Fixing up that bike which has seen better days
Many people see a bike on a night out and think that their favorite sport is back. You might think it’s something which you might get to do once in a blue moon. However, fixing up that bike which has seen better days can be a lot of fun and very rewarding. Not only that, but by getting a bike which looks decent it will not only helpyou feel better about yourself, but it will also help out local businesses.
What you will need
The first thing that you will need to do when you want to fix up a worn street bike is to work out what the problem is. There are several things which can cause a bike to wear out. The most common of which is a worn transmission.
The transmission is the unit which transfers power from the engine to the wheels. It is attached to the engine by a long metal rod. As the transmission wears out, the rod becomes weaker and weaker.
The the transmission is stretched out or the rod is bent, then it is going to cause the bike to struggle to reach higher speeds. This will result in the bike not reaching its optimum fuel efficiency and will eventually cause the gears to fail.
Another common problem would be a broken suspension.
The suspension is the unit which controls how the front of the bike, where the rider sits, moves. The suspension is in contact with the road. If the suspension is worn out, then the bike will have an unsure ride and can be prone to bouncing excessively.
How to do it
Building your own bike is not too expensive. However, it does require some time and effort. You can save money by building a street bike from parts you have lying around your house. However, if you want to be able to ride your bike around town then you are going to need to spend a little on it.
Start out by getting some bike parts. You will need some wheels, a headset and forks. Most parts will be an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product. These will usually be the cheapest option.
Use the internet to search for the parts you need. If you find the same product cheaper elsewhere, then look to see if that supplier has free shipping. Most companies will offer free shipping to certain regions or countries.
Start building
Once you have the parts you need, start assembling the bike. Use some Loctite glue to glue the wheel to the fork. Then put the headset in place. Make sure that the headset is on straight. Use some glue to affix the brake lever to the fork.
Once the parts are fixed in place, you can start to add the bodywork. Use some bondo to glue the bodywork to the frame. Then use some of your body filler to fill in the gaps.
Once the bodywork is complete, you can start to style the bike. Get some paint and start to paint the frame. Get some stickers and put up some decals.
Once you are happy with the paint job, spray on some some bike antishine. It will help ensure that your paint forms a long lasting bond.
Ride away
Once you have finished your bike, it is time to ride it. Ride to a local park, have a good ride. Make sure you let the bike warm up a little before you take it out.
If you have been thinking about fixing up your bicycle, then there is no better time than now. The parts are cheap, the tools are cheap and you can get everything you need from hardware stores.
It only takes an afternoon or two to fix up a dented bike. It will not only look great but it will help save you money in the long run and it will increase your feelings of freedom.
Last Updated on October 5, 2022 by Sammy
