Old School 24" Repco Hotfoot

[keromx]

Popped into mum and dads today to say hi and thought I would go see if dad still had any of my old bikes lying around in the shed.

Well my favourite madison bmx (circa 1979-80) with red tuffs was gone, probably slowly rotting away in some landfill east of here (or maybe made its way to Justin Fox's house LOL).

Anyway came across another bike and quickly threw it in the car for me to inspect tonight. It is my 24" Repco Hotfoot that I had in late primary early high school. I was so proud because no-one at school or in the area had a 24" let alone one with tuffs. Not sure what rust damage there is on the frame yet, but that might determine whether I do a job on it.

Here are some quick pics::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/photo2.jpg

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/photo3.jpg

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/photo-1.jpg

Latest pic 06/02/09::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0728.jpg

[Justin Fox]

S c o r e !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Justin Fox]

I've always thought the cruisers were cool. After seeing Tom's (Hell On Wheels) cruiser, and perving on a few SE's online as well as cruisers on Flickr AND watching the Karate Kid for the billionth time (sweep the leg, Johnny!) I think I want one, maybe next year!

[keromx]

Ok had a chance to pull the bike apart tonight, and the frame is in good condition with all the rust being surface rust.

With a little bit of elbow grease tonight I was able to rub back most of the rust and the frame began coming to life.

I am trying to keep as many main parts as possible to keep it as original as possible. I threw out unusable or deteriorated parts.

This build is significant for me as this my bike over 25 years ago. I have decided on a mix of retro and modern parts just so my sons don't feel too embarrassed riding it.

Even though the components are chrome, I have decided on a colour scheme of white frame, black bars and black fork and will drop it off for painting tomorrow. I have been wanting to paint a bike white for a long time, but was inspired by supertights (chris I think) orange branded mtb to roadie rebuild.

I will be taking the frame to work as we have a production paint booth there and the guys are a bit slow coming into christmas so they will 2-pack the frame, bars and forks tomorrow. Sure powder coating might be a better option, but the painting will cost me nothing... besides I am their boss so they will do what I tell them to do.

Here are some pics::

I was stoked to see this, 25 year old wellgo's::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0371.jpg

Under close inspection the CL brakes were a really cool brass colour finish, I am going t try my best to keep these on the final build. I am only going to have a rear brake on this bike::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0372.jpg

Needs a bit of lovin here::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0374.jpg

The strip and clean underway::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0376.jpg

Forks almost done::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0377.jpg

Starting to look shiny::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0386.jpg

The tuffs are called Starfire wheels (7 spoke) and are made in Australia: Considering these have been sitting in my parents shed for 25 years, they are in pretty good nic::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0383.jpg

Funny story here, the sticker indicates that the bike was purchased from the same local bike store that I know and love today (and am very close with the staff)... i did not know this until I was about to remove the stickers and noticed the shop sticker::

[http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0380.jpg

[Justin Fox]

Awesome!

[keromx]

Well it was only this time yesterday that I pulled the hotfoot out from my mum and dads shed.

I guess you can say I am excited about this project, this is not just a cheap BMX frame that I picked up on ebay like the last reno project I did.

This is my old bike from 1981 and been giving this alot of thought overnight and I must say this is a sentamental build and would probably find it hard to part with.

To think this has been sitting at M&D's from such a long time (if only bikes had feelings).

So lot has happened in 24 hours... Let see:

Yesterday

2:30pm - popped in for a cuppa at mums and found my old bike, threw it in the car and went back to work
5:30pm - got home from work, showed the kids (read: kids laughed at dads daggy old school bike)
5:31pm - wife left for a night out with a girlfriend
5:32pm - told the kids to make toast for dinner if they were hungry "and don't forget to brush your teeth before you go to bed"
5:32:31pm - down the back shed to pull apart the bike and start cleaning up
11:35pm - cleanup done ready for painting
11:36pm - shower and long vodka and orange

Today

8:30am - LBS opens up
8:30:01am - walk in to start talking to Andy about parts I need. Order tubes, tyres, stem, new headset. I was looking for a new stem cos the old one was rusted. I also need need new crankset. I was hoping to use the old one-piece, but one of the pedals was rusted in and I can't get it out.
10:00am - arrive at work
10:05am - give the frame, forks and bars to the paint shop at work to paint
2:30pm - get a visit from the production manager at work telling me that the job is completed, but should let it cure overnight. WHAT! a 4 hour turn around! These guys must want a payrise (as I am their boss)!
2:30:01pm - down the back taking snaps (refer below)

What is it with bike rebuilds. thats all i can think about atm. At the last minute I have had a change of heart on the colour, I have decided on orange instead of white and I am stoked about it. Apart from the frame, everything else should be black which should look hot..

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0394.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0395.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0398.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0402.jpg

[Tim]

Thats looking wicked mate. Frame colour looks sweet.
Can't wait to see it built up

[Justin Fox]

Damn you work faster than I do!!!

[ADAM7935]

THATS COOL!!!! thats cool, i have a bmx buil too next year.....best of luck, its looking awesome.

[TOU93]

We can start a hotfoot gang!! :D

Cleaned up very well, hope mine comes up that good.

[keromx]

Well the frame, forks and bars are painted and ready to go::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0409-1.jpg

The bars look a little different to when I first picked them up::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0374.jpg

[keromx]

A friend returned a set of pedals I borrowed him, so I will put these on to start with after I clean them up::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0411.jpg

Also, the guys at work gave me some polish they use for plastic and vinyl, so I went out to the car and tried a bit on the old tuffs, looks they will come up good::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0412.jpg

[addmin]

what cranks are you getting?

i found an old school 26" cruiser and was able to put 3pc cranks on it...it originally had the 1pc ones..

my build was a bit different to yours though. Just a ghetto bike to ride arond on.
http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=137109


it went from this:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/2026_man/100_2628.jpg

to this:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/2026_man/100_2635.jpg


im seriously considering getting rid of it now though as i dont ride it. (i'll kepp certain bits though)

[keromx]

what cranks are you getting?

As I mentioned earlier, I would have loved to keep the original one piece cranks that were on it. I got the steel wool onto it and they came up a treat, however I have two problems:

1. One of the old wellgo pedals is totally rusted in (i already broke 2 of my tools trying to get it out) and

2. The thread size is the smaller old school size and I want to put a modern set of pedals on it.

So to answer your question, I am going to change over to a sealed BB bearing with a 3 piece crank similar to what I put on the bmx rebuild I did earlier this year (picture below). Here i bought a new 3-piece redline brand crankset which are really nice. The frame was an old redline racing frame, so that was a nice touch::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Redline%20BMX/IMG_8688.jpg

[addmin]

look around for an old kids bike, and use its 1pc cranks...

[Dittmar]

This is a sweet build.
I think I would have liked white better on the frame, but the orange still looks fresh. Good job on the turnaround and paint going by the pics. Where abouts do you work?

You must source a padset for this!!

[keromx]

I had been tossing up between old school (and cheaper) one piece cranks or new school (and dearer) 3 piece cranks... hmm

well as I have mentioned before although this is an old bike rebuild, i want my sons to be proud riding it, so i bit the bullet and bought the 3-piece with sealed bearings...

the redline monster cranks are the same as I installed on the bmx rebuild I did earlier in the year and they have working really well...

so here is the packaging::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0483.jpg

I put the bottom bracket together with a temporary front sprocket that I had lying around. The eventual sprocket will be black and the size is yet to be determined based on how I go with the rear cog. Also, I haven't bothered with any spaces or getting the chainline in ATM::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0484.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0485.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0487.jpg

[a.davis12]

that is exactly the bike i want next. it really is a shame 24" tuffs are so hard to come by. a mate of mine from work might sell me his old racer and ill be doing that up as a muck around bike so im not stuck on roadies the whole time.

[Lorday]

IMHO, that looks sick. Just make sure you get some nice "fat tires" for the bike.

[a.davis12]

i saw a bike just like that in the city. but white, black tuffs awesome!
any updates?

[keromx]

I return from holidays this weekend and all the parts I need to finish have arrived waiting for me. Hopefully will have completed (excl brakes) early next week.

[keromx]

Well got back from holidays today and a good lot of parts had been delivered while I was away waiting for me to start putting together.

Here they are:

* Sinz 24" racing fork
* Sinz headset
* ACS Claws freewheel - 16t
* Jetblack lockon grips
* 29T sprocket

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0563.jpg

Also this really nice black colony stem with black etched logo:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0571.jpg

OK here is the real surprise, I was dicking around trying to get the old star wheel hubs rebuilt and I was having little luck getting them the way I wanted, anyway over Christmas I was browsing the web and noticed that Skyway US was doing a fresh run of 24" tuffs in all colours and had a launch special of $139US for the wheelset!!! OK, so the dollar isn't so good at the moment but that was too good to let go, so here they are brand spanking new built Dec 08...

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0564.jpg

Picked up a set of Maxxis Holy Rollers 24 x 2.4:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0566.jpg

Freewheel fitted to rear wheel nicely:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0568.jpg

Tyre on the wheel and loaded onto the frame for the first time, man love the look although 2.4 is going to be a bit wide for the rear, I am going to have to go down to about 2.0 so I can slide the rear wheel further forward on the dropouts, don't want to run it that far back.

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0572.jpg

Because the rear wheel was too far back I was unable to get the chain to join up at it's full supplied length, but this is what it will look like:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0577.jpg

I bought a headset press from Wiggle a few weeks ago when I purchased some other stuff and it made the fitting of the headset a breeze with absolutely no risk of damage to frame and HS. The white line is still a bit of grease that I haven't cleaned up yet:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0583.jpg

So here is what it looks like so far:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0579.jpg

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0580.jpg

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0581.jpg

This is my sons Odyssey seat that he gave me to use, I still need to find a new black 22.5 seat post and clamp:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0582.jpg

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0586.jpg

OK, here is what I need to do from here:

* Buy and fit rear brake
* Buy smaller rear tyre to allow me to move wheel forward
* Install drive line (chain, set chain line, sprocket spacers etc)
* Have a little movement in headset, sort that out
* Source black 22.5 seatpost and clamp

[felixR]

awesome progress

[Justin Fox]

Nice I was wondering where the progress was on this thing!

I'm SO glad you went for new wheels. The old ones were just not cutting it. Did you get them off eBay? I'm well inspired to build up a 24" cruiser.

If the wheels are that cheap right now I might just buy the wheels and leave them lying around for future use!

[addmin]

I'm SO glad you went for new wheels. The old ones were just not cutting it. Did you get them off eBay? I'm well inspired to build up a 24" cruiser.

If the wheels are that cheap right now I might just buy the wheels and leave them lying around for future use!



OK here is the real surprise, I was dicking around trying to get the old star wheel hubs rebuilt and I was having little luck getting them the way I wanted, anyway over Christmas I was browsing the web and noticed that Skyway US was doing a fresh run of 24" tuffs in all colours and had a launch special of $139US for the wheelset!!! OK, so the dollar isn't so good at the moment but that was too good to let go, so here they are brand spanking new built Dec 08...


sorry couldn't help it

[keromx]

Skyway have just started pumping out tuffs again in high volume as the demand for old school/NOS rebuilds is increasing... From the skyway web site, I got onto www.coloredtuffs.com which is where I bought them... BTW i tried many enquiries through australian LBS but noone was stocking 24" cruiser wheels that I could find (although strictly bmx indicated they were going to get some but couldn't commit to pricing or availability)... when I saw them drop to the US139 special xmas pricing, it was too good to let go... currently (Jan 18) 20" are $149 (in a whole range of colours red, black, blue and including limited edition orange, lavender, pink, yellow, SE light blue, green and grey) and the 24" are $144 and also come in WHITE!, blue, yellow and red...

[keromx]

btw, the new tuffs have sealed bearings!! and roll real nice

[Justin Fox]

Cool stuff. They've ALWAYS been on eBay for about $300 shipped though, but this looks a bit cheaper still! Cheers for the heads up!

[ADAM7935]

looking so cool now!!! congrats

[Lorday]

Very nice indeed. Thoose are some phat tires!

[keromx]

Sad news regarding the 2.4 maxxis holy rollers, they didn't work on the rear as per my last post as they were too wide to fit in the frame without causing problems with the brake alignment. I purchased a set of intense micro nobbys which look really nice and are super fast... I fitted the one on the back and it make everything fit nice... they are 24x1.75... i was going to keep the holy roller on the front, but the ride was really chunky and turning was actually quite difficult on roads, so I put an intense micro nobby on the front also... now rides like a dream... the intense micro nobbys were about $30 a tyre.

still need to sort out a bit of movement in the headset, but I didn't get a chance to look a this today.

Fitted rear brake system, i was going to fork out and buy a big name lever like odyssey or colony ($60-90), however i coudn't go past the tech-77 - $15 and these are actually really good levers.

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0635.jpg

Odyssey slic cable running to the rear, also when I stripped the santa cruz decal off the blur I plugged it on here::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0633.jpg

Brake system fitted, just went with a Tektro side pull system but replaced the pads with Tuff friendly ones::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0637.jpg

She is nearing completion, only need to sort out the seat issue... the existing seat post is a 22.5mm seatpost which are almost impossible to source... of course I want black and I also need a clamp so I can attach the rail seat that I have. I did manage to get a black odyssey seatpost clamp that I had lying around to fit using a seatpost shim (in between the clamp and the seatstay)::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0630.jpg

The sinz decal is under the clear coat (hence the reason for them still visible, would like to make these all black, not the end of the world though... the tuffs are unreal, they look so cool on the road::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0632.jpg

Here is the latest pic (note: the seat is still not fixed, just sitting atop the seatpost), I am going to find same nicer cable control system for the brake cable for now just using cable ties... there are no guides on the frame as the old build had some special clamps (which were all rusty)::

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0639.jpg

The thing that makes me feel good is the attitude of my two sons (13 and 9) who ride street 20" bmx bikes are right into the "right brand part" image thing... they absolutely love it and have been riding it around feelin "gangsta"... bit different to the scoffs I got when I pulled it out of the car on day 1...

[DANNY]

Looks unreal so far, awesome job :D You could use one of those soft spongy "ball protectors" to keep the cable in place, instead of the cable ties, but I guess you are probably after a much more cleaner look.

[keromx]

ball protectors

what the?

[DANNY]

you know the soft foam bmx "noodle" (check out Mr Fox's Kuwahara - don't know what to call it...sorry) to stop you from nutting yourself on the frame? :D

[Justin Fox]

I am going to find same nicer cable control system for the brake cable for now just using cable ties...

Go a sexy frame pad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Done!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/504425300_38ecb072c9_b.jpg

Love the tyres, would love to try some one day. Apparently they make a great noise when you do skidz with them!

[DANNY]

That's what I meant! Justin Fox to the rescue :loling:

[JDMpulsar]

awesome build up!! very inspiring!! looks so schmick!!

[Lorday]

Sweet as....micro's are sick.

[keromx]

Well the hotfoot is finally complete... i fixed the movement in the headset which was caused by the the new headset rubbing up against the gusset on the frame and therefore made the fork crooked as it went in... I really struggled to find a 22.5m seatpost so I ended up painted the original one and it works fine.

here is the latest pics:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0737.jpg

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0733.jpg

I finally sat down and tried to work out how much this cost me (adding it up as I speak), these costs are approx as I haven't kept the receipts:

Repco Hotfoot Frame - $0 (used my old 80's frame from mum and dads)
Repaint frame, handlebars - $0 (done by paint shop at work)
Tuff Wheels - $290
Intense micro nobby Tyres - $60
Brake - $40
Brake lever - $15
Odyssey Slic Brake cable - $21
Tuff brake pads - $15
Chain - $40
Rear driver - $20
Front Tufnet sprocket - $50
Sinz 24" forks - $120
Sinz headset - $50
Colony stem - $70
Jetblack lockon grips - $25
Tyre Tubes - $15
Odyssey seat - $0 (unused sitting at home)
BBB pedals - $0 (unused sitting at home)
Redline crankset - $180

Total rebuild cost: $1011

Oh crap! I am glad I wasn't keeping track of this as I was going otherwise I wouldve canned the project :) :) I am also glad that my wife isn't a member of BMU :) :)

Look, I guess if you ask me if it was worth it, I am going to say yes. All you need to do is read the background of this bike to find what it means to me... also I have not skimped at all on parts quality so this bike is pimpin!!!

Anyway finally took it for a ride today and it is so cool, really really quick and the tuffs look so cool as you are riding... here is an action shot of my 9 year old having a ride:

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww172/keromx/Bike%20Repco%20Hotfoot/IMG_0740.jpg

[a.davis12]

best project bike ive seen in ages! great work.

[keromx]

thanks a.d I'm glad you like it.

[Justin Fox]

HAHA it ALWAYS costs more than you think.

All those little things ALWAYS add up. Thanks for sharing the costings though, that's the way! I share them as much as I can too, it's truth, 100% and helps everyone when you share it.

Well done mate. Love it, love your work! :)

[Blind Kid Seeks]

we should hook up when my bikes done...

gotta get the hotfoots some exposure.

http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/59389/P30-03-09_22.52.JPG

[keromx]

wow that looks nice too, looks like new skyways as well???

[Blind Kid Seeks]

wow that looks nice too, looks like new skyways as well???


yeah they are a set of reissues... how good was it that they did that.. i couldnt refuse.

did get them for my other bik originally... but they will def get a new home on the hotfoot.