Small frame and forks - 14 inch approx

xxnick1975

Old School Grand Master
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Looking to build a simple rigid bike for a 12 year old

I’ve got stacks of kit so just frame and forks really

Thanks
 
That’s a very kind offer indeed, much appreciated.

In my minds eye I’m building something akin to the Islabike Benin that’s now outgrown.

So based around a early 90s frame probably

I think your Sari is more of a dirt bike so maybe not quite what I’m after.

But again thanks for responding with such a kind offer
 
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Not sure which Beinn has been outgrown but we have been looking at something similar. I guess the height is dependent on son / daughter given the age they grow. Our daughter is now several inches taller than the boys of her age she has grown up with.....

I've just built a Kona Hahanna 14" for the mrs as a single speed, so very small, more like 11" c-c. The Mrs is a tad under 5ft and my daughter who is also 12 is the same height. The Kona fits her well as well. I'm also building up a small Orange Prestige, which is more like 12" c-c which should be good for my daughter as she is long legged comparatively. It's just going to be another single speed as a second bike. 3 years ago she was still riding her Islabike Beinn 20 Large :shock: We spent ages looking at best next option. Beinn 24 was not going to last 5 minutes, the 26 seemed very expensive and second hand ones no better. In the end we went for a Frog 73. It's the only brand new bike she's had and will last a while. Actually the Frog 73 would make a great urban type bike on slicks for short adults. The Orange ss is more of a grab to go on short trips and not worry about leaving somewhere (locked of course but we do live in central london).

So in my mind find a very small frame and forks, fix other bits on, cranks need to be 170mm but 165 harder to find, and geared appropriately, single on the front and 7/8 on rear. Easy peasy, apart from finding frame of that size, expect to pay a premiun over one 2" larger !
 
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She’s about 5ft I think, 12 in September. She had a Benin 26 but her brothers nicked it, so time to move on.

I’d be okay getting a frog 73 but all sold out!

Many thanks for you post- great intel!
 
blimey daugs - that's exactly the bikes which I built for the Grom, only we did it the other way around - a Kona 12 inch (8kg hardtail build) then an XS orange P7 (9kg hardtail using a pair of dual air SIDs). The P7 ran with 24 inch wheels (discs front and rear) and 150 cranks and then 26 inch wheels. Thorn cranks from St John St cycles on Hope ti BB - first 145, then 150, then 155. Their cranks are excellent - doubles but we ran them as singles, and the old square taper Hope BB allows you to adjust the chainline to suit. We ran 1x9 really well.

Suggested small frames:

Kona Hahanna or Hula - 12 inch
Orange P7 or C12R - xs 12 inch
Sunn Xcircuit - small 13 inch nice long tube tube
 
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interesting about the short cranks, could have done with knowing. I was working on basis that the WSD trek the Mrs has is fitted with 170mm cranks and what was good for a 5ft adult was good for a 5ft child on the basis the crank length was about levers and avoiding issues with long cranks at the top of the cycle and knee position. And yet having checked the 26 Beinn and Frog 73 both have quite short cranks in comparison. While its interesting, since both the v small bike builds are from the spares box they are getting 170mm cranks whatever.....
 
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Two things....

Think I have some short cranks around somewhere if you are interested.

Then secondly, for the Grom’s first DH rig (24 inch wheels) I needed 145 cranks, so Highpath engineering shortened some non-hollow tech cranks (zee) from 170 to 145. Brilliant.
 
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2manyoranges":33g9xblw said:
Two things....

Think I have some short cranks around somewhere if you are interested.

Then secondly, for the Grom’s first DH rig (24 inch wheels) I needed 145 cranks, so Highpath engineering shortened some non-hollow tech cranks (zee) from 170 to 145. Brilliant.

xxnick1975 may have a greater need, not sure who you're asking, but anyway I'm avoiding spending money on more bits :roll: . It would only be on a second runabout anyway so no long distances and she's taller now.... I would be interested in seeing pics both of the work by Highpath, as I like that sort of thing and the DH rig with 24" wheels.

oh, and I'm probably betraying my age but learnt a new word, never heard "grom" before but then I can't really swim......

As the the original question, yes any frame really 14" c-t ie the very small. Our Kona has forks from a 14" Giant, so that may be an option as well. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=412025 is my wanted thread with pic of where we got to. I gave up on the idea of sourcing some short steerer P2s as needed to be on the road.
 
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