How hard is it to make a kids' bike?

Is it ready Mick?

I do love an early start when the boss isn’t in…bit more progress. Bores for tubing and headset roughed out, outer profile finished 🙂

I like the ramming spike / unicorn on the front

Bit more done today. Seat-tube/top-tube interface profiled:

Hi Stevie

Yes we got finished in time – very happy customer 🙂

They were shooting off on holiday straight after Christmas – I believe it had a good test ride on Boxing Day, but no proper photos yet.

There must be an update… 😀

Probably been sacked for going work early 😆

There must be an update…

Sorry, been busy doing proper work unfortunately. Have been doing some designing and part sourcing as I need some bits to get the design finished.
Picked up a Hope front hub that will be used on the back wheel/brake/freewheel arrangement. Also picked up a nice set of Truvativ Hussefelt cranks that were perfect for shortening. Cost me £30 including BB.
Before (170mm):

After (120mm):

They were 700g’s before and are now 470g 🙂

They were 700g’s before and are now 470g

That’s cool!

Done a little test piece to see how the freewheel will attach and to give me something to work with to finish the design for the back end. Feels pretty good. Managed to fit an extra bearing on the hub which should help keep everything running smoothly.
The back of the adapter will be milled to allow the rotor to sit behind, flush with the adapter so it will all be tight when bolted together:

Disc and drive on the same side?

Please tell me you’re going for a single chainstay

Coolest kids bike ever

Please tell me you’re going for a single chainstay

I am 🙂

You’d be a cool uncle.

I couldn’t leave that muck on the hub, get it clean man!!

That is exactly how I imagined it – top work.

I finally got a few photos of the 26er so will post on the “last thing made” thread later.

I thought the balance bike was impressive, this is already looking astonishingly good! Keep it up 🙂

Thanks guys 🙂
mick – glad it meets your approval 😉 Look forward to seeing the pics of the 26er

Bit more done:
Bottom bracket lug nearly finished

140mm rotor fitted: (thanks Blazin-saddles)

Managed to source most of the parts needed now thanks to Chain reactions sale.

3 lugs almost done:

This is looking awesome.

Are you planning on a disc guard?

Its one of the things that makes me want a drum brake but they are silly heavy.

This is looking awesome.

😀

Are you planning on a disc guard?

It’s certainly something I will look at once I can bolt it all together

I may have missed it but are you epoxying the tubes I to the alloy lugs or a slotted lug to allow the tubes to be swapped out to grow the bike with the child.?
Looks super so far!

Yes, they’ll be bonded in place. Will get the lugs anodised 1st to prevent corrosion.

I would check the anodising before bonding as it may well make the bond to the aluminium very weak if its conventional sealed annodising which I expect it will be.

In terms of corrosion I wouldnt reply on anodising to prevent that but for the time your daughter will use it it should be fine. Some glass at the interface would be best and don’t forget to add a chamfer to any adhesive joint to drop the stress off, ideally a double taper of the adhesive. as it comes out of the lug – ie LUG /\<- adhesive. Doesnt have to be huge.

I love the fact you are basically making a modern kids version of one of the most famous, and now most valuable MTB’s ever, the Yeti C-26

Little bit more progress today. Got the adapter for the disc caliper done and made the slimline freewheel adapter. Starting to get there now 🙂

Great job, but your photos died 🙁

Hmm, photo’s seem to have disappeared 🙁 Stupid Photobucket.
Anyway, bit more progress – chain and set stays nearly done:

Starting to look something like a bike:

Really starting to look good.

We’re having a £25 crapbike challenge at work (ending at a beer festival). I’m just off to source a central heating radiator – or pressed steel monocoque main frame as I prefer to call it 🙂

Sounds like a fun project mick 🙂

Tubing now sorted for this frame. Going with aluminium as the carbon was proving tricky to find/expensive and when I added in the adhesive etc it would have just cost too much to do.
So, just need to bore the lugs for the tubing – make the bolts – weld it up.
Light at the end of the tunnel 🙂

Bit more progress:

Tubing sorted, lugs bored, headset fitted to check steerer etc.

That is very very cool.

Good work and skills.

Front end all fits well. Just need to make the bolts and I can put it all together 🙂

Ace 🙂

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Looks awesome. Not sure if I have missed it or not, is it staying raw?

Front triangle reminds me of Raleigh dynatech which i always liked back in the day.

You’re teasing us by not showing how it looks with the back end fitted 🙂

But seriously a very nice job.

Thanks guys 🙂

Not sure if I have missed it or not, is it staying raw?

Front triangle reminds me of Raleigh dynatech which i always liked back in the day.
She wants it pink FFS!! I had a Dynatech Pro which was some of the inspiration behind this.

You’re teasing us by not showing how it looks with the back end fitted

I can’t yet…don’t have the bolts 😳

Knocked up a few bolts to test the fitting and it all fitted together 1St time 😯

That is bloody awesome. Can’t wait to see 7th with wheels on