Bike Hunt... over!

Well the frame hunt ended today for the prefect frame for my chopper project (if you don't know what I am talking about back up a couple of blogs). I caved in and spent money on a frame. The fine fellas over at Surly knew I was hunting and made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

So "Project Chopper" will ride around on a Surly Karate Monkey frame. I have a KM that I use as my off road rig and its a blast. The price was right and it will work for the parts that I have (cross your fingers). My biggest concern was the rear wheel. A 24 inch wheel that sports a 3.0 slick does not fit in most frames, but it will in the KM as long as it is up past the canti bosses... it will be or maybe the boss will go bye bye. Plus I decicde that worst case the chopper rides like crap or just flat out doesn't work I have a "just in case" back up 29er frame or if money gets tight something to sell. Its a win win!

I decide about 3 o'clock today to do this thinking that if I had another KM frame on the way the thing to do was to pull the parts off of my current KM and start hanging the chopper parts on it today at work... finish it with the other parts at home ... ride it at critical mass tonight and then all weekend including New Years. Why not? But then I though better of it. Why tear down a prefectly good and rideable bike only to have to build it back up eactly as it is on a different frame?? That makes no sense.. so I will wait... dig though my parts pile at home, gather the items that I need and then the day the frame arrives do it all at once at work in the shop where I have room to work, better tools and lots better lighting (important for the one eyed guy) not to mention other people to bounce ideas off of or lend a head if I can't get some thing to work the way I have planned.Good thinking eh?

So I have it all picutred in my mind... hopefully it works. I am also looking at scrapping the idea of using the disc brake with a single speed free wheel on the back and just setting it up as a very easy geared fixie... that could make it real intesting. I am also concerned with crank clearnce since the frame will be perched up on 24/20 wheels... the Stiletto is a low rider and sports 152mm crank arms.. way too short for my long legs... I am hopping I can use my normal 175s or at least 170s. So in my parts bins I need to find - bottom bracket, cranks, ss chain ring, chain, pedals, freewheel/track cog & lock ring,seat post, saddle, grips and bar. I am planning on using the 24" ape hangers that are on my clown bike or the shorty apes that are currently on the NBB cruiser. We will see on build day.

Bonus points!!! The 152 cranks and the 7 speed shifter that are comming off the Stiletto are exactlly what I need (I think) to finish out the kids bike I have in my back yard for the Mayor of Waldo's daughter... he and she will be pleased.

So hopefully by next weekend (no promises) Project Chopper will be complete. I will snap some photos of the work in progress and completed... a full report will accompay.

Cheers to everyone and have a fun and safe weekend and New Years!!!