Kids BMX bike worth restoring?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

barlowc

Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
2,158
Location
Southeast Michigan
Our neighbors gave us their grown son's old (i.e. approximately 20 years) Kent Rampage BMX bike in case we could use it for our kids. Our oldest has now outgrown their bike so I spent an hour today assessing the one that had been given to us.

Labor wise, it's going to need quite a bit of work to disassemble, regrease, and rebuild the wheel bearings and do some other maintenance.

Parts wise, it's going to need new tubes and tires since the ones on it have severe dry rot. It's also going to need a seat. Doing some initial investigation on eBay...

2 Tubes = $11.90
2 Tires = $30.46
Seat = $8.97
Total = $51.33

I doubt the local bike shop will be any better.

Is it even worth going down the path of restoring it? While I hate to throw out something that could be repaired, for the time and money I'm pretty sure I could pick up something on Craigslist, at a garage sale, or even something new for just a few bucks more.
 
I'd restore it....That or see how much the scrapyard will give you :P But likely not much....

Bike accessories are cheap....last I checked, a single speed "BMX" bike was about ~$70....you've only got $51 into it....and it's your own blood, sweat, and tears :P

Well, maybe not that much lol.....but you get my drift
smile.gif


Growing up.....omg we had a neighbor, the kids would pop an intertube or tire.....and THROW THE BIKE AT THE CURB.....go buy them another one.....all for a couple dollar tube and/or tire...haha.....

Granted, she was a single parent....so perhaps she didn't know the "mechanics" of repairing the bike....but my dad junk picked one late one night, fixed it up, gave it a good metalic black and silver with white pin stripe and looked like a whole new bike haha.
 
Things you repaired yourself give you a warm feeling inside, and are a good conversation piece... for only $50 and a couple of hours I would do it vs buying a new bike.
 
Even if it cost the same as a new one to restore, I'd still restore it. Even it was MORE than a new bike, within reason, I'd still probably restore it. I enjoy keeping old equipment usable and "on the road".

My bike is a 1991 Motiv MTB that I've upgraded and kept going over the years. Still rides great, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I've taken it apart and rebuilt it.

I also find that older bikes have/had better components than newer ones, even in the same class. My Motiv was a department store bike (I actually bought it at Price Club), but it has nice alloy wheels instead of heavy Chinese steel [censored], Shimano STX components, reasonably light chromoly frame, etc. A Target grade MTB today has [censored] welds, cheaper components, pig-heavy wheels, etc.

Yeah, I'd rebuild the old BMX...
 
Here's what I'm working with:

DSCF2489s.jpg


I spent about 5 hours today working on it. I pulled the wheels, disassembled the axles, cleaned all the parts with WD-40, re-greased everything with a waterproof grease made for this kind of stuff, and reassembled. The wheels are nice and true and I tightened the spokes a bit. Then, using a rag wet with WD-40, I cleaned up the wheels and frame and got everything all shiny.

The chrome finish on the frame and wheels has some oxidation. Any suggestions on how I can clean that up a bit?

The wheels need an 18 x 1.75 tube and an 18 x 2.125 tire. I guess that's an uncommon size these days. Everything is 16" or 20" in kids bikes. The local bike shop said they couldn't even get tubes/tires for me, so I'll just get them on eBay along with a new seat.

What do you guys think? I think I'm more excited about it than the kids.
 
I worked in bike shops for 15 years, maybe ONCE I ever saw a 18" wheeled bike. only dept stores ever had them, and even then they were rare.
I just did a quick search for tires and nothing came up. ebay will be your only hope there.
at first I was going to say fix it, then I had 2nd thoughts when I saw it was a Kent, but now I'm sure; I wouldn't spend my time on it.
 
I was able to get tubes, tires, and a new seat on Amazon (Niagara Cycle Works) for $37 shipped. My oldest starting riding it yesterday.
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
I was able to get tubes, tires, and a new seat on Amazon (Niagara Cycle Works) for $37 shipped. My oldest starting riding it yesterday.

good job! didn't even think of amazon for that (in my mind I still equate amazon just w/ books)
 
I`m thinking Kent was one of those high end BMX bikes alongside of Redline,Diamondback,ect,from the 80s. Am I correct? It looks really retro-high end in the pic. I love it! Is the frame all chrome-moly? That`s what the high end BMX bikes from the day were made of,with the exception of the Bearmobile which was all titanium and VERY expensive. Is it a 20 inch? I can`t tell from the pic. I still have my old 1st generation Diamondback from 1983 or so :^) Cherry red,gold anodized alloy parts,and the rare freewheel Tuff Wheel II`s. I want to find a late 70s Redline Proline and restore it.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`m thinking Kent was one of those high end BMX bikes alongside of Redline,Diamondback,ect,from the 80s. Am I correct?

um, no. Kent was department store low end. look at the picture again, it has crimped welds at the dropouts.
 
Fix it with the kids. Get them involved so they are comfortable with working on stuff.

Can't put a price on that.

Originally Posted By: barlowc
Our neighbors gave us their grown son's old (i.e. approximately 20 years) Kent Rampage BMX bike in case we could use it for our kids. Our oldest has now outgrown their bike so I spent an hour today assessing the one that had been given to us.

Labor wise, it's going to need quite a bit of work to disassemble, regrease, and rebuild the wheel bearings and do some other maintenance.

Parts wise, it's going to need new tubes and tires since the ones on it have severe dry rot. It's also going to need a seat. Doing some initial investigation on eBay...

2 Tubes = $11.90
2 Tires = $30.46
Seat = $8.97
Total = $51.33

I doubt the local bike shop will be any better.

Is it even worth going down the path of restoring it? While I hate to throw out something that could be repaired, for the time and money I'm pretty sure I could pick up something on Craigslist, at a garage sale, or even something new for just a few bucks more.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`m thinking Kent was one of those high end BMX bikes alongside of Redline,Diamondback,ect,from the 80s. Am I correct?

um, no. Kent was department store low end. look at the picture again, it has crimped welds at the dropouts.


Man you`re right! Is that thing even welded? I must`ve been thinking about some other brand,after all,the 80s and BMX were a LONG time ago for me :^P
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: mpvue
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I`m thinking Kent was one of those high end BMX bikes alongside of Redline,Diamondback,ect,from the 80s. Am I correct?

um, no. Kent was department store low end. look at the picture again, it has crimped welds at the dropouts.


Man you`re right! Is that thing even welded? I must`ve been thinking about some other brand,after all,the 80s and BMX were a LONG time ago for me :^P

you might be thinking of Rampar (this kent is a rampage) which was a BMX line from Raleigh, they were pretty good bikes in the'70's.
and no, this kent is not welded; like so many low end bikes, the junction was basically pressed in a hot die, kind of like a spot weld but not quite.
 
As I mentioned previously, I spent 5 hours and $37 and fixed it up. While it may not have been a high-end BMX, it's solid and in good physical and mechanical shape. My 6 year-old is really liking it. Here's a picture:

DSCF2516-S.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
As I mentioned previously, I spent 5 hours and $37 and fixed it up. While it may not have been a high-end BMX, it's solid and in good physical and mechanical shape. My 6 year-old is really liking it.

absolutely! don't get me wrong, bikes and kids are a great combo and anything that gets them loving riding is a good thing. I was just commenting on some other's questions, that's all.
you've got a unique piece there that'll most likely provide all kinds of enjoyment for your little one, nice job!
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
That turned out great; I love it!

Thanks! The only thing I don't like is that there is a fair amount of oxidation/rust on the chrome finish. Is there a way to clean that up without damaging the finish further? Steel wool?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

y_p_w
  • Locked
Whatever happened to hi-rise bikes?
2 3
Replies
40
Views
4K
PF52
JHZR2
Bikes for comfortable recreational riding?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
9K
MRC01
T
  • Locked
Latest project bike, this ones for the wife
Replies
3
Views
3K
cutter
S
  • Locked
My Old Bike and Getting in Shape
2
Replies
21
Views
9K
sleddriver
G
  • Locked
I have joined your kind, bicycle riders.
Replies
17
Views
8K
greenaccord02
Back
Top Bottom