Any ideas for upgrading my GT Arrowhead?

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

Hey, I was looking to upgrade my GT Arrowhead for the summer because it is my favorite bike and i need something to go to and from school with. Ive rebuilt it already in October 2012 but i am looking to give it another upgrade and possibly some decals aswell. (Sorry about the image, it had to be made smaller and squished inwards a little, and everything on it is red, not pink it just looks that way LOL)

Does anyone have any ideas on how i could upgrade this? ive already started by swapping those black rims (which arent very good) for alloys from a GT Outpost which i am very happy with.

Also, do you think putting GT Decals on this would ruin it or make it better?

supersonic · February 2013

Why do you want to upgrade, where does it lack?

New stickers will more likely get it nicked and will not affect performance!

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

Hahaha thats a good point

but this will be totally safe in school and i dont intend on taking it out anywhere else.
Well, i was thinking about going single speed possibly but all the single speed cranks that ive seen will look really out of place on this, as in they are like "fixie" kind of cranks. and the ones that look fine cost like £300... and these tyres are almost at the end of their life now so maybe tyres too

supersonic · February 2013

New lightweight tyres, and leave it at that. How much do you have to spend?

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

Maxxis detonators seem alright by the reviews and stuff, and they come with red walls so they will match my bike. Im looking to spend £100 (by the way ive already got a fork that im going to put on so still £100 without a new fork)

supersonic · February 2013

What is the rest of the spec?

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

-Shimano chain (original)
-Shimano Tourney 7 speed freewheel
-Front Derailleur (broke it on purpose because it was permanently damaged when i got the bike and i need to remove BB to take it off, dont need it though)
-Shimano Acera Rear Derailleur (original)
-Shimano Altus Crank and arms (original)
-Shimano ST1 7 speed shifters + brake levers
-Clarkes Brake cables, inner and outer
- Promax V brakes front and back
-Red brake pads (dont know the make, traded over with my brother)
-Outland D25Four Handlebars
-XLC Stem and XLC bar grips
-Headset and BB are both original
-Alesa Chrome Alloy wheels
-Curio UK Tyres
-Aluminium rail seat post
-Dont know what make the saddle is
-Frame is 6061 (i think) aluminum and fork is steel or cromoly

supersonic · February 2013

Do you ride much offroad, or mainly on the road/paths?

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

I usually ride on roads and on pavements, pavements around London are uneven and shyte, hence the fork

supersonic · February 2013

Fit two of these:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Continental-Tra ... =Froogle02

Doesn't sound like you need a new fork.

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

supersonic wrote:

Fit two of these:

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Continental-Tra ... =Froogle02

Doesn't sound like you need a new fork.

Ill consider those

Thanks

Yeah i dont know if ill like the fork or not, ill try it and i can always switch back if i dont like it. But i lose so much speed bouncing over pavements at high speed. The fork is very light too.

supersonic · February 2013

What is the make and model of fork?

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

It isnt really a good fork if im honest, judging by the price, but i dont need anything too hardcore and this was cheap so i chose this. it could like it once ive used it though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26-DOWNHILL-T ... 4170a0731c

supersonic · February 2013

I'll be honest, it is bloody awful! Really, really heavy, no damping, will make the ride worse!

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

Ahaha

Well, it was dirt cheap, and if i dont like it ill just stick it on another bike, ill let you know how it is once i put it on. Ill be honest now too...i have a triple clamp fork fetish... and that influenced my choice LOL!!!

twonks · February 2013

I'll post what no doubt others are thinking.

Don't bother upgrading anything on the bike. As harsh as it sounds it simply isn't worth it.

Personally I'd question the need for such a high stem angle, and your new forks - well they need to go straight in the bin as that is where they belong - sorry.

New tyres, decent stem and a service or tidy as needed and all will be well.

Maybe a cheap set of alloy rimmed wheels if pushed, but certainly nothing more.

snoopsmydogg · February 2013

twonks wrote:

I'll post what no doubt others are thinking.

Don't bother upgrading anything on the bike. As harsh as it sounds it simply isn't worth it.

Personally I'd question the need for such a high stem angle, and your new forks - well they need to go straight in the bin as that is where they belong - sorry.

New tyres, decent stem and a service or tidy as needed and all will be well.

Maybe a cheap set of alloy rimmed wheels if pushed, but certainly nothing more.

what he said ^^^^ if it works and you are commuting and not planning on trails then a service, tyres and if you want to make it look a bit better then a new stem.

Twonks, don't think the OP will take much notice of you. The forks have the wrong steerer but rather than send them back he spent more money on a headset reducer.

viewtopic.php?f=10004&t=12905818

cooldad · February 2013

To be fair to the OP he is at school, and obviously having fun buggering around with bikes.
Which means he is not hanging around on street corners selling crack to your kids, or nicking my car radio.
So all in all a good thing.
It is also a well known fact that youngsters look funny, listen to terrible music, wear clown clothes and generally do stupid things.
But that is all part of the process of becoming old and wise like us non-youngsters.

Saying that a nice old set of Judys would have cost the same and been a somewhat better choice.

chrisw333 · February 2013

I agree with Twonks. But also absolutely with CD.

Arrowhead, keep messing about with bikes, experimenting and having fun.

But those forks, for many, many reasons 'no'. Partly because they are simply not made for a bike like yours and putting forks of that length on you bike will change the geometry and put stress in areas the bike may not cope with. Partly because it will ride like a pile of shite with them on. But mainly because if you do, we're going to have to put you on the naughty step.

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

twonks wrote:

I'll post what no doubt others are thinking.

Don't bother upgrading anything on the bike. As harsh as it sounds it simply isn't worth it.

Personally I'd question the need for such a high stem angle, and your new forks - well they need to go straight in the bin as that is where they belong - sorry.

New tyres, decent stem and a service or tidy as needed and all will be well.

Maybe a cheap set of alloy rimmed wheels if pushed, but certainly nothing more.

Thanks for your reply

Yeah i liked the stem at the time but i realised quite a while ago that it is pretty ugly, i am going to get a straight race face stem with a spacer underneath it. the spacer will be red so that will look pretty nice.

As for tyres, im considering either teh gator skins from conti or maxxis detonators, cos i really like full slicks cos you can lean alot, and they look really nice (im 16, looks are pretty much everything, LOLOL hence the fork to be honest) and also the price effected the choice of fork too.

Ive got a really good pair of alloy rims on it now, staying there permanently. Looks miles better too. I also lowered the stem slightly but it still is the same stem with the really high angle.

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

snoopsmydogg wrote:

twonks wrote:

I'll post what no doubt others are thinking.

Don't bother upgrading anything on the bike. As harsh as it sounds it simply isn't worth it.

Personally I'd question the need for such a high stem angle, and your new forks - well they need to go straight in the bin as that is where they belong - sorry.

New tyres, decent stem and a service or tidy as needed and all will be well.

Maybe a cheap set of alloy rimmed wheels if pushed, but certainly nothing more.

what he said ^^^^ if it works and you are commuting and not planning on trails then a service, tyres and if you want to make it look a bit better then a new stem.

Twonks, don't think the OP will take much notice of you. The forks have the wrong steerer but rather than send them back he spent more money on a headset reducer.

viewtopic.php?f=10004&t=12905818

I chose to get a new reducer because it would cost me more to send it back than get a reducer and i have no clue whatsoever with posting stuff like this. so it saves me the hassle too.
Well, ive gotta admit it was a big mistake on my half

the fork is shyte, its true, and i thought my bike ran a 1" steerer... wont be making that same mistake again though. Thanks

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

cooldad wrote:

To be fair to the OP he is at school, and obviously having fun buggering around with bikes.
Which means he is not hanging around on street corners selling crack to your kids, or nicking my car radio.
So all in all a good thing.
It is also a well known fact that youngsters look funny, listen to terrible music, wear clown clothes and generally do stupid things.
But that is all part of the process of becoming old and wise like us non-youngsters.

Saying that a nice old set of Judys would have cost the same and been a somewhat better choice.

Ahaha

i like your thinking. And your absolutely right (apart from the clothes and looking funny) I dress normal!
I am having a lot of fun with bikes, i have 10! LOL.
I am actually kicking myself SO badly because i never knew rock shox came so cheap!!! another £10 and i could have got a Judy. just checked it out after i read this reply from you. Thanks for your reply

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

supersonic · February 2013

Apart from the tyres and cables, I just don't see the point. Why go for a single cog? The rest of the parts will make little to no difference at all.

warpcow · February 2013

Haven't looked at everything, but you saw the warning on the Truvativ arms, right (that they're pedal threads are reversed to run on a tandem)?

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

supersonic wrote:

Apart from the tyres and cables, I just don't see the point. Why go for a single cog? The rest of the parts will make little to no difference at all.

I thought someone might say that. Well, let me justify
Seat: Ive had enough of getting a wet arse, no matter how much i squeeze it i still end up with one. and im not carrying a plastic bag around with me. and its uncomfortable as hell.

Seat post Clamp: I have literally been surrounded by a bunch of black guys while i was talking to a friend and i had my bike with me (not being racist, they were all black) and they unhooked my quick release clamp and stole my seat, a police car came so they dropped it and ran. London and quick release dont mix at all. so i want my seat secure

I want single speed because i never use the front 3 gears, i only use the largest. My crank is slightly buckled from the previous owner and it looks a mess

The stem and spacer is so i can have a straighter posture when im riding and it will look miles better. the spacer is so that it still is high enough for not to slant over too much, and it will look nice with the seat clamp and chainring because they are all anodized red.

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

warpcow wrote:

Haven't looked at everything, but you saw the warning on the Truvativ arms, right (that they're pedal threads are reversed to run on a tandem)?

I just googled what a tandem is -__- im so bad with cranks, first timer. Thanks for telling me though! I gotta search for a new crankset now. Do you know of any that are half decent for £20?

Also, do 2 square taper arms fit on the same BB if i originally had 2 diamond taper arms? it makes sense for them to fit but im not entirely sure. Never done cranks before.

This is what i looked at orginally which i think is the correct one but theres no left arm for it
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRUVATIV-FIVE ... 19d844457a

warpcow · February 2013

Chainreaction had good Shimano ones for about £20 in their last sale.

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

warpcow wrote:

Chainreaction had good Shimano ones for about £20 in their last sale.

Damn, they are cheap! Thanks alot!

Ill try convince my mum to make an account on there. If not, looks like ill get Suntour ones for £25 on ebay .

The Rookie · February 2013

No account needed at CRC, you can use Paypal.....

gt-arrowhead · February 2013

The Beginner wrote:

No account needed at CRC, you can use Paypal.....

Ohh. Cool. Thanks

Any ideas for upgrading my GT Arrowhead?

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