RADBMX.CO.UK
Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: phantom photon on April 27, 2009, 12:47 PM
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It’s been a long time coming but it’s finally finished. This is my ORIGINAL DP Firebird Freestyler which I got new in 1984. It was one of the first unstamped white framesets produced by the factory. I originally went into the shop (Dales Cycles in Glasgow) to buy a chrome one with black skyways but the guy behind the counter said he had heard they were bringing out a white version shortly. I liked the sound of that instead so chose some white and red components and put down a deposit and waited a few weeks for it to arrive. Once I got it home it was well used and abused for a number of years going through various colours/build specs.
Me in 1984
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/dp1056.jpg)
Then in about 1988/9 I decided to take the wheels off and bolt a pair of skis to the bottom and turn it into a ski bike (we used to have proper snow in winter back then ::)). I only used it a couple of times and it was then thrown in my parents shed and forgotten about until about 3½ years ago when my parents gave me a call and said they were clearing out the shed and could I come across and see if there was anything I wanted before they threw it away. I found my old DP lying at the back looking very sorry for itself still with the skis attached (didn’t think to take a picture of it unfortunately). To make the skis fit I had cut off the bottom of the rear dropouts and drilled some holes in the bottom bracket and it was also very rusty from sitting in a damp shed for 20 odd years and I remember thinking, will I skip it or will I keep it and try and fix it up. This was the moment that got me back into old school scene and led me ultimately to discover RAD. I decided that I would try and fix her up again and so went home that night and got onto google looking for parts and information. The first site I came across was RAD of course and it’s been all downhill from there :LolLolLolLol: The frame then sat in my garage for a couple of years as I couldn’t seem to find anyone local who was willing to repair the frame and dropouts, at least at a reasonable price. Then as luck would have it I got in touch with Sawzall (Phil) on this site who I heard could fix anything made of metal. The quality of Phils work is second to non and the repairs were outstanding.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/dp_rear_dropouts.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/dp_seat_gusset_2.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/052-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/051-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/054-1.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/iainsfirebird003.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/iainsfirebird004.jpg)
SBD then powder coated the frame and forks along with the Z-hubs and again the finish is just amazing.
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/DSC09531.jpg)
Firebird Steve provided the red decals and padsets (I never got any pads originally but thought I treat her in her old age). I have built her up to look as near to how she looked originally but have changed a few bits with the real items - i.e. genuine CW’s instead of copies, real Kashi Aero instead of copy, etc. The wheels are also standard Z’ds instead of Mike Buffs. The feeling I got when I sat on my bike again for the first time in over 20 years is hard to describe - it brings back so many good memories I nearly had a tear in my eye. Sorry if I’ve been going on a bit but for me this is my ultimate build and has made an old man very, very happy 8)
Big thanks to Steve (Firebird), Phil (Sawzall), Dan (SBD) and Jai (SE-bmxer) for all their help and advice :daumenhoch:
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4528.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4538.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4536.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4542.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4548.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4558.jpg)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/ff15/phantom-photon/Bikes/IMG_4563.jpg)
Spec:
My original unstamped white DP Frame and Forks
White Z-rims with Z-hubs
Kenda whitewall tyres
Dia Compe 890 front and rear brake calipers with Tech 3 levers and Z-pads
CW Pro handlebars
A’me Tri grips
Tioga MX-600 headset
SR stem - red/silver
Kashimax Aero seat
GT layback seatpost
NOS Tuf Neck seat clamp
Suginc 1pc crank
Sugino 44t chain ring
Sugino chrome ppider & bolts
MKS BM-10 Footjaw pedals
Tioga sealed bottom bracket
Shimano 16t Chrome Freewheel
Izumi red/silver chain
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Thats STUNNING!!!! :coolsmiley: :coolsmiley: :coolsmiley: :coolsmiley:
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That is beautiful :4_17_5:
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That's lovely!
Firebirds are the best! :4_17_5:
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Stunning mate. I did the same with mine but gave in and built it with all new top spec parts. Part of me is still thinkin of going back to how it was BOTD. Its such a great feelin.
Well done anyway mate. Looks Stunning! :smitten:
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Bike of the month if not the year for me!
Love the story, the work that has been done, the colours red and white and the upgrading of the parts.
Well done Iain. :4_17_5: :4_17_5: :4_17_5:
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Fantastic :4_17_5:
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MINT!!!!!! :daumenhoch:
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Make sure you add it into the museum here: http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=53.msg722715#msg722715
(That's my white and blue Firebird at the top of the above page btw. ;))
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Blimey you almost brought a tear to my eye with that story. Looks fantastic. Have you got a rider as well?? I cant cope with not riding mine so I am building a carpet queen and a rider to almost the same spec..
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Fantastic build, great storey :daumenhoch:
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Those dropouts are a work of art now - kudos to Phil for a great job.
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Thats just quality :smitten:
a real labour of love :daumenhoch:
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great job :daumenhoch:
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Beautiful! :angel: Phil should get an OBE for his work, fooking top stuff :4_17_5: SBD finish is lovely also :smitten: stunning mate :smitten:
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that looks great,makes me want to clean up my haro :smitten: :smitten:
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that looks stunning iain the colour scheme works so well :daumenhoch: :Great_Britain:
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Now if you restored the ski bike Iain that'd be the business.....ski bike of the month winner for sure. Get it done :daumenhoch:
But if you can't be arsed that dp's still lovely, I think those red decals are my fave's
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Saved! Great job to all involved :daumenhoch:
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great story great bike :daumenhoch: wished i still had mine :'(
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fookin quality story, phil is a bloomin god, make sure you rub his belly at MK its very lucky ;)
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loving it :4_17_5: and a great story to ,,you just cant beat building a bike like you had back in the good old days :daumenhoch:
respect dude ,,,,that early picture of those short leg jeans bring back some dodgy memories :2funny:
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Great resto job, well done :daumenhoch:
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I love seeing peoples bikes from back in the day brought back 2 life ;) Looks the dogs :daumenhoch:
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Thanks for all the comment guys, makes it all worthwhile :)
Now if you restored the ski bike Iain that'd be the business.....ski bike of the month winner for sure. Get it done :daumenhoch:
Now there's a thought ::) :LolLolLolLol:
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looks awesome, nice1 :daumenhoch:
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Stunning :4_17_5:
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that's really sweet mate, well done :daumenhoch:
ps.. didn't realise all that work was done before it came to me
very impressed with sawzals work ;)
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:4_17_5: :4_17_5: :smitten: :smitten:
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yeah that work on the dropouts is class :daumenhoch:
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well done Iain, finally got it finished.
So lucky having your old dp freestyler. it must be so strange having it looking the same as when you first bought it. What was it like sitting back on it again? have you got your old cloths too, now that would be a great photo :LolLolLolLol:
going to add some photos to the dp web site this week, great job Iain :daumenhoch:
steve
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Great story and a great build mate.
:smitten:
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Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! :4_17_5:
loved the story but the bike rebuild is something else!!!!!!!!! :D
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Just to echo what others have said, superb.....a great looking bike indeed and a cool bit of history to boot, brilliant :4_17_5:
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Brilliant story especially the bit about the ski's ;D , and to top it of its been brilliantly re built. and been given the chance to rekindle all those memories. Fantastic all round. well done top notch :4_17_5: :4_17_5: and defo bike of the month with all the work she has had and how she has turnd out. :daumenhoch:
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superb job there mate, makes me wish i had kept mine now
:4_17_5:
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now this is what i call a F A N T A S T I C resto job well done this is what its all about .my hat is off to you sir well done :4_17_5:
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Awesome job done , great story too :daumenhoch: :4_17_5:
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Your builds have always been top draw Iain but you've surpassed yourself with this one. The time and effort put into it is reward enough but it must have been great bringing your original bike back to life.
Get a picture of you on it in the same pose as the original pic. It'll round off the story brilliantly.
Well done and well done to the guys who've helped you. Stunning job all round. Make sure you add it to Bike of the Month and you'll get my vote....again.
PS. Get your @rse down to the Titans track, it'll be good to see you again.
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Get a picture of you on it in the same pose as the original pic. It'll round off the story brilliantly.
Thanks Paul :daumenhoch:
Funnily enough I was thinking the same thing myself. Was even going to take it accross to my parents house and stand in exactly the same place in the garden where the original pic was taken :LolLolLolLol:
Will try to get back down to clydebank again soon, my weekends just seem to be very full at the moment ::)
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Awesome story and build, loads of respect for that. :daumenhoch:
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as above... I suspect so many of us would have skipped it in our pre-rad days. Looks very classy. :daumenhoch:
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I'm gob-smacked Iain ... that's a tasty looking bike now. Great stuff :4_17_5:
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very nice,stunning
"Then in about 1988/9 I decided to take the wheels off and bolt a pair of skis to the bottom and turn it into a ski bike" love it,lol :D :) :) :) :D
Bonkers!
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Amazing story - I know I'm going to end up trying to restore something old school - and it's the fault of everyone on this forum.
Still - probably no one would have tried to restore a 'team murray' my first bmx.