensioner on ebay which does exactly that. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202382814823 doesn't come with a bolt to mount it though... I've had mine on for a while and it works a treat. Personally I wouldn't go with the whole Phone Home stuff... too much of a gimmick. Well spotted, that was a genuine typo, but yes it would be in the same style font. Maybe just leave the stickers at that. Tensioner fitted and seems to be doing the job well, not had a proper ride yet but messing around on kerbs it was pretty solid. Thanks for the link though, I’ll bear that in mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 14 minutes ago, Mikee said: I had one of those tensioners and modded it to push up. It was a long time ago though. I made a new spring out of a spoke, as the the original spring (in mine at least) couldn’t be flipped. That’s a good shout, I’ll see how I get on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete.M Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Nice, and quite possibly the frame I used to own: Link to thread from 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Progress update... I picked the frame and fork up this afternoon and I was really impressed! Especially considering the price. here’s a pic in transit (riding shot gun haha): The finish is incredibly glossy, it was still warm when I collected it, fresh out of the oven. Another couple of pics so you can see it in daylight: Looks so fresh, and cleaner without those cable tabs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 9 minutes ago, Pete.M said: Nice, and quite possibly the frame I used to own: Link to thread from 2012 Funny you should say that, I thought the same thing - I’ve seen just about all he ETs on the forum. Who did you sell it to? Any distinguishing marks? Got to say the frame doesn’t have a mark on it - great condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted August 15, 2018 Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 Put a cloth round that top tube when it's in the bike stand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) After a good few hours work here is how far I got: Please excuse the seat (new one arriving tomorrow). I also get some better pictures up. I love the way it’s turned out. I’d also love to say it was a simple build, truth is, it was a sod. Despite the painters capping the BB, some paint made it onto the threads - that made things difficult from the get go. Perseverance paid off though, lots of sweat and tears later the threads were clean and the BB was fitted. Next up, fitting the headset and forks... nothing to go wrong here I’m thinking. Couldn’t have been more wrong! The star fangled nut decided to spin in the centre, so I couldn’t nip up the headset. Lots of swearing lead me into the garage looking for some inspiration for a quick fix... managed to find an unused new nut... sweet! Apart from the fact echo forks have an alloy steerer that’s considerably thicker than the steel counterpart - meaning the new nut wouldn’t fit (balls!). Decided to cut some extra slits and hammer the thing in, which worked surprisingly well! Getting over the worst of he problems, I looked forward to setting the HS33 set up, only to get it out the box and immediately remember how fiddly these are to set up on evo mounts haha. But enjoyed doing it and did it with the tyre off for ultimate accuracy. Was surprised how much plastic is on them now, bit cheeky when one now costs pretty much what two used to (I remember a pair being £90!) Anyway, slapped the tyre on, put it on the bike, inflated to 50psi. Bolted the wheel up spun the wheel which abruptly stopped, checked the far side to find the tyre had not seated correctly, resulting in a fat bulge of tube trying to escape the rim. Argh! Worse things have happened, cracked on, got everything in the photo fitted, and went for a little spin. Straight away I noticed he chain jumping - the alignment needed sorting, so whipped the rear cog off and adjusted the spacers, also flipped the chain ring over to give the fat chain more clearance from the beefy middleburn bash. After a few choice words I put it all back together then went for another spin... I have to say I love the way it rides, popped up a manual and managed the whole street on the first go, a true case of love at fir...second sight haha. working away tomorrow, so Friday will be the next chance I get to finish it off, but all that’s needed now is the front brake and seat, and I’ll need to trim the rear hose and rebleed the HS33. I’ll look into the custom stickers over the weekend too Cant wait to get out riding! Edited August 15, 2018 by Private Repress 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2018 20 minutes ago, Tony Harrison said: Put a cloth round that top tube when it's in the bike stand! It hasn’t marked it don’t worry - very soft rubber jaws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 23 hours ago, Ross McArthur said: First of all. If you put "Trails Noir" on that thing I'll slap the face off you Trial Noir! Good idea! It'd have to be in the text Chris used too?! Im not 100% on that model tensioning up but if it can and you can get the tension right it would be a good move. It'll be something along the lines of taking the spring out and flipping it round? I recently found a super cheap tensioner on ebay which does exactly that. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202382814823 doesn't come with a bolt to mount it though... I've had mine on for a while and it works a treat. Personally I wouldn't go with the whole Phone Home stuff... too much of a gimmick. @Ross McArthur do you have a pic of that tensioner on your bike? Not a big fan of how much the 4-Jeri sticks out and might get one of those 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) Its got a really neat profile to it. Ill get a photo asap. As mentioned, you'll need one of these along with it. Nice wee bolt Edited August 17, 2018 by Ross McArthur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Repress Posted August 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Build complete! Just the stickers to get made and put on now, may get some high rollers and run the front hose through the steerer (anyone know a neat way to do this, bearing in mind it’s a really narrow steerer?) but they are not essential at this point what do you think? 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikee Posted August 17, 2018 Report Share Posted August 17, 2018 Very nice, love the colour. It’s refreshing to see a 24” bike that isn’t a photocopied Inspired build. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbertlemon102 Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 personally for me it needs a trialtech tensioner to bring that chain back up, that would complete it for me. but it looks sweet 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.