RADBMX.CO.UK
Vintage BMX pre - 1980 => Vintage Bikes => Topic started by: Lpodonovan on December 21, 2016, 02:58 PM
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Seen as I rode a Grifter most of the early part of the 80s thought I would jump in on the recent trend to build a Grifter BMX hybrid - Just for fun!!!
1984 Grifter Frame (acquired today)
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integrated kick stand removal complete
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Seatpost tube shortened
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Parts ordered:
Sprint threaded BMX chrome forks (8 inch long to accommodate the Grifter's almost 6 inch head tube length)
Headset (30mm cup size)
Euro sealed bearing bottom bracket (will require heavy modification)
Some spare parts I've got left over which I'm going to fit:
Skyway wheels
Odyssey 3 piece cranks
DC Nippon (silver rear only)
DC tech 4 (silver right lever)
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Loving this thread already :daumenhoch:
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Started to fabricate a cook bros / TNT custom style seatpost clamp more pictures tomorrow
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This threads gonna be better than watching all the repeated shit films over Christmas,please post a bit each day fella :daumenhoch: :popcorn:
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Thanks guys (Griff and Taipan) I wasn't sure about putting this up but pleased I have now
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Question to the Raleigh experts am I correct in assuming serial number starting NN04 means built in Nottingham in October 1984?
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Saw the pillar drill as I opened the thread and immediately hooked! Will be watching this one. Toyed with the idea of doing a racing Gary Morgan grifter rep a few months back :daumenhoch:
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Looking forward to this :daumenhoch:
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Seatpost clamp complete
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Rear 'mudguard bracket' tidied up
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Front 'mudguard bracket' tidied up
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This build has come to a stand still as the parts I need to get this across the line before paint haven't arrived
However I was able to do a first 'mock up' of how it looks as a complete bike
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More pics
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More pics
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Loving this.....that's the grifter I had back in the day... explosion
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Loving this.....that's the grifter I had back in the day... explosion
Thanks!
I was going to paint the frame (Kawasaki Green) but its staying original until I can find a set of original prismatic decals and the original colour details
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Excellent! :)
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That's going to be a smart Retro ride :daumenhoch:
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Any update :daumenhoch:
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Forks have arrived and I'm returning to work tomorrow which will allow me to complete the bottom bracket - watch this space!
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It seems to a bit of a thing doing Grifters right now .. And why not this one and the candy red one on FB both look really cool !
Keep us updated mate.. I'm loving it ! fistblump
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Fork update
I believe I took the easiest option (to avoid welding etc) and bought a set of long Sprint threaded forks to fit the long steerer. Here's a picture of the chrome forks I bought and fitted with ease and only had to remove around an inch of thread
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The euro / mtb bottom bracket I ordered pre-Christmas still hasn't showed up and is unlikely to arrive for a few days. I only need the bearings and dimensions from the set up as I will be making new bb cups to suit the Grifter frame. This is now seriously holding up completion (and a fresh paint job!)
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Parts update as I have mainly mid-school parts lying around Ive fitted;
Selle turbo seat
GT stem
Odyssey power paw grips
Odyssey Pitbull I rear brake and Pitbull lever
Profile imperial chainwheel
Odyssey crankset
DK handlebars
Ive also picked up some free wheels and tyres!
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Great project, have often thought about doing one myself, enjoying the updates.
What top tube length does a Grifter have?
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Bottom bracket sorted!
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We have a rider!
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More pics
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and more pics
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Cool! :daumenhoch:
now just cut/lower and reweld the top rear 2 triangle tubes so they match the top tube for a better riding angle :) you may need to trim the seatpost down a little aswell to make it more atheseasticly pleasing ;)
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Great project, have often thought about doing one myself, enjoying the updates.
What top tube length does a Grifter have?
Centre of seat tube to centre of headtube is 19 inch
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Cool! :daumenhoch:
now just cut/lower and reweld the top rear 2 triangle tubes so they match the top tube for a better riding angle :) you may need to trim the seatpost down a little aswell to make it more atheseasticly pleasing ;)
I always appreciate good advice thanks!
In this case I'm going to leave rear as-is but only as (and this is very surprising for me) it actually rides really well. Seatpost (length and clamp area) is however getting chopped today for sure as it has been bugging me!
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Bottom bracket sorted!
This turned out to be reasonably simple if you have a lathe and some aluminum.
Things to watch out for;
6804 2RS bearing are 20mm ID x 32mm OD x 7mm Wide and you use 2 per side / 4 in total. There is not an equivalent small bearing with a standard 19mm ID (which would fit inside the Grifter BB) therefore a 20mm centre section spindle tapering to 19mm is required to fit 3-piece cranks (and take up the slack)
The BB shell is very wide (70+mm) therefore a longer 153mm crank spindle is required and the home made bearing cups only have a 3mm 'outer lip' as per the (rubbish) drawing in order to maintain the correct chainline
Due to the Grifter threaded bb I opted for an interference fit on the home made bearing cups this is critical to ensure alignment mine are probably a bit over size and may never come back out of the frame as Ive pressed them in with a hydraulic press
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Excellent work :daumenhoch:
Top engineering skills, do a bit of this myself :4_17_5:
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Have you ridden it yet? be interested to see how it rides! :daumenhoch:
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Hi guys sorry I've gone quiet on this I've been working away in America for a couple of weeks.
The frameset is ready now for collection at the painters and I will get over to collect it later this week
As soon as its built and test rode I'm going to write up the build and share it with everyone here so that anyone (who desires to do so) can build one for themselves
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Going well :daumenhoch:
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That's ace!!!
Had a Grifter before my first "real" BMX
Dingo
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very nice and nice mods
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This is awesome. How heavy is it? we always attributed most of the weight down to the rear hub when I was a kid.
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i really like this build, did i see the finished bike being ridden in Wickford a couple of days ago?
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I love this story - did you ever post pictures of the finished painted bike???? Phil
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Any pics of the finished bike ?