Convert 16" kids bike coaster brakes to freewheel?

[mbieweng]

So....My son has a nice little 16" wheel bike (Hotrock 16) that currently has coaster brakes.   Maybe you will think I'm crazy, but I think he could handle (and benefit from) hand brakes and a freewheel, so I'm looking at options for dumping the coaster brake.   The bike has mounts for bmx style brakes, and the rims are rim brake compatible.   I have some Avid SD7 levers that have nice adjustments to make the reach and leverage work well for little hands.   

But, what to do about the coaster brake hub?

-Get a new 16" wheel with a freewheel hub?   I can't find any.  Anyone know a source?
-Take apart the coaster hub and disable the brake mechanism?  Some people do this with washers, grinding, etc, but that seems kinda clunky and lame, and might also eliminate the possibility of going back to coaster brakes when I sell the bike.
-Rebuild the existing wheel with a new hub?   I'm sure I can handle that, though it seems like a lot of work.  Maybe there's an easier way?   Any suggestions on what parts do I need for that?   Most of my wrenching experience is on adult mtb frreehubs rather than this kind of stuff.

Any suggestions or leads on parts are appreciated...  thanks!

-Mike

[mikey p]

classic...

http://www.planetbmx.com/shop/skyway-tuff-wheels/12-16-wheels/16-black-freewheel-tuff-16-wheel-set/prod_19.html

[aramid]

How old and how tall is Your son?

[mbieweng]

How old and how tall is Your son?

4 1/2 and about average height (38", I think).   The Hotrock 16 fits him great right now - he was ripping up the kiddie bike skills park in Whistler on it.   I think the fit will last a year, maybe two years at most.

Those skyway mags are really cool, but I'm not sure I want to spend that much and I was going for more of a mini-mtb thing rather than a retro bmx look.

[Kenbenzo]

http://www.freeridesports.com/BMX/Parts/Wheels/16-freewheel-3-8-axle

Not sure if thats a reputable site but i saw a few. Do a google shopping search.

[mbieweng]

http://www.freeridesports.com/BMX/Parts/Wheels/16-freewheel-3-8-axle

Not sure if thats a reputable site but i saw a few. Do a google shopping search.

Yeah, I did try to do my google/google shopping/amazon homework before posting.  But I didn't see that one.  Thanks.

The single speed freewheels are all a standard size (thread to hub), right?  Any normal freewheel should fit any normal bmx freewheel threaded hub?

[mikey p]

Yes, any freewheel will fit a bmx hub, if it's flip flop the other side will accept 13t freewheels.

[BMX Crisis]

Back in the 70's, we would replace the brake shoes of the Bendix 70 (2 shoe) or Bendix 76 (4 Shoe) with a similar sized but longer spring from a 3 speed hub and remove the unneeded brake arm. This allowed the hub to freewheel with immediate drive engagement. Faster than Cris King) That's how we freewheeled "Tuff wheels"

Teaching a child to use hand brakes teaches coordination, plus they get it when you show them how they work. They see the mechanical action unlike the "black box" of a coaster brake.

The single speed freewheels are all a standard size (thread to hub), right?  Any normal freewheel should fit any normal BMX freewheel threaded hub?
I have a Sunshine sealed bearing flip flop hub (Circa 1978) on my RSS20 right now. The one side accepts 16 tooth and larger, the other side is smaller and accepts 14 and 15 tooth single freewheels.

[f]

Mr bmxcrisis is on the right track...lots of flatland and mini ramp guys used to modify coaster hubs to eleminate the brake, with a modded coaster hub you can roll backwards without the backpedal you get from a freewheel hub....a handful of bmx companys now make a hub called a "freecoaster" same idea, more money.

check out the forums at flatlandfuel.com I didn't check but I would think you'll find a thread explaining how to do the mod 

[aramid]

My son was 3 years and 9 months old when I transitioned him to Intense Micro BMX twenty inch wheels, he was taller though (42") but this bike is so much lighter then anything else that he can handle this with ease. I think this is the move you need to make instead of converting your sixteen inches.

[aramid]

Here is the pic of Micro Intense.

[mbieweng]

That's a nice looking bike.  

Thanks everyone for all the input.

I've tried him on other 20" bikes with smallish frames, but they're all too big.   Right now, it's more of a standover height issue than a weight issue.  

We rode on some of the easy dirt trails at Deer Grove today.  That went well, and pretty much convinced me that the freewheel (positioning the pedals to get restarted) and hand brake (better and more predictable braking on downhills) would be a good thing.  

It was also looking like some gears would be maybe useful.   I think it's geared correctly as-is for normal use, but he couldn't quite make it up some of the medium sized hills and was spinning like a maniac on the flats.   Admittedly, the shifting might be a bit much for a 4 year old.   But maybe not.   What's the group wisdom on that (both parts-wise and parent-wise)?   I was thinking of something like some sort of 3 cog freewheel with a short cage road derailleur and grip shift.   There's no hanger - I'd have to make something.  

We'd do this all in stages, making sure things were going well....first add the hand brake, then remove the coaster brake, then add the shifting.

[Bikebot6000]

If your 4-year old is already riding a two-wheeler, you're way ahead of me. 

[mbieweng]

If your 4-year old is already riding a two-wheeler, you're way ahead of me.  

I definitely don't have any magical bike genetics in my family.  It's all about the run bike and no training wheels.   Here's what worked for us:  

1) Start with a 10" run bike (Strider or similar).  Practice on gently sloping sidewalks or similar.  Make a game of counting the sidewalk squares that they can go without putting feet down.   Do this step until they can fit on the bigger bike, then proceed through the rest at whatever their pace is - maybe a few weeks or a whole summer.

2) Get a cheap 12" bike.   Remove training wheels immediately.   Remove pedals and chain.   Tape up any sharp bits (coaster brake bracket, rear axle ends, etc).   If you want, put a short piece of 1.5" PVC through bottom bracket and tape it to make a stubby footrest.   You now have a bigger run bike.   Keep the seat way low (on seat, flat foot on ground, knees bent a little) for stability, confidence, and easy on/off - pedaling efficiency is not important.  

3) Mix in time on a trail-a-bike to get some pedal time in.   I had to twist the seat a little off-center to get it to drop down low enough without hitting the trail-a-bike curved top tube.

4) Put pedals back on the 12" bike when they ask for them, and they'll take off on 2 wheels.   No sore-back parent running alongside, no tears.

That's what worked for my two kids, and some others in the neighborhood.   The ones with training wheels, seats set too high (i.e. the normal adult "efficient pedaling" setup), and no run bikes all seem to take longer and have a lot more drama.

I never really pushed them with this - it just seemed to work well.  They had fun with it and like riding now.


 

[aramid]

That's a nice looking bike.  

Thanks everyone for all the input.

I've tried him on other 20" bikes with smallish frames, but they're all too big.   Right now, it's more of a standover height issue than a weight issue.  

We rode on some of the easy dirt trails at Deer Grove today.  That went well, and pretty much convinced me that the freewheel (positioning the pedals to get restarted) and hand brake (better and more predictable braking on downhills) would be a good thing.  

It was also looking like some gears would be maybe useful.   I think it's geared correctly as-is for normal use, but he couldn't quite make it up some of the medium sized hills and was spinning like a maniac on the flats.   Admittedly, the shifting might be a bit much for a 4 year old.   But maybe not.   What's the group wisdom on that (both parts-wise and parent-wise)?   I was thinking of something like some sort of 3 cog freewheel with a short cage road derailleur and grip shift.   There's no hanger - I'd have to make something.  

We'd do this all in stages, making sure things were going well....first add the hand brake, then remove the coaster brake, then add the shifting.

I think the limit on this bike would be 40-42" You are more then welcome to try it on Your son I will be bringing the bike for Meltdown Kids race bring Your son and give it a try.