[benwitt11]

I've been kicking around the idea of having a semi AM hardtail built around a WB 130mm fork for some time. In the mids of my thoughts, I started thinking about what I parts I had lying aroung that I could play with. Hmm, little Monocog frame, black Reba, Avid 203 brakes, Saint cranks, the list kept growing. So I pulled the frame out of the basement corner it had been living in and started throwing parts at it. I pulled a seatpost and sadde from one bike, stem and bars from another. I had some purple ano Surly hubs so I built up some wheels. Tires were a toss up, but I went with the stand by XR's to start with. I set the Reba to 100mm, then threw the cranks on. Thought about running over stuff, I just happened to have a e13 gaurd on the wall. That was an easy descision. It's set up single speed of course, so a couple brake installs and the bike was rolling. I had to play around with little things like stem height and the like, though that was a minor after thought. It's pretty much done, other than the 18t White trials freewheel on order, but man is it fun already. The frames too small, it's kind of heavy, the seat's really uncomfortable, (I'm fixin that,) but it's really a blast. It's so easy to get on top of and around things. Wheelies and stoppies are really fun and easy to control. Think of it as a bike BMX bike, though with 8" brakes on both ends and 100mm of travel. That and curbs aren't really an issue to get up!

It has already convinced me to go ahead with the next project. That promises to be a blast for sure!

Here you go, enjoy.

 

[MMcG]

Looks cool!

And welcome to Ridemonkey. Hope you'll stick around and chime in from time to time!!!

 

[benwitt11]

I'm planning on being around here more from now on. I'm getting really sick of the MTBR crowd lately. I love the actual ride reviews and the format of the site. Look for an email from me tommorow.

 

[MMcG]

I'm planning on being around here more from now on. I'm getting really sick of the MTBR crowd lately. I love the actual ride reviews and the format of the site. Look for an email from me tommorow.

Excellent! and again welcome aboard!!

 

[binary visions]

Wow, that bike looks... just plain bizarre. In a good way, though. Usually "play" bikes go to 24" wheels not the opposite direction. I kinda want to ride it just to see how it handles.

Have you tried dirt jumping it?

Oh, and welcome

 

[benwitt11]

Play bikes with big wheels are a lot of fun. It's very flickable, but it still rolls well. It is harder to jump, but only because the dimentions of the jumps are usually built for smaller wheels. It's like a ski freestyle jump vs a snowboard, the profile of the jumps are different. I like riding the larger wheels for the trials type moves as well. This bike is a ton of fun to ride on logpiles, picknick tables and things like that. The wheels do make some things a bit more difficult. Short transitions and whoop type sections are a little difficult because the bike is inherently a bit longer. That said, it's still a lot of fun on the local BMX track. This bike is legal to race in cruiser class. It's really not that practical, nor is it the bike I would prefer to ride the most. When I just want to cruise town and jump off stuff though, it's a ton of fun.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Play bikes with big wheels are a lot of fun. It's very flickable, but it still rolls well. It is harder to jump, but only because the dimentions of the jumps are usually built for smaller wheels. It's like a ski freestyle jump vs a snowboard, the profile of the jumps are different. I like riding the larger wheels for the trials type moves as well. This bike is a ton of fun to ride on logpiles, picknick tables and things like that. The wheels do make some things a bit more difficult. Short transitions and whoop type sections are a little difficult because the bike is inherently a bit longer. That said, it's still a lot of fun on the local BMX track. This bike is legal to race in cruiser class. It's really not that practical, nor is it the bike I would prefer to ride the most. When I just want to cruise town and jump off stuff though, it's a ton of fun.

Although I have ZERO trials skills, I'd love to see some vid of that bike in action...

 

[benwitt11]

Just because I said I like to do it, dosen't at allmean that I'm good at it! I'll try and get my resident BMX'er to put in some time on it. His last trick he showed me was to bunnyhop a 55 gallon drum at full speed. This on black top on a bike that he hadn't ridden before. That's crazy.

 

[ÆX]

wecome to RM

nice ride.

 

[arboc!]

holy huge

 

[siege]

Saint cranks huh...interesting choice

 

[benwitt11]

A bit overkill I know. I could go with some XT's and save about a pound. There is something to be said for cranks that are so stiff you feel the frame flex before the arms. I really love the way they look too.

 

[MMcG]

I've been kicking around the idea of having a semi AM hardtail built around a WB 130mm fork for some time. In the mids of my thoughts, I started thinking about what I parts I had lying aroung that I could play with. Hmm, little Monocog frame, black Reba, Avid 203 brakes, Saint cranks, the list kept growing. So I pulled the frame out of the basement corner it had been living in and started throwing parts at it. I pulled a seatpost and sadde from one bike, stem and bars from another. I had some purple ano Surly hubs so I built up some wheels. Tires were a toss up, but I went with the stand by XR's to start with. I set the Reba to 100mm, then threw the cranks on. Thought about running over stuff, I just happened to have a e13 gaurd on the wall. That was an easy descision. It's set up single speed of course, so a couple brake installs and the bike was rolling. I had to play around with little things like stem height and the like, though that was a minor after thought. It's pretty much done, other than the 18t White trials freewheel on order, but man is it fun already. The frames too small, it's kind of heavy, the seat's really uncomfortable, (I'm fixin that,) but it's really a blast. It's so easy to get on top of and around things. Wheelies and stoppies are really fun and easy to control. Think of it as a bike BMX bike, though with 8" brakes on both ends and 100mm of travel. That and curbs aren't really an issue to get up!

It has already convinced me to go ahead with the next project. That promises to be a blast for sure!

Here you go, enjoy.

Hey Ben,

Did you ever pursue that Next Project???

 

[Fulton]

Sweet looking bike. I'd love to see something like a transition bottlerocket with 29" wheels. Could be a fun "play bike". With that monocog frame, what do you think your angles would be with a 130mm WB fork?

 

[MMcG]

I'm still wondering if Ben ever finished the "Project" that this bike was the starting point for? Ben you out there? Care to comment?

 

[martini]

I'll try to get his attention. I wouldn't mind talkin' with him anyways...I do know that after this post was done, he did the 36er...

 

[MMcG]

martini - let me know what you hear from Ben.

I'd say that 36er is quite a difference than this Monocog though. But yeah I think you are right - that was his next project after this bike.

hrmmmmm.

 

[benwitt11]

Gentlemen. I did ride the Monocog like this for a while. I taco the front wheel jumping some little stuff, (my bad, landed at a 90 deg! ouch.) After this bike was built I decided that I liked it much better rigid. I went back to my trusty KM 16", and added some Holm wheels and a Profile crank. That took over for a while. I really liked the bike. I am currently jump/F### around bike less, though I have a heavier duty 29er that I ride. I would eventually like to have a bike built for this purpose. Something like this. As they say B=n+1!

Bike porn. Check out the dimensions closely.

 

[MMcG]

Toe overlap city on that bike though.

 

[benwitt11]

Not really, just as much as my 16" Monkey or the 15" Redline. When you see a shot of the estimated toe overlap on the Bike CAD program, it's pretty clear.

 

[MMcG]

Not really, just as much as my 16" Monkey or the 15" Redline. When you see a shot of the estimated toe overlap on the Bike CAD program, it's pretty clear.

Gotcha - thanks for the clarification sir!