8Freight Cargo bike - restoration / project
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27motorhead
Old School Grand Master
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This is a great thread. 
Bonkers bike, designed and built by a brilliantly bonkers man. We need more Mike Burrows in our world despite what many people think of him.
Almost bought one of these a few years back, but we ended up buying a new cargo bike (Douze) which is very similar to a Bullitt in terms of size/weight/performance. Probably my favourite bike to ride and no e-assist. Just old racers legs keeping them cranks going around. Use if for everything we can!
Bonkers bike, designed and built by a brilliantly bonkers man. We need more Mike Burrows in our world despite what many people think of him.Almost bought one of these a few years back, but we ended up buying a new cargo bike (Douze) which is very similar to a Bullitt in terms of size/weight/performance. Probably my favourite bike to ride and no e-assist. Just old racers legs keeping them cranks going around. Use if for everything we can!
I'd love one of these but storage space is an issue. Ended up with an old 2-kid Chariot (pre Thule) for any urban lugging duties.
We forget how cargo bikes and trailers are still a relatively new sight in the UK. Back in 2012 we were thought weird with our trailer of kids, just a few other weirdos on xtracycles, the odd dutch box, and creations like the frieght8 to nod knowingly at.
Commute now is all Terns and yummy mummies thinking they invented green travel
We forget how cargo bikes and trailers are still a relatively new sight in the UK. Back in 2012 we were thought weird with our trailer of kids, just a few other weirdos on xtracycles, the odd dutch box, and creations like the frieght8 to nod knowingly at.
Commute now is all Terns and yummy mummies thinking they invented green travel
27motorhead
Old School Grand Master
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And if you want to make your 2.5m long cargo bike longer just add another bike... me collecting a 1988 Hard Rock last Friday evening.
27motorhead
Old School Grand Master
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In general you get a bit more space, however if someones not paying attention it doesn't matter how wide/long your bike is, your life is in the hands of the Gods! Here's some 50kg boxes I shifted some 2 miles home. https://tinyurl.com/nice-ride-home We had x2 lots so x2 trips on a busy Saturday. I still remember the headwind, felt like the front brake was constantly being applied!
Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
Cool video too.In general you get a bit more space, however if someones not paying attention it doesn't matter how wide/long your bike is, your life is in the hands of the Gods! Here's some 50kg boxes I shifted some 2 miles home. https://tinyurl.com/nice-ride-home We had x2 lots so x2 trips on a busy Saturday. I still remember the headwind, felt like the front brake was constantly being applied!
Joe_Rides
Senior Retro Guru
Cheers for all the replies.
Another hour cracked off this eve, new headset in place (brand-x sealed jobby from crc - seems good quality, spesh for a tenner), front wheel bearings removed and replaced (2 x different sizes!) and had a quick go at cleaning up the brake drums. They're in a bit of a state, pitted and rusty. Anyway, I filed off some flakes of old brake shoe and left it at that. Not really bothered about pitting and the new shoes should clean them up for me!!! (note: I'll end up having another pass at them before I fit the drums)
Then remembered it was Sunday night and promptly went back inside for a Pomada as Monday looms.....
Another hour cracked off this eve, new headset in place (brand-x sealed jobby from crc - seems good quality, spesh for a tenner), front wheel bearings removed and replaced (2 x different sizes!) and had a quick go at cleaning up the brake drums. They're in a bit of a state, pitted and rusty. Anyway, I filed off some flakes of old brake shoe and left it at that. Not really bothered about pitting and the new shoes should clean them up for me!!!
(note: I'll end up having another pass at them before I fit the drums)
Then remembered it was Sunday night and promptly went back inside for a Pomada as Monday looms.....
Last edited:
Joe_Rides
Senior Retro Guru
04/07/23
Couple of jobs done last night.
Removed the grips and the grip-shifter. 2 minutes right? Wrong. Shifter bolt completely seized and it’s only a 2.5mm allen key fitting, so brute force is a no-go – the allen key(s) were just twisting! None of the “tricks” would budge it and I wasn’t feeling very patient so out came the drill and hacksaws and we entered surgery. Not pretty.
Next to the rear wheel bearings.
Jonny69 asked about the freehub set up? Here you go;
Nifty.
Wheel off (the axle is permanently attached to the wheel, it’s pressed into the non-drive side of the hub) and bearings replaced dead easy. Note the bushing that sits between the 2 x bearings (the axle runs through this).
Back to the Freehub, the existing one is tired and the seal at the back was all broken up. Was going to replace it with a spare but it won’t work as the end of it needs to be wide enough to fit the washer/bolt which holds the freehub in place. See?
Wrong one:
Right one:
I thought I would re-fit the old freehub anyway (after a bit of light oil and a seal pinched from another) and try the SHINY new cassette I bought in the Xmas sales. Spot the issue!
No clearance. The 6-speed cassette I removed had a 24t against my new 34t cassette. Dug one out with a 28t and I think there is plenty of clearance left for the chain.
28t:
All of the above took about 3 hours. It's slow going with everything being seized AND bespoke!
Questions;
Joe
Couple of jobs done last night.
Removed the grips and the grip-shifter. 2 minutes right? Wrong. Shifter bolt completely seized and it’s only a 2.5mm allen key fitting, so brute force is a no-go – the allen key(s) were just twisting! None of the “tricks” would budge it and I wasn’t feeling very patient so out came the drill and hacksaws and we entered surgery. Not pretty.
Next to the rear wheel bearings.
Jonny69 asked about the freehub set up? Here you go;
Nifty.
Wheel off (the axle is permanently attached to the wheel, it’s pressed into the non-drive side of the hub) and bearings replaced dead easy. Note the bushing that sits between the 2 x bearings (the axle runs through this).
Back to the Freehub, the existing one is tired and the seal at the back was all broken up. Was going to replace it with a spare but it won’t work as the end of it needs to be wide enough to fit the washer/bolt which holds the freehub in place. See?
Wrong one:
Right one:
I thought I would re-fit the old freehub anyway (after a bit of light oil and a seal pinched from another) and try the SHINY new cassette I bought in the Xmas sales. Spot the issue!
No clearance. The 6-speed cassette I removed had a 24t against my new 34t cassette. Dug one out with a 28t and I think there is plenty of clearance left for the chain.
28t:
All of the above took about 3 hours. It's slow going with everything being seized AND bespoke!
Questions;
- Freehub – anyone know what type of freehub this is (so I can replace)? Road specific perhaps?
- Cassette – an 8-speed mtb cassette won’t fit on this length of freehub, I’d have to remove a cog. But again, are 8-speed Road cassettes shorter? (I’ll probably be aiming for a 28t – 11t)
Joe
novocaine
Old School Grand Master
road 8 and MTB 8 are the same.
looks like a 7 speed shimano parrallax freebody that's been fitted in a none standard way, I'll check the 8 speed one I've got in the workshop if I get chance. they aren't any longer overall but the 7 speed body has a wider raised bit at the back that stops the 8 speed cassette fitting.
looks like a 7 speed shimano parrallax freebody that's been fitted in a none standard way, I'll check the 8 speed one I've got in the workshop if I get chance. they aren't any longer overall but the 7 speed body has a wider raised bit at the back that stops the 8 speed cassette fitting.
