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johnsmith

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Hello all.
I’m new to bicycles. I tried taking apart one as a kid and failed miserably. Since then, I’ve always wanted a lowrider bike, as well as a trike. Thirty years later, I found a vintage DeSoto trike on the curb with little surface rust. I have already taken it apart completely and I am almost done removing rust and a couple layers of paint. Unfortunately, I have no idea what parts, sizes, etc. that I will need to get this bike completed. Please, if anyone can help my progression in knowledge, I will greatly appreciate it.
Thanks!
 
One of the best things you can get is a good set of calipers to measure things as the difference between some parts can be tenths of a mm, though a complete out-of-back-pocket guess would have me say that old American cruiser standard is a good place to start from, which I think much of the lowrider parts are sized to. With anything, always measure first.

Here's a couple places with lowrider parts:

https://www.bicycledesigner.com/lowrider-bike-parts/
https://streetlowriders.com/bicycles/
 
Duchess said:
One of the best things you can get is a good set of calipers to measure things as the difference between some parts can be tenths of a mm, though a complete out-of-back-pocket guess would have me say that old American cruiser standard is a good place to start from, which I think much of the lowrider parts are sized to. With anything, always measure first.

Here's a couple places with lowrider parts:

https://www.bicycledesigner.com/lowrider-bike-parts/
https://streetlowriders.com/bicycles/
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! Unfortunately, there are a lot of parts that I'm not sure where to measure from. I have started a thread in the "Builds" forum and my first question is going to be: What type of rear wheels will I need for my bike? There are several types of wheels and many different types of trikes. Anyway, thank you for the links.
 
Calipers are about to be your very best friend johnsmith! :grin:

You don't need a lot of fancy tools or knowledge to get started either! If you have a Friendly Local Bike Shop nearby, just carry the parts in question in the store and see what they recommend for tools and replacement parts-as much knowledge as the experts Forum-side have, sometimes there's no substitute for experienced Live Eyeballs at the scene.

If that frame is steel (i'm sure it is but I can't Magnet Test a photo :p ) then you can do a lot of "good enough" fitting. I once turned a 5-speed Derailleur Schwinn into a 3-speed Internal hub bike with a few ratcheting cargo belts and a rubber hammer, and widened front and rear made for a 20" 1.25" rim to a 2.5" BMX rim with cargo belts, wooden blocks and a deadblow...steel is very, very forgiving. You can even file the dropouts to accept larger axles (although that's a one-way street)-in short, you have a lot of fitting options if you can't find a perfect match or if the original parts are an unusual custom fit-and that's without getting into brazing or welding.

Mostly, you just need lubricants, wrenches, pliers , wire brush for cleaning and maybe some files or a drill-no need to get crazy on a first build.

Oh, and a camera-you absolutely need a camera so that we can stick our virtual noses over your shoulder and double as your cheering section..:rockout: Welcome to the BIKE SIDE fellow Padawan...
 
Welcome mate. You’ll get the hang of it quickly with the help of the guys here. Post photos in a build thread as Rat Rod suggested.
 
BTW...I see everyone is saying where they are from. I am located in Charleston, South Carolina.
 

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