Original Cruzbike Plans or Kit

[cruzKurt]

I remember seeing some pictures or a video, can't remember of the original cruzbike, probably before it was called cruzbike. It was like a kit to turn a DF into a MBB bicycle. Does the video or plans exist? I have an old bike and I wanted to mess around and build a MBB bicycle.

Thoughts?
Kurt

 

[LarryOz]

I remember seeing some pictures or a video, can't remember of the original cruzbike, probably before it was called cruzbike. It was like a kit to turn a DF into a MBB bicycle. Does the video or plans exist? I have an old bike and I wanted to mess around and build a MBB bicycle.

Thoughts?
Kurt

It was a kit that you bought and installed on an existing mountain frame. I doubt there are any un-used sets of them out there - but you might get lucky - good luck!

 

[castlerobber]

Search the forums for "conversion kit" and you should get some hits, or google "cruzbike conversion kit".

A decade ago, Cruzbike did sell a kit with seat and front triangle to turn a Y-frame MTB or similar into a DIY Cruzbike. Some of the forum members made some really nice conversions.

IIRC, they quit selling the kit because once the Y-frame bikes were no longer made, buyers were ignoring the instructions and putting the kit on frames that didn't have appropriate geometry, making an unrideable mess.

Like Larry said, it's unlikely you'll find an unused kit after all these years. I'd be surprised to find even a used kit in good shape.

 

[Robert Holler]

IIRC, they quit selling the kit because once the Y-frame bikes were no longer made, buyers were ignoring the instructions and putting the kit on frames that didn't have appropriate geometry, making an unrideable mess.

Exactly this. This is why at a certain point when we moved to actual complete bikes, all of the remaining kits that existed at the time were promptly recycled to be sure that they no longer exist.

Back then it was not uncommon for someone to have some horrific kit Cruzbike on the wrong frame and that was what "A Cruzbike" was to all people they encountered. Sometimes more than not these DIY's were barely rideable and at worst very unsafe. Thats is no way to have any control over your own brand - so in my opinion it had to be stopped.

I have gone as far as to personally acquire old kits when they have been offered and they promptly go to the dump.

 

[Mathew Fy]

How about this?
John Tolhurst riding his mbb conversion, he called the Corker.

I found this on the wayback machine

Cruzbiking Australia :: John Tolhurst's Story

Early Silvio & Vendetta on TV:

 

[Mathew Fy]

After falling down the rabbit hole I found @Jim Parker sharing his first foray into the Cruzbike. Too bad the pics aren’t available.

https://web.archive.org/web/20110217025513/http://www.cruzbike.com/jims-mongoose

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thanks for that link Mathew, I thought I saw all of the CB vids on Youtube lol. So glad John won.

 

[Mathew Fy]

There’s also a forum dedicated to the conversion kit

Conversion Kit

Discuss how to find your donor bike, how to prepare your conversion, which parts you like to use and how you like to set it up.

forum.cruzbike.com

 

[cruzKurt]

Thanks everyone, I am interested in building a bike to go on my trainer possibly, all good info.

 

[LarryOz]

After falling down the rabbit hole I found @Jim Parker sharing his first foray into the Cruzbike. Too bad the pics aren’t available.
https://web.archive.org/web/20110217025513/http://www.cruzbike.com/jims-mongoose

I have this original conversion of Jim's in the Cruzbike Museum.