Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Walmart Thruster fixie bike? modification?

Search
Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Walmart Thruster fixie bike? modification?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-03-17, 03:33 PM
  #76  
stasher1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Lilburn, GA
Posts: 78

Bikes: 97 Gary Fisher Wahoo SS conversion

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Thefixedtexan
I say why not buy this bike ? I did and yes it isn't top of the line bike but it's great for someone who is just got into riding . It's about a $100 bike and it's ok for its cost. Although as time goes I had begun to ride up 1,500ft elevation gain with the steel frame and it's hard but after getting off the 700x40 and 700x30 wheel set that it's on to Alex rims track set for $100 also new track drop bars with a new crank and crank arms because the stock crank arms are prone to becoming stripped . But if you have the money to spend on high priced bikes go for it .

The Mongoose Detain is only ~$50 more on Amazon, and it's nicer in every way. If you're going to go cheap, the least you can do is buy a bike that doesn't look like something a clown would ride.
stasher1 is offline  
Old 09-15-17, 10:40 PM
  #77  
pride156
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I did this. I M Dum

I did this. I bought it for $80 off CL for the wheels, and sadly the frame was in better shape than what I was building. So I switched the plan. Only the frame and the headset remains. Kestrel carbon fork. All kinds of nice stuff IMO. I like it. It does the job. I wish is started with a nicer frame tho. I cut a unicorn 1” long fork to make it fit and now I am kicking myself for doing that. Now I’ll keep it forever because I love that fork. Cinelli bars and stem (recently reappropriated)
pride156 is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 07:51 AM
  #78  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times in 431 Posts
Unicorn forks are very rare, you know.
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 07:58 AM
  #79  
pride156
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
Unicorn forks are very rare, you know.
It was unused and long. Now I got a much bigger frame that it would be wonderful for. As I search now I have realized that I should have never cut that down to use it on the thruster.
pride156 is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 08:04 AM
  #80  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times in 431 Posts
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 12:29 PM
  #81  
SquidPuppet
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
 
SquidPuppet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Coeur d' Alene
Posts: 7,861

Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors

Mentioned: 75 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2358 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by pride156
It was unused and long.
I thought you said it was only one inch long.

Originally Posted by pride156
I cut a unicorn 1” long fork
SquidPuppet is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 01:04 PM
  #82  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times in 431 Posts
Originally Posted by SquidPuppet
I thought you said it was only one inch long.
That's why it's a unicorn, capice ?
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 02:40 PM
  #83  
SquidPuppet
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
 
SquidPuppet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Coeur d' Alene
Posts: 7,861

Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors

Mentioned: 75 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2358 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
That's why it's a unicorn, capice ?
I've never seen a CF unicorn fork, only stainless steel.



SquidPuppet is offline  
Old 09-16-17, 03:01 PM
  #84  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,355 Times in 862 Posts
Putting money into it ruins prime merit it has,, If its stolen you wont care much since they don't cost much.
fietsbob is offline  
Old 09-17-17, 08:33 PM
  #85  
951bike
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 63
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
hey guys I forgot all about this website! then i got a random email saying the thread got bumped so heres an update:

I posted this 5 years ago, so what i did instead was i bought a state bicycle used for cheap. rode it for a while sold it for a slight profit, bought an entry level road bike parted it out, then I found a used litespeed bike sold that for a profit and had a custom aluminum frame with a lifetime warranty built locally and I use that as transport.

It's been a long journey but I'm way into road biking now and built 3 bikes and bike tools are CHEAP compared to car tools it only ran me $40 to get all the tools i need!
951bike is offline  
Old 09-17-17, 08:54 PM
  #86  
Bat56
Senior Member
 
Bat56's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: St.Paul, MN
Posts: 1,822
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by 951bike
hey guys I forgot all about this website! then i got a random email saying the thread got bumped so heres an update:

I posted this 5 years ago, so what i did instead was i bought a state bicycle used for cheap. rode it for a while sold it for a slight profit, bought an entry level road bike parted it out, then I found a used litespeed bike sold that for a profit and had a custom aluminum frame with a lifetime warranty built locally and I use that as transport.

It's been a long journey but I'm way into road biking now and built 3 bikes and bike tools are CHEAP compared to car tools it only ran me $40 to get all the tools i need!
Tell us more about the custom built aluminum frame. Because we are taking about unicorns after all.
Bat56 is offline  
Old 09-17-17, 10:59 PM
  #87  
951bike
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 63
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bat56
Tell us more about the custom built aluminum frame. Because we are taking about unicorns after all.
i'm a pretty short dude and the 50cm litespeed was a tad too long in the top tube

so i found a guy locally who made a few bikes a few times a year for some clients so I pretty much just took up the offer. not a terribly crazy bike but it fits and works
951bike is offline  
Old 09-18-17, 05:23 AM
  #88  
checoles
Senior Member
 
checoles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hull, England
Posts: 253

Bikes: Tern Link A7 Folding Bike, Marin Gestalt 2019

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 73 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 951bike
i'm a pretty short dude and the 50cm litespeed was a tad too long in the top tube

so i found a guy locally who made a few bikes a few times a year for some clients so I pretty much just took up the offer. not a terribly crazy bike but it fits and works
We want pictures, of the frame/bike and the weld quality.
Please
checoles is offline  
Old 09-19-17, 11:51 AM
  #89  
DiabloScott
It's MY mountain
 
DiabloScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,002

Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek

Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4338 Post(s)
Liked 2,980 Times in 1,617 Posts
Originally Posted by Bat56
Tell us more about the custom built aluminum frame. Because we are taking about unicorns after all.
Klein started out as a custom aluminum maker.

After going commercial they still made custom frames - had the advantage of all the heat treatment equipment used in their stock frames so they could make them from 6061.

I can't believe I'm posting about Klein in a Walmart thread.
DiabloScott is offline  
Old 09-25-17, 12:53 PM
  #90  
veganbikes
Clark W. Griswold
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,516

Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26

Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4353 Post(s)
Liked 3,993 Times in 2,665 Posts
Originally Posted by 951bike
the 50cm litespeed was a tad too long in the top tube
That's what she said
veganbikes is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 05:46 AM
  #91  
washer62
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Kankakee,Il
Posts: 19

Bikes: 2012 Diamondback response XE MTB 1983 Ross SS CB Cruiser +some more

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I bought a Thruster at Walmart for $79. adjusted and greased everything. Rode it for almost 2 months. I am 6'3" 210#. The frame was a little small but, every thing was fine. Zero problems. I just do not like 700c tires. I want to like 700c...but I cannot convince myself. Trust me, I have tried over and over.
Sadly, I returned it. It is still there and I look at it every time I am in the store.
washer62 is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 08:32 AM
  #92  
SquidPuppet
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
 
SquidPuppet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Coeur d' Alene
Posts: 7,861

Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors

Mentioned: 75 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2358 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by washer62
I just do not like 700c tires. I want to like 700c...but I cannot convince myself. Trust me, I have tried over and over.
I'll bite. Why?
SquidPuppet is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 09:28 AM
  #93  
washer62
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Kankakee,Il
Posts: 19

Bikes: 2012 Diamondback response XE MTB 1983 Ross SS CB Cruiser +some more

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by SquidPuppet
I'll bite. Why?
700c tires deform when I sit on the bike. I feel 700c tires and rims are not suitable for off road riding, when I weigh 210#. I look down at the tire and see it squish. Never gonna get used to that. Larger dia. rims are weaker.
I like 26" x 1.95. 26" rims are stronger. Been riding 50 years. Had under 10 flats in my life. Never bent a rim. Never broke a spoke. 26" tires and tubes come in any config and cheap, available everywhere. 26" tires do squish some but does not bother me.
My OCD say's no 27.5, no 29, no 700c. Only 26" decimal. I stick with what works, even if it limits my options. My issues have issues. But I am workin' on it. lol.
washer62 is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 09:57 AM
  #94  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times in 431 Posts
Oh, the humanity !
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 01:34 PM
  #95  
ceelint
^that guy^
 
ceelint's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 573

Bikes: '17 Wabi Classic, '17 Trek DS3, '12 S-Works Tarmac SL

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 91 Post(s)
Liked 137 Times in 51 Posts
Lol.. I'm 6'2" 210# no problems here
ceelint is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 07:37 PM
  #96  
hairnet
Fresh Garbage
 
hairnet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 13,190

Bikes: N+1

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 352 Post(s)
Liked 27 Times in 18 Posts
Originally Posted by washer62
I feel 700c tires and rims are not suitable for off road riding, when I weigh 210#. I look down at the tire and see it squish...

26" tires do squish some but does not bother me.
I'll bite...

I'm 6'5" 270lbs at the moment. I take my road bikes off road, I don't bend rims or break spokes. I even drop air pressure to get more traction, which is suuuuuper common thing to do in off road riding. My mtb is 29er, no issues at all, and yeah tires are at like 25psi with loads of squish.

So, I don't understand your concerns either. The real problem is that those Thruster wheels are flexy pieces of trash. I serviced many of them when I worked as a bike mechanic, they all have cheapo rims with spokes loose and floppy like wet noodles.

and 10 flats in 50 years??? I can't even count how many flats I've had in the last 9 years since I started cycling.

Last edited by hairnet; 12-11-17 at 07:41 PM.
hairnet is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 10:20 PM
  #97  
Carcosa
Senior Member
 
Carcosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 1,053
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 332 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
^ Sounds more like it.

LOL at being afraid of squishy tires. Try riding cross and squish tires on purpose.
Carcosa is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 10:27 PM
  #98  
seau grateau
Senior Member
 
seau grateau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948

Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times in 194 Posts
Putting aside the ridiculousness of returning a $79 bike after two months because you don't like the size of the tires...
seau grateau is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 10:52 PM
  #99  
TejanoTrackie 
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times in 431 Posts
Originally Posted by seau grateau
Putting aside the ridiculousness of returning a $79 bike after two months because you don't like the size of the tires...
Whatever you might criticize about Walmart, they are truly amazing when it comes to accepting returns from stupid customers.
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is offline  
Old 12-11-17, 11:33 PM
  #100  
seau grateau
Senior Member
 
seau grateau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948

Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times in 194 Posts
Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
Whatever you might criticize about Walmart, they are truly amazing when it comes to accepting returns from stupid customers.
They definitely didn't get where they are by taking the high road.
seau grateau is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.