Giraffe Modification

[fluffinator007]

Ive had my 6-foot Savage Giraffe for quite awhile. I know its not a good one or anything but just wonder..Are there any parts or anything that aren't stock for it that i should buy to make it a bit sturdier or anything?

I dont know much about giraffe's, i mean i can ride it fine but i cant do any special stuff on it. Actually until recently i had the frame attached to the tire/bearing things wrong.

[Rowan]

I bought a second hand giraffe for $70 once, I don't know what sort, just a standard 5' one. After riding some steep hills I had problems with the bottom bracket working itself loose. When going downhill you put a lot of backwards pressure on the pedals and it would unscrew the sprocket thing, coming loose and flinging me to the ground. It got worse and worse and eventually it would come loose at random moments any time, and became a safety hazard, with me landing on my back once before I realised what had happened, feet still on the pedals. I took it to the bike store and they replaced the bent sprocket thing, and gave it a decent locktiting to prevent further slippage. They voluntarily made a modification to my giraffe without asking me, for only a small fee. My giraffe lacked chain tensioners, so they rigged up some bolt things down the bottom to pull the chain tight, before tightening the main bolts. If your giraffe already has a chain tensioning device then nevermind, or else you could consider this as a modification to make. It makes it more sturdy in that theres less play in the chain. Another option is attaching foot pegs at the bottom. This won't make it any more sturdy but it would allow you to take passengers and maybe do some strange tricks.

[hopeful]

well, it all depends what kind of riding you're doing... Top to Bottom: A rail adapter for a KH saddle (if you ride a lot) -or- a Viscount (if you're not a fan of the KH on a giraffe and/or don't hop/ride MUni on it); a decent seatpost clamp; Odyssey Twisted PC pedals; longer cranks with chainring (unless you like the short ones); hardcore BMX chain tensioners, take the wheel in to a bike shop and have them rebuild the axle with a new axle, cones, bearings; thorn-resistant tube; tire depending on riding style ( a Maxxis Hookworm comes to mind for freestyle, or a trials tire, or a 24" wheelset and knobbly tire for MUni)