Cheap Bike Build Off - Diamondback Traverse Restoration - parts bin Commuter bike build vintage MTB 

I think it’s important to remember, Craig… that, as your channel and your audience continue to grow… you’ll inevitably end up with a percentage of trolls here trying to waste your time. Don’t feel the need to give all of them your energy. Not all of those ridiculous comments deserve an answer. Haters gonna hate. Save your energy for the sensible viewers. Keep up the great content.

The sound of kids having fun outside is nice to hear tbh

Love the content and the quality of it! I just wanted to emphasize that the main difference between brake cable housing and shift cable housing isn't only it's diameter. Brake housing has a coiled steel reinforcement to allow it to be flexible. Whereas a shift cable housing as linear steel reinforcement to allow to retain precise pull better. When you cut a housing it is quite noticeable which is which with this info in mind. It's fine to use brake cable housing for a shift cable (not optimal, obviously), but the quality of the shifting will always be subpar and require more frequent adjustment from my experience. Just a friendly reminder. Keep the videos coming! Cheers!

You're one of the good ones, Craig. Keep it up. Always wish you luck.

What the commenter said is in fact true, and I can relate to the frustration. In the US market, folks are buying old mountain bikes for cheap and then restoring them with upgraded parts and components, and then reselling for $1000 + while calling the bike "vintage". The only thing on the bike that might be vintage is the frame. It's crazy because if you're in the market to buy an old StumpJumper or Diamondback Apex, then you'll actually be paying for the "new" components that the person put on the build. You're lucky if the frameset comes with the original fork and handle bar. Vintage means all original components (original new, old, or old refurbished to original specs). One guy was selling a 90's Bontrager Race Lite mtb for $800. The only thing on the bike that's vintage is the original frame and is missing one of the primary decals that goes on the top tube. Tried to talk him down to $200, he said no, as the bike is "vintage" and that he purchased upgraded components and wants to recoup his costs. He admitted that he's not the original owner and the bike was left out in the yard underneath a tarp for a few years. The used bike market in some areas is terrible.

Just ignore small minded people. love all your builds 👍

Just watched Blue Lug bike build. This is very different but no less entertaining and informative...and makes me laugh out loud at times. 😊

I appreciate the humor today. Specially the chain tool reach; those grunts are familiar.

I like the rant ;-) Of course -- parts accumulate over time if that is one's thing. And things don't always fit together unless one sticks to one particular area, type or time. And unless one stays in one place that (keeping these parts) also costs substantial money in storage or shipping cost. But there is so much getting thrown away, all you need to develop a radar for it/ and spend the time boning stuff out.

Genius recovery concerning the hand grips! Well played, bro! Well played. Tan and Black. reminds me of the famous hunting dog of the mountains in Appalachia, the Black and Tan. Howwwllll!

Gear cable is usually linear sheath where as brake cable is spiral wound. (Unless you get BMX linear cable which doesn’t compress much) Spiral wound cable compresses a bit more than the linear gear cable. Really liking how this is turning out.

I recently got into bikes starting in 23 and within a couple months learned just how great steel bikes were especially from the late 80's early 90's era, its coming out nicely and a vintage Diamond Back frame is a decent base for sure.

If he's playing BINGO during part of his video, us watchers can too!

I like the black/brown grips. Check your chain wrap/ b limit. Cool bike.

Keep making your videos. I'm actually learning alot about working on my bikes. Thanks

Nice music and laidback vibe👌 cutting the grips wrong and that ”F**K!” moment put a smile on my face😅 I sure can feel your pain but you handled it well.

YES Mixed grips are awesome! Honestly I saw the regret coming the moment I saw the scissors, too much confidence in the moment! We all do it sometimes

Some RU-vid bike guys make things look so easy, you don't. Its why I like your channel. Mismatched grips? No.

Good, creative recovery on the grip f-up. I do prefer your other builds, but I like this. Nice work as usual.

100% go for the black and brown combo! The bike is looking sweet, mate 👌

Really digging this series

Chainring needs to go behind the spider. Then it'll run nice. Function over form 👍🏻

Craig’s ‘parts’ list! 🤣 lovin the series 👍

Yes looking absolutely fab. Shame about the gear cable covers 😢 awesome video mate and looking forward to seeing everyone's finished bike. I also have one video left for the build 😎

I really like your videos! Big cheers from Amsterdam

I was eating a juicy steak as he mentioned that he was a vegetarian instantly I said sorry to hear this is a really good steak lol love the purple accents

high marks from the youngin. good work.

I would put the snipped off part of the grip back on the bars and secure it with some hairspray, it would be fine.

I think it's ok to use on hand parts . Like you said it would take a bit to collect all the parts you would need . Awesome build. 👏:

I loved watching you make a mistake with the grips. I made a similar mistake recently and it halted my build progress because I'm still mad at myself. Obviously I need to take the lesson and move on. Oh, and as a bulky boy myself, I hope there'll be more bulky boy stickers in the store soon. Perhaps yellow and black for my next build?

I have those same Lee Chi levers on my Maverick. You need a full hand brake lever to stop that bad boy.

That grip mistake is something really similar to my fu*k ups 😂 laughed my ass of that I'm not the only one! 😅😊 Great build!

It took me about 6 months to restore my 1979 GMX-250 GIANT BMX the it took me to buy parts and I waited about weeks for the frame to come back from the powerd coater. It's doesn't happen overnight that for sure.

It’s cheaper and better to build a bike out of parts that you already have around other than spending more money going out and buying parts that you haven’t got . 😊

I support the two colored grips

I have a lot of bikes and people I know ask me why I don’t just sell them and it’s because I would prolly only get 50% of my investment back if I did that. I try to find well priced stuff on eBay and it’s still nearly impossible to turn a profit on a bike.

The phrase you are looking for is "Happy Little Accident", on those grips 😅

Cheap parts and time, sort of come hand in hand. Its much easier to buy an expensive part in stock and 24 hour delivery rather than a bargain bucket or ebay throw away. My last bike build had the frame waiting a year as I was damned if I was going to spend more than €180 all in. With a need for a new chain, cable and tyres I think we're going fine on these budget builds, $150 really is scraping the barrel!!

It's coming along great. Don't mind the silly comments, they clearly don't build bikes lol.

Interesting concept. I have to say it does seem that you were having an off day. I think you misunderstood the chain link formula, you took too many links off which is why the derailleur is so stretched out. You need to add some links back. i like the tan grips solution but not the use of brake cable outer for the gear. Brake cable outer compresses under tension. I don't think the pink looked bad. The chain tool reach is something I do all the time. also the same with bar tape reaching for the scissors and finishing tape. Anyway keep the vids coming they are interesting and entertaining

Loosen your b tension screw, it should make the shifting a bit more crisp and probably improve it going into the lowest gear.

I was thinking that the only thing that might make the different colored grips weird, is the proximity to the bright brake levers. I guess...we'll see though. I was wondering if doing the alcohol trick (like when putting tight grips on or taking grips off) would have helped slide the blue over the pink cable. Just a thought. 👍🏾👊🏾

Also you cut the chain too short. The drive train will never run properly if you leave it like it is. Brake cables are thicker than gear cables. You can get wound and linear brake outers. Linear brake outers don't compress and are used a lot in bmx. Gear cable is linear because it needs to be stiff. Why not put your chain tool in your pocket before you cut a chain in future? If you have a garden could you make one that folds away? Or space on your exterior wall? A surface to put parts, tools, grease/lubes and consumables will quickly become your best friend

How did you true out the billy bonkers?

Just ordered the pack! love your videos. Now if I put them on my build dose it count to the total?

Please can you tell me where you got those brake levers from ?

That chain looks a couple links short tho

What width are the Billy Bonkers?

Go with the mismatched grips!

To be honest I was hoping that someone was going to do something different...maybe a double drive train...or some sort of unusual steering or even different sized wheels...twist grip braking or just something a bit more outside the box....don't get me wrong love the build of all the same just thought their would be more diversity amongst all the builders....

Same grips, same feel, different colour? All the way!

We all saw you measure the chain twice, that eavens out

Any tips for finding coloured cable housing in the UK? I just ended up ordering some pink from AliExpress after not finding any locally

Your budget build is too posh. Matching grips? All my bikes have a 1" piece of green garden hose for a grip. Silver duct tape works as well. Great vid. I'm loving this build off!

Its only me or that chain could used a couple more links? honest question, lads...

Why don't you cut a piece of both grips and make real tan wall grips

I just order pink cables for a build I am doing just because I can and it will probably piss people off.

I lost three halves of quick links in my garden last year 😔

Poor vans grip 🤣

Mismatched grips all the way,

He could save $1 by using his underwear as a rag - dual purpose shorts!

Top tip: I use denatured alcohol in a pump type spray bottle to clean that factory grease from new chains. Aerosols are no bueno for ol’ Mother Nature.

your B tension is alittle too high

Craig, borrowing from @spindatt don’t get it right, get it running! Loving the content. Looking forward to seeing you on the next Ride 100

Why, why is English so hard sometimes 😂

Stupid way to measure chain length bottom chain should just clear top jockey in 11t