Beachcruiser with rear suspension

[Charged-Reacter]

I will go ahead and start a thread for the RustySpokes rear suspenion
beachcruiser. Dave from Rusty Spokes just called me to tell me that my
bicycle was shipped out yesterday. So I hope- sometime late this week
I will post close up pictures of this bicycle and see what you all think
about Daves' rear suspension set up.

 

[GearNut]

I will eagerly await your evaluation!
I live in San Diego, so they are a 30 minute drive away from me.
I am planning on building a 4 stroke IF bike soon, and I am currently contimplating a frame to use.

 

[Charged-Reacter]

This will be my only second build. I am only going to post close up
pictures of the bicycle to hopefully get some feed back to whether
or not to put a China-girl engine on it or not..

 

[GearNut]

Very cool.
I have a couple of the China Girl engines, but I live in a very hilly neighborhood. I am hoping the torque of the 4 stroke engine will cope with climbing hills better.
I have contimplated a shifter kit for the 2 stroke, even have one to use, but the poolice around here seem badge happy and I do not want to give them any reason to tell me my bike is illegal.
The Rusty Spoke suspended cruiser looks like it will be an awesome bike to use.

 

[Ghost0]

Adding a China girl to that frame without a shift kit will cause some serious issues with chain tension unless you have a monster spring action chain tensioner.

 

[GearNut]

I am considering using a modified derailer (sp?) tensioner and using a #41 chain.
Seeing as the 4 strokes are pull start only, I won't have to worry about the lower chain run getting tight like on the 2 strokes when they are pedal started.

 

[HoughMade]

That is a good looking rear suspension....how about at least a springer in the front for the full "Soft Ride"?

 

[BarelyAWake]

I might be waitin...

lurkin...

I'm holding off buying my next bike cause of Rusty's cruiser and more specifically - this thread

I've got a grubee, tuned pipe, & a few other widgets ordered and on the way and I really want to see the details of your build before I commit to another hardtail mountain bike.

But no pressure, this is my winter project and I'm just gettin things ready

 

[Charged-Reacter]

I am not getting my hopes up on this bicycle.
The bike is a china made for Rusty Spokes. I have
to ride the bicycle first to know how it handles. I
had no choice but to order one blindly because I
do not even live close to CA. The mechanicism
china parts is what concerns me. I am not a big
fan of the stretch cruiser but probally would of
been the wiser choice. I hope to recieve it by
the end of this week or first part of next week.

 

[Charged-Reacter]

I recieved my mens soft cruise beachcruiser today. Just had to install
the front wheel, handle bars, seat post- seat and peddles. I peddled rode
it for about 2 hours looking for the pot-hole roads. It reminded me of a roller
coaster ride effect. The Shimano nexus 8-speed internal gear shifted like a dream.
This is the first internal gear drive that I have ever tried.
I am afraid that the mechanicism part will not hold up very long with a china
girl engine. Yes there is enough room for the shift kit but a person would have
to make some modifications. It has the small size diameter crank housing that
is 3-piece. I think some one could work that out. It would be a build for someone
with the proper garage shop. So that leaves me out of a china girl build for this
bicycle.
The only engine kit that I have more expierance with is the Golden Eagle Belt
Drive Rackmount would make an excellent choice for this bicycle. You would have
to modify the strap that goes as an extra support arm. It should not be that hard
to figure out.

 

[GearNut]

Try to make the strap mount + assembly to be the same length as the rear swing arm. That way they will always move parallel to eachother.

 

[BarelyAWake]

I recieved my mens soft cruise beachcruiser today. Just had to install
the front wheel, handle bars, seat post- seat and peddles. I peddled rode
it for about 2 hours looking for the pot-hole roads. It reminded me of a roller
coaster ride effect. The Shimano nexus 8-speed internal gear shifted like a dream.
This is the first internal gear drive that I have ever tried.
I am afraid that the mechanicism part will not hold up very long with a china
girl engine. Yes there is enough room for the shift kit but a person would have
to make some modifications. It has the small size diameter crank housing that
is 3-piece. I think some one could work that out. It would be a build for someone
with the proper garage shop. So that leaves me out of a china girl build for this
bicycle.
The only engine kit that I have more expierance with is the Golden Eagle Belt
Drive Rackmount would make an excellent choice for this bicycle. You would have
to modify the strap that goes as an extra support arm. It should not be that hard
to figure out.

Congrats man! WE NEED PICS and lots of 'em lol Preferably w/someone on/next to the bike for scale... I'm not a stalker I swear!

How are the welds? The various components like rims etc.? Why did you decide to not motorize it w/a chinagirl? Just cause the jackshaft might be a problem? "...roller coaster ride effect" Sounds like the suspension might be a little soft, is it adjustable?

Glad you're enjoying it!


oooh... I haz a lot o'questions

 

[azbill]

barely awake,,,,you are not alone
I am following this closely !
you asked the same ???'s I was thinking

 

[Ghost0]

I don't see any need for modifications installing a Shift Kit, 3 piece bottom bracket is required so that is of no concern. It would just depend on how well the engine fits in the frame.

 

[Charged-Reacter]

To answer some of your questions:
1. The welds are very good.
2. The rear shock is adjusted all the way down. There is about 1/2
threads to back it off.
3. The seats sets about 8 inches above the bike. I guess you could cut
of the seat- post bottom stem to lower if you wanted to.
4. The rims are something of a bad joke. I have never seen rims and spokes
this bad on any bicycle. The front woobles but the bearings seem ok. The
extra thin spaghetti spokes are tight. The rim does not seem bent. I would
not expect to see this in a quality ride bike shop.
5. I would not motorized this bicycle with a china girl and shift kit because it
would take someone with mechanical talent and the right shop tools to make
it work because you would be getting down to where the down tube starts to
angle in. If you stay on the top of the straight part of the down tube there is
not enough room for the top of the engine and the front engine mount distance
becomes to great.

I will try to get some pictures on by tomorrow. My batteries are bad in the
camera , I will have to wait till I go to purchase some new batteries.

 

[BarelyAWake]

Thanks for yer quick answers!

1. Good to hear about the welds, they're about the most important thing I can think of.

2. I suppose the shock could be replaced w/a stiffer one or make a pad/spacer for the spring to increase firmness if the ride was too soft.

3. I'ma tall bastid

4. That's ok, I'd prolly want to change the wheelset anyway due to brakes. A shame tho.

5. There was some dealer or another making a motor mount "platform" complete with bushings etc... I bet that'd be perfect for mounting one of these motors on that frame.
*found it: Manic Mechanic's ENGINE MOUNT whoohoo!

Thanks for your help man, yer the guinea pig here - hope ya don't mind

 

[Kevlarr]

Seeing as how they offer your choice of rear gearing options I wonder if Rusty Spokes could be persuaded into selling just the frame

 

[Charged-Reacter]

Here is some different angle shots. To give you an ideal about size-
I am 6 foot tall and my legs go almost to full extension when peddling.
Sorry Grandma would not get on the bike- afraid of heights. The seat
being way up will give problems with a stock tank unless you like to
peddle bow legged.

 

[Ghost0]

It is amazing what a photo can do. I see now that the rear suspension pivot is in front of the bottom bracket meaning the bottom bracket moves with the suspension. This would cause problems with the Shift Kit altering the chain tension from the jackshaft to the chainrings. Oh well, better luck next time.

 

[BarelyAWake]

Yeah, that's... awkward - but I wonder about a simple tensioner mebbe?

I do like the simplicity of the swingarm design, but much as it's a nice bike I'm not sure it'll work with what I have in mind without essentially rebuilding it from scratch I wasn't psyched about what I could see of the weld for the upper shock bracket - but then I realized I'd prolly want to move it anyway lol

I too am wondering about being able to get just the frame & swingarm, maybe one day I'll remember to email them