A Very British Klunker

[yakboy]

So for a while now I have been wanting to build a Klunker type bike but in the Yakboy spirit of never making it easy for myself I wanted to do it with parts that I could have found in the late 70's and 80's in the UK. I remember when next doors kid (3 years older than me and spoilt) got a Raleigh Arena in the late 70's, got bored with it, took off the drop bars and put Cowhorn bars on it and called it a "Scrambler", despite still having road tyres on it! I didn't really get it, but in the early 80's for Christmas he got a brand new black Raleigh Bomber. Now that I really did get, I was never really into BMX's, so the Bomber was a bit of a revelation to me.

So I didn't want a Raleigh Bomber but take an earlier British bike and Klunkerise it, but going on the same journey of discovery that Charlie, Joe, Alan and Gary went on back in Marin.
The bike would need 26" wheels and a klunkerish frame design.
Lots of research in the internet identified only a couple of bikes that would be suitable.

1. The Triumph Rodeo

But the 26" Wheeled version or

2. The BSA Santa Fe


Rodeo's come up fairly frequently but the Santa Fe is a rarer beast....... and it was really the Santa Fe I wanted.

 

[yakboy]

So after months of trawling the net, seeing plenty of Rodeo's and wondering if I should compromise and not hold out for a Santa Fe, look what turned up in Harrogate.

 

[enc]

whats the plan?

 

[yakboy]

James (The owner) is of this parish and has a few rather nice bikes of his own and an old Motocross bike in his man cave so was a good source of info on my plans and could see the route I was taking. I was initially hoping to keep the paintwork but I'm afraid it is too far gone but it does deserve restoring in the same colours.

whats the plan?

Hang on hang on I can only type at about 30 wpm

 

[Tsundere]

I love the original markings and patina, I hope you preserve those, so much character.
edit - Just saw you're planning on repainting it, well it's an interesting project so I'll be sticking around to see how it goes.

 

[yakboy]

I love the original markings and patina, I hope you preserve those, so much character.

The paint has huge areas missing so I fear it will have to be redone but there is a plan for the decals @Peachy! will be along at some point to fill you in.

 

[yakboy]

So first job was to strip it down...

The front fork does look very pushed back and will be replaced as it looks as if it will snap like a twig at the first sign of a rock. Currently looking at Reynolds 531 touring forks of 70's to 80's vintage, but looking a bit more like it and probably at least 3kg lighter.

 

[yakboy]

The National Cycle Museum also have an example of the BSA Santa Fe in their collection.
I assume this has had a paint job but doesn't seem to share my blue seat and chainstays. They are missing it's bumpers and chain guard so I got in contact with them and will donate them to the museum , it also looks not to have decals so depending on how things pan out I'm sure they could be furnished with some decals too.

 

[yakboy]

First thing I thought I'd take a look at is whether I could accommodate cruiser/klunker 2.125 tyres, so I grabbed the first set of wheels I had to hand....




Looks like it may just work



I did say the first set of wheels to hand......a step too far maybe

 

[yakboy]

I love the original markings and patina, I hope you preserve those, so much character.
edit - Just saw you're planning on repainting it, well it's an interesting project so I'll be sticking around to see how it goes.

I would have loved to keep the original paint but it really is too far gone. I will colour match as near as I can. The decals have almost been rubbed off and I feared they would be lost if the bike was used as I intend too.