The Mantis Hybrid

[Southy]

I've decided I wanted to try and get a little fitter by doing some bike riding over the summer months but unfortunantly my old bike is in no fit state, what do you expect when your bike is 11 year old .
I managed to swap an old mobile for a bike off a bloke at work as he no longer needed it after buying a new one, it had a few problems with it but decided I can strip my bike for the needed parts.


My old bike, an Apollo Forma little bit dated tbh...


The Mantis the base for the new hybrid bike


Rear swinging arm stripped down


Frame after a good wipe down with thinners to get glue off and a wash


Quick go over with some Black colour magic




Mandatory reflection pic's


Front forks

Decided to take the rear swinging arm and the handle bars off the Mantis into work, along with the Apollo's riser due to a long extension and give them a blast up.





Bought myself a few new bits also for the bike.

New Shimano Brake Levers


Specilized lockable grips

I set too with primering the rear swinging arm and also the parts for the handle bars







And my choice of colour.....

Has to be orange....Yes I have a thing for it

First few coats of paint






Applying the clearcoat






Going back together





Test fitting of the grips


Test fitting new brake levers and the old shifters

I will be going to look at another bike tomorrow which is in need of some work, its got Fox shocks on it and at least disc's on the front (guy can't remeber exactly) Will most likely use the gear set and the shifters off that bike if I were to buy it.

Will update soon

[Liam]

Looks epic tbh.

Not really too clued up on bikes though, I've been told mine is quite good, it's heavy as fook though

[sam4412]

lol decent builddd losw cost should be good want to finish mine but well i need money for insruance

[Southy]

Yeah it is Sam, atm its only cost me 35 quid so its not bad going Will be going to look at this Carrera tomorrow and maybe get a few more fancy bits and pieces for this as I can have this bike for 40quid.

[sam4412]

LOL cooll i would of gone for a hard tail frame in first place for a budget built but should be alright, my full sus budget bike is mashed it eats wheel bearings and swing arm bearings as for my othe rbuild cost more than my car and its not finished! :/ might have to sell dont really want to

[Southy]

Well just a bit of an update on this. The mantis is Currently on hold now as I went and view my bosses old bike on saturday and walked away £50 lighter but came away with this.....A Carrera Kraken.

When I first heard about it I was expecting the worst, had been left outisde for 2 years and the rear wheel bearing was gone. When I viewed it I was pretty shocked and saw through the dirt which was still on it and the rusty chain and moss covered seat lol









I decided to give it a clean up as soon as I got it home after a little trip to the local bike shop to sort a rear wheel bearing out, 99p later and this was sorted. I gave the chain a good wire brush and re-oil up and was set to go again







When I tried riding the bike I had issue's with the chain slipping off when I changed into a high gear, so after spending £35 on a new chain and a set of new rear sprocket's I was all sorted now no problems at all.

[Chris]

This looks sweet, i might get out on my bike more, i fancy going cannock chase soon.#

edit: Love the moster t's sam!