Thruster Fixie? Noob Diving!

[xetaprime]

So tomorrow I can start ordering 'stuff' for my new motorized bike. First timer here! Hey! And of course budget is key. The Huffy Karaoke looks great by the pics here and affordable. What do you think of the Thruster fixie? Are mountain and cruiser frames recommended over road?



I'd switch out the brakes for sure but the frame is steel. Anyway, like I said the Karaoke looks like a great way to start. Any info welcome!

Best,
Xeta

 

[Greg58]

The frame looks like it will have plenty of room.

 

[xetaprime]

Yeah, that really caught my attention. Love the space and the price- It's $99. Not sure about the wheels strength wise though- I think there are fewer spokes. I could always change the handles bars later on... I saw it today while at Walmart.

 

[xetaprime]

From what I can tell from the very few pictures of the thruster fixie online- it looks like there are sprockets on the other side of the hub. This would be a good thing yes? Meaning I could attach a large sprocket to the hub directly, maybe?

I think I'm leaning towards this bike for the frame and the back wheel. I'll take a closer look at Wallys tomorrow before deciding.

 

[Allen_Wrench]

I was just wondering: is this bike a true "fixie"? Isn't motorizing a fixie bad, unless you add a freewheel sprocket into the mix someplace? Won't the pedals start spinning like eggbeaters once the engine kicks in? Just wonderin'.

 

[xetaprime]

**** AW. I knew that and forgot that... hmmm I might not be opposed to adding a single speed freewheel to the mix since the other side will still be fixed right? It does look like a flip flop hub- I think.

Where I live it's pretty much all flat and am not planning a move anytime soon so I'm not worried about other speeds. My 150cc scooter passed away last month and twice I had to walk it home quite a distance before she finally gave out. As long as I can pedal her home I'll be happy. Plus I'm not in a mad rush so modding time isn't an issue.

I just bought an engine on ebay! Woohoo! How exciting! A noobs life for me

I'll edit here since my pic posts haven't posted yet then I'll run silent. Promise. From what I can tell this is a tamed Kent Takara Kabuto fixie selling for 199+ minus the drop down handle bars and souped up pedals. Not 100% sure. I'm off to Wally this morning to pick it up. Will switch out the cheesey brakes for some I took off a trek a few years ago and start modding away!

Anyway, good to be here! Haven't had this much bicycle thinking fun since I rebuilt my Nishiki International a ways back.

 

[xetaprime]

Another noob question. Sorry if this is an old idea would love a link if there is one.

Couldn't I add the single speed freewheel pedal-side and leave the fixed sprocket drive-side and add on an adjustable sprocket tensioner pulley via an attachment plate to the stays?

Just thinking out loud.

 

[xetaprime]

It's official! This is a flip flop bike.

 

[xetaprime]

Good news here. One side has a freewheel and the other side is fixed.




Now we wait for the engine...

 

[Dan]

Howdy Xeta, welcome. Really like the way your bike looks. Waiting for that brown box is agonizing, eh?

Post lots of pics!

Oh, ya never gotta worry about asking questions. Some great folks here and your amongst friends.

Ride safe and build cool!

 

[Dan]

I forgot to say, sorry about your Scooter passing. Really is sad when they give up the ghost.

 

[xetaprime]

Hi Dan!

And thanx for the welcome! I lurked here quite a bit a while back. Feels good to be in the mix. Now the waiting! I just took the bike for a first ride and so far so good. At least I have the shipping time to be prepare for 'the' engine's arrival. The bike is parked in my tiled livingroom and I keep staring at it! Not a thing I can do today but the wheels are turning!

Yeah, scoot's gone But you know, the excitement of having power again and with something I can really tweak and I don't have to remove a gazillion panels and stuff- is awesome!

Best wishes,
Xeta

 

[xetaprime]

Hey, does anyone think I could get away with a 22 tooth cog? I haven't found a 27 or 36 yet for fixed gear but I'm a lookin'!

 

[douglasseattle]

They would never use a true fixed gear on a cheap bike. I think you would be better off to spend a bit more. I picked up a clearance bike from nashbar.com Has good components, chromoly frame and certainly the brakes are better. It ran 175 and is comparable to a 500 model.

 

[Mozenrath]

Oh my god! I saw a few of these bikes at Wal mart once and thought "I could motorize one of these"! I liked how simplistic they are, and I especially like the colored tires! I went back to Wal Mart to get one the next day and all of them were bought up.

 

[Dan]

Oh my god! I saw a few of these bikes at Wal mart once and thought "I could motorize one of these"! I liked how simplistic they are, and I especially like the colored tires! I went back to Wal Mart to get one the next day and all of them were bought up.

Could order em online Moz and use the free shipping to store option?

 

[xetaprime]

When I saw it at the store I went home to see if it was online and it wasn't. Went back the next day and bought it. An employee said it was too new to be online. Maybe it's there now, haven't checked.

I'm in the process of mounting the engine, Know that apparently the rear hub maker Quando is thought to be crap among other bike users. I had all kinds of plans to do this and that to fix the sprocket to the hub. Ended up going all JB Weld on it's arse- plus some extra.

http://motorbicycling.com/f3/flip-flop-locking-question-33375-2.html

Replacing the rim tape tomorrow and bought new tubes as one already had a leak :0

duhnnn, duhnn... duhnn...

 

[meowmeowtime]

Hey Xeta, I am also considering buying this bike as I got a quick chance to ride it in the store. I will have to buy it online though. I am wondering if you could measure the frame for me, I'm 6'1'' and all it says on the walmart site is the actual size of the bike as a whole. I don't want to get a bike that is too small, I remember it being decent but like I said, I only rode it for about 30 seconds before a worker kicked me off.

Thanks!

 

[Ruby478]

nice cant wait to see how it ends up cause i have the same bike

 

[xetaprime]

Good morning,

Ruby478,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Ohe0xnkpo



meowmeowtime,

Sure thing, will get back to you with measures later this morning after me breakfast.