Can I reuse old 26"...
 

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Can I reuse old 26" components for a child's bike build?

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I've got a reasonable entry level spec on my old 2010 26" Specialized Hard Rock (Shimano Zee 1x10, Shimano hydraulics, RockShox 100mm fork), but I guess with everything having moved on so much, I'm going to struggle to sell it locally.

My eldest needs a new bike and we had a quick look at 26" wheeled bikes at Halfords the other day (she's 147cm tall).

Can I cut out the middle man and buy a suitable kids frame and fit my old kit to it? I found one at CRC but it looks like it's through-axle rather than 9mm, which would mean added cost of a new wheelset.

For what it's worth, I believe my RockShox fork is 1-1/8" straight rather than tapered (if it's not too large to fit to a kid's bike anyway?)

Thanks


 
Posted : 01/01/2023 7:14 pm
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Yes you can. Did exactly this with the bits from my wife's old bike. Bought the 26" kids Vitus and swapped the wheels, deore 10spd and forks over. Both frames were straight rather than tapered but if you need to put straight forks into a tapered frame hope make an adapter. The frame I used is qr but almost went with the TA nukeproof. This would have needed and adaptor swap on the hope wheels.


 
Posted : 01/01/2023 7:22 pm
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I couldn't find anything suitable new for a reasonable price. I found a 14" qr frame on eBay for about £80.


 
Posted : 01/01/2023 7:26 pm
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Thanks for the quick reply, was that frame available separately from CRC? I can only see the Nukeproof 26 on there at the moment, the Vitus Nucleus 26" is £440 for a full bike.


 
Posted : 01/01/2023 7:28 pm
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More importantly, why couldn't you do this? If it still works then keep using it.


 
Posted : 02/01/2023 8:21 am
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I'm getting myself a more modern bike next month and with the bairn moving up to something bigger, I'm out of room in the garage.

This way (in theory) she gets something better than what's available off the shelf, and my old frame can be resold or given to Recyke y Bike.


 
Posted : 02/01/2023 8:40 am
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No had to buy the whole bike. Need to sell off the parts as still sitting on those. The nukeproof looked too much bike for my daughter's usage.


 
Posted : 02/01/2023 9:06 am
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Ah, with you now. Shame they don't just do the Vitus frame, though I guess it might be available from that Carbonda manufacturer? Will look into it and the ebay route


 
Posted : 02/01/2023 9:37 am
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Works great - I bought an XS Commencal Normal a few years back and with the help of generous folk on here built my daughter a lovely 25lb hardtail, XT, 1x9, carbon bars and post 🤣

Currently doing great service for a petite lady at the cycle who bought it when daughter outgrew it


 
Posted : 02/01/2023 10:52 am

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