I had a Quad BITD and after the build, it was promptly stolen. It was candy red with gold and silver components. You know the build list: Bullseye Hubs, Redline Flight Cranks, Tuff Neck, Araya Rims, etc. I was getting too big for it anyway, so I never got another 20" BMX bike. Well, somewhere along the way, someone invented the long top tube and applied that knowledge to the Quad. So, why not build a retro version of my old school Quad. At $135, It could not pass it up. This will be a little more retro than new school. I'll post the build's progress here. Here's the starting point:

Your gonna love this when you ride it. I can't get over how comfortable mine is to ride.
Looking forward to seeing it done.

Thanks, Coasty. Now for a little surgery:



Like I said, it's going to be more retro than new school. Plus, I hate the look of V Brakes on these frames. Any one else do this?

Heck yeah, that's cool! Hack the v-brake mounts and run a coaster!!!!

*has just had a heart attack*

Easy now. This is a new school frame, no biggie!

Exactly. These frames are just not collectible. Fun and nostalgic, yes. Collectible, no. Off to the powder coater this week.

Awesome, looking forward to the finished product!

I just hate to see such drastic surgery done. I also happen to really like V-brakes. I suffered too long with brakes that would barely slow me down, when I was a kid.

I want to pick up a new PK Looptail frame and do the same. Hack the v-brake mounts off, throw some coaster Tuffs on it and ride it like I stole it!

I hate the look of v brakes, but they work killer...I suggested that SE run 990s on these bikes way back when they were designing these frames. I think seatstay 990s would look cleaner than the Vs...

If yer gonna go U-brakes, put 'em on the chainstays, with a barrel adjuster in the seat tube, just like they used to do for the Pitbulls. But, I still love my Vees.

I would be lying if I said the same thought hasn't crossed my mind many times... I love the idea of building a new School PK or Quad and putting 990s on it. I wish SE would offer the option for either. And since I am on the list of pie in the sky wants for the SE retros, if i could just get them to offer in intergrated headset. Basically I guess I would wish they would offer a "non racer" version of each of the frames as before there where freeestyle specific frames so many of the freestylers used PKs and Quads as their frames of choice.

I have that frame too....that and the 08 Ripper. They are both sleeping at the moment.

Well, it's time to wake'em up!

Back from the powder coater, and looking a little more like the Quad I had in 1980.

Wow that looks great! I see by the lack of 990 mounts that you are probably going to install some caliper brakes. What brand/model? Got a full parts list for this build?

WoW Nice color! Going to look great when it's done.

How would this bike hould up to racing. I personally think it would be fine, what do you guys think?

Good to see that you removed the second v-brake mount as well...

Now, to get this TRX fork and Helix stem to fit this frame. Hmmm . . .

That red is beautiful! Can't wait to see more progress pics.

jk

Nice color choice. Keep it coming!

i'd keep those for a real old school project and get a proper fork & stem combo for the bike that actually get ridden.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone.

Okay, so I worked out the fitment of the old school fork and stem.






Now, I need to think about wheels. I have some new school wheels that might go on because of cost concerns, but I'll keep my eye on eBay for some Arayas.

Nice surgury... I hate modern SE bikes because they don't have 990s but stupid cantilevers...

Hey there PBR. Nice looking Quadangle. That candy red is sharp and I like the new/old mix. I've got a question for you though. What brand of headset cup adapters/shims did you use to downsize the 1 & 1/8" head tube for the 1" threaded headset? Is it the Sinz brand adapters? Also, what brand & model is the 1" threaded headset your using? I'm asking because I just bought an adapter set from Sinz to do exactly what your doing but the adapter only fits 1 & 1/8" to a 1" Mini/1" standard(like for road bikes) size headset cups. And yes, there are "two" different size 1" threaded headsets. There's a 1" BMX size(bigger cups) and then the smaller 1" standard/mini size cups. I "think" the threads on the fork tube are the same, but I'm not 100% sure. Dans Comp also sells their own adapters to do this, but they only have adapters to go down to the 1" mini size. They sold out of the bigger BMX cup size adapters and said the won't be getting anymore in. So when I seen you do the conversion here, I was hoping you could help me out with some info on the brands/model of your adapters and headset. Thanks much.

Brian

Hey Brian, it can be a bit of an issue to use an old school stem and fork in a new school frame, but as you can see, it’s not insurmountable.

I used the QBP/Problem Solvers’ 1 1/8” to 1” head tube adapters. Please note that with the adapters installed, you are now at a 1” road size head tube (or 1” BMX mini, they are the same). 1” BMX cups are larger than 1” road cups and will not fit the head tube with adaptors installed.

Generally speaking, an old school BMX fork steerer tube is the same as a road steerer tube: 26.4mm crown race and same threading, but the internal diameter of the steerer tube is smaller (22.2mm for road and 21.1mm for old school BMX). Consequently, you need to use a 1” BMX headset top nut.

So, to sum up, you need:

Old school fork
1 1/8” to 1” head tube adapters
1” BMX headset top nut (21.1mm ID)
1” road headset, minus the top nut

Be sure to measure everything with calipers before you start.

Remember, when pressing the adapters into the head tube, do it in this order: 1) one adapter; 2) one corresponding headset cup; 3) second adapter; and 4) remaining headset cup. If you press in one adapter and then the other, the force of the press can separate the lip from adapter and can push it deep into the head tube. Ask me how I know!

This project is more for nostalgia’s sake, not for ultimate rideability or strength. I would not do this if you are looking for an everyday rider.

Thanks for the reply PBR, I appreciate it. That info definately gives me some more info about the conversion. Like I had said earlier too, they did used to make/sell the adapters/shims for the bigger BMX size cups. I used to see them all the time at Dans Comp and this one seller on Ebay always had them. Of course, now that I need one for the bigger BMX cups they've all disappeared and no one sells them . LOL The ones from Dans Comp were split or have a slit in the middle like a seat post shim does. The Sinz adapters I have are one solid piece with no split. So since it's a solid piece, I'm contemplating carefully chucking the adapter up in my friends lathe and very carefully boring the I.D. for the bigger BMX size cups. Since the walls of the adapters are so thin, the tricky part will be not over-tightening and crushing the piece in the chuck but yet keeping it tight enough so that it doesn't fly out of the chuck. I know I could get the road/standard headset but I'd like to at least try to get the BMX headset to work since I already bought one. I'll probably try re-working it on the lathe and see what happens. If that goes south, I'll get a new road headset and another set of adapters. Thanks again for the help.

Brian

Brian: If you do that, the shim will be very thin -- well under 1 mm -- and the simple act of pressing the cups may destroy the adapter. If you have access to a machine shop, and it appears that you do, the best option may be to add metal to steel bmx cups (via welding) and then put it on a lathe to fit the 1 1/8" head tube. Food for thought, in any event.

We heard you the first three times, man.

I could be wrong, but I "think" Chris King can do headsets for this type of conversion that don't require any shims. I'd give them a call:

http://chrisking.com/headsets/hds_devo

A couple of my mountainbike riding buddies use the Chris Kings headset that allows you to use a 1-1/8" forks in a 1-1/4" frame. Looks like they offer the same setup to allow you to use 1" fork with an existing 1-1/8" frame.

Yes, I hear you on the walls being super thin. That's sort of what I'm worried about. But, I'll give it a try at least and if it doesn't work, I'll get a road headset. I want to at least give it shot though. As far as welding the cups, I do remember a thread on one of the BMX websites were someone did this and I thought it turned out okay and worked for them. I can't remember who it was(it may have been a few people) but someone did exactly like your talking about. I could maybe give that a try also.







I did check the website and I see they have a headset that goes from 1 & 1/8" threadless to 1" threadless but NOT 1" "threaded". Then they sell a seperate conversion kit which is a top piece that goes from a threadless top piece to a "threaded" top piece BUT I "think" that 1" threaded top piece has to be used with 1" cups, NOT 1 & 1/8". I'm gonna call Chris King after Rockford and see if they make such a contraption but I'm thinking they don't. I'll post up what they say after I talk to them. Thanks again for the help, I appreciate it.

Brian