jimmie65

My latest monstrosity - sorry, creation - is turning an old fat bike BMX into a beach cruiser.

Here's what I started with:


Sanded off most of the rust and repainted it; currently after 2 coats of primer, 3 coats of Rustoleum, and 3 coats of clear coat, it looks like this:
.
I wanted it a little rough, but might be stripping it down and starting over.

Still need to clean the wheels, maybe paint them:

(That's not a crack, just a blemish. Had to go doublecheck after looking at the pic.)

Nothing but the frame, fork, and wheels were usable. Got a black crankset, some decent pedals, and a chrome BMX stem to go on it, as well as the miscellaneous parts (chain, v-brakes, etc). Probably stick a cruiser saddle on it. I've ordered a tall layback seatpost so the only thing I haven't decided on is the handlebars.

This is similar to the look I'm going for (with several modifications):


The tallest affordable hangers I've found are 25" rise (just like the ones I put on my Mango):

But now that I'm going with a BMX style stem, I may want taller hangers.

So if anyone can offer advice, I've got 2 questions:
1. Painting rims - worth it? I assume similar to a bike frame: sand completely, primer, several coats of paint, and clear coat with plenty of time to cure.
2. Anyone know where I can get ridiculously tall hanger bars without selling my first born? I stumbled across a set of 32" hangers but they were $200 and I really didn't want to spend that kind of money on this project.

Philphine

my tries at painting rims worked out well enough (for me anyway). I took the tires off, did any sanding I wanted to try, and cut up some drinking straws (into twos or threes, then slit them sideways) and put them over the spokes. then I put them back on the bike or on a spare fork or frame (have to spray away from the frame if you don't want to mess up whatever finish is on it), and spun the wheel while I sprayed it.


I've picked up two of those bikes used. I'm using the wheels off one on two different projects. the other is still in the box. no plans for it yet.

jimmie65

Great idea. Thanks.


Interested to see what you put the wheels on.

dabac

Painted rims and rim brakes are generally a so-so thing, unless you mask the brake tracks off.
It’s a tale of mutual destruction, with the brakes eventually coming out as winners.
Braking will scuff the paintwork, and the paint will make braking poorer, then grabby until the paint is worn off.

oliviathesis

Very cool