[Closed] One on inbred.. is it worth the build

Well worth saving if the parts with it work and it's the right size. Go 2x10 and the bits you need will cost buttons.

My mate has been through a fair amount of bikes over the last 10 years but his Inbred frame is the only one he's kept.

The forks seem pretty decent put the wheels have a fair amount of play in them. Don’t really know how to take them apart. They a superstar hubs. The cassette is 10 speeds so was gonna go 1x10 if I did keep it

It'll be worth sorting either way as a cheap second hand bike could come with all the same issues. You already have your cheap ebay bike, you just need to finish it!

Cheers mate you do have a very valid point. Is there a reason a lot of these bike are converted to single speed?

swainy90 - Member
Cheers mate you do have a very valid point. Is there a reason a lot of these bike are converted to single speed?

It was the niche thing to do back in the day....

This is exactly what I use my inbred for, it makes a perfect winter bike. Surprising how much fun you have when you don't much care about the cheap kit you put on it

Any recommendation for cheap wheels and cranks to fit?

The wheels will be cartridge bearings, so much cheaper to just replace them rather than buy new wheels.

Cranks - look for a set of 2nd hand shimano HTII ones. Pretty much last forever, and can be had for peanuts. Probably need a new BB, but a Shimano external can be had for about £15.

By play in the wheels do you mean they need truing or new bearings? Either way, probably far cheaper to get a shop to fix them up rather than getting new wheels.

Is it easy enough to get them apart can only see one place can loosen but will need a very thin spanner. Think the B.B. is ok tbf seems pretty smooth. I’ll look for cranks on eBay. Will they be a straight fit or will they require spacers????

Yeah they movement side to side so think it’s the bearing spokes are pretty tight and wheels fairly true. I’d do it myself replace bearing just don’t know how to get them apart haha

Shimano cranks should be a straight fit.
I'd look in the For Sale section on here (or place a wanted ad) as it's the kind of thing people have in their spares box.

I gave away a set of LX cranks last week!

Ahhh gutted yeah probably best bet like you say cheers everyone btw for all the advice and help

That will be a decent winter bike, better the devil you know too...

Figure out a list of what you need to get it riding, put a wanted add on here and check the classifieds for used bits, while you are waiting for other parts you can learn how to service the wheels.

Yeah good point mate. I’ll be sound to service them it’s just getting them apart but should be able to work it out hopefully

I don't think they do any tech support for their hubs, if you figure out which model of hub they are, i'm sure someone on here will be able to give you some guidance. The end caps that cover the bearing will either be push on, just round, or screw on, with some spanner flats.

ChunkyMTB - Member
swainy90 - Member
Cheers mate you do have a very valid point. Is there a reason a lot of these bike are converted to single speed?
It was the niche thing to do back in the day....

... kinda sorta ... I’d say the #1 reason so many Inbreds seem to be singlespeeded is that it’s probably the cheapest available frame with a horizontal dropout option 😉

Back to OP, the main issues with building an Inbred today are the 1 1/8 steerer tube and 27.2 seat tube. Once you’re past that, it depends to an extent how old an Inbred it is. It’s always been a cheap heavy frame but it’s pretty reliable. Since you already have the frame I don’t see why not if you have a reasonable fork available. If you didn’t have the frame already, there are plenty of much nicer steel hardtails with the same component size issues going for peanuts now...

As above, Superstar hubs should be cartridge bearings. Apologies for the below link, I didn’t name the thread!

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/hub-service-am-i-being-a-****tard-superstar-content

Thanks mate, well by the looks the only good parts on the bike are the frame, forks and it has a carbon seatpost. The best either missing or buggered hahah. I’ve got the main bits I guess though. I’ll have a read through them threads thank you

to save wear and tear on my full sus

With the speed that standards, technology and geometry are changing at the moment, I'm not convinced prolonging the life of such bikes is the best practice, i.e. get as much use out of it as you can before it becomes obsolete! Still I'd like a bike such as an Inbred and did have a 29er built up as a commuter. Is this one a 29er?

Can you guys not see the photo I have uploaded??? If not no it’s the old 26” wheel. It’s probably 10 years old lol

I have a rigid 29 Inbred. 1 x 10 (cheap deore 36t cassette). I love it. Perfect for winter duties. Trail centres I tend to use other bikes as I find trail centres are more winter proof than my local trails. It's nice having a dedicated bike that you can roll out of the garage and not have to worry about keeping that clean, quick hose and job done.

Frame is heavy but does the job fine.

I've was out this morning on my 26" singlespeed Inbred. Brilliant fun and a blast in the leaflitter in the woods.
Then I used it again this afternoon to run the dog-thing.

If not no it’s the old 26” wheel. It’s probably 10 years old lol

I am on my third Inbred. My first one - with identical geometry to my current one - was bought second-hand fourteen years ago. This one is fire engine red and one has horizontal dropouts and disc mounts.

I also own a Trance but that's boring compared to the Inbred.

Go Razz!

You could get that going and usable for peanuts compared to newer stuff and look at it, it's nearly there. I'd chuck some half-decent used stuff on it and enjoy it.

It's "old", "obsolete", so what? It will be a fun bike. My most used and most modern bike's a 456 with 26" wheels and 27 gears, yes I have no doubt that there are bikes that out perform it in every respect but I really don't care. Thrashing about in the woods on it is fun, I like fun.

EDIT: I lifted my friends 27.5, 160mm FS bike onto the roof rack last week and was a little insulted by how light it was. Pfft, I couldn't justify spending a couple of grand on a bike. So I'm still happy (as long as I don't have to pick it up again..)

Great fun bike. Mines still rolling.

I've had 2 geared inbreds and a ss inbred in the past. I loved the geometry for xc riding.

Love my inbred, mines a 26er with sliding dropouts and a 120mm dual air Reba. I've used it for everything from 100 mile xc rides to downhill tracks at triscombe. It's slower on the rocky stuff than newer bikes but it always gets down them.

Also, I use the cheap 27.2 dropper from eBay, think it's called a redneck sport, and it's been faultless for over 6 months with no maintenance. Lever is pants but if you're going 1x10 you can probably find an under bar lever of some sort.

Really wish I'd not sold my inbred now...

My Inbred is now my only mountain bike, see no reason to change it! Perfect for cross country trails. Swap the parts over from the full suss if you want to save some £s. They're good, fun frames that last forever! 🙂

As above, it's my only mountain bike at the moment. I do plan to buy a full suss bike this/next year, but I'll never get rid of the inbred.

I have a nearly ten year old on one 456. It's the most ridden bike I own. Yes it's made out of pig iron but the geometry is good and they're tough.

I'd build that up 1*10 or 2*10 with parts from the classifieds, sort the cartridge bearings in the wheels, stick some mud tyres on and slither about all winter on it.

My FS doesn't get used much in mid winter not because of mechanical sympathy but because the mud clearance is pants.

Thanks for all the input guys think I’m gonna keep and invest. Soon be built up ready for the horrid winter weather covered in mud. Can’t wait!!! Haha

None of the parts you need to make that work won't work on a more modern setup, so no money wasted. Crack on.

I can't decide if your serious or not dmorts lol I have a Kong cinder cone from 1995 thats still going strong. The inbred will be spot on cheap to build up and last years