Walmart Thruster fixie bike? modification?
#76
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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.
#77
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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)
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#81
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
#83
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
#84
Banned
Putting money into it ruins prime merit it has,, If its stolen you wont care much since they don't cost much.
#85
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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!
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!
#86
Senior Member
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!
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!
#87
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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
#88
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Please
#89
It's MY mountain
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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.
#90
Clark W. Griswold
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#91
Junior Member
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.
Sadly, I returned it. It is still there and I look at it every time I am in the store.
#92
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
#93
Junior Member
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.
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.
#96
Fresh Garbage
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.
#98
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Putting aside the ridiculousness of returning a $79 bike after two months because you don't like the size of the tires...
#99
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Whatever you might criticize about Walmart, they are truly amazing when it comes to accepting returns from stupid customers.