Today I bought, or it got delivered, or I fitted...

[Midschoolfool]

OK the bike is done. It got more upgrades though.

Given this is the last "rider" BMX I have (and will have) I decided to put proper tyres on it at the same time. Eastern had a mad sale on and the tyres were down from 30 quid a go to 9.99.

This is the wheel.



But I found the perfect alloy chain saver guard for it.





And the finished bike with new tyres.

[Mikku]

Those tyres tie everything in well!

There are some very tempting aka cheap Eastern frames for sale on eBay at the moment. The Grim Reaper X in particular is calling out to me!!

[Midschoolfool]

I’d love one of those. They’re sick frames.

[Mikku]

Certainly very tempting at £180!

The trouble is I don’t really want a new frame, so am continuing to resist the urge!

[Midschoolfool]

I’d sell one to make room.

The Reaper X is or was a £500 frame.

[Mikku]

I don’t know enough about the brand to compare the older and newer versions of the frame, or the quality generally but it certainly looks a nice piece of kit! I like the cut-out on the seat tube too!

[Midschoolfool]

The head tube is cut out too dude.

Eastern are a US based company that started during the mid school. They did the Hercules, as well as the Leigh Ramsdell Ace Of Spades.

The Reaper X though is the best frame they make. Pretty sure it’s Sanko Japanese steel and the build quality is as good as it gets.

Seriously if I speak that highly of a frame you know it’s good.

Problem for me is I just don’t have any room to even store just a frame now or I’d get one for sure.

A good few of the parts on my S&M are Eastern. Bars, headset and BB.

[Midschoolfool]

Just bought loads of stuff I absolutely don’t need lmao.

More soon.

[Midschoolfool]

Right.

So since going down and getting the killer back wheel done at ESP a few weeks back the bike has been complete. Thing is, I look at it every day, several times a day. I'm kinda going off that "Donald McRonald" S&M colourway. 

So after restraining myself for a long time I got the frame I have always wanted.



Black is not usually my deal. However, like I said, I want it to be the opposite of what I have now. Thankfully instead of being over generous when I sold off my bikes I kept a few things back. So the colourway for this? black. Black black black and gold. With my killer chrome wheels. So I needed a fork.



And then bars.



Then I started to think about what I am going to keep. The gold stem and chain ring (both Profile) are staying. I have a NOS SNAFU Magician lever in gloss black, as well as a sick seat and post combo (here)





There is also a gold Eastern headset on it now.

Another reason for all this? I really wanted a gyro on the S&M. But because it was brakeless I would have to F around drilling the frame for a second time. CBA. So that left me needing pedals. I found some in my stash.



A gyro



And a brake. This cost me just over 17 quid.



So what else do I need to completely do the swap? cranks. Just some black cranks. Not ordered anything yet... The total cost BTW for everything I bought was 274 pounds. Frame, fork, bars, gyro and brake .

I will need some grips also. Then I will bag and wrap the S&M and put it into my crawl space in the eaves.

[Midschoolfool]

OK so I found the black Demolition BB that was on the S&M before I fitted a red one.

In theory all I needed was some black 19mm arms tbh.

So for 40 quid I bought this. It’s not cromo but I still have the Demolition axle and that is cromo, so I’ll use that.



The frame and bars are UPS and will come tomorrow. The fork and gyro are RM so maybe Thursday but I’m going out for a couple hours…

I’m not in any rush. BTW I sent Eastern a message cheekily asking for some black grips and they obliged which is fantastic.

What I do want to do is clean it once built and apply ceramic coating. This will stop the dust sticking to it lol.

[Midschoolfool]

Opps.

[Mikku]

Blimey mate, you don’t mess around do you!! Of course, I wholeheartedly approve of said frame purchase! Can’t go wrong with black and gold either!

I have a few purchases of my own to report on. First off, I’ve also bought a gloss black frame! But not a Grim Reaper! Instead I picked up a Colony Castaway from, I believe, 2015. Compared to the Sunday it’ll be replacing, it’s slightly longer up front, slightly shorter out back and, I’m guessing, a bit lighter overall, all of which I think will help me at the skate park!

Next up was a Kink front load stem. I didn’t need it but couldn’t resist it!! The price was right, the size was right and in my mind, a freestyle bike just looks right with a front loader!

Finally, I snagged some S&M pads on eBay.

[Midschoolfool]

Nice one!

I’ve wanted a Reaper since 2005. This one uses Helix 4130.



It’s amazing tbh.

I had to buy a headset because the fork I got is not threaded internally and there’s no compression bolt. So I just needed a star nut, top cap and crown race. To buy all of those separately costs about 20 quid so I went with a cheap gold one for 8.99.

I did however buy a setting tool as I always injure myself installing star nuts and get them pissed lol.

As for not messing about? TBH like I said I’ve wanted a reaper for 21 years. I’ve had the S&M for 4 years now and as mentioned look at it every day as it’s on display in my bathroom lol.

Funny thing is I got that S&M for a song (350) yet this lot was cheaper .

Brake arrived a minute ago but I’ll wait until the frame and bars come before I do the 108 steps lol.

Oddly they shipped the fork and gyro with RM.

Maybe they’re in different warehouses? IDK.

I’ve also ordered some gold vinyl to put on the steerer tube so you see it through the cut out in the head tube