Obscura Project Kustom Kruisers

Project Beach Bomber
Since Dyno has gone out of business and my Dyno Taboo Tiki has become a collecters item I decided what I needed was a bullet proof beater bike to ride for daily training. Something that can handle a heavy dude like me and not fall apart. Project Beach Bomber was born. Foundation of the project is a Key West from the Mango Cruiser Company of Florida. Even bone stock it was a sweet ride, the lightest cruiser I've ever seen. (I've never actually seen a Merlin Newsboy)

Project Beach Bomber

Since Dyno has gone out of business and my Dyno Taboo Tiki has become a collecters item I decided what I needed was a bullet proof beater bike to ride for daily training. Something that can handle a heavy dude like me and not fall apart. Project Beach Bomber was born.

Foundation of the project is a Key West from the Mango Cruiser Company of Florida. Even bone stock it was a sweet ride, the lightest cruiser I've ever seen. (I've never actually seen a Merlin Newsboy)

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Kustomizations
Bottle Cage and Polar Bottle This bike is ridden daily so it makes sense to add a bottle cage. I was a skeptic about the claims that Polar Bottle would keep your drink cold... Not a skeptic any more! At the end of an hour long ride there was still ice in my bottle. Dyno Super Slick Tires The Mango came with Kenda "TBL" (thin blue line) tires and I think they're standard equipment on POLICE BICYCLES. This aint no police cruiser so the TBL tires had to go! I remembered seeing some Dyno Super Slicks at the local bike shop and I was lucky enough to swoop'em for $24.95 each. Phat Cycles and Electra Cruiser Company are both selling the same tire with their logos but I like the "Super Slick" the best. I'm running them at 75psi, ten pounds over the suggested max pressure of 65psi. Schwinn Classic Hub Shiners In the past I used to tie a broken shoe lace on each hub for shining but when I saw these nice hub shiners from Schwinn I had to get'em. They're leather so they're as quiet as shoe laces and the look a lot better. They work great and no respectalbe rider would be seen with grungy hubs. Tireflys Its hot as hell here in Houston and the best way to beat the blazing Texas sun is to ride at night. Statistics show that there are a lot more car/bicycle accidents after dark. Since I don't want to become a statistic I've installed Tireflys. VistaLite Tail Lite I picked this one up in England when I was bike touring back in 1993. Its different from the US model because it doesn't flash. Its been on every bike I've owned since then. I might retire it in favor of a newer light with brighter LEDs. High visibility is the key to safety when riding late at night. Flamed Kruiser Saddle This is the ultimate kustom kruiser flamed saddle. Besides looking totally hot rod radical, it is supremely comfortable. These are some of the best looking flames you will ever see. Chrome springs complete the look and ride quality. Dyno Machine Head Grips Lathe turned and knurled aluminum grips with freaky skulls on the end caps. Schwinn Faux Carbon Fiber Fenders I've seen simmilar fenders on Electra Cruisers and I thought they were a good look for my project. It would be really cool if I could find some real carbon fiber fenders. They were very difficult to install. The big dyno super slick tires wanted to rub all over the place. I also had to fabricate a mounting bracket for the middle of the rear fender. I'm all set to ride in the rain now! Shimano DX MX-30 Pedals OK, not exactly kruiser pedals but I'm a big guy and I wanted a large stable pedal. Years ago back in my BMX days, I rode the original Shimano DX pedals. My first ride on these was like putting on an old, comfortable, pair of shoes... they just feel right. Twin Cateye HL-EL 300 Front Lights A single Cateye HL-EL 300 is good as a "see me" front headlight. Problem is, I've nearly run down some hikers on the hike and bike trails here in my neighborhood. I've found that TWO HL-EL 300s converge to make a very bright "see" style headlight. They are also a lot less expensive than comparable 10 bulb LED headlights. Cateye's Opti Cube technology puts a lens in front of each super-bright LED to maginify is intensity. On the initial test ride with the new headlights some neighborhood children actually screamed and ran out of the street when they saw the TEN Opti Cube magnified LED bulbs closing at a high rate of speed. Cars seemed to be more aware of me. Cup Holder When riding I need something to hold my Basic Energy & Electrolyte Replacement System so I can keep both hands on the wheel in more technical areas of the neighborhood. Email me if you've got questions or comments. -Jon Winters winters@obscurasite.com

Kustomizations

Bottle Cage and Polar Bottle
This bike is ridden daily so it makes sense to add a bottle cage. I was a skeptic about the claims that Polar Bottle would keep your drink cold... Not a skeptic any more! At the end of an hour long ride there was still ice in my bottle.

Dyno Super Slick Tires
The Mango came with Kenda "TBL" (thin blue line) tires and I think they're standard equipment on POLICE BICYCLES. This aint no police cruiser so the TBL tires had to go! I remembered seeing some Dyno Super Slicks at the local bike shop and I was lucky enough to swoop'em for $24.95 each. Phat Cycles and Electra Cruiser Company are both selling the same tire with their logos but I like the "Super Slick" the best. I'm running them at 75psi, ten pounds over the suggested max pressure of 65psi.

Schwinn Classic Hub Shiners
In the past I used to tie a broken shoe lace on each hub for shining but when I saw these nice hub shiners from Schwinn I had to get'em. They're leather so they're as quiet as shoe laces and the look a lot better. They work great and no respectalbe rider would be seen with grungy hubs.

Tireflys
Its hot as hell here in Houston and the best way to beat the blazing Texas sun is to ride at night. Statistics show that there are a lot more car/bicycle accidents after dark. Since I don't want to become a statistic I've installed Tireflys.

VistaLite Tail Lite
I picked this one up in England when I was bike touring back in 1993. Its different from the US model because it doesn't flash. Its been on every bike I've owned since then. I might retire it in favor of a newer light with brighter LEDs. High visibility is the key to safety when riding late at night.

Flamed Kruiser Saddle
This is the ultimate kustom kruiser flamed saddle. Besides looking totally hot rod radical, it is supremely comfortable. These are some of the best looking flames you will ever see. Chrome springs complete the look and ride quality.

Dyno Machine Head Grips
Lathe turned and knurled aluminum grips with freaky skulls on the end caps.

Schwinn Faux Carbon Fiber Fenders
I've seen simmilar fenders on Electra Cruisers and I thought they were a good look for my project. It would be really cool if I could find some real carbon fiber fenders. They were very difficult to install. The big dyno super slick tires wanted to rub all over the place. I also had to fabricate a mounting bracket for the middle of the rear fender. I'm all set to ride in the rain now!

Shimano DX MX-30 Pedals
OK, not exactly kruiser pedals but I'm a big guy and I wanted a large stable pedal. Years ago back in my BMX days, I rode the original Shimano DX pedals. My first ride on these was like putting on an old, comfortable, pair of shoes... they just feel right.

Twin Cateye HL-EL 300 Front Lights
A single Cateye HL-EL 300 is good as a "see me" front headlight. Problem is, I've nearly run down some hikers on the hike and bike trails here in my neighborhood. I've found that TWO HL-EL 300s converge to make a very bright "see" style headlight. They are also a lot less expensive than comparable 10 bulb LED headlights. Cateye's Opti Cube technology puts a lens in front of each super-bright LED to maginify is intensity. On the initial test ride with the new headlights some neighborhood children actually screamed and ran out of the street when they saw the TEN Opti Cube magnified LED bulbs closing at a high rate of speed. Cars seemed to be more aware of me.

Cup Holder
When riding I need something to hold my Basic Energy & Electrolyte Replacement System so I can keep both hands on the wheel in more technical areas of the neighborhood.

Email me if you've got questions or comments. -Jon Winters winters@obscurasite.com