That's Intense

[threeforks]

Hello fellow bike fans,

Seen in the pic below in the 08 "Intense" race frame that was included in one of the pile of bikes for parts
brought home a while ago.

Since then I force fit a bottom bracket in place, rescued some cranks and chain ring that had been thrown into a scrap bin,
picked out the best of the wheels and tires from the parts pile, found a chunk of thick wall aluminum tube for a seat post,
some useable pedals, seat and chain.

Also extended the steer tube 4 " for a more upright ride,

Then went for a test ride. And the bike is worth saving.
Wont be used for jumps, as I'm too old and broken to play so rough.
But fun to ride as a small cruiser, being light and nimble.

Will leave a single speed freewheel.

When a pic of a "new" Intense was posted that got me thinking how to clean up the bike
without spending a lot for "Sinz" components or such.

Things like red paint, not anodized parts.

So today I built up the first "new wheel". Now have new spokes and nipples. Using the "Suzue" hubs from my 1985 Redline build,

More pics tomorrow or Sunday after new wheels are fitted.

 

[threeforks]

Here are the new wheels, built but not trued or tensioned.

A neighbor who bought the "Green" fun bike, as shown in "some old builds",
ordered and bought the spokes from PorkChop BMX in return for me doing a
major tune up on that bike for him. He also bought the new stuff for his bike.

I bought the new nipples from ModernBike, around $ 7 for a box of 100.

So far, that's all I've spent on this bike. That is also intense.

 

[threeforks]

Does not show up clearly in the pic, but spokes are stainless, nipples are silver brass,
and the used rims are painted with the same rattle can red I use for anything red.

 

[Ulu]

Is that considered a “race” frame because of the alloy? …..the frame geometry? …. Size? …all of the above?

I picked a similar one off off a junk pile that is a Trek aluminum version, maybe good for a little aluminum stingray “eliminator” type bike.

 

[threeforks]

My take on the frame is that is mostly geometry, although the alloy might be soft for freestyle
or street or dirt-jumps. The bike is light. The seat could be adjusted low, for racing, if wanted.
It also says "race" on the frame with a decal.

Don't claim to be an expert or up to date with what's new with BMX.
Just from reading up on the web, and from the advertisements.
Don't want or need to be.

Also watching "events" on u-tube.

The newest bikes look to be carbon, like road or MTB.
Very spendy is what I see.

My cost for this one is $ 7 so far, for nipples, and that puts it in my price range.

Nimble, easy to pedal, and stable for such a small bike.

 

[threeforks]

I picked a similar one off off a junk pile that is a Trek aluminum version, maybe good for a little aluminum stingray “eliminator” type bike.

For guys our size, age, and weight, that sounds like the right thing to do with it.
After all, if it was on a junk pile, or in the transfer stations scrap trailer, like the Intense frame was,
Any use is better than just scrap.

Why not make something useful and fun with it.

Or make it for someone smaller to use.

It's crazy what people through away.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Race frame. Low stand over, long chain stays, steep head tube, light

 

[threeforks]

Race frame or not, this bike is now a part of the "ride me when you can" fleet.
These are not the best pics, but the spokes shine in the sun.
The red "accents" brighten up the bike.
Will post another pic or so later.

 

[threeforks]

Here are a couple more pics of this bike.
Am still thinking this bike is a fun and nimble bike to keep.
Really great contrast to "Back to the cross" chopper, or the "RedGoose" tandem.

I do love to see those spokes a-twinklin' in the sun.

 

[kissmyklunker]

Every bike has its place.

You certainly wont be forgotten when someone sees you riding that Zebra... watch out for lions!

 

[Ulu]

I think it pretty looks good but I would get rid of the logos if posssible. I was able to get mine off the Mongoose and Huffy, with the heat gun, but those were not under the paint.

 

[threeforks]

Thanks for your comment,

As the finish on this bike is not paint or powder coat, but a "dipped" film,
the only option as I see it would be to take it down to bare aluminum.

I have been a "no stickers" guy for as long as I remember.
When I bought the new Redline Pro Styler frameset in 1985, all chrome,
the first thing I did was remove all the "logos" and stickers.

Every other bike i have is stripped.

So i am going to do something different this time.

For this one bike, everything stays. Logos, stickers and zebra stripes.

PS. I did change out the seat post, losing the "Sinz" logo there, and did strip the fork
to paint it, and lost the Sinz logo there also.

There might be others with the stuff left on, time will tell.
Like for other peoples kids, or if I did not want to refinish.

 

[Ulu]

Well if the paint is in good shape and you find the bike to be special, then let your conscience be your guide as they say.

I am experimenting with used brake fluid as a stripper because it is free. So far, I find that 12 hours in old brake fluid was enough to soften the paint right off of my spokes.

It’s a little stinky to work with, but not nearly as nasty as Zip-strip or Easy-Off.

But I chose to try it particularly, because it does not etch aluminum Or other common metals.

 

[threeforks]

Haven't tried brake fluid for paint removal yet. But it sure does "lift" the paint when
spilled on it. Might try that.
The "paint stripper" that is sold these days just doesn't work like the old stuff did.

Back to the intense finish.
I worked for "Bow Tech" for a while. Hunting bows.
They used the film dip method for the risers.
That's why I am thinking the finish on the intense is a film dip. It looks
a lot like the bows did, just not "camo"

Side note: Your using brake fluid for paint removal somehow reminded me of the time
I washed some parts in carb cleaner.
Right on the can it says, "Do not get on skin", but there I was dipping my hands in the stuff,
and no gloves.

The result was VERY scary. my hands turned white, just like typing paper, and wrinkled
up , and loose flesh, looked like dead flesh.

They were OK after a couple hours of rinsing and washing.
There's something else I don't need to ever do again.

 

[threeforks]

You certainly wont be forgotten when someone sees you riding that Zebra... watch out for lions!

That might be so.
That's what my neighbor calls it too.
The Zebra.

 

[Ulu]

I never thought about doing bicycles with a floating film. We used to make airplanes where you would pour airplane dope on the water and then lift it off with the frame to create really light weight wings.

I think that stuff had nitro cellulose in it, and when you poured it on water it formed a really thin film. Thinner than saran wrap by far.

So now I’m thinking of trying a psychedelic fork wrap, by putting various swirly nitrocellulose paints on the top of water, and bringing the fork out through them.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Hydro dipping is the term you're looking for. My company owns one of the largest dippers in the eastern US. We do stuff for everything from firearms to ATVs. Not one of my facilities but pretty cool stuff

 

[RustyGold]

In addition to hydro dipping... @GuitarlCarl did some psychodelic paint dipping on one of his builds... can't remember which, it may have been for an MBBO but that doesn't narrow it down much.

 

[RustyGold]

This is Carl's 'swirl paint' bike...the pics are all Photobucket, but there are videos of the dipping process...

Swirl Paint

 

[MattiThundrrr]

That is super cool, also confirms what I had previously suspected. Carl From Seven Years ago is light years ahead of Matti Tomorrow. Amazing stuff