BMXmuseum.com Forums

J-PHX · RSS feed for topic

I have finally gotten around to starting the restoration on my GT Vertigo. I orginally got the bike for Christmas when I was 10 and even though it was stolen and given away once I always managed to get it back. It's had a busy life and had numerous parts replaced - with differing levels of quality (note the walmart flamed tires)

It's not in too bad of shape, especially from a distance but it's far from the perfect condition I'd like it to be in.

You can see a lot of the parts have had a rough life. I can't even imagine how many miles it's been ridden.

The kid that stole it pulled the stickers off so I bought a kit from the bike shop for a 90's Freestyle. I'm planning to re-create the originals but am still looking for a good reference. They had 2 sticker styles in 1990 and mine was the latter. Above is a rough rendering of what it looked like.

Here's the dissasembled parts before I sent them out to be chromed. I actually sent them out a while ago and they are supposed to be arriving today so I'll post more picks when they show up.

Duke 01 · 2010-09-23 6:36pm

Chrome on the frame looks good enough from the pictures.

Did you throw away those 1994 GT Pro Freestyle Tour decals? I am asking cause they are rare!
You could use the scans to build repop's

My opinion is that since you've been gone all the way back to do a right build, put some Profile-GT 3pc cranks on it

J-PHX · 2010-09-23 6:43pm

I did save the decals, most of them came off pretty cleanly. I'm planning on scanning them to help with mine, then I'll give them to whoever wants them. I just paid to have the original cranks re-chromed so I'm probably commited to them.

Duke 01 · 2010-09-23 6:48pm

J-PHX wrote:
I did save the decals, most of them came off pretty cleanly. I'm planning on scanning them to help with mine, then I'll give them to whoever wants them. I just paid to have the original cranks re-chromed so I'm probably commited to them.

It is cool since you kept them
I know some guys who might need the.

Good luck on the build, and upload some more pics with the progress if you will have the time.
As for the cranks, i made a thought since you're re-chroming everything, that the 3pc cranks will make it more worthy, more ridable and more pleasant to the eye
It's up to you.

Primo powerbites would look good as well, as they are lookalikes with the old Power-Series.

J-PHX · 2010-09-23 6:52pm

The parts showed up today right on time. Just when I was starting to think "Why did I spend all that money?" Everything turned out awesome!

They were able to keep all the stamped GTs.

The cranks looked terrible from the factory but now are totally smooth.

The only imperfection is some minor dropout marking because I didn't want to lose the serial number.

jlewis · 2010-09-23 6:58pm

Wow, looks great. Where'd you send it to get rechromed?
... and if you don't mind me asking, what'd it cost you?

tacoman · 2010-09-23 7:18pm

jlewis wrote:
Wow, looks great. Where'd you send it to get rechromed?
... and if you don't mind me asking, what'd it cost you?

+1

J-PHX · 2010-09-23 7:39pm

I sent it to Chrome Plating USA. They originally quoted me $400 to remove the old chrome, fix a few deep scratches and re-plate with show chrome. Somehow when they got the bike an extra $60 got added. I did break the cardinal rule of chrome plating by sending in some parts for my brothers Ferrari at the same time. Now that I think about it.....I think he owes me $60. So the pricing system is questionable, but I can't complain about the quality.

Robcar · 2010-09-23 8:00pm

Wow that looks nice. I have a 91 vert I am making look like an 87 pro perf. I cant wait to see yours when it's done.

J-PHX · 2010-09-23 9:21pm

Robcar wrote:
Wow that looks nice. I have a 91 vert I am making look like an 87 pro perf. I cant wait to see yours when it's done.

Thanks, looking forward to seeing yours too.

CKTA · 2010-09-24 3:55am

Nice, glad to see some Vertigo love!

Duke 01 · 2010-09-24 4:58am

that's an awesome work on it

Turned out really lovely!!!
Can't wait to see it finished.

tacoman · 2010-09-24 7:02am

J-PHX wrote:
I sent it to Chrome Plating USA. They originally quoted me $400 to remove the old chrome, fix a few deep scratches and re-plate with show chrome. Somehow when they got the bike an extra $60 got added. I did break the cardinal rule of chrome plating by sending in some parts for my brothers Ferrari at the same time. Now that I think about it.....I think he owes me $60. So the pricing system is questionable, but I can't complain about the quality.

Lol...yup.
Lesson learned.
Instant 15%-20% mark up...

Still looks good.

imjustsean · 2010-09-24 10:11am

thats awesome, gt and ferrari in the same chrome bath... i bet it will go faster now lol

Jon1971 · 2010-09-24 10:15am

Looks great! I'm not usually a fan of chrome, but whenever I see a newly chromed or really well polished frame, I remember how great it can look and I start making plans to get one of my bikes done.

4130HERO · 2010-09-24 10:41am

the chrome looks great I had one done for about the same price. Nothing like fresh chrome!

J-PHX · 2010-09-24 12:08pm

Thanks to everybody for the feedback. I know it's not the worlds greatest investment (as popular as vertigos are) but I still love it.

Robcar · 2010-09-24 5:04pm

J-PHX wrote:
Robcar wrote:
Wow that looks nice. I have a 91 vert I am making look like an 87 pro perf. I cant wait to see yours when it's done.
Thanks, looking forward to seeing yours too.

Here is a pic of how it sits today. Bought the frame from a member and spent 2 hours cleaning it. Its a 91 vertigo made to look like an 87. Chrome parts will be old school and other parts will be newer school. It wont be OG by any means but it's the look I'm after. Love the old GT freestyle bikes.

J-PHX · 2012-04-23 8:23pm

Back to working on the Vertigo. I took a break while I was gathering parts and researching the decals. Below are the decals as they actually appeared when the bike was new.

Even though it's authentic I hate the yellow so I decided to change it to a neon yellow, and make all the tube decals individuals. I think it still has the early 90s look, but I like the color combo a lot more.

Ryan D · 2012-04-23 8:42pm

Good luck on the build bro! I love your 90 performer though and finally picked up the same one as yours to to restore! It was my first good freestyle bike. You have great taste in bikes. I really like the early 90's models. Never was really into the vertigos but can't wait to see it complete

coffin2death · 2012-04-24 12:50am

that's some of the nicest chrome i ever seen.

J-PHX · 2012-04-24 2:33pm

I mentioned I had been researching the Vertigo original decals. After years of searching I finally found my bikes twin on Craigslist in Long Beach.

Also found a Performer frame on ebay from the same decal era.

jlewis · 2012-04-24 2:47pm

WTF is deli-cat? Sounds delicious!

Last edited by jlewis (2012-04-24 2:48pm)

J-PHX · 2012-04-24 2:53pm

I'm not sure but that looks like enough to feed a mountin lion. I emailed the guy to ask if he would ship, but I took his lack of response as a "no"

jlewis wrote:
WTF is deli-cat? Sounds delicious!

http://www.therocketeer.net/blogphotos/ … ertigo.jpg

J-PHX · 2012-04-26 8:59pm

I dropped off the stem and chainwheel at the powdercoater today. $35 total for both, but they were dissapointed that I only wanted them in black.

Then dropped off the decal files at the sign shop, and again it was $35.

Now I have to find something else to work on for the next week (if I'm lucky). I might have to start on the dreaded wheels.

Login

1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#2 2010-09-23 6:36pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#3 2010-09-23 6:43pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#4 2010-09-23 6:48pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

J-PHX wrote:

#5 2010-09-23 6:52pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#6 2010-09-23 6:58pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#7 2010-09-23 7:18pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

jlewis wrote:

#8 2010-09-23 7:39pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#9 2010-09-23 8:00pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#10 2010-09-23 9:21pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

Robcar wrote:

#11 2010-09-24 3:55am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#12 2010-09-24 4:58am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#13 2010-09-24 7:02am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

J-PHX wrote:

#14 2010-09-24 10:11am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#15 2010-09-24 10:15am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#16 2010-09-24 10:41am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#17 2010-09-24 12:08pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#18 2010-09-24 5:04pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

J-PHX wrote:

Robcar wrote:

#19 2012-04-23 8:23pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#20 2012-04-23 8:42pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#21 2012-04-24 12:50am

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#22 2012-04-24 2:33pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#23 2012-04-24 2:47pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

#24 2012-04-24 2:53pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

jlewis wrote:

#25 2012-04-26 8:59pm

Re: 1990 GT Vertigo Restoration

Board footer