Phatcycle Project Bike
 

Picked up a Phatcycle cruiser type bike today off FB Marketplace for $20. It is a basket case. It is a PROJECT:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6dbfb1ccef.png
/From the FB ad.

While I'm tearing it down tonight, I'll be thinking about the options before me with this bike. It's a fairly light aluminum frame and I think it might make an interesting rat rod bike.

Looks like someone already started to remove the paint from the frame. I'm toying with stripping all the paint from the frame and leaving it bare. Have any of you guys and gals done this with an aluminum frame? If I do this, should the frame be protected with a clear coat or something else?

Thanks for any ideas or suggestions!

Frame stripped
 

It took two days but I got pretty much all the paint off the frame:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ed75250e0.jpeg
The only salvageable Phat Cycles decals are on the fork so I will keep the fork original with just some cleaning and polishing.

Looks good like that; I'd consider removing all of the paint, then clear coating. You'll have a unique looking bike.

Phat Cycles cruiser frame details
 

It's a rainy Saturday and I'm experimenting with possibly adding gearing to my aluminum Phat Cycles single speed cruiser. I put a six speed freewheel on an extra 20 inch rim and mounted it along with a derailleur and shifter onto the frame. The single speed wheel that came with the bike (I believe it is original) had a hub spacing of 130mm and the 20 inch test wheel I am using is spaced at 135mm. I was relieved that the 135mm wheel went into the dropouts rather easily. And, the cheap Tourney derailleur and indexed thumb shifter moved the chain up and down the freewheel crisply and easily.

But what is really interesting is the Phat Cycles frame. As you can see in this picture, this single speed cruiser frame has a derailleur hanger and mounting options for coaster, linear pull or disc brakes. Not pictured are the cable guides for a front derailleur as well. It's like this frame is the Swiss Army Knife of cruiser frames.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...49b5a7b34.jpeg
Look at all those options for brakes!

I think this bike is going to be so much fun to ride, tinker and experiment with!

Phatty is shaping up
 

The bike is close to being ready to ride. I had to order a seat post because this one is past the minimum insertion point. Also, none of the handlebars I have on hand are quite what I want. So I won't be cutting cables or cable housings until I find the right handlebars.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...560f62ad0.jpeg

That is weird. You should put all three brakes on it. I'd keep the fork, just because it has linear pull mounts, and is a spaded fork- something I wish I could find for my Cranbrook.

Definitely keeping the fork!