RADBMX.CO.UK
Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Freestyle (frame stands and kickturns galore!) => Topic started by: ABMorgan on August 11, 2014, 12:22 PM
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Hello all,
New to this forum and returning to the world of BMX after a 24 year hiatus.
Have been threatening for years to pull my old Firebird Freestyler out of the barn and this weekend just gone, I did just that. As you will see from the photo it is in a pretty sorry state but judging by all of the super helpful posts around the web, there is loads that can be done with it.
I am going to start a refurb project in the near future and wanted to seek advice around best practices. I think looking by the frame, it is a MK1 freestyler???, haven’t had chance to look for a number yet to confirm this but can anyone tell from the picture?
Has anyone got any experience around shot blasting the frame? Is this a good idea or better to work on by hand? Assume this is only wise when it can stand up to the battering? I suspect it will need to be powdered (original chrome is gone and suspect it will be in too poor condition to re chrome) and then maybe re chrome the handle bars and seat post?
Just looking for initial comments/advice if possible.
I am originally from the town next to Flint where these bikes were built which makes it even much of a must do project for me.
Cheers.
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Hiya mate, :welcome to :radbmxsmilie:
which town are you, Bagillt or Quay? I'm in Hawarden myself.
Your bike is a Mk1 (looking at the decals) so there won't be a serial number. you could get this rechromed, but it won't be cheap, around £250 - £300, so powder coat is the cheapest option.
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Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the info...
Yes, thought powder would be the way to go...
A large amount of my family from Bagillt and I grew up just outside Holywell. Family still there but I am now down country : )
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:welcome to RAD and great old bike! if you're coming to MK this weekend bring her along as you can't beat an old Survivor :daumenhoch:
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Would love to attend this event but unfortunately am not able to due to family commitments.
Is this an annual thing?
Great forum this by the way, awsome bikes and awsome people....
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thanks, yeah it's an annual thing. you will want to be there next year :daumenhoch:
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What a great bike! Id go with powder :daumenhoch:
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didn't all firebird freestylers MK2's have the dp cutout in the seat tube plate....?
not sure, but might also be able to tell if it's a MKI by measuring the top tube length
also the forks could be telltale clues
here's some info on differences
http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk/freestyler/4532138385
http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk/freestyler-cont/4532775712
http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk/mk1-freestyler/4559049311 MKI pics
http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk/mk2-freestyler/4543962022 MKII pics
Welcome to Rad, home of the firebird :slayer:
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only the GL Plus had the cut out... I thought? :angel:
heres what I did with the survivor I had :)
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/i63/209ed/BMX/CIMG2503.jpg)
to
(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/i63/209ed/BMX/P1000786.jpg)
wish I'd left it as it was tho :buck2:
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I thought the MK1 had the angled chain stays like yours in the top picture
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Thanks for all the info and suggestions, very helpful. Will check the bike out further when I next get near it. A couple of extra photos attached...
Ed, amazing work on yours.... I feel I need to find a fair few hours ;)
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Nice survivor :)
If it does have a number it will be on the plate above the rear brake caliper. With red decals it's probably an early unstamped one though.
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No number present on the frame.
Thinking of getting the frame etc powdered then trying to restore the rest as is.
Thanks again everyone for your input. :)
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got any prefernces for it? .......some crazy light blue metallic..? :slayer: ;)
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Frame, forks, seat post and handlebars all white I am thinking.
Such a hard decision
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Frame, forks, seat post and handlebars all white I am thinking.
Such a hard decision
You won't go wrong with a white Bird.
There have been many done white, but you can always customise the decals to make yours stand out.
I have a chrome DP, but I used a green on the D in the DP.
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Poor thing is a bit too far gone to leave a survivor, needs rescuing & sounds like you're on the case fella.
White has been done to death but for some reason I always think a white firebird is a cracking looking bike.
Like Dan says you could go a bit mental with the decals, have a word with Del the decal guru del@del-cals.co.uk
He's always willing to help out & can do them any colour you can imagine :daumenhoch:
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Feels like it should be white : )
Still deciding though as a big decision.
Thanks for the details on the decals, really useful and will be in touch with Del when ready. :daumenhoch:
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hi, depending on your budget for the bike, I would get it back to original as possible, if chrome is to expensive then go white powder coat, contact Super bike Dan, he's very good, you can get decalls and pad set from steve dobson, http://www.dpfirebird.co.uk/, good luck with your build :)
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Fluoro green, be different! :daumenhoch:
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Yeah, them fluoro DPs looked ace.
Them ads in Action Bike looked ace, I seem to remember some seat post strengthening shim they did available in fluoro?
Looks ace as a mega ratty survivor though pal :daumenhoch:
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Any news on this? Looking back, I am surprised no one suggested maybe try a citric acid bath to remove the rust and polish back up? plenty of threads in tech and resto about it,would save money and keep original finish- you would be surprised at the results! :daumenhoch:
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So after a few false starts and promises of this being powdered for me I have now changed tactic and am going to get the whole thing re-chromed.
What I wanted to ask was about the other parts (sprockets etc.). Would you clean them up and have re-anodised or just replace with new? Ideally I would like the bike to be as original as possible.
Hoping the chroming will be done over the next couple of months so will post pics once done.
@Deeman - I don't think the chrome can be saved to be honest so will go for the re-done look.
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Where's Brettypeeps when you need him... He's the man you need for DP advice dude .. Drop him a PM dude!
Any colour is gonna be great dude ... At the end of the day you MUST do what floats your boat ... It's YOUR build :daumenhoch:
You've got to like it ....
One of these is on my (long) wish list for sure...
I love the hot pink to be fair but white or green will look equally as cool! :4_17_5:
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Love a Firebird ive got a ratty as fook white one. I feel hard of restoring it as it has the original shop sticker on it. I knew the guy who owned the shop well and he has just died, so I feel hard of pulling it off.
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While they look cool as fook, I thought they were one of the worst riding things ever! that head angle was just all manner of wrong :crazy2:
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nice to see this bumped - Mr Morgan are you coming to MK this year???
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If it's the same date as last year, I am afraid I will be away. Is it the August bank holiday again?
I am aiming however to have the bike done by then. As said, had a bit of a let down with some promises but now seem to be back on track and going for the chroming.... Frame, Forks, Seat post and probably handle bars although am tempted to get them powdered.....
Still need some opinions on re-anodising too. Is it worth it on the sprocket, brakes etc to keep the bike as original as possible?
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it's on 20-21 August ;)
Jay Reich might be able to help you out with anodising stuff - you'll find her fastest on FB (Jay Reich)
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Cheers - just looked at some of her work - great stuff.
So it sounds like this is a good plan on a restoration and people are doing it - As you can probably see, I am new to this :)
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Love a Firebird ive got a ratty as fook white one. I feel hard of restoring it as it has the original shop sticker on it. I knew the guy who owned the shop well and he has just died, so I feel hard of pulling it off.
Leave it :daumenhoch:
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Nah, it's getting done : )
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Ok so after quite a long time the bike is getting ready to be rebuilt after restoring as many parts as possible.
Everything will be original other than
Brake cables
Chain
Inner tubes
Tyres
Brake pads
Grips
Decals
I have a specific list of "wants" but am willing to compromise. I have looked on international and UK web sellers, eBay as well as trying to navigate sales on this site, but wanted to know if there is anywhere I am missing for sourcing parts. Is there a specialist on here I should be speaking to?
Thanks in advance.
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Put a post up in the wanted section for the parts you're looking for. :daumenhoch:
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Thanks
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Shiny Shiny
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Classic frame but I'd ditch that braced layback if I were you.
they look awful and also put a huge amount of stress on an already fragile old frame :daumenhoch:
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It is a consideration however the prime aim of this project is to restore the bike I cherished using as many of the original parts as possible so am unlikely to swap it out. Am also very unlikely to be riding it too much either to be honest, if at all.
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Looks great ... Good advice .. But your bike your rules .. I'm sure I'm going to annoy many on my next build ! Top work mate :daumenhoch:
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I am lucky enough to have my original bike from 83 which has the exact type of seat post..
Personally it doesn't look that great but it's the original bit I fitted back then.
I would never change it never...
So mate , if it's the original part or what you had fitted back then it's a no brainier bud.. :daumenhoch: