Turning a Rusty $150 Hardtail into a profit 

To be clear, you can sell a bike with problems as long as you don’t lie about it. In this case we intended on selling it as a restored and mechanically sound bike.

What I love about this series is that it isn't 'let's make money!' It's let's improve things, and learn along the way. It's a great thing to do as part of an interest or hobby you have.

I am loving this series

What I like about Seth is he fixes these bikes like he's keeping them for himself. A genuinely good dude!

You are quite bad at selling for a profit in a good way. I love seeing you put some extra parts on the bikes and giving back to your community

My day just got better

Hey Seth, I think it would be super neat if you made stickers that said “s-tuned” or something like that you put on the bikes after fixing them up.

Your videos have helped me reach over $75,000 in trading by age 23! Thanks Berm Peak. Keep the videos coming. 👍🏽

Yup flipping bikes is more of a passion thing.

Seth, I’ve been wrenching for years on everything from cars to washing machines. I’m also a serious trail runner and just got a MTB. Decided to buy my oldest two sons cheapish used MTB’s and do a mini version of your overhauls. Very fun to watch, and inspiring! Thank you!

"Wow. It's almost like it's a real fork." I don't know why this cracked me up so much.

Man it would be an honour to buy a bike off someone who cares as much as you seth. Much love from the 🇬🇧

Seeing all those new bikes in the intro gets my hopes up that this series will live on. Keep it up, love it

I love how Seth says "let's rip it apart then come up with a plan" like he doesn't have a plan and then does what he wants after

The reason why I love these videos is because it makes something that was manufactured (tons of energy and materials used) and made it useful again and something "new" to somebody else. This reduces potential waste from somebody throwing out a bicycle, who doesn't appreciate one the way we do. I also love these videos because it reminds me of the years I spent as a part time bike mechanic. These are all problems I've encountered working on bikes. Cheers!

I love how this has the MightyCarMods intro music, I realise that it's all free licence but, got to wonder if it's intentional!

It just makes me happy when Seth uploads. His videos are a joy to watch!

My favorite series on youtube right now! Love watching budget flips!

Back then when I still have square bb I found out that the best way to get them loose was just to go riding without the bolt on, that did it for me many times, even when I had the threads ripped away by the extractor. Just go riding for a while and alternate your stance on the bike, so you produce play on it.

I love the flip series. Can’t wait to see more.

This is a great series! Definitely encouraging to see the small upgrades that make a difference. Thanks Seth

Hey Seth, I am loving this series. My main bike lately has been an old road bike that my best guess dates it to the late 80's. It rides great for what I paid and what it is. But watching this series has given me ideas on how to put a bit of money into it for a better overall bike. Thanks!

I've learned so much from these videos, currently i was low on funds but wanted to gift a decent MTB. I started with a lightweight department store frame and replaced stock HEAVY parts for lightweight and more durable parts that I bought and some I had laying around in my parts bin. The bike now looks like its worth 3x if not more than the original amount. Thank you for inspiring me and teaching us how to make a bike even better.

I love that you talk about the ethical aspects of reselling in your videos. Not only helping people learn more about their bikes, but setting a great example for your audience. Well done man, as always I love your videos!

Love your videos so much been watching for two years please keep up the great work

I simply love these videos. I recently took my ghost recon 5 hard tail and upgraded it to a single chainring upfront, clutch derailleur in the rear, and even put on a PNW dropper post and new Marzocchi front fork because of these videos. The thing simply rocks now.

I enjoy watching this series; it is helping me through my recovery. Need more of this SETH!

This year at burning man I pulled an abandoned and rusted 2011 Trek Nevada hard tail out of the mud after the event ended and I have been slowly fixing it up. I need a bike I can thrash around in urban settings and this one is turning out to be a real joy. I had some nice bike parts lying around and I have been visiting the local used bike parts co-ops and browsing craigslist. Probably the best deal so far was a $35 Cannondale dropper post that was cheap because it was missing one bolt that secures the seat. It's so fun to take a little time to pull off some parts and drop them in the ultrasonic cleaner, or swap out some old part for a decent condition used replacement. This series has been a big inspiration! Once my build is complete I will strip down the frame and paint it a nice pink and purple sparkle blend.

This is probably my favorite series from berm peak, it's really fun to watch Seth rebuild a bike and see what he can get out of it. I'm finding myself taking closer looks at the bikes in the thrift store contemplating if I can flip it haha

Really wish you'd accept parts from your subs. Sometimes I just want to see these old bikes absolutely hooked up with tons of nice new parts

I *love* this series! I've seen you on Park Tool's channel a couple of times and now I'm subscribed :) I'm currently overhauling my own bike with as few new parts as possible. Cleaning, de-rusting, oiling, polishing... I really enjoy that kind of work, so this is right up my alley!

A 26" Diamondback Response was my first adult mountain bike when I got back into biking in 2012-2013. Long gone now, but awesome to see you doing one up. Great video.

I would love to just see all the tools you use on a rebuild just laid out.

This series reminds me a lot of me when in highschool, always "modding" my bike and trying to make it better for the looks and/or for the riding. Yeah, really good old times. Amazing and enjoyable series btw!

6:17. I love that he didn't even go for the hack saw he just went straight to the Sawzall. On an unrelated note,, thanks for all that you do seth, you inspire me to be a better mountain biker, trail builder, and hopefully someday a youtuber, whenever I am down watching one of your videos, new or old, always makes me feel better and you have helped me and I am sure a ton of other people through hard times without even knowing it.

Favorite series, for a aspiring DIYer this is invaluable! Great work Seth! Thanks 🙏

can we be honest though, even though it has schrader valves no one like presta, so schrader valves are a plus atleast you could use a normal bike pump on it.

Redo My Bike LOL. Love this series always enjoy watching it thank you for for steady uploading.

Seth, u gave up and went to the angle grinder too soon. I've recently got a few "walgooses" that I had to work on/upgrade and ran into the same problem with cranks completely fuzed/seized to bottom bracket also stripped all the threads out. I was at my wits end, and about to angle grind it. My friend suggested I use automotive tools like a bearing puller, that did the trick and I've used it on a few seized bottom brackets/stripped threads since with 100% success.

I really like how you clarify that this is not a way to start a business but instead just for us to learn how to make an entry level bike more usable for ourselves. There are a bunch of channels making content where you think "I could do that too and make money with it" when that might not actually be the case but people think that's how it works and lose money rather than gain it.

You put bikes that were just collecting dust back on the trail. That’s the only value that’s important in my book. Keep up the great work!

I'm loving this type of content. You focused too on people who watch your videos and that's one thing to admire. I hope i can meet you one day and hit your trail park. Sucks to live in Philippines where in there isn't much trail system to begin with

Hey. Thanks for all you are doing. You motivated me to start working on the bikes too :) I flipped one so far, made profit the most important I learnt a lot and share that time with my son. The goal is to have a similar workshop like you have. Keep up a good work. I enjoy it a lot!

I've been in a wheelchair since 2011. Took up mountain biking in Austin, TX back in 1983. No suspension or clipless pedals back then. I used to buy a used bike that had parts I wanted to upgrade my ride. I'd replace cables, chain, grips, seat if it needed it and anything else to make the other bike run well and look good. I didn't replace bearings if they were smooth. I would detail it. I didn't completely renovate like you do, but I also wasn't trying to make any money. I just wanted to break even, and get some nice used parts on my ride out of the deal. It worked well. I even got my first suspension forks off a parts only salvage bike for next to nothing. So if you are a diy-er it makes sense to watch and learn from these videos. It's how I got my first super fast shifting shimano crankset, and I generally upgraded my shifters and cranks each time there were new super slick shifting systems with an extra rear cog to add three more gears to the system. Oh, it's how I went from two to three front chainrings.. I did buy new SPDs and pedals and shoes, cuz otherwise it would have been stoopid! If it sounds like I learned to do a lot myself, I did. This was pre youtube, making it even harder to learn stuff like this. But I lived tonride back then. I had to buddy up with some good mechanics! It is easier to learn now with the interwebs.

I've never taken apart suntour forks like that. They have two nuts that you loosen and then tap and the lowers come off

Seth: tries to work Oscar: *DISRESPECT YOUR SURROUNDINGS* "heavy metal starts playing"

Hands down, one of my favorite video series on RU-vid. Love this

Great series. When you explain your hopes for what makes these videos useful, I think you've done just that. Im an average rider. Always loved bikes. First job was as a bike builder at Toys R Us in the late 90s. Never worked for a pro bike shop, and never gotten any real training. Just what I learned as a kid, and on the job retain crash courses. Fast forward 20 years, Im older, out of shape, over weight, and Im really trying to get back into downhill MTB, for fun and exercise. These videos are really refreshing a lot of forgotten knowledge, and updating me on modern advances. I love it. I wish I could come work for you! Haha! Can't wait to see the next video!

Seth you should try parts that are cheap yet not life-threatening. Here in the philippines there are a bunch of saddles handlebars frames wheel parts and many others which are manufactured by brands which sell at a very low cost. And many of us riders here seem to have no issues. Brand such as sagmit, cole, speedone, saturn, mountainpeak.

"Not a huge score." My man, 100 bucks in pocket are better than nothing.

Thanks for these videos I have just got back into mountain biking and don't have much money so bought a merida big 40 and these videos have given me a insight in to what I can upgrade

Seth, please keep doing these videos. I like seeing the builds and how you keep the budget inline.

"I don't care what kind of crankpuller you have", then proceeds to the metal cutter 😂

Hey Seth, you said Shrader valves tend to date a bike and make it look a bit less valuable. I was curious, is there any real reason to not use Shrader valves, performance wise? I've just always found Shraders so much more user friendly and less finicky but figured there was some practical reason they are not on any nice bikes. Thanks!

Hands down my favorite segments! I love flip bikes! Thanks!

@Bermpeak Love this flipper series! Just an insider mechanic tip. When this happens on old square taper BB. you can place a chisel between the arm and the b.b cups. This works because of the “taper” on a chisel. Essentially wedging it, hammer down and pooof off comes the arms with little to no damage to arms or frame and you can still use Bottom Bracket.

Love watching these videos, so satisfying seeing the before and after! Thanks seth for inspiring my friend and I to make our own mtb channel!

Seth: "at $150 we have a lot of room to do stuff" Also Seth: "If I make $1 from this, it's better than losing $150. Let's see what we can recoup from this." Randall Munroe: "The longer a project drags on, the lower the standards for success"

Hey Seth! I love these videos. I'm running a Bike program at a school that I teach at, and one of the big interests the kids have are fixing bikes. The kids are learning heaps and I can't wait to see what comes up next in the series

I just got into MTB’s within the last month. I haven’t even bought my first bike yet but I am addicted to this channel. Great production and content. I look forward to every new video. I can’t wait to buy my first bike soon.

With the rusted bolts and stuff.. just soak em in apple cider vinegar for a few hours and then give them a good rinse off (and a polish to be extra). Bit stinky but gets rid of the rust and saves a few bucks replacing them, sort of fits the series theme with trying to flip em for profit :p

NGL i want one of his restored bikes looks extremely fairly priced and absolutely amazing

Keep doing this type video Seth!! We love it!!

This channel is one of my favourites, and your Flip Bike series is top-tier. Always a good day when one of these pops up in my notifications.

First

The whole concept of Flip Bike is incredible for your audience, and you the creator. I have enjoyed this series of videos alot.

I've learned much about MTB by watching these videos, It's like bike mechanic tutorial for me) much love from Uzbekistan 🇺🇿

Love this type of series. Keep goin👍👍

I absolutely love these🙌🏼 I feel like you need some more appreciation for putting so much time, money and effort into these videos.

Love this series!!! I don't even ride but am addicted to your content. I will eventually follow suit!

loving this series Seth!

I bought a DB Response Sport in 2012 and am in the process of converting it to single speed now. Great video!!! Thank you!

Man, I LOVE Flip Bike! Keep em' coming!!!

Loving this series! I just bought myself a new mountain bike to take on road trips. It is a Diamondback Overdrive Sport 29er in full working order for $200. I tore the bike down to the frame today and will rebuild it to be like new for around an all in price of $280. This is my first Diamondback bike, and I can't say you weren't a factor drawing me to try out the brand for the first time. Cheers!

when I was like 19-23 I used to bike to work 5 days a week and had a mechanic that always would hook my bike up the same way you do... just going all out to upgrade everything within x budget. Always appreciated the hell outta knowing a mechanic that could make a $250 bike run and look like it cost double that. Love these videos man!

Love your videos I have being watching your videos for more than 4 years always doing everything you do with love

I'm not a mountain biker at all. But I love your channel. It's entertaining, you're a terrific presenter, and your videos are just fun to watch. And because of this channel I'm seriously thinking about getting into the hobby. Keep at it buddy.

I'm loving this series. Hoping more to go!

This is an interesting series, i'm gonna watch more of it. It's like bringing back some good old bike hacks in a sense.

I just started watching your channel, and you're as good at editing as any cable DIY channel or other professional reality production company. I'm really enjoying this. Thanks for the great content!

Thank you very very much for your videos, all instructive AND entertaining! I'm beggining in this mountain bike and needed your videos to understand it more!! Thanks again

Thanks for your videos. recently I bought my first and used Fully (Fuji Reveal 29 1.3 D from 2013) it was in good condition beside some scratches. But than it began to crack, if I put some force to the frame. After purchase of some tools and grease, I completely disassemble the rear suspension/triangle. Two bolts needed some hammer strokes to get lose. After rebuild it drives as new, not cracking anymore. I also put new grips on.

I've got a schwinn axum from Walmart and I plan to upgrade it..You're videos are awesome..I don't have the right tools to do what you do..yet..but I want to do all the work on it myself and your videos are teaching me how to do that

Love this series! Keep them going!

I loved watching Wheeler Dealers back when they were on, and this series really grabs the essence of that programme.

Get Seth’s merch RN! I got a cognative jumper over a year ago and I wear it everyday..still soft..still warm..still perfect, it’s also very affordable

Loving the series keep it up

Regardless of the time or some of the money spend this transfer/share of knowledge is priceless! Thanks for this and making me want to overhaul my kids mountain bikes.

Loved this, these videos really inspire me to get up and do something. Even if it is just cleaning the kitchen.

I love that you’re not out to price gouge people instead you give them a really fair price and the bikes find good homes, I pulled a you and got a cruiser that I planned to flip but absolutely love it

I like this series (which is really about service and upgrades). I learn a lot about modern MTBs. I kind of like the the spring forks and the mechanical disc brakes. I still don't like index shifting but that comes with the territory.

I love this series so much! Thank you seth!

Your Videos inspired me to try this out. I bought an old specialized big hit fsr 3 for 550 aud, fixed it up for another 250 and sold it for 2.1K. I just wanna thank you so much for inspring me to try this out. :))

Hey Seth, I jsut want to congratulate you on making excellent videos and good tutorials. I recently just snapped the frame on my bike and I can’t afford to get a new frame let alone a new bike which is basically what I need cause I racked the rims, and snapped the cranks right off. I found out just last night that I can’t ride till atleast April of next year, and I was heart broken and destroyed when I found out but every time I watch your videos I smile, forget that I don’t have a Bike to ride, and forget all my problems in life. Thank you for your great content, keep up the good work, cause me and all of your viewers love your content.

I love the use of your Ring screw driver. I use mine for everything random too

Love these vids. You make it look so easy lol. Your knowledge is invaluable (and that 108 doesn't come close to compensate for your valuable time and expertise - but we all know that wasn't the point of your exercise). I have an older hardtail that I'd like to bring back to life and add some modest upgrades, but I get completely lost trying to figure out the right parts to order. Need a buddy like you nearby to pester with questions.

I bought one just like this today. Garage kept, like new. The original Kenda tires still have the nibs on them. I’m stoked!

Ah, I remember my diamondback response. treated me well for my first real (non walmart) mountain bike. cool to see it worked on they got a great bike!

These videos make my day. Thank you Seth! Awesome job with the bike! Make cheap bikes fun again!

Having just gone thru this with my 2011 GT Karakoram 3.0 I find almost a asmr quality to watching this. Beg my pardon lol thanks for the videos, you've helped more than you know.