Bmx Questions

[eskimo]

Has anybody got a press/ push fit bottom bracket. Either a spanish or mid.

Did your actually push/ press in?

I'm curious, everyone i know had to use some sort of tool.

Edited December 17, 2006 by eskimo

[Dan Clark]

I had to hit mine in with a mallet, thats expected though, would be a bit dodgy if it was so loose you could push it in by hand.

[Mark W]

Yeah, they always require a tool basically. It's not like American BBs where you could sometimes just push the cups in by hand, simply because they have to be a tight fit. I've got a Mid, and mine was a total b*****d to get in. Seriously, 2 day job. 3 hours one day, 2 hours the next, and that was with a lump hammer and anything I could find to go between the hammer and bearings. Not looking forward to taking them out. However, all you have to do is just sand a little paint/laquer off from inside the cup, and they go in a bit easier. Don't forget to grease 'em up!

Integrated headsets though?

[poopipe]

Integrated headsets though?

amen - possibly the greatest bike invention since the aheadset system

[eskimo]

Seriously i have not seen any bike that required a internal headset to be forced in. Mine and my friends headseats just drop in.

We are all using FSA impact's.

What are you guys using if different?

[poopipe]

Seriously i have not seen any bike that required a internal headset to be forced in. Mine and my friends headseats just drop in.

We are all using FSA impact's.

What are you guys using if different?

i've only had experience of internals on my two onza frames and it definitely required a tool to fit the cups in. then again, they're made out of taiwanese cheese and the headset was seriously ropey...

[Barbra]

could somebody take some time, and have a look through here and just see which bike would be best for me, i should have around £500 to spend, i want at least a back brake, because me without a brake is just death. I could probably stretch a bit more money but thats probably all i'm getting. Preferbly somebody, that knows a fair amount about bmx's, i know that bongo, poopipe, and OBM know there stuff.

Thank you, please.

Edited December 26, 2006 by Barber

[poopipe]

you're absolutely sure you want to buy from winstanleys?

i spose it's worth a try

500 notes on winstanleys eh?...

hoffman rhythm - surprisingly good spec, 21" tt, everything says heat treated on it too...

wtp phoenix pro better than the 4 seasons cos of the cranks 20.6"tt

winstanleys don't seem to have them but have a look at the new mirraco bikes - the spec on those is unreal.

[Barbra]

i don't really know much about bmx parts, so when you say spec, alls i'm gonna be looking for is 3pc cranks and a chromo frame, and forks, so if i do have any questions about the different specs, i'll post up here.

I only chose winstanleys to link up on here because its the only shop that i found with a wide variety of bikes on I've heard its a bad place to order from.

Thanks all

EDIT: Also whats the difference between a USA and Spanish bottom bracket? Which is better and why?

EDIT EDIT: Could somebody also give me a more reliable website, which sells the phoenix pro on? Still looking for suggestions though

thanks again

Edited December 27, 2006 by Barber

[eskimo]

i don't really know much about bmx parts, so when you say spec, alls i'm gonna be looking for is 3pc cranks and a chromo frame, and forks, so if i do have any questions about the different specs, i'll post up here.

I only chose winstanleys to link up on here because its the only shop that i found with a wide variety of bikes on I've heard its a bad place to order from.

Thanks all

EDIT: Also whats the difference between a USA and Spanish bottom bracket? Which is better and why?

EDIT EDIT: Could somebody also give me a more reliable website, which sells the phoenix pro on? Still looking for suggestions though

thanks again

I was going to answer last night but Neil came on tv.

The amount your spending will get you want you want. The thing to look out for is a decent wheel set. The 2007 bikes seem to have branded cranks.

For the bb situation. We have:

American- Big strong heavy bearings sat into a cup which then pushs into the frame.

Mid- Same as american but without the cups. Slight loss of strength and weight.

Euro- The bearings are small, light and weaker and screw into the thread in the frame (as per normal)

Spanish- Same as euro but without the thread allowing you to push into the frame.

The best being American or Spanish. Depends if you want strength or light weight.

I would take the WTP Phoenix over the Hoffman on Poopipe's choice.

My choice of bikes.

KHE. LINK

Coming in a 300 it would leave you 200 for upgrades. Which i don't think you would need just yet. Maybe some tyres and grips but generally i like this bike. It should last for you.

KHE BIKE 2. LINK

For the little extra you get a fair bit more. Die Hure cassette ith 3 sealed bearings which i don't think is right. Normally the Die Hure has like 5? But anyhow a Hiddenburg crankset, mag pedals, light forks and 4play rims i like this bike alot.

The downside is the colour. If you like it then that would rock but gold isn't my choice i'm afraid. To let you know i run the Hiddenburg cranks. And this bike is very light. If you did change the frame it would be super light then. But obviously your not going to.

[Barbra]

Looking at your suggestions and some bikes, ive decided that i like:

the KHE. Link

the WTP phoenix pro

and the WTP 4 seasons

Couple more questions and i'm done.

Having ridden a WTP phoenix and a 4 seasons i know that both of them are good. But are they much better than the KHE? Also does anybody know how the KHE rides?

And is the phoenix actually worth that £50 more than the 4 seasons? i know poopipe said that because of the cranks, but would it be worth me paying that extra £50?

[Mark W]

i've only had experience of internals on my two onza frames and it definitely required a tool to fit the cups in. then again, they're made out of taiwanese cheese and the headset was seriously ropey...

Integrated headsets = no cups My bearings plopped in too, ideal. They're just great, to be fair. They're cheap, easy, and they spin super nice.

In BMX related news, my Junior seat tried tearing me a new A-hole. I was doing this line where you hop onto a bench, 180 off, roll back fakie between a wall and a bollard, and then half-cab off the curb. Anyway, slipped both the pedals, and just as I did that my back wheel hit the bollard, stopping my bike. I dropped down, and nailed myself. No "exploratory work" as my brother put it, but I bled like hell. Decent cut going just up to below the business end, had to have it stithced up. Local anaesthetic syringes = more painful than initial injury. I'm pretty sure at least 20 medical people were checking out my arse in the 18 hours I had to spend in hospital... All on Xmas eve too, meant I woke up on Xmas morning after not really sleeping in a ward full of old dudes coughing up their lungs super loud.

[poopipe]

Couple more questions and i'm done.

Having ridden a WTP phoenix and a 4 seasons i know that both of them are good. But are they much better than the KHE? Also does anybody know how the KHE rides?

And is the phoenix actually worth that £50 more than the 4 seasons? i know poopipe said that because of the cranks, but would it be worth me paying that extra £50?

I'm liking the 07 khe. it looks to be a nice light, simple looking bike with a decent wheelset and you're left with £200 to spend on replacing any bits you don't like. ride wise it's proably much the same as the WTP in terms of frame geometry - it's a pretty average/normal setup.

I think the phoenix wins on value if you like the feel of it straight out of the box, there'd be more than £200 worth of bits required to pimp the khe up to the same level (not that you'd really need to)

It kinda depends whether you're the kind of person who leaves a bike as it is (get the WTP) or whether (like me) you're the kind of person who'll replace virtually every important component (including the frame) within the first 6 months of owning a bike (get the KHE).

edit:

oh, and Mark...

HAAAHAHAHAA!! HAHAHAAA! AHAAAHAAA

sorry.

merry christmas

Edited December 27, 2006 by poopipe

[Barbra]

lol unlucky mark!

And, thanks poopipe you've been a great help. Think i'll go for the WTP then, i can't afford to replace parts as much as i'd like to.

[Mark W]

[poopipe]

2 things:

1 - that would be an abuse of power

2 - you wussed out

barber..

np - don't blame me if it rides like a bag of crap

[Barbra]

you forget that ive already ridden that bike

Is alansbmx any better than winstanleys then? I noticed that you thought it wasn't a good idea dropping £500 into winstanleys account

[eskimo]

The Phoenix has Royal cranks and the 4 seasons doesn't. I think it is worth paying the 50 quid extra to get some decent cranks. Yeh some unbranded cranks are the same but i don't think these ones are of a decent standard to compare.

Also like it says some v monsters and ryno lights. Both of which are worth having.

Looking at the KHE it isn't back instock (at alans) for a few months.

I just watched that vid at Alans on the KHE Goldie page. That guy couldn't sell a free bike let alone that one. He was just reading out the spec pretty much.

LINK

Winstanley's yet again. Bastards.

The only real difference in the KHE 2007 and WTP Phoenix is the general spec. Although ride wise they are the same. 74.5 HA, 20.5/6 TT, 14" backend (around). So both short flicky bikes.

But if you do choose the Phoenix here is your new link. They should give you free shoes or something.

LINK

Enjoy.

you forget that ive already ridden that bike

Is alansbmx any better than winstanleys then? I noticed that you thought it wasn't a good idea dropping £500 into winstanleys account

Alansbmx is a 'rider owned and run' shop. Alan being a old guy who used to race a long time ago. So you are supporting a old skool rider.

Winstanleysbmx is some company that was started by Mr Winstanley (i guess) who knew bmx and mtb was becoming a serious money spender for people. Therefore he opened a business and through all his money into it so he could own the bmx and mtb network. This being it is harder for the real 'rider owned' shops like Firmbikes etc to carry on as everyone is supporting this big blood sucking company. So buy from a 'rider owned' shop and you will be able to sleep at night knowing that Dylan@Firm is spending your money on riding or drinking somewhere. Even though they cock up every damn order. Plus Winstanleys don't tend to have many actuall underpaid riders working there so knowone actually knows why we only run 2 pegs on one side.

Rant over..? Although i'm sure others will like to have a go.

OBM, your saddle done that to you?!

[poopipe]

Rant over..? Although i'm sure others will like to have a go.

OBM, your saddle done that to you?!

winstanleys seem to be widely renowned for not really having stuff in stock and being really bloody slow to send stuff out

a word of warning.... dont laugh at OBMs bum problem. I did and karma gave me a 3rd arse cheek from landing on the corner of a wall last night and it hurts to sit down

[Mark W]

2 things:

1 - that would be an abuse of power

2 - you wussed out

a word of warning.... dont laugh at OBMs bum problem. I did and karma gave me a 3rd arse cheek from landing on the corner of a wall last night and it hurts to sit down

I move in mysterious ways. Well, I do in a literal sense now. Not being able to bend over or do anything without causing much pain ain't fun. I'm fully not pissing blood now though, which is cool, and I don't appear to be shitting blood any more either

Barber - Eskimo's right, the Royals really are worth the extra money for that bike. The standard WTP 3-piece cranks will creak a hell of a lot no matter how much grease you give them until they either fully deform, or your pedals fall out of them. Plus the Royals feel much better and are just generally a nicer crank. Plus the Phoenix frame is pretty rad too, someone at Southbank's got one and it feels nice 'n' flicky.

[Matthew_Gibson]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=...9&UberCat=0

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=...6&UberCat=0

they both look good bike. Which ones better?

[poopipe]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=...9&UberCat=0

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=...6&UberCat=0

they both look good bike. Which ones better?

neither have full cromo frames - i wouldnt touch either. hi-ten steel bends at the first hint of a jump

£230 will get u a dk 6pack (for some reason i like the look of them) or similar with a cromo frame.

you're better off going second hand if you don't have the money for a full cromo complete (around £250 seems to be the bottom mark for decent-ish completes)

[A!!]

I have recently been looking into freecoasters, after biting the bullet and deciding if i should get one or not.

So i know a few people on here seem to know their stuff on this shizzle. So im looking for a few opinions on the freecoasters currently out.

I do sometimes run pegs, and i know that on some of the freecoasters you're not meant to run pegs. But that i can deal with, as i have been pegless for a while, before i put them back on, and i didn't really mind being pegless. Just it can sometimes be annoying when it comes to finding an awesome ledge, but not having any pegs to grind with.

Currently i'm liking the look of the Poverty from Dan's comp, but i don't actually know much about how it holds up and the reliabilty of it.

So what i'm really after is some views on current freecoasters (or even soon to be released ones).

[poopipe]

I'm waiting for the federal/khe reverse because they're the only ones that come in left hand drive and cost less than £350 (sym hubs are expensive)

if it werent for the LHD issue I'd probably have gotten the street geisha by now although I'm not sure the funny axle business will take as much peg abuse as a proper 14mm straight through like the federal/reverse have (people do run them with pegs though). the axle is the only real difference between the geisha and the reverse/federal as far as i'm aware

replacement bolts for the geisha are pretty cheap but im not sure how available they are - if you've got a khe stockist within walking distance (i have) you're probably on pretty safe ground

Edited January 15, 2007 by poopipe

[eskimo]

You can buy the replacement axle bolt/ nut things for the KHE from a few places.

Ti, alloy and cromo. I would of thought the titanium ones would be the strongest if they are of a good grade. Unlike the proper/ prolite ti axles.