Speaking of street cruisers... [Archive]

eaterofdog

02-14-2008, 01:16 PM

How tall are you? I have Gen Lee as well (with the stock bars). I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on your new bars. When are you getting them?

JD

I am 5'8". I like the Lee, but the bars are so low that my weight is too far forward. I have to put more air in my front tire than the rear.

I should be riding it within a week. Have bars, stem and grips coming.

jdschall

02-14-2008, 01:26 PM

I am 5'8". I like the Lee, but the bars are so low that my weight is too far forward. I have to put more air in my front tire than the rear.

I should be riding it within a week. Have bars, stem and grips coming.

Dang, I'm about 6-4. I must look like a knuckle draggin' neanderthal when I'm riding. I really should get some taller bars. Where did you order yours?

eaterofdog

02-14-2008, 01:28 PM

Dang, I'm about 6-4. I must look like a knuckle draggin' neanderthal when I'm riding. I really should get some taller bars. Where did you order yours?

I must look like an elf. LOL

Search for Mosh Pro Cruiser on ebay. They still had 3 sets left last I looked. $40 shipped. PM me if you can't find, I'll send you the seller ID.

dexter

02-14-2008, 03:38 PM

i prefer taller bars on a 24" bmx cruiser -- at least as far as a freestyle/flatland setup goes :

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=24432758

7.25" Standard Lil Deuce bars with inverted KINK stem.

loving the murs in the background

Cru Jones

02-14-2008, 04:12 PM

WCH has some 7" bars on his invisible man and he really likes them.

THRILLSEEKA

02-14-2008, 04:29 PM

Tell that boy to post some pics up of his IM...I'd like to see it.

r464

02-14-2008, 05:14 PM

24 inch wheels and tall bars?

http://velospace.org/files/joe.jpg

Evil4bc

02-14-2008, 07:14 PM

Cru Jones

02-14-2008, 07:52 PM

Tell that boy to post some pics up of his IM...I'd like to see it.

He's on vacation in Mexico, but here's a pic. And for the record, he was doing a nothing... just didn't have his hands off for long...

http://www.jakespointofview.com/photos/237298256-L.jpg

cmc

02-15-2008, 09:19 AM

That was the most legit flatland run i have even seen on a big wheel bike .. Props

thanks man.

just pullin stuff from my Standard Shaman days.... and just got a Federal freecoaster from flatlandfuel.com ! psyched.

THRILLSEEKA

02-15-2008, 10:15 AM

He's on vacation in Mexico, but here's a pic. And for the record, he was doing a nothing... just didn't have his hands off for long...

http://www.jakespointofview.com/photos/237298256-L.jpg

Haha! Good save, man... Unfortunately it's a mandatory learning step, but does anything look dumber than a no footer? And you can see his hands just gettin back to the grips anyway...
Looks like the cruiser's treatin him OK.

THRILLSEEKA

02-15-2008, 10:19 AM

thanks man.

just pullin stuff from my Standard Shaman days.... and just got a Federal freecoaster from flatlandfuel.com ! psyched.

What'd the freecoaster cost ya? Also, I stated in the OTHER thread on street cruisers that I used to do flatland back in the day...I should change that: I did freestyle. I couldn't flow like that, man, and I don't even want to PRETEND I was ever that smooth! I was more the hoppity-hop type stuff...

jdschall

02-15-2008, 10:31 AM

I must look like an elf. LOL

Search for Mosh Pro Cruiser on ebay. They still had 3 sets left last I looked. $40 shipped. PM me if you can't find, I'll send you the seller ID.

Found'em. Thanks. Though I haven't yet pulled the trigger.

cmc

02-15-2008, 08:41 PM

LIQUOR BIKES . . . cruiser . . . .

scroll down half way:
http://www.liquorbikes.com/index.php?paged=2

Blaze rules.

e-mail james and tell him you want them to build some more cruisers....

THRILLSEEKA

02-15-2008, 08:49 PM

That guy is...scary! Yikes! Tubing looked kinda smallish on that cruiser...but if it's just a dirt rig, should be kew...
Atleats we can all see that there's DEF a demand out there for sicker, dialed cruisers. I just don't get it though...These are obviously all being seigned for riding, be it street or dirt, not racing anymore. Why the ****ty geo? Especially from knowing BMX companies? Very strange. Dirt and street=short and steep. Why is that so hard?

THRILLSEEKA

02-15-2008, 08:49 PM

e-mail james and tell him you want them to build some more cruisers....

Just caught that part...not a bad idea. Wonder how he's settin em up?

WestCoastHucker

02-18-2008, 05:19 PM

i rock the S&M divebar on my cruiser. it's a 7" rise but i'm sure it's nowhere near wide enough for the OP. that being said, i absolutely love big bars on my cruiser, it makes it feel like a grown mans 20"...

FWIW- the picture of my bike above is with the stock 5" shadow cruiser bar. also, that is the front end of my nothing, i can tell because by the time my hands are out off the bar, my feet are almost together and behind the bike. i am just letting go right there and in the process of swinging my feet backward. but that is no excuse for being caught in such a ridiculous pose...:busted:

cmc

02-18-2008, 05:49 PM

... i absolutely love big bars on my cruiser, it makes it feel like a grown mans 20"...

EXACTLY.

jdschall

02-19-2008, 01:06 PM

How about this one:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB401C03-Fly+Racing+Joey+Bradford++Handlebar.aspx

7.5" rise + 28" wide. Too tall?

WestCoastHucker

02-19-2008, 01:36 PM

only a half inch taller than my bar and i don't have a low rise stem. i'd say it's gonna feel perfect...

cmc

02-19-2008, 03:13 PM

How about this one:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HB401C03-Fly+Racing+Joey+Bradford++Handlebar.aspx

7.5" rise + 28" wide. Too tall?

I don't think so, but bars are totally personal preference, so it's hard to say. If they're too tall you can flip your stem over and drop them lower.

Fly Racing Joey Bradford handlebar features chromoly construction, and has little back or up sweep, to helps with the pull out of the gate.

i personally like a bmx bar that has a good 8-12 degrees backsweep. i don't know what they mean by "little" backsweep. upsweep is good too. check out the list of handlebars and sizes at empirebmx.com .

THRILLSEEKA

02-20-2008, 09:37 AM

Well, I sent James at Liquor bikes a linky to this thread, hopin he'd join us here. I'd like to hear his plans for their cruisers. He said it's not a def thing yet, but they've been tinkering with the idea, So I of course fed is brain with the idea of a true street cruiser. Light and tight, short and steep...

jdschall

02-20-2008, 10:18 AM

i personally like a bmx bar that has a good 8-12 degrees backsweep. i don't know what they mean by "little" backsweep. upsweep is good too. check out the list of handlebars and sizes at empirebmx.com .

Fly's website says they have 7° backsweep and 2° upsweep so that's not too shy of your mark. My current MTB bars have 8° and 5° which I'm fine with. I have no idea what the stock bars on my cruiser have.

WestCoastHucker

02-20-2008, 09:12 PM

bump for pics...

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/WestCoastHucker/RightAngle.jpg?t=1206549095

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm306/WestCoastHucker/side.jpg?t=1206549124

THRILLSEEKA

02-20-2008, 10:10 PM

Hell yeah. What's the CS length on that thing? Weren't they like 15plus inches? How's it feel compared to like a teeny little 26" street MTB?

WestCoastHucker

02-20-2008, 11:53 PM

mine is slammed at 15.25"...

it rides pretty different than a 26" setup, the leverage points are nowhere near the same. it feels just like a larger 20"....

ebrider510

02-21-2008, 12:45 AM

mine is slammed at 15.25"...

it rides pretty different than a 26" setup, the leverage points are nowhere near the same. it feels just like a larger 20"....

how does it spin on flat compared to a 26"? do you think it would make a capable street ride? since you seem to like it so much it gets me interested. :busted:

cmc

02-21-2008, 10:46 AM

how does it spin on flat compared to a 26"? do you think it would make a capable street ride? since you seem to like it so much it gets me interested. :busted:

for how inexpensive the General Lee 24's are you might as well get one and check it out for a while. mine's a 2005 i think. it is heavy, but has a good solid feel. front and rear 14mm axles. the cranks are three piece but are the heavy ass square head/thread-on spindle type, not the spline version (like DK puts on the Xenia) like everyone is used to with Profiles. the back end definitely feels long compared to a 20", but you get use to it real fast, especially when you run taller bars, which helps with the leverage and angles. even though it's "harder" to pull up than a 20", i think you can lock into manuals just fine (maybe even better). you have something to pull against rather than just immediately looping out.

the only weird thing i noticed as far as street/skatepark riding a General Lee 24" is that if you do a 50-50 grind on coping, your bottom bracket will come VERY close to grinding as well, and one of the crank bolts does hit the coping. this is because with the geometry of a 24, the axles and bb are almost on the same horizontal line. 12", 12", 12". but with 20" bikes, axles are at 10" off the ground while the bb is at 12".

cmc

02-21-2008, 10:49 AM

....

it rides pretty different than a 26" setup, the leverage points are nowhere near the same. it feels just like a larger 20"....

yes, exactly.

WestCoastHucker

02-21-2008, 11:52 AM

....the only weird thing i noticed as far as street/skatepark riding a General Lee 24" is that if you do a 50-50 grind on coping, your bottom bracket will come VERY close to grinding as well....

good point. sometimes when i get a little overzealous, my 5-0's end up being crank bolt grinds...

ebrider510

02-21-2008, 12:23 PM

for how inexpensive the General Lee 24's are you might as well get one and check it out for a while. mine's a 2005 i think. it is heavy, but has a good solid feel. front and rear 14mm axles. the cranks are three piece but are the heavy ass square head/thread-on spindle type, not the spline version (like DK puts on the Xenia) like everyone is used to with Profiles. the back end definitely feels long compared to a 20", but you get use to it real fast, especially when you run taller bars, which helps with the leverage and angles. even though it's "harder" to pull up than a 20", i think you can lock into manuals just fine (maybe even better). you have something to pull against rather than just immediately looping out.

the only weird thing i noticed as far as street/skatepark riding a General Lee 24" is that if you do a 50-50 grind on coping, your bottom bracket will come VERY close to grinding as well, and one of the crank bolts does hit the coping. this is because with the geometry of a 24, the axles and bb are almost on the same horizontal line. 12", 12", 12". but with 20" bikes, axles are at 10" off the ground while the bb is at 12".

the general lee would be worth a shot if it was longer, but since it only has a 21"TT it wouldn't be any roomier then my 20". last night i was just giving the haro x24's a look. 21.7"TT which is good, but not sure how long the stays are since their measurements were all messed up. bottom line is that i'd like something right in between my 26" and 20" that is solid enough to upgrade the parts on..unfortunately i don't know if anything of the sort exists at this point. just considering the options..

oh, forgot. the one bike that i think could work is the WTP 24..the 08 looks oh so sick and has 15.25" stays..not real short but i think it'd work. there's actually an 07 model at a shop somewhat close to me unless it's been sold. mite have to check it out sometime.

cmc

02-21-2008, 03:11 PM

the general lee would be worth a shot if it was longer, but since it only has a 21"TT it wouldn't be any roomier then my 20".

You're right that the GL could be longer in the front, but I did measure mine at 21.5"tt, center of seat tube to center of head tube.

THRILLSEEKA

02-21-2008, 07:51 PM

mine is slammed at 15.25"...

it rides pretty different than a 26" setup, the leverage points are nowhere near the same. it feels just like a larger 20"....

Dude...I haven't so much as SAT on a 20" since 1988. Swear. And they were a LOT different then.
And I was just thinking about something... I can't imagine how I got anything doneback then. Do you know what the CS was on a Skyway Street Beat??? Check it(mines the pink one on the right!):
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/424/rivercityfreestylersyc8.jpg

eaterofdog

02-21-2008, 08:12 PM

I just installed the Mosh Crispy 6 bar on my Lee.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff189/eaterofdog/crispy.jpg

ebrider510

02-21-2008, 11:04 PM

You're right that the GL could be longer in the front, but I did measure mine at 21.5"tt, center of seat tube to center of head tube.

how tall are you?

ebrider510

02-21-2008, 11:24 PM

I just installed the Mosh Crispy 6 bar on my Lee.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff189/eaterofdog/crispy.jpg

nice. how tall are you and how has it treated you?

cmc

02-21-2008, 11:47 PM

Dude...I haven't so much as SAT on a 20" since 1988. Swear. And they were a LOT different then.
And I was just thinking about something... I can't imagine how I got anything doneback then. Do you know what the CS was on a Skyway Street Beat??? Check it(mines the pink one on the right!):
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/424/rivercityfreestylersyc8.jpg

the cs's on an early/mid 90's hoffman condor were just as long. 26 foot airs, hell yeah. . . . something to be said for stability.

eaterofdog

02-22-2008, 05:41 AM

nice. how tall are you and how has it treated you?

I'm about 5'8". I like these much better. So much easier to pull up the front when jumping and hopping. Better leverage, as others have said. Also easier to land because I don't feel like I am nose manualing into everything.

sittingduck

02-23-2008, 12:05 AM

7.9" bars. Feels ok in the basement, will have to wait till tomorrow to ride it for real. Funky frame with almost 16" CS and 22" TT. Very stable on jumps though.
http://huckit.net/pub/moshcolony.jpg

sittingduck

02-23-2008, 12:09 AM

And they were a LOT different then.
And I was just thinking about something... I can't imagine how I got anything doneback then. It's notable how different things are now.... bars back instead of forward, seats slammed instead of sky-high, chainrings tiny, etc.

cmc

02-23-2008, 11:24 AM

7.9" bars. Feels ok in the basement, will have to wait till tomorrow to ride it for real. Funky frame with almost 16" CS and 22" TT. Very stable on jumps though.
http://huckit.net/pub/moshcolony.jpg

you might like to flip the stem over. that'll bring the bars down.... looks fun though.

sittingduck

02-23-2008, 11:48 AM

you might like to flip the stem over. that'll bring the bars down.... looks fun though.
I considered it, but in reality, it only changes the height about 1/2". Might do it anyway if my 20" frame doesn't get here soon.

ebrider510

02-23-2008, 01:10 PM

nice job sittingduck, what bars are those? let us know how you like it.

i really wish the Subrosa Cruisers didn't have a long rear end. aesthetically, they really appeal to me.

THRILLSEEKA

02-23-2008, 01:16 PM

So...what would be the difference between a "MTB" 24" with a non-suspension corrected rigid fork and a 24" cruiser? I found a Mongoose Ritual that the kid was able to take all the material out of the dropout to completely slam a 24" wheel into, looks like it BARELY clears the 24"x2.2" tire. Said the CS length is right at 13.75"!
Run an S&M Pitchfork and some 3-4 inch bars? LONG tt tho, like 23"

BikeSATORI

02-23-2008, 01:43 PM

So...what would be the difference between a "MTB" 24" with a non-suspension corrected rigid fork and a 24" cruiser?

a pedal dragging bb height.

I found a Mongoose Ritual that the kid was able to take all the material out of the dropout to completely slam a 24" wheel into, looks like it BARELY clears the 24"x2.2" tire. Said the CS length is right at 13.75"!
Run an S&M Pitchfork and some 3-4 inch bars? LONG tt tho, like 23"

that's talkin' 20" slammed short, at 13.75! I couldn't even imagine it, possibly on the verge of ridiculous, but would be fun to try, haha.

I have a hard time believing that though. How did he grind so far forward in the dropout slot without hitting weld or chainstay?

THRILLSEEKA

02-23-2008, 03:03 PM

I'd send you a pic, but I'm buying it just cuz it's dirt cheap!
He also mightbe full of crap, I'm gonna check it out more. But it was, I believe, an 06 Ritual that was set up for 24/26. He took out just under an inch or something, then cut off the back of the dropout as I imagine it looked awfully funny. Says a 26 won't fit anymore.
Not sure I buy the 13.75" CS length yet, though...

THRILLSEEKA

02-23-2008, 03:38 PM

Hmmm...well, there's DEFINATELY enough metal in that dropout to cut out...a LOT. That's already on 24s... Don't know about a sub-14" CS, but damn short. And yeeeeeeah....the BB height is 12.7" on the 08 Ritual with 26" wheels....24s and a rigid? So much for pedaling...
Cruiser it is!
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4788/06ritualdq3.jpg

THRILLSEEKA

02-23-2008, 03:46 PM

THRILLSEEKA

02-23-2008, 04:24 PM

Found this on Coloredtuffs.com...
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1386/sesocalflyer21he8.jpg

$299 complete! 73*HA, 21.5tt, 12"bb, 15.75" CS...
Looks like you could take that down to 15" fairly easily.

sittingduck

02-23-2008, 06:35 PM

Sittingduck:
Is that 16" to your axle? Cuz it LOOKS like you could shove that wheel forward another inch or more... I'm assuming you KNOW that so I'm not sure why I felt the need to say it...
What were we talking about?Center of axle to center of crank. I could move it up if my tire was 1-1/8 wide. :plthumbsdown:
As it is, the 1.95 holyroller clears the stays by about 3/16". (pretty tight) It's probably a race cruiser, designed for longer CS and/or thinner tires.
I took it to the djs and the skatepark today, and had a BLAST.
http://huckit.net/phpnuke/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10010/normal_DSC_0006.jpg
http://huckit.net/phpnuke/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10010/normal_DSC_0046%7E0.jpg

Bryan67

02-23-2008, 08:43 PM

Enough of these cheapo 24`s. If you guys are serious about a cruiser then look into something like an S&M or a Standard. Thats quality and good geometry. You will have to pay to play though.

THRILLSEEKA

02-23-2008, 08:57 PM

Why...cuz you did? I don't buy that **** at all man, sorry.
Why dump a bunch of cash into something you don't even know if you're gonna like for one? Not to mention, I haven't seen either of those companies with a 24 with ANY better geo! If they did, there wouldn't be 20 threads up here all looking for a better cruiser. So why would I wanna pay more to play on the same damn bike?
Sounds to me like you mighta just paid too much and don't wanna feel silly alone... :)

sittingduck

02-23-2008, 09:19 PM

Can't wait to get my cheapo 20" running! Looks like the frame/fork/rear wheel finally shipped today. wo0t!

Bulldog

02-24-2008, 02:15 PM

Enough of these cheapo 24`s. If you guys are serious about a cruiser then look into something like an S&M or a Standard. Thats quality and good geometry. You will have to pay to play though.

Whatever man...

S&M - Plain 4130 w/ 15.5" CS (slammed) = big whoop.
Standard - 15.4" CS (slammed) = yawwwwn.

So what exactly did you pay for?! Those frames cost what my complete Haro did and my geo is much better.

ebrider510

02-24-2008, 06:57 PM

Bryan67

02-24-2008, 08:21 PM

Whatever man...

S&M - Plain 4130 w/ 15.5" CS (slammed) = big whoop.
Standard - 15.4" CS (slammed) = yawwwwn.

So what exactly did you pay for?! Those frames cost what my complete Haro did and my geo is much better.

You get a quality US handmade frame and a choice of your components instead of a Taiwan made mass produced bike with marginal components. I`m thinking you haven`t ridden for long or at least not much BMX. These companies are rider owned and have history. Haro is now a huge corporate company that still makes ok product but its just not the same. You are just not going to find a BMX cruiser with 14" chainstays. You may as well just stick to a MTB/dirt jum bike. I think you might change your tune if you held a quality frame in one hand and a Haro (Or something similair) in the other hand.

BikeSATORI

02-24-2008, 08:34 PM

You get a quality US handmade frame and a choice of your components instead of a Taiwan made mass produced bike with marginal components. I`m thinking you haven`t ridden for long or at least not much BMX. These companies are rider owned and have history. Haro is now a huge corporate company that still makes ok product but its just not the same. You are just not going to find a BMX cruiser with 14" chainstays. You may as well just stick to a MTB/dirt jum bike. I think you might change your tune if you held a quality frame in one hand and a Haro (Or something similair) in the other hand.

I think you're going the wrong way with this...

The quest Bulldog (among others) seems to be going on is for ideal geo. numbers, not contest of build quality. Build quality can in some ways help the ride of the bike, but the geo. numbers will determine much more.
(btw, I don't want to speak for him, but I'd put money down that Bulldog knows exactly what S&M and standard are and fully represent)

I think you're also underestimating the manufacturing power and technology Taiwan actually has. You cannot judge them based on their lowest end products.

I think we will soon be seeing some sort of cruiser 24" frames out there with CS lengths in the 14's, it's just a matter of time, the demand is here and real. Place your bets now.

THRILLSEEKA

02-24-2008, 09:33 PM

Damn, I'm glad you showed up Satori...That was a LOT more mature than the answer I was gonna leave. Mine would have involved something about "grasping at straws" and "ignorance" and the respect for the skills that the assemblers/welders there posess that constantly make it more feasible to ship stuff over an ocean than to try to do here. But I pretty much would have summed it up with mentioning that that was pretty much THE most ignorant response to an attack that I've ever heard on here.

Now I'm going to go ride my $400 bike and be a lot less happy now, knowing that if I'd only spent the same amount on a US built frame I'd only have a frame, but it would instantly make me a much better rider.

Damn that Chinese steel shipped over a sea to the US to be welded instead of Chinese steel welded THEN shipped over a sea! Damnit it all to heck!

Bulldog

02-24-2008, 10:39 PM

I think you're going the wrong way with this...

The quest Bulldog (among others) seems to be going on is for ideal geo. numbers, not contest of build quality. Build quality can in some ways help the ride of the bike, but the geo. numbers will determine much more.
(btw, I don't want to speak for him, but I'd put money down that Bulldog knows exactly what S&M and standard are and fully represent)

I think you're also underestimating the manufacturing power and technology Taiwan actually has. You cannot judge them based on their lowest end products.

I think we will soon be seeing some sort of cruiser 24" frames out there with CS lengths in the 14's, it's just a matter of time, the demand is here and real. Place your bets now.

Shoot man, with responses like that you can speak for me as much as you want! :)

Geo comes before company "rep" for me. Also "US made quality" is a crock of poo and surely not worth paying a premium for. Lastly my CS's could be in the high 14's if I chose to run a smaller tire but my frame is extinct and rare and virtually unknown and (IMO) very under-appreciated for what it offered years before the *premium* US brands. The big corporations from overseas CAN innovate!

Bulldog

02-24-2008, 10:51 PM

exactly..

which model Haro do you have and how tall are you?

I'm 6'1" and currently 250+. I look like a gorilla on a 20" and no matter how big they are they will always be too tiny for my preferences. That, and I'm a MTB'er first, BMX'er second so my point of reference is always 26" wheels and frames sized to fit adults. ;)

I have both an '04 and '05 Haro Nyquist R24. The '05 is much more desirable to me as it's quite a bit lighter and has much shorter CS's. Both were much burlier than anything else I could find out there at the time (14mm axles, 40/48h wheels, big tire clearance, happily runs pegs, etc.). As happy as I was with the '04 I had to pick up the '05 less than a year later because it fixed everything I wished could be better on the '04.

Bryan67

02-24-2008, 10:53 PM

Bulldog

02-24-2008, 11:35 PM

I don`t think I ever said anything bad about non USA made product at all.

You said:
You get a quality US handmade frame ... instead of a Taiwan made mass produced bike

You didn't call Taiwan crap but you put US-made on a pedestal, which IMO is the flip side of the same coin.

Working in a [GM factory] city that preaches support of "made in the USA" and seeing the "quality" of these employees (LOL) I always get fired up when these manufacturing and design superiority discussions start up. But mostly right now I'm just bored and tired of ice and snow! :)

ebrider510

02-24-2008, 11:53 PM

Well, not all Taiwan bikes are the same. In fact, the last cruiser I had (Still have the frame) was an overseas made Direct Link. I don`t think I ever said anything bad about non USA made product at all. And I have no problem running Chinese forged chromoly crankshafts and connecting rods in my VW`s either. I do believe that for the most part the complete bikes that are coming out of there leave a lot to be desired but again you get what you pay for. Some of the US companies will make what you want but it gets really expensive. Ride what workss for you and what you can afford. I don`t know... it seems that a lot of guys here will spend $600.00 plus for a 24 or 26 MTB (Or whatever they are called) frame but will turn around and ride a General Lee econo cruiser.

you are right about that, but the reason I think many people in here won't go right ahead and buy a high end US made Cruiser frame is because for one they aren't sure if that is what they want and two like a few have said, the Geo really isn't any better. the materials and probably build quality are better, but it's the Geo that makes the bike. i think most if not everyone in here is well aware of Standard and S&M's rep and we all respect it to the fullest, but unless you are sure one of their frames is what you want then it isn't worth going for right away.

now if either of those companies decided to come out with a cruiser frame with new skool Geo, many people would come running..probably

ebrider510

02-25-2008, 12:00 AM

I'm 6'1" and currently 250+. I look like a gorilla on a 20" and no matter how big they are they will always be too tiny for my preferences. That, and I'm a MTB'er first, BMX'er second so my point of reference is always 26" wheels and frames sized to fit adults. ;)

I have both an '04 and '05 Haro Nyquist R24. The '05 is much more desirable to me as it's quite a bit lighter and has much shorter CS's. Both were much burlier than anything else I could find out there at the time (14mm axles, 40/48h wheels, big tire clearance, happily runs pegs, etc.). As happy as I was with the '04 I had to pick up the '05 less than a year later because it fixed everything I wished could be better on the '04.

thank you, this is the info i have been looking for! you're the same height as me so that helps a lot. i was looking at the new haro x24 and it got me thinking about it. it seems long enough to fit me and the other Geo numbers are the best i've seen. i mite have to look into it..although i will have to get rid of one of my bikes if i want to get it (in this case my 20 or 26"...). its tough..really don't know if i could part with either one. if i ended up really diggin' it i could maybe even part with both and be happy.

THRILLSEEKA

02-25-2008, 05:38 AM

But mostly right now I'm just bored and tired of ice and snow! :)

Preachin to the choir, sister! I'm in South Dakota... I hear your pain!

chuffer

02-25-2008, 06:02 AM

Interesting discussion here. EDIT: I just realized that what I say below is more or less what ebriders510 said already...

I think the econo-cruiser (I like that word) has its place, particularly something like the GL. I think they allow folks the chance to see how they like BMX geometry and feel without investing a ton of cash. The market is ready for this type of gateway bike and the manufacturers have recognized that. Good for them. Eventually when the market matures a bit maybe they will move toward a higher quality model with less racy geometry.

For now, the people who ride an econo-cruiser and like it, move on to something better.

The people who ride it a couple of times and lose interest wind up with a $250 townie.

Btw, I had a GL and in about 9 months I broke, bent or stripped everything except the front wheel, the frame and the stem. I am not the smoothest, but I am not that brutal either. My opinion: Good gateway bike, but the quality is pretty poor, except perhaps the frame itself.

With regard to size, I am 6'3" 200 lbs and I had no problem with the GL and a set of normal cruiser-height bars. My molly bars are actualy about a half inch lower than where the GL bars were.

Here is the only pic I could find of my GL right before I tore it down to build the Molly.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/mountain-bike-photos/data/500/8773dk_GL_toe_overlap_small.jpg

Bulldog

02-25-2008, 07:00 AM

Preachin to the choir, sister! I'm in South Dakota... I hear your pain!

We had a heat wave this weekend - two days of 30+ degrees! Started to melt some of the 4" thick ice on my street, though it's like a mine field out there now. Today's forecast....SNOW! C'mooooon already!

eaterofdog

02-25-2008, 07:55 AM

Enough of these cheapo 24`s. If you guys are serious about a cruiser then look into something like an S&M or a Standard. Thats quality and good geometry. You will have to pay to play though.

The old "You didn't spend as much as me, so your X sucks." argument. Seen all around the internet in forums dedicated to everything from Beanie Babies to sports cars. I don't know about everyone else, but I think Bryan is the coolest thing since wet testicles. After all, HE SPENT MORE MONEY ON HIS BIKE. That must mean that Bryan is "hardcore," not that he's trying to elevate his social status with material objects.

Bryan67

02-25-2008, 08:45 AM

Thats funny. I did not spend a ton on my bikes because I do not have a ton of money. I have a family to support and do not have a lawyers salary to do it on. I apreciate quality no matter where it comes from. I`m not an all american/buy american guy. It just seems like all the cruisers I have seen that come from overseas are lower end complete bikes. I don`t see BMX bikes as "Gateway bikes" myself since thats all I`ve ridden for the past 30 years. I see the Working Class Hero I`m building as more of a gateway to an old man bike since I feel more comfortable riding a bigger bike now. No disrespect intended to Bulldog or anyone else here. Just interesting conversation.

eaterofdog

02-25-2008, 09:05 AM

Actually I don't even really care. Just some Monday morning troll flaming.

jdschall

02-25-2008, 09:54 AM

When I was a kid back in the 70's, my dad drove an econoline van, so I guess in a way it makes sense that I would want to ride an econo cruiser....

Actually, gave up riding a 20" in about 1988, mostly because I out grew it. I traded it for a skateboard or something. I picked up MTBing in 1991 and have been doing it ever since. When I was a skater, I always rode street and park (such as it was in the 80's and early 90's) When I got into more aggressive MTB riding recently, it was pretty natural that I would want to ride street and park given my skating background. Doing so on the MTB was pretty hard on parts got expensive quick. So I started looking at alternatives. I'm pretty tall and I didn't think I would be real comfortable on a 20" so I started looking at 24's. I decided on a General Lee because it was cheap. If I didn't like it, I wasn't stuck with a huge investment. If I did like it, I could always upgrade if needed. I've been upgrading ever since.

What is wrong with that? Nothing.

Eaterofdog, the new bars look good. :)

eaterofdog

02-25-2008, 10:01 AM

The bars make a big difference. I can do that pesky hip that's been kicking my butt. I'd like to try some 7" bars just to see how they feel.

sittingduck

02-25-2008, 01:32 PM

Updated pic of the 24" Mosh. 7.9" bars, and they feel pretty nice. I almost forgot how effortless it is to bunnyhop this thing.... I was hopping picnic tables with it as easily as curbs. :D
http://huckit.net/pub/mosh.jpg

cmc

02-25-2008, 01:40 PM

sittingduck

02-25-2008, 03:55 PM

Are you British and/or a motorcycle rider? heh heh.No, I have just always liked having my front brake in my right hand. This is the first bike I've had that I've ridden without a front brake, so I kept it on the left.

THRILLSEEKA

02-25-2008, 04:00 PM

Those Holy Rollers gotta go, man...that tthing belongs on some Comp IIIs!

sittingduck

02-25-2008, 04:10 PM

Those Holy Rollers gotta go, man...that tthing belongs on some Comp IIIs!I don't know how much I would trust the Comp IIIs in the skateparks. They would look cool on there though.

WestCoastHucker

02-25-2008, 06:06 PM

i love the comps, but they are the absolute suck in the park...

THRILLSEEKA

02-25-2008, 06:15 PM

Huh...just pose like I do then... :)
Just kidding...we don't even have a park...:(

jdschall

03-17-2008, 09:04 AM

Okay, so here's my bike it is in it's latest form: No stickers, black with a splash of red.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/urbaindk/Bikes/cruiser.jpg

DK General Lee 24
Notable upgrades are:
Eastern Dragon Bars (7.5" rise)
Odyssey Intac Seatpost
Stolen Hot Seat
WTP Pi rear hub and chrome rim (of unknown origin)
13 tooth Odyssey freewheel
33 tooth Industry Workload chain ring
Odyssey Jimmy Levan grips
Shadow 1/2link chain

The new (taller) bars seem to make a big difference as far as bunny hopping and spinning goes. I don't have my flat 180's down yet but on banks they are now a snap. It is also much easier to wall ride the barrier in the back ground of the bike picture as well.

Bryan67

03-17-2008, 09:08 AM

Looks good but you should really try pulling your bars back a little.

jdschall

03-17-2008, 09:14 AM

Looks good but you should really try pulling your bars back a little.

Yeah, I just put the bars on, I'm still playing with position. They do look pretty far forward, don't they?

eaterofdog

03-17-2008, 06:55 PM

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/urbaindk/Bikes/cruiser.jpg

Looking pretty good jd. The bars are giving me an 80s flashback sticking up like that.

The back wheel on my lee is wavy now. It didn't take long.

sittingduck

03-17-2008, 07:16 PM

Yeah, I just put the bars on, I'm still playing with position. They do look pretty far forward, don't they?Not if you are doing trials riding with it. :busted:
At the very least, move them back to where they are perpendicular to the ground. Ideally (supposedly), they should be parallel to the fork.
It probably doesn't really make a huge difference, but I think the bike handles a little better without having the bars out over the front end.

jdschall

03-18-2008, 08:24 AM

At the very least, move them back to where they are perpendicular to the ground. .

I would swear to you that I thought they were vertical (that's what I was shooting for anyway), they just don't look like it in the photo. Still, I'll try moving them back a little.

eaterofdog

03-18-2008, 08:42 AM

I would swear to you that I thought they were vertical (that's what I was shooting for anyway), they just don't look like it in the photo. Still, I'll try moving them back a little.

I'm calling your bike "El Toro."

Bryan67

03-18-2008, 09:05 AM

Just make them parallel with the forks.

jdschall

03-19-2008, 08:29 AM

Better?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/urbaindk/Bikes/PICT0423_edited-1.jpg

;)

eaterofdog

03-19-2008, 08:37 AM

Correr desde el toro! EL LOLZ!

http://www.doughuntlonghorns.com/images/huntscommandrespect806.jpg

jdschall

03-19-2008, 09:06 AM

What'd you say about "heuvos del toro"?

eaterofdog

03-19-2008, 09:19 AM

http://www.t-nation.com/forum_images/9/5/956187.1141403707825.bulltesticles.jpg

A Grove

03-26-2008, 11:07 AM

Better?

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/urbaindk/Bikes/PICT0423_edited-1.jpg

;)
They're ALMOST parallel with the downtube ;) thats where I ride my bars :D

rpet

03-28-2008, 03:01 PM

Anyone know the geo on the Volume complete? http://www.volumebikes.com/bikes-z06.html

has some pretty nice parts, plus it's full-4130. I'm not sure if it's a 24" or a 26"
EDIT: Volume is sold out of that complete.

Are there any light-ish full-4130 complete 24s out there with good geo? I'm looking into getting a We The People.

THRILLSEEKA

03-28-2008, 04:05 PM

Welcome to the plot of the thread. It's what we're all looking for!

rpet

03-28-2008, 04:28 PM

I think 15.25" CS on the We The People would work OK for DJs...

Bryan67

03-28-2008, 05:58 PM

That Volume Sledgehammer is a 26 inch bike.

Cru Jones

03-28-2008, 07:13 PM

Welcome to the plot of the thread. It's what we're all looking for!

Found. Greg Melms is up to his radness again. 13.75" stays.

http://www.tonicfab.com/uploaded_images/24-011-793196.jpg

I posted this in his "shape of things to come" thread, but not sure if anyone saw it.

THRILLSEEKA

03-28-2008, 07:20 PM

Oh...we all saw it...just hard to type with jaws on the keyboard. Am I the only one who hates this guy??? Blame it on pure and simple jealousy, he still sucks!

cmc

08-10-2008, 04:17 PM

Melms ... bump....

THRILLSEEKA

08-10-2008, 10:44 PM

Last I'd heard from GM he was FLOORED with work...which is a good thing. Means he's making tons of cash to buy tubing and to pay for the insurance to sell bicycle frames that are so sick they'll make your mom puke up her spleen. :)

jellybeans

08-11-2008, 12:43 AM

not really sure who greg melm is, but where and how much are those frames!????

THRILLSEEKA

08-11-2008, 05:37 AM

Oh, you haven't heard? Greg is that guy in that really old book that a lot of people talk about on Sundays... He was the guy that said something like "Let there be light" And then there was light....

Cru Jones

08-11-2008, 03:58 PM

Haha. Jelly, you should do some research around here before starting a bazillion threads about rehashed stuff. To learn about Mr. Melms, study this thread carefully...

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187985

opjones

08-11-2008, 04:12 PM

Just learned a guy I ride with often has an old school buddy that knows/rides/does something with Gregg. Can anyone else play the 6 degrees of Gregg Melms and his badass bikes?

cmc

08-24-2008, 11:34 PM

http://bmxroots.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/volume_z06.jpg

Stoked

08-25-2008, 09:10 AM

castillo rules

GMDesigns

08-25-2008, 03:19 PM

I'd like to meet this Melms guy everybody admires so much...

Yeah I've been busy like Thrillseeka said. Lot's of stuff going on. Most of it non bike related. But hey I'll take it while I can get it in this economy.

And Thrillseeka I've said it before, you crack me up man!!!

Hey OPJones, You must know Rod or Thomas? Both cool cats. I need to get up to Ann Arbor and check out the new DJs.

D/D Updates:
The Daily Driver has been busy tearing up BMX tracks all over Ohio with Roger Compton at the wheel er.. I mean bars. With this short wheelbase bike Roger regularly passes on the inside of the berms.
Below is a pic of the D/D in race trim.

For the record, manualling the bike is slightly 'harder' than a 20" with similar geo. Besides there's much more to manualability than just CS length.
Nobody has looped it out from trying to manual it yet. Besides me.

Frames are still going through design tweaks. I will probably add the curved seat stays to the Daily Driver frame cause everybody digs em. I need to finalize a rear drop-out design and work on fixtures.
Internal cable routing will not happen on the D/D frame. Just too labor intensive and would put an already expensive frame out of reach for some.

Hang tight peeps and thanks agian,
GM

opjones

08-25-2008, 03:39 PM

Hey OPJones, You must know Rod or Thomas? Both cool cats. I need to get up to Ann Arbor and check out the new DJs.

It was actually Rod that mentioned your name. But yeah i ride with Thomas when I can make it over to Ann Arbor, we actually just got done with the MI Thrashbike jam over the weekend, fun stuff.

THRILLSEEKA

08-25-2008, 04:22 PM

Sheesh...here I thought Greg was an upstanding sorta guy with talent and skills and all, but now I have to call BS on that lil red rocket! It looks too damn perfect to be a "new-retro." I'm thinkin repainted and rebadged SE Flyer or something...?

Seriously Greg...a true tribute to the way things were when things were right! I love it! But mine simply HAS to be chrome with black mags. HAS to be...

And I remember you saying that the tubing you are using for the seat/chainstays is too thick OD to do a looptail with...but that would be the final glint on perfection... Chrome loop-tail 24" with mags...I wouldn't even ride it. It would be like banging a supermodel with insured body parts in the bathroom of a laundromat... I would just never again possess the ability to face myself in the mirror again after it was over....
*....sigh....*