New Project - Hinde/Rourke Dragon - build thread

[pwebb]

had been mulling the wisdom of taking this one on - but collected this week and started to work on this frame circa 2001 - bought from original owner - had had it languishing in his garage for some time evidently:



BB removal has to be about the worst I have ever encountered - first attempts wrecked standard removal tool



seems to have had water ingress and then fused to the aluminium completely - resorted to stronger tool and lump hammer which managed to move it 1 thread at a time over 4 hours and about 1000 strikes - good workout though.

looking at the frame - this has an unusual looking number that leads me to believe it was made elsewhere ( Rourke Stoke On Trent?) and then assembled by Hinde - ???




decals are going to be an interesting quest - currently undecided whether to try to get frame polished or powder coated as the aluminium is pitted all over - to the extent that paint restorer/metal polish /t-cut etc has no effect whatsoever







all advice gratefully received !

to be continued...

 

[pwebb]

...this might be a marmite moment - but frameset is back from Cyclone Powder Coating and I am starting what will be very much a 'restomod' :







I have sourced some vintage XT parts as well as a 'modern' 1x9 drivetrain - we will see how this comes together but I think the colour is neat and will add some gold bling in places - this one isn't going to be a shrinking violet....

 

[pwebb]

All done now - happy with the result and this bike is a lot lighter and smoother than it once was







thanks to YourroyalHEINniss for the decal help - you are the fontmeister