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Any of you convert a mountain bike into a cruiser?

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Beach Cruisers Do you love balloon tires and fenders? Do you love riding the simplicity of a single gear and coaster brakes or a single gear cluster? Do you love the classic curves in the tubing of a cruiser that takes you back to the 1950's and 1960's, stylistically? Here's your home! Welcome to the Beach Cruisers and Cruisers forum!

Any of you convert a mountain bike into a cruiser?

Old 03-28-20, 11:50 AM
  #51  
3S1M
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Super duper nice job!!! I have a Bridgestone 400 sitting here that I've been trying to figure out how to covert. At first my stem from my cruiser didn't fit in the head tube. But then for some reason the stem from my son's Schwinn MTB does fit and I used a different stem on that one for the BMX bars.

I just need tires and tubes to fit the frame. I think I'm gonna use my cruiser rims with a coaster brake and put on 1.5" tires. Although 1.75's would work. I tried it with my Son's rims and the 1.95 tires and that pretty much fits but I think would rub a little. Don't your 1.9's come pretty close to the fork or no? I guess yours was a MTB. The 400 I'm referring to is a road bike.....

The only thing I gotta figure out is the different size of the rim in the dropout. I guess I'll use some washers. Or just wait for a cheap MTB and buy it. And use the rim....
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Old 03-29-20, 06:09 AM
  #52  
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As long as you're dealing with (1") MTB quill stems, no problem. The O.D. is 22.2 mm AIR. A BMX stem would fit, but is about 1 mm smaller in diameter, and will fit but could be a problem.
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Old 06-09-20, 11:38 AM
  #53  
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Looks Great! I would love to do the same for my old Hardrock. What type/brand riser and handlebars did you install? Thanks!
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Old 06-10-20, 09:43 AM
  #54  
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I don't think you're talking to me, but just in case you are, my bars and stem I have no clue what they are. They were on a cheap kids bmx bike I found for free. But they work.
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Old 06-10-20, 10:48 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by 3S1M
I don't think you're talking to me, but just in case you are, my bars and stem I have no clue what they are. They were on a cheap kids bmx bike I found for free. But they work.
Thanks 3S1M . . . you're correct . . . I was actually requesting input from Kirby999. Thanks again though!
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Old 01-22-21, 10:40 PM
  #56  
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1992 Stumpjumper



Not sure if this is considered as an official cruiser but it’s definitely not a hardcore mountain bike anymore. I love this bike and find it very comfortable to ride our city streets with.
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Old 01-30-21, 06:50 PM
  #57  
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This is my Burning man bike . The frame is way to small for my 6'5" but with the seat post all the way up and the Ape hanger bars it is a blast to ride
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Old 05-25-21, 11:01 AM
  #58  
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Changed my Hardrock around a little . Hard to find bright green or yellow accessories that match . Too many different shades , Fun bike to cruise the neighborhood.
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Old 05-26-21, 05:53 PM
  #59  
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Finished up my Motobecane today . 1x8 gearing for easy cruising.

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Old 05-26-21, 10:47 PM
  #60  
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Procured a couple of 1984 Schwinn Mesa Runners while searching for a rear hub with 126 spacing. Kept the wheel from one and combined the best parts of the two to make my granddaughter's first MTB, er cruiser.
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Old 05-27-21, 10:12 AM
  #61  
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Just thought I was finished with the Motobecane. LOL ! Are we ever really finished with one ?
Swapped the handlebars out for a taller riser bar . Feels better now .
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Old 05-31-21, 09:39 PM
  #62  
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Just finished building one... 85 Peugeot Orient Express
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Old 06-01-21, 05:07 AM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by ceelint
Just finished building one... 85 Peugeot Orient Express
I had one of these but in yellow. Great bike. I bet this one rides nice!
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Old 06-02-21, 01:22 PM
  #64  
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I just finished a mountain bike to beach cruiser conversion. I wrote a quick blog post about it if you want to learn about the details. The conversion was the result of wanting a 'casual' riding experience when I go on rides with my family on the bike path or around the lake. With a less aggressive position, I'm less inclined to push the pace - which puts me in the dog house The upright riding position allows me to relax and enjoy the surroundings. I list parts I used for the conversion in the aforementioned blog post, but the key parts are the super chill beach cruiser handle bars and big cushy seat. Some flat pedals, a kick stand, basket, bell and fenders round out the build, along with some Fat Frank tires. I opted to put some tubes with removable cores in the tires, and then added some Stans to the tubes to help keep a good seal on the valve (prevents slow valve leaks, making topping up air a less frequent need) along with the thorn or pinch flat protection it will provide. I’ve dubbed this build the "FrankenCruzer".



‘FrankenCruzer’

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Old 06-03-21, 07:59 AM
  #65  
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90s cruiser style NORBA geometry MTB frame turned into a city cruiser


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Old 06-03-21, 08:57 AM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by ceelint
Just finished building one... 85 Peugeot Orient Express
I really like this! Did you find a stock coaster brake wheel to fit in the rear drop outs or did you build your own? Or, did you cold set the drop outs to the proper width?
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Old 06-03-21, 09:06 AM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by GeezyRider
I really like this! Did you find a stock coaster brake wheel to fit in the rear drop outs or did you build your own? Or, did you cold set the drop outs to the proper width?
thanks! eBay wheel... I just placed the appropriate amount of washers on each side of the axle to fit the dropout
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Old 06-03-21, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by ceelint
thanks! eBay wheel... I just placed the appropriate amount of washers on each side of the axle to fit the dropout
Gotcha! Didn't know if the axle would be long enough to do that.
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Old 06-03-21, 10:26 AM
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I always worry about getting a straight chainline when doing something like that, but I guess you get it straight, then re-dish the wheel as necessary.
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Old 06-03-21, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by 2old
I always worry about getting a straight chainline when doing something like that, but I guess you get it straight, then re-dish the wheel as necessary.
This is true. I have converted a couple of vintage bikes to SS and have been able to get a good chainline by merely changing the bottom bracket spindle width and/or moving the chainring in or out on the crank arm. Sometimes you get lucky.
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Old 06-03-21, 11:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 2old
I always worry about getting a straight chainline when doing something like that, but I guess you get it straight, then re-dish the wheel as necessary.
I swapped the BB spindle with one that was 8.5 mm shorter and it gave me a nice chainline
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Old 06-04-21, 12:05 AM
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Well, I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. I've used mostly cassettes with my single speeds, so no problem with chainline. The couple of times with a freewheel hub years ago, must have gotten lucky.
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Old 06-19-21, 04:12 PM
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1985 Mt Fuji. The paint was in pretty rough shape after years of off road activity with a series of youngsters in bike seats and it was going to be dipped and powder coated, but noticed the decals looked pretty good, so just masked them, then prepped and shot the frame. Decided to toss a spare BBS02 on to see how stealth it would look with a 52V, 4 ah battery in a seat bag (not shown). Frame, fork and headset weighed a portly eight pounds, but the entire bike came in at 41. Went on a 20 or so mile shakedown cruise along a dirt / gravel / concrete bike path and it's pretty competent if a little unforgiving.
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Old 06-21-21, 05:49 PM
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My Burning man Playa bike . I love the ape hanger bars for low speed cruising but they can be a little twitchy . And make sure they are screwed down tight . I once left them a little loose after doing some work on the bike and the next time I rode it and put on the brakes they fell forward and I did a summersault over them landing flat on my back. Amazingly I didn't get hurt at all. Must have looked amazing to any onlookers.
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Old 06-22-21, 05:03 AM
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Originally Posted by DorkDisk
90s cruiser style NORBA geometry MTB frame turned into a city cruiser


That was a mtb? I wish I could find one of those hossack forks. I'd consider that a street fighter with the gearing, even with the fork on it. Iove that bike.
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