[cmanco]

Heres my old mongoose ibox pro sx carbon composite frame. I'm thinking about converting it to single speed, or just cleaning all the parts and putting it all back together as a back up. If I go single speed, im going to replace wheels, handlebars, stem, seatpost, etc. and It will cost over 200. I do not know if I want to put $200 into this frame.
What do you guys think.

 

[Sparticus]

How do you like the fit & handling characteristics of that frame? $200 is not a lot of money so long as you wind up with a singlespeed you like. Probably depends more on sentimentality than anything else.

--Sparty

 

[bbrins]

If, when you are done, you will be happy with it, yes. I think that any bike is worthy as long as the owner is happy. Some people somehow manage to justify to themselves spending several grand, so I wouldn't worry about a couple hundred unless you are digging into finances that you shouldn't be.

 

[MaukaRunner]

Go ghetto.

Sounds like you already have another bike. If you do then this one can be just for playing around.

Try setting it up as a cheap single speed before making the jump, thus the ghetto.

Anyways, this is what I am doing to my Chameleon. Can’t see your pic here but if you don’t have a horizontal drop out you might need a tensioner. Regardless, you could lock the derailleur on one cog and remove the cabling and front derailleur. That way you’ll see the weight difference and be forced to ride without being able to shift.

Ride it like that for a few weeks and if you like it then make the jump.

Read somewhere 1-1/4" PVC tubing works as spacers for the cog. It works as I had some leftover PVC pipe. Really tight fit but it works. Was thinking of doing that but I only have leftover Shimano cogs which are thin. Don't want to install the thin cog on my King aluminum freehub. Also didn't want to spend $30+ on a wider base cog not being sure of what gearing I want.

On my Chameleon, right now I have the main body of a XT cogset which starts with a 17 tooth cog. Added leftover cassette spacers from my parts box and locked everything down. Did this all last night so I didn’t have a chance to ride it yet. Chain line isn’t perfect but it will get the job done. Can’t wait to ride it.

Like everyone is saying, $200 isn’t that much but if I had to ponder spending that amount, perhaps you might try doing it on the cheap first just to make sure you want it.

 

[AZ]

If you like it it is worthy . :thumbsup:

 

[byknuts]

i've ss'd worse!! :thumbsup:
that frame's got unique points sewn up!!
welded aluminium with carbon tubes, not crazy awesome but a REALLY interesting piece of tech from a very interesting period in mountain biking's history (in my opinion)

my 2 cents, saw off the dropouts about 10mm behind those slots there, use the slots as boltholes, to bolt on a wicked set of new dropouts.

 

[scyule]

definately go for it

 

[cmanco]

my 2 cents, saw off the dropouts about 10mm behind those slots there, use the slots as boltholes, to bolt on a wicked set of new dropouts.

Could you please explain more or send a link of dropouts that will bolt on. I dont really understand. lol sorry.

Also, what would happen if I stripped the paint, like the raw aluminum look, but im just wondering what would happen at the carbon. I need to do something to fix the chipped look because its all chipped up, esp right behind the crank.

 

[playdead]

hell yeah, go for it! Will it be your first SS?

 

[nuck_chorris]

It should be fine if you strip it . I dont know about cutting off the drops . what kind of wheels are you thinking of getting freewheel hub or freehub ? just a fork and wheels is probably over two hundred. have you considered using the old fork and bars? if your going to get a spring type tensioner go for one like the yess tensioner or a surly tensioner.

 

[Lord Humongous]

It's not a question of worthy.

Every frame deserves to be singlespeeded.

 

[cmanco]

It should be fine if you strip it . I dont know about cutting off the drops . what kind of wheels are you thinking of getting freewheel hub or freehub ? just a fork and wheels is probably over two hundred. have you considered using the old fork and bars? if your going to get a spring type tensioner go for one like the yess tensioner or a surly tensioner.

I'm going to use the wheels that i had on it. It was fully equipped with deore lx components. I''m not sure what the wheels are but they'll work for now. It has lx hubs. I'm going to pick up an old rigid fork. My lbs has a used aluminum one he told me he'd sell for $45 so i'll think about that. What will it look like where the carbon meets the aluminum stripped, and will all the color be gone?