BMXmuseum.com Bikes / Powerlite / 1998 Powerlite Toxic

old post from 2005

one day I decided to build a more modern bmx mainly from ebay I figured the newer style brakes would be better than the older calipers from the 80's and I wanted something to ride daily.
I started with a
powerlite toxic frame £30 ebay (1998 I think)
full 4130 chromoly, USA manufactured, 1/18" threadless headset, tig welded, pac-man dropouts the colour is candy red
bars S&M 4130 Slam bars £11 ebay
rudd pedals £7 ebay
odyssey 4130 one piece crank £7 Halfords bargain bucket
80's tioga lay back seatpost had for years
80's AME grips had for years
Tektro brake levers and cables £8 ebay
Pro star U brake £4 ebay
unknown V brakes £3 ebay
kenda k-rad tyres £10 ebay
Unknown 4130 NOS forks £7 ebay
2 seatpost shims one from a unicycle £4
aero royal 80's seat already had
Unknown alloy 48 spoke front wheel already had
Alex 48 spoke back wheel with quando hub £20 halfords
diamond back chainwheel £4 local bike shop
PZ stem local bike shop £4
diamond silent freewheel £3 halfords

Unexpected differences from the 80's
I hadn't realised the forks took V brakes and the frame took U brakes also I didn't know that the forks/headset/stem setup was so different (threadless) and that the frame took 14mm axles

I enjoyed the whole process which took a few months I like the colour and styling of the frame. It rides well with great solid handling and braking although it isn't light

UPDATE sept 2008

changed a lot recently to make it lighter. this is the bike I ride most. It now has many bits I have collected from local dumps

Haro fusion chainwheel

Redline 1992 freestyle U bars 

Redline stem much much lighter than the old one about a third of the weight

shimano exage brake levers from a rockhopper mtb great levers

Skyway UK made. 80's

weird seatpost that doesn't flex and is very light would like another one

It rides really well now quite a bit lighter and I think it looks better