So how bad is a Big W bike, really?

[ldrcycles]

Edit: Just noticed why the pic of the preset above, crank in foreground.

Same, to start with i thought 'hooray another one has been spotted in the wild! Oh hang on, oh'.

[AndrewBurns]

That crank pick really is terrifying, seeing as the rider was just on the stock flat pedals I can't imagine them being a huge powerhouse and they still managed to shear off the BB...

[Nobody]

Not the only cheap brand to have problems with cheap BBs. It would be the first thing I replaced if I owned one.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=50539&hilit=too+much+power

[ironhanglider]

I must be missing something. I didn't see any evidence of the BB having broken, and the crank looks intact to me.
I'd put money on the nut (or bolt) that holds the crank on being too loose and the crank simply working itself loose. Once the process starts it gets worse very quickly and is not limited to cheap bikes. A great many expensive aluminium cranks have been reduced to scrap metal in the space of 10km or so. This is one of the biggest advantages of the more modern systems which are less prone to this.

If you have square taper cranks check your fastenings today!


Cheers,

Cameron

(sorry ldr I will post that other item to you tomorrow )

[ldrcycles]

My thoughts too, although there was a photo on an adelaide based cycling forum of a BB spindle (supposedly on a Preset) which hadn't quite cracked but was well on it's way. That's modern Chinese 'Quality Control' for you.

(and all good hangglider , many thanks again)

[bychosis]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorized-Mo ... 2c689a4c62

[thomashouseman]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorized-Motorised-80cc-Push-Bike-Repco-BRAND-NEW-petrol-run-VERY-EFFICIENT-/190733503586?pt=AU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes&hash=item2c689a4c62

Up for sale is this brand new 80cc Repco Motorized bike which is road legal.

now that I highly doubt.

[Comedian]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorized-Motorised-80cc-Push-Bike-Repco-BRAND-NEW-petrol-run-VERY-EFFICIENT-/190733503586?pt=AU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes&hash=item2c689a4c62

Up for sale is this brand new 80cc Repco Motorized bike which is road legal.

now that I highly doubt.

You just presumed he meangt road legal in Australia.

[thomashouseman]

You just presumed he meangt road legal in Australia.

Very true! I did.

[ldrcycles]

Assuming he's telling the truth, it's bloody annoying that his local plod could be so ignorant of the laws they're supposed to be enforcing .

[bychosis]

If it is a motor assisted bicycle, and the motor is less than 200watts it is legal.

Motor assisted pedal cycles with electric or petrol engines are exempt from registration, provided the maximum engine output power does not exceed 200 watts.  These vehicles must have been designed as a bicycle - that is, to be propelled by human power, with the motor attached as a supplementary aid only. Riders must follow the same road rules as for pedal cycles without motors, including wearing a helmet.

Google tells me that an 80cc engine will produce around 1500W, had no idea it would be that much.

[Mulger bill]

Assuming he's telling the truth...

I doubt even Robin Hood could draw a bow THAT long

[slimbolik]

Here is my "BIG W Special" im still waiting for my quill stem and pedals with the straps. It has served me well so far. Ive had it since march and been slowly changing components on it.

So far ive changed:
Brake callipers: Tektro R539
Handbars: Drop bars and levers
Wheels: Quando Deep "v" they crap but do the trick for now
Crankset: Shun cheap ebay and BB
Seat post: 28.6mm BBB
Seat: Velo
Seat clamp:BBB

[slimbolik]

sorry it wouldnt put up my pic. once i have enough posts ill put up another pic of it.

[ldrcycles]

I'm looking forward to it, keen to see how yours looks. Out of interest, what don't you like about the cheap v's? I have some on my favourite bike and while i know they are heavy and the bearings aren't very smooth i've honestly never noticed any issue with them while riding.

And the conclusion to the motorised Preset story, i contacted the seller and pointed out the issue, he seemed genuinely surprised and insisted that the plod had given him the ok but accepted the info i gave him and modified the listing.

[Mulger bill]

sorry it wouldnt put up my pic. once i have enough posts ill put up another pic of it.

Not a post count thing, the system doesn't regognise the syntax. There's a primer on image posting in the info section.

[slimbolik]

I'm looking forward to it, keen to see how yours looks. Out of interest, what don't you like about the cheap v's? I have some on my favourite bike and while i know they are heavy and the bearings aren't very smooth i've honestly never noticed any issue with them while riding.

They look good but they are heavy (im not too worried about the weight tho) its just the bearings in mine are crap and the freewheel is not running true. i hope to get a chance to take it into my LBS in the on coming weeks.

[slimbolik]

The original stem looks aweful, hoping my new one will be here this wk.

[slimbolik]

sorry it wouldnt put up my pic. once i have enough posts ill put up another pic of it.

Thanx for that Mulger bill i figured it out finally

[ldrcycles]

its just the bearings in mine are crap and the freewheel is not running true. i hope to get a chance to take it into my LBS in the on coming weeks.

The bearings may be alright with decent grease and proper adjustment (though it didn't make a big difference with mine) but the freewheels are nothing special, not as bad as the stock Repco Preset one but still not great, i've replaced mine with a Shimano MF30, much better.

I agree about the stem, but still looks good on the whole.

[slimbolik]

nice ill have see if my LBS has something similar to change my freewheel over. i got my strap pedals today and changed them ova. now all im waiting for is the new stem cant wait till it arrives. ill start looking for another frame to start building another bike.

[slimbolik]

got my new stem. looks so much better than the original.

[ldrcycles]

Bought another Big W bike, this time a Diamondback Bronco 26" MTB for my father in law for Christmas. Went through the same pre flight checks as the Preset, the BB and headset were both dry and overtightened, the front hub was overtightened but had a decent amount of grease, and the rear hub was ok.
The brakes needed a little tweaking but work well, and the gears to my amazement were working spot on out of the box . The 'suspension' forks are predictably clunky but i've seen worse. Has an aluminium frame with a replaceable hanger and half decent welds, but it weighs a LOT. More than my Preset for sure.

It has the most upright position i've ever experienced, it takes 'sit-up-and-beg' to another level. On the whole, it looks pretty good for the price (marked down to $132 from $150).

[gr8whitehuntr]

Hi all,
I purchased a Repco Preset last year. I intend to use it more now because I am studying full time and I need to save every cent I can... my car tends to drink like a fish and my commute is only 5km over mostly flat terrain. I've always been a single speed fan since I was a kid. I love the simplicity and I personally prefer bikes that don't have cables everywhere cluttering up the handlebars. Plus it would be near impossible to flick gear levers in winter (most mornings are below freezing) when I'm wearing thickish gloves.

Anyway I see that a lot of these bikes have problems with insufficient grease from factory and that the freewheel is not exactly good quality. Well I've got the first problem sorted, I overhauled and repacked every bearing there is, apart from the pedals which I plan to upgrade as the standard ones look and feel a bit cheap and nasty. So all that's left is the troublesome freewheel. Can anyone who has upgraded theirs please tell me what kind of freewheel I should use? Is it a 1/8" chain or 3/32"? I plan on keeping the gearing the same so I would be looking at a 16 tooth. I am assuming a special tool would be needed to change the freewheel, is this the case?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

[Paddles]

hi gr8white, you'll need to confirm the chain size yourself it's all but impossible to do on here. The freewheel will require a tool to remove it, there's a few different sorts but your local bikeshop should be able to do it for you. I've got an 18 tooth 3/32" ACS Claws freewheel and a park tools removal tool to suit that i want to sell, if you're interested just pm me otherwise i'll be putting them on ebay anyway.