MelvinsArmy Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 I've wanted a 26" BMX bike for a few years now. After several 20+ mile rides on my 24" bikes earlier this summer, I decided it was time to get one. I've also always wanted a black and gold bike. I had hoped to one day build a Prodyne or GT26, but when I decided that it was past time to get a 26 and that the main reason for building one would be to put thousands of miles on it, a new school bike seemed like a much better idea. This is a big bike, it's top tube is 23.5 inches long. It's slightly larger than my mountain bikes. I've already put about 50 miles on it and I love it. It is a real wheelie machine and it's super easy to get both wheels off the ground. I'll be leaving the rear end planted for now until I change the pedals, I already opened my shin up. Anyway, enough blathering, here is my Firemans Texas Cruzer. With a few rain drops on it. Frame/fork: 2010 Firemans Texas Cruzer Headset: Chris King Cranks: Profile Bottom Bracket: Profile American Spider: Profile retro Chainring: Tangent 42T Hubs: Profile Driver: Profile 18T Rims: Sun Rhyno Lite Spokes: DT Swiss Pedals: Crupi pro round (to be replaced by Profile Gas pedals when they become available again) Tires: Maxxis Holy Roller 26 x 2.2 Brakes: Paul Moto BMX Brake levers: Paul Love lever Brake cables: Odyssey linear braided Cable clamps: Dia Compe Seat: Brooks B17 Champion Seat clamp: Profile Slim Jim Seat post: Can't remember, covered the logo up with a Melvins sticker. Chain: Izumi 3/32 Chain tensioners: Profile Handlebars: 1970s Penton/KTM MX replica bars Grips: Fuan Oakely 3 (waiting on Ourys) Headset lock: Morphine Stem: Knight Ruf Neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blikum Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Very nice, I'm liking the black and gold. One day I'm gonna have to pick up one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Fucking awesome! I had a Firemans in clear over raw...best riding 26" ss bmx bike ever!!! I love the gold bits, brooks saddle and pauls brakes....that bike is bomb proof, you build them right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SantaAnaMassachusetts Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Nice build Scott. Bushwick bling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinsArmy Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Thanks guys! I've always loved black and gold bikes, but my real inspiration came more from some of my all time favorite cars. Not to mention the fact that I'm from Iowa (I'm a Cyclone, but the Hawkeyes I was raised to love have cooler colors) Fittipalidi's Lotus The Bandit Slammin' Sammy Swindell's TMC sprint car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyt4130 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Great looking bike! Love the OS style. I think those are built here in Austin. I see a lot of them around town. Perfect bike for NYC except that it will be a thief magnet. Love it, Scott. Tasteful and awesome. Way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seda Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Where there's smoke there's FIRE. That rig looks like it handles horribly well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin wagonguy Posted August 19, 2010 Admin Share Posted August 19, 2010 Nice! Fireman's are great bikes. I love mine, and it is the bike I've had the longest in my collection. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinsArmy Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 Benny, yeah the company is out of Austin, but I think they're welded up in California. No worries about thieves, I never lock up any of my bmx bikes and they never are more than an arms length away from me when I take them out. If I need a Pepsi or a slice of pizza, the bike comes in or I go without. I'm paranoid like that. My JMC has seen the inside of many a NYC public park restroom. seda, it does! It is really a joy to ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntin4BMX Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Killer cruiser man! I love these too and will probably have one some day. Diggin the MX bars on it. Great look to it. They are made in SoCal by none other than Sal Correa, original welder from SE. He probably makes frames for 10 different companies. An absolutely talented welder. I love the black and gold also. Thats the colors for my next Powerlite 24". I'm really diggin this ride. Hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjvh66 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 The Brooks saddle is sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinsArmy Posted April 1, 2012 Author Share Posted April 1, 2012 Bumpola! The Firemans Texas Cruzers are multiplying in Brooklyn. My wife liked mine so much that she bought a f/f for herself this winter and she started collecting some parts. I made a few changes to mine this winter as well and donated my chrome Profile cranks and pedals and the bars from my bike to her's and got most of the rest of the parts for her. First, I replaced the chrome parts on mine with black. New black Profile cranks and Knight V cruiser bars. Also a new pair of gold Shimano DX pedals that I scored in a trade. I think it looks even better now. Next, her Firemans Texas Cruzer. 2011 Firemans Texas Cruzer frame and fork Headset: Velo Orange Grand Cru Cranks: Profile 180mm Pedals: Profile 09 Gas Sprocket: Rennen 42T Freewheel: Shimano 18T Chain: KMC Brake levers: Paul Brake calipers: Shimano DXR Hubs: Crupi high flange Rims: polished Araya 7x Tires: Maxxis Holy Roller Grips: Ame super soft Stem: DK retro Seat: Brooks B17 Seat post: Kalloy Seat post clamp: Kappa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spur Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 Nice, I like them both! I have been looking for a modern big wheel bike for my everyday cruises, myself. I love my 24's but with rides of any long distance it just isn't as comfortable. I dig the Fireman's quite a bit despite not being a retro fan, they look well built. I have also been kicking around taking an earlier Redline Monocog 26 and converting it to a BMX type cruiser or even one of the 29r's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin wagonguy Posted April 2, 2012 Admin Share Posted April 2, 2012 I need to get mine out. She hasn't seen the sun in a while. Bike weather is coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinsArmy Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 Sweet ride wagonguy! Jake, 26ers are the shit! I got one because I was getting all cramped up on long rides on my 24s. The Firemans are very nicely built and their geometry is as close to perfect as I've ever ridden. I think it's a cross between the old OM and KOS geometries. They ride soooo nice. Already made a small change to her bike. We put the stock Firemans bars on for a more relaxed and upright ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzpantha Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Love the KTM MX replica bars in your first post, they gave the bike a nice cruisey look. Cool bike looks like it would make a nice rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerry Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Just emailed Greg, I'm buying one Scott, your taste and now your girls taste has always been rising. Great build here....classy and simple yet tough looking. Anyway, help me decide colors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 26incher Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinsArmy Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 nzpantha, I switched the bars so I could have something narrower. I'm planning to use this as a back up commuter this year, the MX bars are a bit wide for cutting thru stopped traffic. I'm holding on to them though. Cool Kerry! And thanks! As for colors, I've always wanted to build a purple bike, so that plum colored one they have would be tempting. Annick almost went with the clear over raw frame. That's another one I'd have loved to build. Clear coat frame with some red parts, a few raw aluminum parts and black soft parts. I've seen some Ducatis like that, it's a sharp combo. The 26incher, woah that thing is awesome! What am I looking at? Is that from a kit? Looks like fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin S.Brothers Posted April 2, 2012 Admin Share Posted April 2, 2012 Great looking bikes, Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lboorse2 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Both look tough. Nice his and hers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
