BMX - Lowflier - Finished

I attacked the rear stays this afternoon, but progress was slow as my y11 engineers wanted teaching. I decided to cut the rear stays on their bottom tubes just behind the bottom bracket, and then bend the top tubes out to increase the lenght of the bottom tube, increasing the wheelbase and lowering the frame some more. I was going to sleave the gap with some larger diameter tube, but looking back on slater's lowrider in an evening thread I recon turning down a shoulder on each end of a short peice of bar will look much nicer and be stronger.



Bottom tube of the stays has been cut, and clamped to the bench, a long bar was slotted into the head tube and I lifted gently, I've increased the thength of the bottom tube by about 30mm, will try and get 50mm but the top tube on the stays has started to collaps where its bending (were ther curve in to join the single tube to the seat post). The bottom tubes of the stays were bent back into line using a sash cramp on the top tobe and the cut ends.

Tomorrow i'll turn the spacers and hopefully get them "welded" in.

Not sure whether to try to fab a bananna/chopper style seat or just use a standard saddle with a layed back seat stem.

Rear stays sleeved, not inserted. Was easier to make the sleeves with kids about.



Mockup of frame, not welded the stays yet.
Not going to show off the welding, which hasn't improved.



I'm going to build up the bike with the parts i have now, however i might ebay a pair of ape hanger handlebars to go with last nights purchase, £8.30 including the postage:



Will need to make some sissy bars to support the rear of the saddle.

I'd like these but they are a bit too much at £30.

Yup.

Here's the mock assembly. I'm liking the original bars, and saddle actually, will have to see when the bananna saddle comes what to do. A trad style brown leather sprung saddle would probably go best with what i've now got in mind.
Oh, and from the little scoot about i've had on it its not the most rideable device ever!

LAy back seat post and some easier gearing may be required now too.

you might miss that length you cut out of the top tube!

looking damn cool though, nice frame design for this idea, did the disk brake wheels come with it, thats a bit special!

Oh yeah it is in the way. or move it to the bottom, it will pull rather than push against the frame, but as you say those disc brakes are not so hot when cheepies, look kool though.

Looks good like that! better than i imagined

Isn't there already a huge castor angle there? That's the reason it rides worse than original, surely? Moving the wheel forward more would increase the issue.

Here it is, still not 100% because some scrote kid appears to have pinched 3 break levers, a chain and a pedal. So no rear brake as yet and no chain so no first ride for me today. I cant decide if i want to add some white or green scallops to the top and bottom tubes, what do ya reckon?