Leeson Clear 660 bike build - The coolest bike ever!
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- Currently editing this with a foot still swollen a week after folding it after such an old man accident.
Luckily I've a great cat who knows exactly how to make me feel better, a Leeson Clear 660!
Actually this frame, fork and wheel came from a chap called Matthew Barnes so a HUGE thanks has to go out to him! The bike is just so so cool!
What do you think? Did you ever have one? I'd love to know!
Thanks so much for watching!
Ali
Patreon / aliclarkson
Instagram @aliclarkson
Merch: aliclarkson.com/
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Pivot Cycles global.pivotcycles.com/produc...
Saddleback saddleback.co.uk
Troy Lee Designs troyleedesigns.co.uk
Inspired bikes www.inspiredbicycles.com
Pinnd Components www.pinnd.co.uk
Schwalbe Tyres www.schwalbe.com/en/start
Hayes Brakes hayesbicycle.com - Sport
Whoopee, mother is first! (Have I nothing better to do than wait for your vids?)
😆
Thanks mother
That's funny my sister will do the same when I make a video as well! Glad to see family bonding 😊
Hehehe good to know you're a human too.
Watching you ride, sometimes I forget.
😂
One of the best looking retro bikes I have ever seen! I love the part where the cute thief is watching you at the stair gap trying to look unimpressed. I wonder if your balance and movement make him think you are the same species.
He’s so chill haha, he likes to watch and it’s so cute!
That headset fitting tool belongs in a museum!
But which one? 😋
@@Ali_Clarkson Your very own Ali Clarkson museum! Where you show off all your vintage builds.
These builds are definitely a grease-free zone.
I grease where needed :) I just don’t always show it 👍🏻
Skinny steel looks cool 👍
Cool retro style on this one Ali. Many parts were in my dreams reading all UK mtb Mags in the 90's
Classic
Still one of the greatest of all time! I still have a 609 - though miss my 660
Friend of mine ended up with a Leeson Frame really really cheap because the guy that got it didn't research the ST! Wanted to be the flash git but absolutely did NOT want the Mini Seat 😄 Whoops!
I have to admit when I saw those Tyres, the Darker Gum wasn't expecting them to look THAT good on this beast!
Although I've always been cursed when it comes to Black Bikes! Doesn't matter BMX, XC, Trials, DH whenever I've built a Black Bike no matter how planned the parts/colours are I either immediately don't like it or it fades very quickly 😑😄
I think the tyres make it! I hope I have better luck with the black colourway than you have though haha
@@Ali_Clarkson 100% Those Tyres look superb on it! At least for me, that Darker Gum vs some of the more Tan/Cleaner Yellowish Tan Walls works with the more dirty, beat up look the bike has.
The Black Bike thing drives me round the bend 😄 So many awesome looking Black Bikes! Maybe just Chrome Bars, seen a few with say a Red Stem that kinda thing... Then I do it 😑
Definitely tickles the nostalgia bone for me. Azonic bars, Mavic 521 rims. I had the DMR V12 pedals back in the day.
Classic
Apart from watching Danny Mac amazing and ridiculous videos I didn’t know about street trails but since I have been a sub to Ally’s channel I have learned so much about the sport Plus As I am 33 and like Ali a street rider i feel aches and pains every now and again it doesn’t help that I ride a heavy 2014 glory but we’ve got to get old some day 😂😂
This is really cool, I’m glad the “educational” aspect of my videos is working :)
@@Ali_Clarkson yeah me too I knew about trials as it is a Olympic discipline didn’t know much more than that until I seen Danny’s industrial revolution video then learned a little bit more about street trails but from watching your first video up till now told me there is a lot more about Street trials then I thought still to this day I don’t know how Danny Ridden cross the chain in industrial revolution and how all of you guys manage to survive The heat in Indonesia 😂😂
and because you are not from this planet.... that is why you are always so good with any bikes....
Haha thanks but these kinda skills translate to most other bikes, it’s once you really start to push the riding does it get harder…riding all kinds of different bikes really helps too!
This frame is so weird but also really cool 🙂 I should go and tell Marino to build me a copy 🙂
I am so proud that you use RB design booster, greetings from Slovakia!
That is incredibly light, and good looking! The saddle isn't the best looking but damn its a great system. Love the compact bash, reminds of a front freewheel. It has a very simple look and feel to it, like reliable and no nonsense
Yeah lots of cool features, I do like how sleek the whole bike looks :)
Just turned 40 myself back in November... and YES, that seat looks awesome! Always loved the low profile uniseats on stocks... might but one on mine
After a rubbish day this was proper nice to sit down with a stiff drink and enjoy it. Some lovely history there. I literally use to live 15 mins from them. I still wish for one now.
Glad I can help :) that’s cool you were so close to them too!
@@Ali_Clarkson yep Irchester was 15 mins
Как же я люблю такие видео 👍 сборка байка👏🤩
How I love such videos 👍 assembly of the bike👏🤩
Glad you like it 😊
That bike looks so good! Want!
Good huh!
I agree that bike looks beautiful.
Meower Power, Ali!! It's what brings bike parts your way. Man up and put some double bear traps on there, guaranteed to remove shins, calves and much, much more more!! Needless to say, that is part of the heritage and lineage of trialsin.
I’ll make sure to ask the Cute Thief next time 😂
Leeson is love! lets ride this baboi
Loving the retro builds. This one is amazing 🤩
Thank you :)
I had the 24" one with pegs plus maybe 4 other 660s. Such nice frame
I'd forgotten about these. Lovely bike.
Never did like the look of those saddles though on anything 😂
Haha yeah, they’re a bit marmite
This thing looks awesome.
Always ebjoy your bike builds, they are inspiring and cool as heck. Hope you heal quickly and get some good riding in!
Thanks, will do!
Old man Ali is still making bangers so I'll keep watching thanks Ali, Thali, ooo that's an Indian dish still excellent like Ali
Cheers!
Beautiful build Ali. I love vintage bikes and it is cool to see the British examples. I hope you heal up quickly Sir. Cheers - M
Thanks 👍
Very nice bike Ali. I like the used look, especially on the classic bikes🙂
I agree!
This would have been the highlight of your previous video with all the cool ass builds you've got.
I’ll have to re-upload it with the Pace and Leeson added 😂
style, smart and honorable build choices Ali. So cool all the frame innovations, that seat fit really surprised me . Busage, not repaint ! love it. Thank you for sharing with us.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolute love these old school builds brings back so many memories 👍my go we all used those azonic bars
They really were the best bars!
Damn, that’s a sweet thief score .. I’ve never seen a leeson irl, but spent some time drooling over them.. good job done well especially the headset installation!!
Cheers!
Absolutely stunning- what a lovely bike!
New video! Nice bike! 🚴😍 The frame looks like an overgrown bmx frame. 👍 Nice seeing the cute thief again! 😸
It does!
Your coolest vintage build to date!!!
Glad you’re keen :)
I absolutely love everything about this build. you are the only creator that has made care about trials bikes I remember them as kid but I was already addicted to bmx in those days. still am lol but i mix in dirt jumping and mtb here and there now days.
I like noticing the similarities in bmx and dirt jump to trials many bmx riders in the 2005 n forward era were doing wild things to save weight i remember a friend cutting all the padding off his seat ripping out the seat post than pipe strapping it to his frame.
And with dj just the same type of parts that would be used in a world that had not yet made dirt jump or trials specific parts. and also trying hard to keep it light but strong. Keep up the good work Cheers!
Cheers dude, glad you’re keen :)
Nice. I managed to find a 609 for a decent price last year but I just couldn't get on with it so sold it on.
This bike is so cool 🤩
Many cool!
That is such a cool bike!
Agreed!
Magura V brake adapters trigger some PTSD in me. I still own the 1996 Santa Cruz Heckler I put them on, I still have underwhelming experiences with the brakes, yet I've still ridden that bike harder and faster than anything else I've owned over the years. I think the original Marzocchi Bomber's simplicitu and performance makes up for the brakes being so difficult.
That sounds like a really cool bike too!
@@Ali_Clarkson The best bike I've ever owned, and years ahead of the competition. It's basically a trail/enduro bike at a time when even a downhill bike wasn't available to the average consumer. It's one of the few 90's bike that is immune to the typical 90's bike criticisms.
Looks crazy fun! Always wanted one.
This brought back memories of those bars Ali, I used to have those attached to an azonics ds1 frame which I used for trials. Not a true trials frame but there wasn't a lot of choice at the time.
Ah yes I remember plenty of DS1s at the comps back in’t day!
The bike and the video are awesome!
Glad you like them!
I remember these. Really cool.
Cracking build video 👍 makes me want to get mine stripped and rebuilt 🤔
You should try half link chains. Shadow make a few different ones. They make one for Bmx racing that lighter than regular half links, but still much stronger than say a 410 or even a 710. I’ve taken some shot to the man hood as well, I had to get stitches, on the purse. Switched to half link and haven’t broken one. It’s really good piece of mind.
You couldn’t pay me enough to run a half-link chain, especially with such a high torque drive chain like this! Plus they wouldn’t fit, the teeth on the bash are too close to the bash itself, it limits how wide a chain you can use
Cool bike. I dig it!
Thanks!
I felt in my stairs 5 weeks ago and stretched a ligament or tendon in my elbow. 8 days ago, I did hurt my back by overstretch while cutting my toe nails 🤦🏼
Mate your a year older than me and way I feel these days your really doing well you are a legend your edit was absolutely amazing I always say you should do more edits like Danny Mac does you have the skills to keep putting out bangers would love it if you came over to Queen’s Park trails and had a go at our spot
Thank you!
The trouble with edits is that I simply don’t have the budgets, I’d need a filmer, editor and enough money to take time away from my weekly videos which pay my bills.
As much as I like edits, it’s simply not as viable for me
There was a hot minute where I almost got one!
Love it!
love it!
Love it. ❤
Such a cool retro bike Ali!
Thank you!
That one nice looking bike, well done Ali!
Thanks 👍
I can't even do wheelies😅
Greetings from Croatia 😎
Chefs kiss! What.a.beaut 👌🏻
Nice video Ali. Teaching and entertaining, but please always wear helmet during riding. I believe we are responsible for the next generation. Keep it up.
Yes, you are right
I hear there’s an amazing rider called Stephen Morris, who still rides a Leeson to this day.
Such a cool bike! Do you remember the Identiti The Judge trials specific frame, I seem to remember that having a really short wheel base too?
Yeah I sure do! Never had one myself but a few did at comps, they seem pretty dated now 😋
Looks neat
Ali the brake pads are ashima ones, i cant find them online anywhere but i have a few sets
To be fair, there’s a whole bunch of pads that probably look identical to these, they could well be Ashima though 👍🏻
yea
Awesome 👍🏻
Thank you! Cheers!
The Industry doesn't like those classic designs, once you own one, you are not likely to buy a new one.
Not many bikes will last 20 years these days, if they do they’ll have such dated features haha
You do classically over tighten headset bolts. So that could be part of the problem.
I mean it’s an alloy bolt so I can’t go tooo tight, I hate hate hate any kind of rattling or knocking from front ends though so I’d rather have it slightly over tight :)
amazing
Thank you! Cheers!
Maybe it's time for inspired bikes to make a low budget 26" short steel frame? :P Console 2.0 or Alias 26. What do you think about it?
Send them an email 😊
@@Ali_ClarksonSo, do we have any chance to see the new 26" steel frame in the future? >_
@@infectedbear95 what did they say? 😋 I wouldn’t be holding your breath if I’m honest, it’s expensive to prototype a new model and unless it was a cheap budget option I don’t quite see how it would fit in to the range :(
Awesome build Ali, a truly beautiful bike. What are you spraying in those grips to get them on? In my experience they go on just fine if you pop the end on the bar and use your palm to gently tap it on. Usually goes on in 3-5 taps, no water, alcohol, compressor necessary.
I use GT85, not sure why it works so well but it really does!
Ali, it's 40, not 80, too early to fall apart.
Also, 40 is the same metric and imperial so there can't be an error converting between the two.
Knowledge!
Thought you might notice lower engagement on hub your used to i9 chris King etc pro 2 is a bit lacking compared to pro 4/5i can't wait to try a pro 5
I swear by the old Hope Pro II on rear.. when I see them I buy, double up on the springs and new pawls.
Yeah, takes a little getting used to!
I wish i had this bike
random question: have you ever done a trials build on a bmx frame?
i think it would be interesting if you haven't
(i would suggest a racing style frame with a freestyle level bashing resistance)
Could be the shortest bike with new forks
Yeah, some 25mm rake inspired forks would get it well under a metre wheelbase haha
im running trialtech bars of similar rise n sweep on my enduro lol
👌
That is gorgeous! What's the deal with the "industry" logo? It seems similar to one sometimes seen with Alias, Inspired or Trialtech.
It’s been a while and I’ve forgotten for sure what Industry was…it’s possibly a clothing brand Leeson or someone connected to Leeson started
@@Ali_Clarkson Was it not a clothing brand started by CLS??
Mystery solved, thanks! Clothing brand for sure, but can't say much more since info on the web is super limited.
less than 11kg on a steel frame? wow!!!
And fork!
@@Ali_Clarkson my cromo 24 street trials built weigh's about 12kg more.... how did it happened on a 26?
Daft punk on top
When you were building it I noticed that you put the rear brake on the left and the front brake on the right side of the bars. Is this a personal preference or is that something done in trials riding?🤔
I assume you’re not from the UK then? 😂
In the UK (And every other country that drives in the left) bike brakes are rear left and front right as it apparently makes hand signals safer
@@Ali_Clarkson Nope I'm not from the UK. I'm just an American. We keep forgetting that it's us that are actually the world misfits that do it all backwards. Now that you mention the hand signals and such it makes perfect sense. Thanx I guess it's one of those common sense things that isn't common sense till someone explains just how common sense it is. A total, Duh... moment. Thanx🚴♀🏴☠
@@johncarlson2258 every days a school day! Though it’s actually the UK who are the misfits here as most other countries are like you 🤦🏻♂️
Awesome build
What is the best alternative to a trials bike
As I want to buy a trials bike but I don't have the budget to buy new, and there isn't any trials bikes up for sale in my area
You can definitely use a dirt jumper, just add decent brakes, lighter gearing (and ideally a reliable rear hub) and it’ll be capable of some pretty decent riding 👍🏻
Pretty curious to know what you are doing with those bikes you built... Do you sell it or do you keep it? Peace
I still have a few, sometimes it’s hard to let go 😂
For a Frankenstein bike that turned out to be a bitchin' ride! I've got to say that I really don't understand why they even bother putting a seat on these bikes. If you use it to sit on while riding your knees are up to your ears. Why not eliminate the weight all together? That being said it is a sweet yet retro bike and your quite the trickster on two wheels.
What frame number is this? I had frame number 60, I got it second hand some 20 years ago but Clive remembered who he built it for originally
I’m not sure…is that on the BB shell?
@@Ali_Clarkson yeah mine was stamped there
@@Ali_Clarkson also I don’t know if anybody else put it but the down tubes and head tube were T45 steel and the rest was 853 I believe.
What do you spray in your grips to fit them?
GT85 👍🏻
@@Ali_Clarkson thank you! Looking for an alternative to the hairspray and the likes that I've been using.
I sense a lot of tension with ze Germans in this bike. Anyway, it's tip top. Just I'm not sure about the color.
What Azonic bar is that?
A new video a new injury same old Ali
Is this retro or vintage?
Vintage retro
I don’t like the seat. I had the circular saw rotors leeson did
Haha well I don’t have much choice with the seat 😂 I remember those rotors though, looked nuts! They were a modified Hope C2 rotor right?
I hit Like for Cute Theif
Over all, propper 90s,,, not a fan of the frame tho,as a frame builder, incredibly crued,, but it was the 90s
Haha yeah not the most refined thing ever but they were more affordable
See what happens when you don't put your cat in a bag...? they repay your kindness with such a great selection of parts... roaming the country far and wide at night to get all the good gear... don't worry about falling apart at 40, wait until you get to 60 and are looking for spares parts to rebuild your own body! Not sure the cute thief could get those bits easily or legally...
We’ll have to see if I make it to 60! If I keep going at this rate I’m not so sure 😫
Nice kitty bruh
Simply simply lovleh 👌🫶
Cheers Alex, chalex