u/treasure_hunter14

I've been slowly building this SE Draft Lite bike. Took everything apart and stripped the paint. Hit the frame and fork with a wire wheel.I was gonna paint the bike forest green but now I'm loving the bare metal look.

Wanted to know if I go with the polished steel look can I just apply clear coat over it? Will it still be protected from rust even without primer and paint?

Any suggestions and recommendations is appreciated. Ok....GO 👀

I've been slowly building this SE Draft Lite bike. Took everything apart and stripped the paint. Hit the frame and fork with a wire wheel.I was gonna paint the bike forest green but now I'm loving the bare metal look.

Wanted to know if I go with the polished steel look can I just apply clear coat over it? Will it still be protected from rust even without primer and paint?

Any suggestions and recommendations is appreciated. Ok....GO 👀

I've been slowly building this SE Draft Lite bike. Took everything apart and stripped the paint. Hit the frame and fork with a wire wheel.I was gonna paint the bike forest green but now I'm loving the bare metal look.

Wanted to know if I go with the polished steel look can I just apply clear coat over it? Will it still be protected from rust even without primer and paint?

Any suggestions and recommendations is appreciated. Ok....GO 👀

I've been slowly building this SE Draft Lite bike. Took everything apart and stripped the paint. Hit the frame and fork with a wire wheel.I was gonna paint the bike forest green but now I'm loving the bare metal look.

Wanted to know if I go with the polished steel look can I just apply clear coat over it? Will it still be protected from rust even without primer and paint?

Any suggestions and recommendations is appreciated. Ok....GO 👀

Like the title says I'm very new to the bike scene. I'm naturally a dumpster diver so "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is what I live by.

I found a Centurion Le Mans someone tossed at the garbage at my apartment.

From what I googled it's a Japanese road bike

I rode the bike in the parking lot and tried out the shifters. Takes a bit for it to change but not sure if it's just the age or I'm just new to friction shifters.

Is this bike worth keeping and restoring?

ISSUES FOUND

• tires are old

• rear brake cable missing

• friction shifters are stiff (not sure if that's normal)

• chain is a little rusted along with some other hardware.

• grip tapes are torn

• saddle tear on the back

• seat post adjustment looks damaged

And can someone please identify what these two white (now yellowed) plastic things sticking out the bottom tube of the frame is🤔

MAINTENANCE PLANS

• new chain

• new grip tape

•new brake cables and pads

• new tires & tubes

Any suggestions, opinions and criticism is welcomed

TALK BIKES WITH ME🚲🚵🏽🚴🏽

Like the title says I'm very new to the bike scene. I'm naturally a dumpster diver so "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is what I live by.

I found a Centurion Le Mans someone tossed at the garbage at my apartment.

From what I googled it's a Japanese road bike

I rode the bike in the parking lot and tried out the shifters. Takes a bit for it to change but not sure if it's just the age or I'm just new to friction shifters.

Is this bike worth keeping and restoring?

ISSUES FOUND

• tires are old

• rear brake cable missing

• friction shifters are stiff (not sure if that's normal)

• chain is a little rusted along with some other hardware.

• grip tapes are torn

• saddle tear on the back

• seat post adjustment looks damaged

And can someone please identify what these two white (now yellowed) plastic things sticking out the bottom tube of the frame is🤔

MAINTENANCE PLANS

• new chain

• new grip tape

•new brake cables and pads

• new tires & tubes

Any suggestions, opinions and criticism is welcomed

TALK BIKES WITH ME🚲🚵🏽🚴🏽

So I'm new to bikes at the age of 35. Wanted to focus on my health and start exercising so I leaned to a bike. Visited a local bike shop and talked to one of the bike techs. Luckily he was selling one of his old single speed bikes and said he'd sell it to me for dirt cheap $75!!! I said hell yeah brutherrr🤟🏽 I didn't even know what single speed existed. I thought all bikes had gears. Was just never something I paid attention to 😅

Same night my ADHD kicked in and since I got the bike I have had the upgrade-itis. Lmao. Claude AI has been helping me build this bike but I would also like actual human beings and experienced people's input and opinions.

I've heard SE bikes aren't of the best quality but I just needed something to get me started so this will be a budget build.

So here it is!

SE Draft Lite 49cm frame 700c x 35c

Here's what I've upgraded so far:

•KMC Z1eHX chain

•Nimbus 700 x 35c rear tire

•SE bike chain tensioners

Here's are my plans from BUILD/ TOOLS / AESTHETICS

•Tektro R559 brakes

•Sugino RD2 165mm black crank arms

•Shimano BB-UN300 68x103mm bottom bracket

•Sugino 130J 48T silver chainring

•MKS Sylvan Stream black pedals

•Izumi Standard Black 1/8" chain

•Vans grips — gum/white

•Tan State Bicycle Co. wedge frame bag

TOOLS

•Park Tools CT-5 chain breaker

•Park Tools MLP 1.2 master link pliers

•Park Tools CCP-22 crank puller

•Park tools BBT-22 bottom bracket tool

•Mimoke bicycle headset press tool

•Vivor bike repair stand (tiktok 🤣)

COLOR PALETTE

RATTLE CAN PAINT JOB

•Matte burgandy frame and fork

•Black rear wheel

• gum grips

•black crank arms

•black pedals

•Black handle bar (not sure the brand is installed)

•silver chain

•silver chain ring

•black seat post & saddle

•tan frame bag

Please let me know if any the parts and tools are correct for my specific bike

Open to suggestions, opinions and criticism.

TALK BIKES WITH ME 🚵🏽🚲🚴🏽