Redline RL240 owned!

Ever since I last sold off my Haro Master , I haven't been into BMX for some reasons. Maybe because I'm busy shifting house and work all at the same time or simply can't find the time to go back to My passion. I've sold many BMX parts during this time, thiNking that I won't be touching another BMX.

But than, one fine day while scootering around the neighbourhood with my kid, I noticed a BMX tucked between some old, abandoned bicycles. For the next few weeks, whenever I drive pass the place, I will take a peek, hoping to see the bike ....Maybe moved to another bicycle lot or at least changed position. This means someone is actually riding it. My curiosity got the  better of me and I decided I have to go and check out this BMX. 

On closer inspection, it's a Redline! A RL 240. Can you imagine the exuberating feeling I got when it's all original, right down to the pedals! 

Wasting no time, I quickly wrote a Note and stick it to the bike, hoping the owner will contact me and willing to sell it to me. 

Weeks has passed and no one called. Then one afternoon, a private number appeared on my phone. I answered it. "Hello." "You want to buy my BMX ah?" The rest, like they say, is history...

Do check out my video reviews on Redline RL240 video

Haro Master Freestyler (Repo? you tell me! )

This is the Haro Master Freestyler, which I bought while I was shopping for vintage parts in one old bike shop. As I was waiting for the owner to retrieve the parts which I have ordered, the FRAME caught my eye. It was stored among other bikes in the back of the shop.

 I have always hankered over the thought of owning one after selling off the rest of my BMX collection. I was scanning through the web on what other iconic BMX worth collecting and Haro Master stood out among the rest. It's the design of the frame. I love the way all the parts thrown in to make the bike so iconic. A legend on it's own merit.

 Someone told me that this is a replica. Well, I'm not too sure. But even if it's a replica, I guessed the level of copying is high as you can see from the pictures. Given it's age, the bike is still go to good.

 With some elbow grease, the shine will emerge, albeit not at good as original. Some surface rust did present.

 The original bike doesn't come with meg rims. I got these rims years ago. The rear rim is Made in Taiwan while the from rim is made in Russia,...yes. You read it correct.

 Added some NOS parts...

 Got this Odyssey Gyro on Carousel. NOS.

 Fusion crank is one day one.

 After keeping for close to 2 years, I decided to let it go as I have run out of storage space (again...)
Put it up for sale and now it's in the hands of a proud owner. It was love at first sight for the buyer. Well, as for me, time to start hunting for the next 'BIG PROJECT'. ../

Daccordi, the true blue Italian Stallion

2 days ago, I was in for some luck. Someone actually threw away a bike at my dumpster. I took a glance at it and it's a road bike. But the 'Mrs' caught me glancing and snorted.."Don't you take it! So many bikes, no more space!" I left the place dejected...than I told myself, "If the bike is still around around after my dinner, than it's fated to be MINE! lol...
True enough, after 3 hours, the bike is still around. Guess, nowadays, people no longer are interested in vintage steel bikes....

It wasn't like this when I found it. The front wheel was taken off, maybe for storage reasons. I tried to put it through the fork but it got stuck. Checked the brakes and found the cable kind of rusty. No worries. Abit of lubricate did the trick. Next, both the tires are flat. And feels hard. Tried my luck with a hand pump...it still inflates! The rest, like the saying goes, is history....more elbow grease and lubricant to bring the bike back to life.

Vintage GT Karakoram restoration project..2017

Finally, found my 1" fork to replace the original missing fork from the previous owner. To me, it's really a bad idea to throw out the original fork and replace it with something new as it's REALLY, REALLY hard to find replacement. I guess the previous owner wasn't really keen in vintage...well, that makes restoration works interesting,right? I've been there and done that in my quest for bicycle parts in my days of restorative works. Although these days, I've slowed down a bit due to work and family commitments, the passion for me to restore an old bike to it's former glory or just owning one is still very strong.

 There is something about the well worn, weather beaten look on this bike. The discolouration due to being stored in a place where there's ample sunlight causes the fading of colour only on one side. I guess the previous owner love to park his bike at a particular location?

 Ah...TANGE...

 I suspect the sticker got worn out due to mounting and dismounting from the bike?

 This SAKAE SX crank was taken from my previous brandless MTB which I built back in 1994. I couldn't afford the expensive ones, especially the ones I saw at Cheap John. I always had my eyes on a Nishiki Alien Al. Those elevated stays....sexy, mystifying. A class on it's own. I wonder when I'll able to own one, though. I did managed to get hold of an Alpinestar Cromega from my previous hunt. Nice ride but it's a tad too short for me.

 Most of....in fact all the parts are from my previous MTB. Shimano 200GS rear derailleur.

 Bought this center pull Diacompe brake from a on-line seller. NOS. Pulls great. Yet to test the stopping power. Still trying to find the brake cable rail though. Maybe 3D print it myself?

 I have actually seen a different version stem, one that has a cable guide (or tube) that runs from the front instead of the top. Any comments on this?

 Still contemplating whether to change the Gripshift to thumbshifters,,,,

GT KARAKORAM, 1996

Finally, I get to own a legend of its time. A GT Karakoram. Back in the 90s, this bike with the unique tripple triangle took the MTB world by storm with this radical and yet sturdy,solid design. The design lasted till today. Although the new GTs are aluminium or alloy frames, the good old steel is still my favourite.
I bought the frame together with the stem online for SGD$200. The frame has been sun baked, thus the colour faded unevenly. I'm still trying to find the right rigid fork to complete the bike. Hopefully, fate will let me ride this legend again....

The previous owner changed the headset to a threadless one. I'm still trying to find a rigid fork, hopefully something similar and replace the headset to one meant for threaded fork.

Love the stickers that screams 'Tange"...

Managed to find a pair of NOS Diacompe centre pull brakes. FS990. Going to find another pair, which I believe to be AD990 originally used by this model. 

Hong Kong trip December 2016

Went HK before 2016 ends, just to have a feel of the weather and also at the same time check out the vintage bicycle scene. This place holds a nostalgic feel to me,personally. My first trip when I was a 5 year old. The weather, people, smell and the feel of vintage is always in the air in HK.  Don't be mistaken. The place is modern, yet still able to retain many of its rich colonial buildings as heritage.

When I was in Maccau, I happened to chance upon a true Chinese workhorse.

Bye-bye Alpinestar!!

Finally, after months or maybe a year or two keeping the classic Alpinestar, I decided to let it go. It was a decision which I have to live with. Time, personal commitment has prevented me from taking it out for spin. It just sits there, collecting cobwebs. With a heavy heart, I put up an online advertisement. Less than a week, it's has found itself a new home.... T.T

It's a Sprint R Skate scooter!! Part 1

It's a 2 Wheeler!

Ok, it's been a while since I last updated my blog. Busy with work, life, kids....blah...BUT, ever since my son has been pestering me to buy him a skate-scooter, I told myself, "Got to find him one so as to stop all this whining."

Went online and was trawling the web looking from some cheap deals when I stumbled onto this 2 wheeler. The owner actually posted it on a 'free post' website for some time and no takers. The pictures wasn't very clear but I did managed to gather some information regarding it and there's even a commercial, posted on Youtube.

At first glance, the scooter looks good. Solid construction. To power it, all you need to do is ride it like a skateboard with rocking motion. Looks fast on the ground too. That's what I SAW on the video post.

I was WRONG!

The previous owner only rode it a few times and then left it to the elements. Condition wasn't too bad. Not much rust. Just needs some lubrications to the moving parts.

Brought it to the parks to test ride it, thinking I would be travelling like, "wind in my hair".

Turns out, I was sweating all the way to my undergarments! The scooter is heavy for a start. It doesn't glide very far and I have to constantly move it up and down to keep it rolling. ...disappointed, yes but I promised myself, being an ENGINEER. I must do something. That's what Engineers do, right? Not right so must make it RIGHT. Stay tune for my updates on what I intend to do to the scooter.....

Classic foot pedal children car

I know I should focus on 2 wheelers as that's what my blog's all about. However, I just have to post something on this foot powered car, which once belongs to my son.

'Once', yes, it used to belongs to him but I have since sold it to a collector. WTH was I thinking, right? Sold your son's beloved car? Well, it wasn't what you might be thinking. See, my son has out grown it and most of the time, the car just stays parked in one corner of the house collecting dust.
I would REALLY loved to keep it for momento sake but there are just some many things,so little space. Some things just have to go. Atleast for this case, it'll be in the safe hands of a collector.

Back to the story. I bought this car way back several years ago, even before my son could learn how to crawl. As usual, I was trawling around dipilated bicycle shops, looking for good deals and this car just 'pops' up rght infront of me. I suddenly remembered, when I was a kid, my neighbour used to cruise around in one of these. All I could do back then was to admire how fortunate my neighbour was. It was cheap, I guessed.

And now, some 30 years later, right infront of me is THE CAR. I just got to get my hands on it. Paid the boss and left the shop a happy man....

Modifiying the stem of my Alpinestar T26...Part 2

After trying out the T26 for some time, using it on different terrains, I find the riding position to be some what 'aggessive'. When going downhill, when you shift your weight back wards, the entire riding position feels kind of weird. Arms stretched. And when I hit a jump, my posture changes again to a pretty 'low' position. If readers don't understand what I'm saying, it's alright. You have to ride it to feel what I'm feeling.
Anyway, I'm pondering whether to change the low-profile stem to something more of upright. Atleast riding long distance will be more bearable. And this set off my hunt for the right stem.
But after trying for some time, I'm stuck. As you have noticed from the picture posted, the shaft from the fork, it's OD is 22.2mm and the ID is 16.5mm. I love to keep the CROMO fork. So changing it is out of the question. Using a quill stem, well, most are diameter 22.2mm. How? Clip ons? Any suggesstions?

1991 Alpinestar Cromega LX T26......Part 1

Recently, feeling kind of bored and looking through my past and present collection of vintage / classic bikes, something seems to be amiss. I have actually missed out in a MTB or BITDs it's called 'ATB' collection. Flipping through my old school MTB Action magazines, a strange feeling rushed through me. It's none other than a picture of an Alpinestar. I have always love this bike the moment I set my eyes on it. The unique design and that EOS ( Elevated Oversize Stay ) system was way advance back then.
With that 'sudden rush', I immediately scan through the web for information regarding this bike.
It seems that in UK, there is a huge following for the Alpinestar Cromega DX. Since there is a huge following, why follow then? Well, if everybody has one, that means it not so 'rare', right?
So, I dug further and found that Alpinestar also produced another model, frame smaller in size, meant for short riders.

This saddle comes orginally with the bike. I presume it's the ORIGNAL set up.

Look at those tyres from Alpinestar. After 20 years, it's still soft and no sign of hardening or cracking. That's what I call 'QUALITY'.

Chromoly is actually an alloy, made up of Chromium and Molybdenum or also know as CRMO. It is easy to weld and the best thing is that it's stronger and harder than standard steel. It also possesses excellent strength to weight ratio, thus suitable for making high-end bicycles. This bike's frame and fork is made entirely of this material, CRMO.