46er for MiniKen

[The Ken]

Just thought I'd start a thread for my son's new bike, it is a bit different and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has done this before.

I'm making a 46er - 24inch rear with a 26inch front, it looks like it will work from my first mock up, but I'll need to get a rear wheel and fit the forks properly to be sure.

I spend sunday morning stripping the frame and with the intension of a respray, but it looks great naked.

Ive used a 26inch rim without the tyre to get an idea on how it will sit but the angles are looking ok.
I get the actual forks this week (orange F7s)

and will polish the frame and let miniKen Design the decals for it.

The frame is a 2005 Specialized Hotrock 24 and it is pretty light and very well made, the welds are lovely.

My intention is to build a bike that is as light as possible for a reasonable amount of money.

Spec so far....
Orange F7 forks
XT rapidfire+ brakes
Front is an Alivio Parallax on an Alex rim
Fuji 150gm bars with bontrager foam grips
STX derailuers
HG70 Cassette
Tioga Avenger headset.
XT hollowtech BB - if I can find shorter cranks!

He won't be getting the Use post, Turbo seat, or Kooka stem! But he might get hope XC hubs, depending how I feel about wheel building.

 

[clockworkgazz]

humour me but what is the thinking on the different size wheels- pro's con's?

 

[The Ken]

He isn't big enought for a full 26 inch bike yet and the suspension available for 24'' kids bikes is sheng, unless you spend well over £100.

So taking inspiration from late 80's small frame Cannondales and modern 69ers I came up with the 46er

I like different as long as it works.

 

[perry]

i cant find a pic of it without the crap cranks

 

[The Ken]

Perry is that a frame designed for 26 or 24inch wheels? as those forks look mighty long. At least I'm not doing anything too unusual. I was going for a trials/jump type look for him.

 

[perry]

has removable v mounts for both

forks are 435mm axle/crown

you get less rotating weight so it accelerates quicker and a stronger wheel as its physically smaller . sometimes you get more mud clearance ( but not always , look at reanimations )

itl slacken all the angles unless you use a large volume tyre . 2.6 or 3.0 that makes the circumference similar to a 26" but weighs a lot and you lose all the benefits except a much smaller chance of bashing the rim

i had a mate who used a 24 on the front and a 26 rear with a big tyre , more cushion for the wrists but looked odd

 

[big.eck]

whats your plans for a rear brake ? would a u brake fit in there ?

looks alright , i like

 

[reanimation]

Yeah have a look at my Last Rufus thread, 2 bikes wearing 24's in there.

I was chatting to a chap in bike shop, bit of a downhill nut. Made a lot of sense of running a fatter tyre on the back really as he suggests, but also have a look at MotoX bikes and stuff good enough for them this combo.

I never got on with my 24's but that was more to do with the package of the bike i think.

An inventive solution to a kids bike brief this. perhaps a 2.35 light tyre on the back might not be too much and thinner on front.

 

[clockworkgazz]

Any progress on this wee beastie yet TK?

 

[jimihendrix]

Look's like a great project ken, that frame should polish up nice

humour me but what is the thinking on the different size wheels- pro's con's?

There was a version of the Specialised Big Hit that used a 24" rear wheel, not sure why though but i was thinking of getting one and using 24's front and rear for more standover height (they tend to be quite tall), seen one like this on E-bay already, with 24"x3" tyres front and rear it looked like a beast :twisted: