26" mtb commuter/camper build

1st item to arrive:

1 Attachment

2nd item:

1 Attachment

cash?

Pardon?

Looking forward to seeing the result here - the idea of buying a 26'er, that can often be had cheaply, and making an camping/bikepacking set-up out of it appeals to me. What frame are you using/have in mind?

A well used kona explosif 1995 made from Columbus max but with pannier and guard eyelets
Surly troll forks with as many eyelets as you could wish for with disc and v brake options too.
Saddle was £9, kona seat post £4.50

Flite for 9 Bob? Bargins. Where did you pick it up? Shitbay?

Are the Surly forks the same lenght that the original ones? Took me a lot of digging to find something suitable for an old GT I'm building

Yeah, it was one of those lucky days!

I'm not sure what the original ones were axle to crown - possibly around 415mm? These are around 453mm and I expect a pair of bombers is nearer 500mm +or -.
I mocked up the frame and forks and it seemed pretty good from a fit point of view ( but what do I know!)

A '95 bike would probably be designed around 80mm travel forks and the Surly 1x1 forks that are meant to replace an 80mm sus fork are 413mm or thereabouts so I suspect the 453mm forks might be a bit long but shouldn't be too bad.

This has stalled but looking to get this for the front end once I get the forks sorted for a crown race to go on...

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Minoura-Gamoh-Porteur-Front-Rack_44152.htm?gclid=CNXyssqlsckCFVQaGwod_aMEjg

Bit of fettling

4 Attachments

With the surly forks

4 Attachments

Surley forks look better IMHO

I agree, they've got a ton of braze ons for a porteur rack, panniers, water bottle. , mudguards, v brakes and disc mount so are far more practical too for what I want the bike to do.

They look the bizness for bike packing.
Are you planning to have spare bottles up front or something like an anything cage to hold light kit?

Cool, cool. Are you going for matching bartape? To the saddle that is.

Good stuff, nice wheels as well! IMHO needs some sensible drop bars for the intended use - Woodchippers or Planet-X Midge as a more available/cheaper option.

might be willing to part with some woodchippers for the right price

I've never considered those type of bars before - may just try the straight bars for fit/ function before I start buying more bars!
Does any one know what BB length I'll need for some white industries triple cranks?

1 Attachment

Great build. Love the colours

Change of direction...!
Needed some £ so have sold the Kona frame, Crossmax and bombers and transferred the headset and surly forks back on to the my Indian fire trail frame. It will be more of a stealth build due to everything being black.
Pics up soon.