I would like to create something vaguely like this glorious monster, but using less cash money than going custom. I’m hoping someone has a tip for something amazingly suitable that I haven’t thought of.
Main good things needed:
– not useless as a bike for actually knocking about on and riding some light trails;
– looks pants-wettingly amazing (at least when it’s finished) probably in a fairly retro way;
– able to take a good, solid front rack for serious loading when needed.
Some thoughts on what to use…
I have a Jones Plus (LWB) which could be downgraded with a Jones Unicrown fork to take a suitable front rack. Feels a bit of a shame to mess with such a sorted bike really…
Transition Klunker would have been good, but not available.
Ditto Kona A’ha.
Stooge is a possible, but the fork eyelets don’t support the obvious front rack choices. The Jones unicrown might work, or drilling the bottom of the steerer is a possibility.
Surly Lowside fork doesn’t have any rack fitments at all.
He’s having a laugh with the price but there’s always at least one for sale. I can’t think of a better base for a custom klunker that won’t be stupid money.
Not a swoopy top tube frame or anything, but could the same kind of thing not be achieved with an old shape BFe or a Switchback? An old Sunn BMiX might tick the box too.
Wouldn’t be too difficult/expensive to have a second toptube added to any another frame? Get one of the new On-One Bootzipper frames when they’re available and have it modified?
This weeks #filletfriday is brought to you by @letmetalktomark’s Singular. . . We ruined the paint, but also added an additional top tube to give it a klunker aesthetic and added a plethora of cable guides to make it a lot more Rohloff speedhub friendly. . . This thing is awesome, I either want to keep it or build myself something similar!
Thanks. It’s a great bike. I’ve been Stooge curious for a while and really glad that I’ve finally got one. It’s my only bike and a great compromise. Fast enough for commuting and general duties, comfy for longer off road rides and a capable hooligan. An all round nice place to be sat and more importantly makes me smile whenever I look at it.
Here’s my Transition Klunker. I got fed up waiting for the Charge Bikes Klunker so started watching on eBay, this came up and I bought it for a good price. Its used for local pub rides and taking the dog out – he loves ‘Klunker walks’!
I was going to lace in some Sturmey drum brake hubs but the coaster brake is fine once you get used to it.
Fairdale make/made a few vaguely klunkery/cruisery models: Taj, Coaster, Weekender, Flyer. They don’t seem to be as easy to get hold of as they were a few years ago, but there are some retailers out there.
Ajantom – remove that fork and front wheel immediately! It’s either drum brake or skid inducing coaster brake only on a Klunker-certainly no disc brake!
Ajantom – remove that fork and front wheel immediately! It’s either drum brake or skid inducing coaster brake only on a Klunker-certainly no disc brake!
I had to, I was riding it on some proper steep singletrack, and the previous time with only a rear brake I nearly died!
You’ll be happy to know that it’s now been reinstated to a rear only drum brake 😉