Page 9 - Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes

03-09.-2007, 08:35 PM

#121

gclark8

Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia

Posts: 3,480

Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes

From Post #1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gclark8

From time to time I am asked to do minor component/performance upgrades on entry level bikes. I will add the details of each project here as they happen.

Today's example:
Giant Upland Ladies XS 14" http://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/03...007&model=10105
Fit Conti City Contact 26x1.5 Tyres and Presta Valve Tubes.
Swap Cassette to Sunrace 11-24 7 Speed.
Swap Crankset to 28/38/48 with 152mm Cranks.
Swap Pedals to alloy MTB and fit Strapless Toe Clips.
Swap Seatpost to Suspension Post with a reversable head.
Swap Stem to 90mm adjustable.
Cut bars to 540mm, fit Foam Grips and adjust lever reach.

The bike ends up lower, lighter and fitting a sub 5' lady rider very well and is considerably faster than the original at a fraction of the cost of a road bike.

This is where the topic started, the Upand Project. Today sees the end of the project, 12 months almost to the day, Jackie has decided to SELL the Upland!!

And replace it with a Giant OCR3.

The bike is now ready for sale, see pix below, for $300, Perth WA only. Thank you all for your interest in this project. Stay tuned for the OCR3 upgrade...

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__________________
Cheers,
George.

08-09.-2007, 06:30 AM

#122

gclark8

Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia

Posts: 3,480

Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes

Quote:

Originally Posted by gclark8

The bike is now ready for sale, see pix below, for $300, Perth WA only. Thank you all for your interest in this project.

SOLD!

__________________
Cheers,
George.

08-09.-2007, 10:40 PM	#123
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,480	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes Today I built the OCR3 in Flat Bar config as the CRX is not available in XXXS-650c sizes. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cheers, George. Last edited by gclark8 : 08-09.-2007 at 11:43 PM.

09-09.-2007, 04:08 AM

#124

JeremyP

Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 66

Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes

Quote:

Originally Posted by gclark8

Today I built the OCR3 in Flat Bar config as the CRX is not available in XXXS-650c sizes.

I'd like to see you apply this flat bar treatment to a TCR Advanced ISP

09-09.-2007, 01:05 PM	#125
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,480	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes A couple of years back, one of the Giant Dealers here in Perth was doing TCR Flat Bar conversions, this is before Giant brought out the CRX 0 & 1. They used the Shimano Flatbar Ultegra 9 speed Shifters and Levers. I recently did a Carbon Kestrel, which is for sale, see: http://www.triwa.org.au/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1310 __________________ Cheers, George.

13-09.-2007, 09:11 AM

#126

gclark8

Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia

Posts: 3,480

Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes

Quote:

Originally Posted by gclark8

Well, she came back, spat her dummy and I had to take all my bits off and fix it up for her.

Don't you just love those K-Mart and Huffy people:
NEW STICKERS!!

Huffy replacement!

When Jackie sold the Upland, the buyer gave me her old bike, a steel frame Indi Cavalier!

After a good clean, new wheels, bars, V-brakes, in fact, most of the gear I had on the huffy, I now have a shopping bike!

I will upgrade the 3x5 gears later.

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__________________
Cheers,
George.

14-09.-2007, 10:01 PM	#127
rkelsen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 9	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes The time has come to upgrade the brakes on my 1995 Malvern Star MTB. Currently, it has some cheapo plastic APSE centre pull cantilevers, which I can never seem to centre properly. I've decided to go for some V brakes, and read that Avid are a pretty good brand. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should go for? I want something good quality. My budget is $100 to $120 (including levers if necessary). Cheers, Rob

14-09.-2007, 11:31 PM	#128
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,480	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes Just go for some Tektro or Promax V-Brakes and "matching" V-brake levers, about $50. I removed all traces of cantilever and put Alhonga V-Brakes and Tektro V-Brake levers on the Indi (above) for about $45. __________________ Cheers, George.

14-09.-2007, 11:42 PM	#129
rkelsen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 9	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes I've done some more reading and it seems that Avid SD7 are pretty widely praised. Are they available here? How much do they cost?

15-09.-2007, 07:46 PM	#130
rkelsen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 9	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes I ended up fitting a set of Avid Single Digit 3 brakes with Speed Dial 5 levers. They stop much better than the old brakes!

17-09.-2007, 01:47 PM	#131
xxamr_corpxx Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 328	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes New bike or fix up the old one? I'm looking to get a rigid fork MTB alloy bike and build it up into a bomb-proof commuter/tourer. My Giant Elwood needs the following fixed up : New BB Suspension forks replaced with rigid fork (The current ones have no lockout and squeak like hell) New, more durable wheelset - the current ones are slightly dented and features a 6 speed freewheel. I think I might be able to sell the Elwood for $150-200 if I fixed up the bottom bracket. Any recommendations for new bikes? __________________ 2004 Trek 1000 2005 Giant Elwood ACE Folding Bicycle

17-09.-2007, 05:22 PM	#132
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,480	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes Giant CRX4... __________________ Cheers, George.

05-04.-2008, 06:19 AM	#133
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,480	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes A recent re-build, Seiko Ladies Bike, in the Quokka for $150. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cheers, George.

18-04.-2008, 12:07 PM	#134
gclark8 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Perth (Basso), West Australia Posts: 3,480	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes A new shopping bike for Little Jackie: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Cheers, George.

23-04.-2008, 10:13 PM	#135
robalert Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Eastwood, Sydney, Australia Posts: 390	Re: Upgrades to entry level MTBs and Comfort Bikes I just wanted to share my experience at a failed attempt to upgrade my apollo i bought a SRAM dual drive hub/velocity rear wheel for my Apollo Himalaya commuter, BUT have found that the shifter unit fouls with my rear rack mount and I can't mount my son's croozer hitch. So I have ended up buying a strong but cheap rim and stuck with the 21spd setup rather than the initial planned 63spd setup So if anyone would like a unique dual drive setup, then ask me, happy to part with it for the price i paid for it __________________ Rob www.bikenorth.org.au '07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2 '06 Giant CRX1 '96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks. '04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

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