Is it worth $350 to UNFUQK this WEIRD BIKE? Customer says "YOU BETCHA HEY!" I reluctantly agree!

[@PizzaPredator]

Oh man this was amazing! That’s MY BIKE and just the video was worth the $350. I really want the weather to get nice soon because I am going to have a blast bombing around town on this! Suntour lives on!!

[@PizzaPredator]

Just a follow up, I put on the lights and took it on a two mile loop around the hood. I love this thing! I mentioned to Bike Farmer this is maybe my backup bike. Nah, this is the main steed now for anything under 15 miles, certainly anything under 10. A Bike Farmer masterpiece!

[@irondistance4313]

@@PizzaPredatorlove the bike super cool machine

[@bkefrmr]

We really made an improvement. It’s a great all-rounder! Bomb proof.

[@InsanercYT]

@@PizzaPredator this bike is so sick, love the cool old suntour rd

[@themoodyteam]

@@PizzaPredatorHave you removed the dork-disc yet? 😂

[@jmoney2724]

Binging your vids has been a nice escape from everything going on in the news lately. Similar philosophies on approach to bike repair as well as politics. Thanks and keep it up.

[@RalfWiggam]

It's nice to see someone taking care of these bikes that still have a lot of miles left in them. Seeing your free wheel cache reminds me of all the 8,9,10 speed cassettes, chains, and chain rings i have replaced on my own bikes. I have never worn out a 7 speed freewheel. It maybe time to upgrade back to a 7 speed freewheel

[@01ai01]

Those handlebars are amazing. You could fit so many gadgets on them. A bell, a light, a phone mount, a camera, and still have room to spare!

[@Go4Lo]

I'm a DIYer that dabbles in lots of things, cars, trucks, boats, campers, model railroads and now bikes and e-bikes too. You've taught me everything I know these past few weeks and have tuned up and replaced parts on a number of bikes already. Thank you! I have a request- Can you work on some disc brake bikes? I don't like other bike channels!!!

[@billzielke6798]

I appreciate the background music. Jazzy zen-like. Don’t notice it until I go listening for it. Good vid…

[@LeonTam]

12:18 "I have sweat beading upon my forehead y'all" 😂 Made my day and I totally feel you.

[@Chrisb8s]

My garage smells like furniture polish, I cleaned up my 3 bikes this weekend. It works great! Yes, this is a sick bike. I love that it was his fathers, and if this is his go to daily rider. I love it

[@dalton-at-work]

does it leave any film or streakyness?

[@DipDipBaskins]

I've been binging your videos lately, I've learned a ton. Thank you for the great content, its saving me money in my new hobby.

[@WheelsonaBike]

"Not good enough for me, but good enough for you." 😅😂😂😂 The honesty is real!

[@MarshWaha]

I would have to agree at least it’s good enough for him. It’s definitely not good enough for me.

[@minnesotasteve]

You should have branded dork discs. 🙂

[@ClintDowd]

I would buy a BIKEFRMR branded dork disc!

[@goonstroke]

like "I'm BIKEFRMR, and I approved this DORK DISC"

[@parisrose8173]

@@minnesotasteve what about a bright coloured dork disk that says “not approved by bike farmer”, make it the size of a 52 tooth sprocket.

[@StreetShots79]

Thanks!

[@haveblue117]

I have to say that it is quite relaxing to see you wrenching away while listening to that soothing background music and your funny comments. 😁👍

[@WoodAndSteel92]

With all the insanely specific and expensive tools Park makes, maybe EP-1 stands for "excessively profitable"

[@RisseK1]

Do you realize that "insanely specific" fundamentally implies that a product like that would be extremely difficult to make "excessive profitable". Extremely specific product= less customers= less manufacturing= more expensive manufacturing= profit margins end up extremely small.

[@parisrose8173]

@@RisseK1 Smart. Do you ever feel you're an island.

[@oftankoftan]

@@RisseK1 many extremely specific products lead to more profit though.

[@danieljackheck]

​@@RisseK1Lower volume product like this will typically have a higher margin because of the much higher markup. Margin percentage doesn't matter if you don't sell a lot of them. It's all about those margin dollars. So you often see margins of significantly greater than 100% on stuff like this.

[@MarvinWestmaas]

@@RisseK1 Are you a sucker for Apple as well? Sounds like it. In reality, novelty items have INSANE MARKUP on them, because well uhm.... BECAUSE THEY CAN without competition. You think things are prices based on actual manafucturing costs? That would be really laughable, you can't actually believe that. More likely you're just trolling and liked your own comment like some muppet

[@markymarknj]

Man, that bike came out SWEET! I'm sure Andy will be totally stoked to enjoy it... 😄😄

[@ClintDowd]

The satisfying sound of the tire bead! 😂😂 Not sure what noise you made but i laughed.

[@jstar1000]

I've had many bikes go through my hands over the years and I have never seen or heard of that one. Not the bike itself, I have heard of the criss cross but that suntour group. Strange but kind of cool actually. I kind of dig it.

[@joaopedrodefreitaslima2936]

It's interesting that you always give an idea of the situation around the bike, talking about the costumer demands and your suggestions to him. This give us an idea about the routine of a bike shop like yours.

[@twolaneroad]

yeah, I love the narrative that comes with each bike and drives decisions about the path taken. it takes this channel from "guy works on cheap bikes" to something more ministerial.

[@Vilendank]

whoa i had no idea the guy was a costumer! do you know what productions they are involved with?

[@robbcoolmeadowbrookinnmain6455]

I love my 1995 Criss Cross!!! 35 bucks from market place....cleaned and lubed it all work perfect

[@RaysBikes]

Just finished my mtb to single speed beach crusier conversion. She rides like a dream. Probably spent $80-$90 rebuilding. Got it listed on a local group for $150. Hopefully someone will want it, she's basically brand new. I'd keep it, but space is limited. Thanks for the help bike farmer!

[@johnlewan1114]

I love the odd bike innovations. I'd like those handle bars, they would get used on something of mine. I've picked up a couple of tips I'll use on my projects. Good channel, glad I found it.

[@markymarknj]

I LOVE the Behold trick! I used Pledge (what I have on hand, and you said any furniture polish works fine) on my bikes recently, and they came out nice; it shined 'em right up. Two, using the word, liberally, is quite all right in this context... 😁😁

[@davidbierbaum4881]

I'm just happy to see someone's bike sporting a butterfly/trekking bar, similar to the one I put on my 1992 Specialized Crossroads... I got them because the old risers were starting to make my hands go numb, and the XLC trekking bars gave me all sorts of hand positions that let me be as aero or "prairie-dog" like as I'd like while not stressing my hands.

[@Mett-wt3xj]

Very true about the hammer hands. Done it my entire life. Just had both hands operated on. It will catch up with you.

[@Mett-wt3xj]

Grab a rubber mallet from harbour freight

[@Krueger444]

I actually really liked those alt-bars - I hope they find a new home.

[@reallunacy]

Watching it I was like, "man they are ugly, but I'd bet I would love to use them."

[@StreetShots79]

Hey Bike Farmer! Just wanted to say I love the videos and have learned so much. I'm cycling a lot lately! G'day from Fremantle Western Australia

[@tomlobos2871]

just following here since short, but let me say, this channel helped me buying a bike today. i learned the spots to look at. got a late 90ies peugeot trekking bike wich rarely left the hometrainer it came with. very lightweight frame so a keeper for a winter project. subscribed.

[@themoodyteam]

52:37 Did BF just say “I should probably stretch the rear one like that to”? 😂

[@billhempel8667]

Great video I found the same bike last year in a dumpster by work it had rusty chains overspray and rotten tires I cleaned it up but two new tires,tubes and bar tape on it and put 20 miles on it shits great it has a normal derailer I was going to switch out the bars but I might just keep them now after reading all the comments.

[@wolfgangweber9924]

You sure did us a SOLID with this video! If I ever come across this Suntour oddball shifter system I am well prepared. I totally agree that this was worth the job!

[@fpeter01]

20:10 He mentioned some kind of chicken.

[@chrissy24-7]

Love your sound effects so much 😂 ❤️

[@WitchesPuzzle]

The Dead Milkmen! "Bitchin' Camaro" was one of my absolutes when I was in middle school. Wow, you took me WAY back.

[@bkefrmr]

Look up some videos. YT will immediately assume they’re your favorite band and it’ll be Dead Milkmen for a week!

[@Okiejos_truck_stop]

I love this channel for the cool old bikes like this one. Been into bikes since the 90s and somehow never seen that rear derailleur setup.

[@sylvainguidi]

I NEVER saw that derailleur, pretty cool, shame suntour derailleurs are not compatible with 7-9 speed shimano... only tip I would (humbly) give : I use hand sanitizer gel to install (non-locked) grips. It slides so fast and it dries within minutes.

[@garyfleischman7555]

Rubbing alcohol works great too...no glue to deal with if you want to change the orientation of the grips after it dries...just squirt a few drops between the grip and the bar and they slide right off. Easy peasy!

[@originalchristianvogt]

I use brake cleaner, can't be bothered to buy something else for maybe 1 use per year. The grip slips right on and it evaporates afterwards.

[@MarvinWestmaas]

@@originalchristianvogt Brake cleaner is much more expensive though

[@originalchristianvogt]

@@MarvinWestmaas But why spend money when there is already something that works on the shelf?, that would also just clutter my limited space.

[@jeffandersen6233]

I find the sounds of small parts mov8ng, cable sliding through housing and other bike shops sounds relaxing evrn if i can't see everythin youre doing. Apparently there are a few people on line who just do everyday soft sounds that supposed stimulates the brain to be calm. You're doing it with tools and bike sounds and thats good enough for eho its for.

[@ahenrytheninth]

My first job In a bike shop was in 88, as a retired skake punk I appreciate you, Kool stop pads for no noise

[@brooks381.7]

Great Work Bike Farmer, Have you ever been offer a job at Trek? You are fantastic at what you do..💡

[@parisrose8173]

@@brooks381.7 surely he’d just jump at it

[@marclayman8799]

This was my first bike! My memories tell me it was amazing!! I didn't have Suntour though, it was all Shimano with Grip shifts. It would be too small for me today but man was it a great bike for a teenage boy! PS I put more miles on this bike than any I’ve ever owned. Thousands a year lol

[@RSHedgehog]

Another great video and an inspiration to to all of us to look after our old bikes and keep them spinning. I can't comment directly on the result of the election as I am outside the US (Scotland), but I loved your video before the vote. It was a passionate and eloquent plea that any elected leader should set an example in what they say and how they behave. The one saving grace for all us' bike nuts', is that if we are feeling lousy, we can always jump on our bikes to lift our spirits and clear our minds. As the great writer H G Wells famously said: “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” That's a thought to hang on to.

[@spencerrobinson2719]

Thanks for taking on that rebuild…I gotta say I had a knot in my gut when you started in on those grip shifters…they scared me. I all the years of messing with bikes, I have never seen that system

[@Wheel_Horse]

I just did the exact same thing to a pair of Schwinn CrossFit bikes from the early 90s! These didn't have that weird derailleur though, nor the twist shifters, just your typical low end Shimano. Went with 120mm rise handlebars and C9 saddles. They are both very comfortable and ride great now!

[@peterbaskind9872]

Who doesn’t love that “bang” when a tire seats into the rim? Satisfying.

[@SeaCowsBeatLobsters]

Thanks for using the EP-1

[@hepphepps8356]

Seems like a much better position for what a derailleur is supposed to do anyway. Ochams razor is in favour, I guess.

[@mikeh6286]

About the rear derailleur not shifting to the last cog. I've had that problem too. Sometimes I've fixed it by adding a spacer to the derailleur mounting bolt (increases spring tension for all gears). Another thing which works best IMO is to leave the bike in the smallest cog every time. That preserves the spring. A third option is to double check the limit screws. Maybe your new cassette sits a bit farther out. And next, the B-screw can make a difference. Move that guide pulley as close as possible to the cassette. On this bike there maybe isn't one though. Lastly, check the guide pulley for excessive float. Swapping the pulley with a narrow/wide plastic 12T pulley really makes shifting crisp as it reduces chain deflection.

[@parisrose8173]

@@mikeh6286 you could try setting it up to the 11th sprocket and then winding back the tensioner to get 12th. I’ve had a bunch of success with that method particularly with SRAM eagle.

[@chrishoffman9923]

I was sweating on that first shifter cable change !!! I DO REALIZE what you where fearful of. Well done.

[@CodSlap]

@35:30 Speaking of the cable housing ferrules, I’ve been meaning to ask: is there any functional difference with using the brass cable terminators instead of the plastic ones? Are they better at preventing ’creep’, i.e. the housing shell steel wiring pushing through after long enough, or is it just an aesthetic thing? 🙂 Thanks!

[@MTB_FANATIC99]

I don't know about road bikes and stuff cuz I only do mountain biking but when it comes to knobby threads it does matter which way you mount the tire

[@castortoutnu]

Once I worked on a first-hand 60+ years old bike. Dude in his eighties bought it when he was young and still rides it

[@johnsheetz6639]

@@castortoutnuI worked on everything down to the mid-80s and every era needs a special damn tool lol. Especially if they're a little seized up.

[@parisrose8173]

@@johnsheetz6639 the dude was 80 not the bike and apparently he wasn’t seized up. Sorry, whiskey and comments, my bad.

[@johnsheetz6639]

@@parisrose8173 you don't have to apologize, I was drinkin' too!!🤣😂🤫🍻!!

[@stevengagnon4777]

My experience the Shimano freewheel works better anyway. I also remember Suntour used a braided 1.2 mm shift cable. It's more flexible. So it goes around the little pully and convoluted cable path in the rear derailleur. That makes thr drop on the smallest rear cog go more easily and makes the rest of the shifts more crisp. The stiffer normal shift cable acts like a spring against the relatively weak spinng in the derailleur return mechanism. Yeah I know find a braided 1.2 mm shift cable in any form . No it doesn't work better with a Suntour freewheel and chain. That hesitation was solved after going back to a braided shift cable. And yes and with that it did pass a Roger test ride. With the normal Shimano 1.2mm stainless shift cable I'm sure it was going to be back at my bench when I got back to work the next day. So I always saved those original Suntour 1.2 mm braided shift cables , as we had a couple new ones in very old stock. This Crisscross was one of those that I usually did the refurbish on . That cable thing is probably why. Not many had spent the time to figure this little quirk out.

[@mattgies]

I bet you could use a Jagwire Pro Polished Dropper Cable to have the same effect. Those are only 0.8 mm in diameter.

[@jazzfan7491]

This reminds me of the Schwinn Breeze I had 30 years ago. Best thing ever. 2 speeds. Coaster brakes. So simple. My stepmother tossed it.

[@markhosbach9420]

Exceptionally entertaining episode, plus I learned what a chain hanger is!

[@bjornlangoren3002]

Tip, just cut the cable and keep the end on the derailer until its time to install again. Then no need to remember.

[@MattBova-w2j]

This is a great tip. Took a number of bikes for me to realize this. Almost should be standard advice especially for somebody who is just starting out working on bikes. How many people run into trouble because they don't remember if the cable goes over or under the tab on a front derailleur? I know one guy for sure!

[@David-lr2tj]

When you cut the straddle wire I broke up. Had a shop back in the day, can't tell you how many times I got distracted, not enough coffee, whatever, cut the wrong cable, well, guess I'm buying that one!!!!

[@jasonwilley8258]

another Criss Cross came into the local non-profit bike shop where I volunteer...first thing we noticed was the funky rear derailleur. Now I can't wait to get it cleaned, tuned up, and back in circulation.

[@frederickrasmussen1274]

Hey Andy. Thanks for the videos. Savour them everytime! Have you thought about doing a Q&A vid one day? I have the first question in case you would consider it. How big an investment is it to start a bike shop? And do/have you keep(t) track of your total costs in terms of tools, spare parts, etc.? And how are you in terms of paying off those costs?

[@ostekuste3646]

That old cabinet you keep your freewheels in looks just like one in my shop. Mine has a logo stencil on the front, McCalls. That was a company that sold patterns for sewing clothes, those dividers in the cabinet kept the rows of stock separated. Mine came out of an old Sears when it got remodeled decades ago. Makes a great tool cabinet. If I remember right, there used to be a set of plastic guides at our shop (when cantis roamed the earth) that you set the angle of the center pull cable with. There were multiple ones all for the popular brake types. We never used them😂

[@DrD6452]

I live in a high salt air content area so everything around here starts rusting the instant it sees the outdoors. I only sell stainless steel cables with Teflon coated cable housing. If it isn't that combination the cables and housing just turn into a single fused non functioning mess. I see a lot of broken shifters and bent or broken brake levers because people try to shift or use the brakes with 100% stuck cables. They just keep pulling until something snaps.

[@riskyrax]

I have a criss cross as my daily with surly open bars and it clears 700x43 gravel kings no probs. I don’t however have that funky rear derailleur ha. These bikes are great well done to both parties for the tune up go ahead

[@michaelobrien8661]

So great when we get to see you problem solve, when taking apart shifters (i.e) isn't easy.

[@darrenstanleysmith5207]

@Bikefarmer I really enjoyed this video. It’s “bike repair without getting your hands dirty” which is perfect and will likely inspire me to dig into my pile of frames and parts to make something rideable. Sweet bike and spot on about the importance of putting a bike together well. Never skimp on lube! Greetings from Western Australia.

[@balazsszalkai9112]

LOVE the SLAYER on the wall

[@christopherstokes9424]

Yep bang on. Ive got a bunch of bikes . I re-make the cables to fit other set ups .

[@JohnRaymartVids]

I've got the same bike but in blue and slightly newer! I just fixed it up and I just love how the brakes feel. Mine came with busted suntour accushshift brake shifter combo that i have since swapped out for stem mounted friction shifters. My model didnt have that interesting rear derailleur.

[@ryank5115]

If this were my bike I would go purple housing all the way! Great looking stead.

[@FreeRadicalX]

Me looking at the thumbnail: "That's just a freewheel with a megadrive cog, what's so bad about th- Wait what the EVER LIVING FUCK is happening with that derailleur MY GOD"

[@zwicker5585]

rene herse still makes a derailleur like this. Super curious about it why one would make it like this lmao

[@RaulMeatFactory1975]

Ahh BikeFarmer you've given me a real chuckle today. At 19.40 so good 😂 thanks man!

[@daniellarson3068]

This video is deja vu - well sort of. I bought that exact bike for $25. Bike is a 1994. I replaced the shifters, brake handles, both derailleurs and freewheel. I even added a new spoke protector. I kept the butterfly bars. The old stuff seemed really well built. Good video - Yeh - You betcha!

[@timshelhamer7374]

Regarding the interesting derailleur, per Berto’s “Dancing Chain” the 1993 Suntour S-1 rear derailleur was designed for hybrid and city bikes. The horizontal slant parallelogram harkened back to the 1930s Nivex, or 1960s Altenburger. You could drop the bike on the right side with no damage to the derailleur. The indexing was in the rear derailleur rather than the shift lever. I have never seen one of these myself, or the Suntour grip shifters, but I hope to get my hands on some.

[@bennyjmarston]

I'm so bummed you couldn't find a 7 speed suntour freewheel. That would have been the icing on the cake. I completely understand you avoiding weird stuff but it is super cool to see. I didn't know Suntour did a grip shift! That must have been for like 5 seconds...the 5 seconds before they went bust 😥

[@lelohp]

I really like oddball bikes 'cause we learn a lot tunning/upgrading/etc them. But sometimes, yeah, it's a pain to work on them. Now I'm installing a latest tecnology Shimano Cues groupset on a Caloi 10 (from 1982) frame, switching brakes, forks, rims sizes, altogether... I'm going crazy but loving everything.

[@jorisvanschuerbeeck8654]

For things that look stuck and need cleaning/rublication that never seem to work 100% Remoil is your answer. It's also great on locks and hinges.

[@camt1818]

That free 90deg pick looks similar to the feedback sports one. It's one of my favorite tools. Double sided pick. One side 90deg. Other side straight. Comfortable rubber handle.

[@tahoward818]

I’ve read about those Suntour systems before a once-proud and innovative company succumbed to the Shimano juggernaut. (Still love my Suntour ratcheting shifters.) Having never seen this setup in person, this was a particularly informative Bike Farmer episode.

[@misterhaan]

seeing you work on those combo brake / shift lever combos made me hate them a little less. still not into grip shifters though

[@camt1818]

Twice I've bought bikes from the 80s and 90s with Suntour shift components. Both times it was Suntour Xpress with proprietary cables that aren't made anymore. And yes, both times I didn't realize that until I cut the cables off. You got lucky with yours! Weird setup for sure, but normal cables ftw!

[@davidkittle5344]

Really needed this one today!

[@bikenraider99]

Oh wow! That is an interesting bike! I have seen them come up in my neck of the woods from time to time but not configured like that. I think REI used to have a trekking bike with those style handlebars on it.

[@petermitchel952]

oh man, feel you, useda rebuild both my and family Campy 8/9/10/11 speed shifters. Doable vs Shimano road stuff (spray n pray!) but definitely fiddly :)

[@christopherwebb3517]

That's what I like about this channel. Any bike snob would spend this entire video talking about how much grip shifters suck.

[@johnsheetz6639]

but they do suck 😅! Don't get me wrong they work and they work pretty good but it's just a preference I don't like that extra room getting took up and feel. And possibly because when I started writing and I tried my first triggers they felt so high tech lol.

[@Xerp4Life]

Sachs Wavy were awesome though.

[@davidmarsden7103]

Plenty of good grip shifters. I run SRAM attack on my custom MTB

[@NewyorkieDog]

When i was a kid i got a bike with grip shifters, and whenever my hands got sweaty i wouldn't be able to shift gears lol. Granted it was a walmart bike, but ever since then im on team grip shifters just suck, not even a snobby thing. Give me any other type of shifter: trigger, downtube, frictionless, whatever. Just please no grip shifters

[@MTB_FANATIC99]

I don't understand using the yellow piece of old housing to measure the length when you can just use the cable housing you're going to cut maybe somebody can clarify that I'm just trying to learn?

[@AndyBleaden]

Wow - weird shifters but worth the effort

[@rogeramu]

Thanks for putting out some sane content today. But those bars are great - if you have the stem length for them. Small, possible tip: screws and small parts on your workbench should be placed above or to the sides, otherwise hands or elbows will send them into outer space aka unknown corners of the floor.

[@domnortheburninator]

Thats a sweet bike. Huge improvement.

[@MTB_FANATIC99]

And those new bars you put on look more goofy in the original bars😂😂😂😂 Great video though

[@ainteasya]

That bike was begging for some tubeless tires and dura-ace 😂

[@billh.1940]

How much does it weigh? I had a varsity 10 speed, it weighed to much, but it could hold up to anything. Solid bike.

[@notanomad9320]

We get a few of these at fb4k's. I like the Autoshift bike though, completely weird. Good luck!

[@Deven210]

Made me laugh when you got a frog in your throat 🤣 like you said what a time to have that happen.

[@Xerp4Life]

Great job! Even had some Slayer graffiti at the end.

[@JackB-v2z]

I have seen schwinn use a fixed hub with a the coasting in the cranks . If I'm mistaken. Please reply.

[@rickpaulos]

Schwinn sold 4 models of hybrids at the time. I've had all 4 models pass through my shop. Decent bikes. They have rather narrow fork blades that help smooth out the ride. But on bricks, they go a bit crazy. it would be worth it to repack the hubs and headset and install a nice Shimano UN-bb axle.

[@mannequinplayer]

12:15 - anxiety of stuff falling off the table into another dimension 14:00 ...

[@QoraxAudio]

45:08 Did I smell something...? 😂

[@MickJabber]

Windex/window cleaner works great for installing grips when you run out of hairspray

[@nofortunatesonII]

I own a Cross-Fit, a Criss-Cross, and a Cross-Cut. They seem to be decent bikes. I had a 1990 Cross-Cut that came with Wolber 700c double wall wheels that I sold years ago. I think my Criss-Cross dates to around 1991(?), and has Sun Tour trigger shifters that I strongly dislike. The Criss-Cross will get Shimano'd some day, been collecting parts. Cro-moly frames, unicrown front fork, vertical rear drop-outs.

[@kevinfeeney5309]

I think the claimed benefit of an RD mounted like that is that since it is more inboard...keeps it from getting knocked around. Dahon uses the Shimano Neos which mounts in a similar manner. It's on my Dahon Boardwalk 7spd.

[@MercyKillingsRides]

Schwinn = An almost automatic Charlie Foxtrot. I understand the sentimentality, but not the costs associated with upkeep/upgrading. Despite all that, it's definitely unique!

[@johnyork6955]

Schwinn Criss Cross Gonna Make You Jump! That title made my day! 😂

[@FGIRAFFE]

Life as a bike farmer (and youtuber) seems so good!

[@bkefrmr]

It is!