The Black (Stealth) Torker

[UniBrier]

From rec.sport.unicycling (edited):

Originally posted by UniBrier
Black Torkers. They have a United/Savage style crown but with main cap bearings. The seat is a black Miyata clone with handle. The frame, tire, rim, spokes, and cranks are all black. And there’s more: 48 spokes!

Originally posted by UniBrier
Pics are posted at: http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albun39 . The seat is a Miyata, not a clone.

Originally posted by harper
I went out to Lynnwood today to see Harvy’s bike shop. Naturally I was prepared to buy one of these Stealth Torkers if necessary. When Harvy offered it to me for $99 instead of $129 it became necessary. He had another one there at the time plus a number of 24", 20", and 16" standard Torkers as well as a 6’ Savage giraffe and a 5’ giraffe which I suppose was also Savage except neither of them had Savage saddles…rather they were of the Zephyr or United variety. He also had a radially spoked, eccentric 24" Torker. He does have two penny-farthings on order and plans to carry Cokers. The owner is not a rider nor is any of his staff from what I could tell. I think he had alot of bikes there but I wasn’t paying attention.

The Stealth Torker I bought had overtightened maincap bearings which I adjusted at the shop to make sure they spun OK. They were fairly severely overtightened so I showed them the technique to properly adjust them. The rim is aluminum alloy and the hub is drilled for 48 spokes. The hub appears to have painted steel flanges and an unpainted steel axle, probably just the inexpensive 48 spoke Taiwanese hub. The wheel is true and strong. The cranks are painted aluminum with large “Q” and are probably Lascos or the equivalent although the manufacturer is unspecified. The pedals are cheap, plastic Wellgos. The frame is painted steel and is of the wide, curved crown United variety rather than the narrow, flat crown that you are accustomed to from Torker. It has a 1.95" tire and the frame will easily accommodate a 2.5" tire. The seatpost is painted steel and is 25.2mm in diameter. This threw me a little as I will need an extension eventually and I’m hoping some knowledgeable fellow out there will tell me where I could get one. None of the Viscount-United or Miyata seatpost hardware will fit it. It has a nice quick-release seatpost mechanism if you like that sort of thing. The saddle itself LOOKS like a Miyata saddle except for the back bumper which is labeled Torker. The seat seems stiffer to me than the new Miyatas, more like the old Japanese versions. The steel, seat base shape is the same as the standard Miyata.

If any of you know whether or not 25.2mm seatpost extensions are available or common please let me know. I haven’t begun a search for them yet. If I can’t find one I think I would rather sell this puppy to a shorter rider than go to the trouble of making a seatpost for it. I have not tried to disassemble the seat.

[DasDingus]

how wide is the seat of the black torker?

[daino149]

The black torker has a seat Identical to the Miyata seat.

I have a stealth torker and I love it.

Daniel

[breathingmurder]

how would this uni work for trials? There’s one on ebay for $15.50.

[DasDingus]

Just got my new torker 20" black unistar in the mail. Good unicycle so far, except the cheap black paint chips off easily. Still waiting for my semcycle XL frame b/c i need a flat crown for one footed tricks.

[Max_Dingemans]

you can do one footed tricks without a flat crown. and if you really need a place for your foot, try hose clamps and duct tape. much cheaper than actually buying a new frame.

[DasDingus]

you can do one footed tricks without a flat crown.

I can, but i’m tired of my foot sliding off and whacking the pedal or crank.

and if you really need a place for your foot, try hose clamps and duct tape. much cheaper than actually buying a new frame.

I’m going to use my black torker frame to build another unicycle in the near future.

[onefluffybunny]

My first (and only so far) is a 24" Torker. I’m 6’ 2" and I didn’t need a seatpost extension for it as the supplied one works fine. It did take a lot of force on the quick-release to keep the seat in place, though. I’m not good enough yet to really say if the crown makes much difference, but the handle has held up to constant dropping on cement while I’m learning to ride. The tire has a smooth tread that runs the circumference of the tire which I suppose it good indoors, but slips outdoors when the ground is wet/icy. Overall, for the price ($99 US), I think it is a pretty good buy for my first uni.

[bugman]

Originally posted by onefluffybunny
My first (and only so far) is a 24" Torker. I’m 6’ 2" and I didn’t need a seatpost extension for it as the supplied one works fine. It did take a lot of force on the quick-release to keep the seat in place, though. I’m not good enough yet to really say if the crown makes much difference, but the handle has held up to constant dropping on cement while I’m learning to ride. The tire has a smooth tread that runs the circumference of the tire which I suppose it good indoors, but slips outdoors when the ground is wet/icy. Overall, for the price ($99 US), I think it is a pretty good buy for my first uni.

I have my clamp so tight now, I can barely get it to release. Now that you have it tight, is the seat staying in place. I don’t drop nearly as much know as I did a few days ago, but when I do I have to struggle to get the quick-release loose then have to straighten the seat. Is it possible to get the quick release tight enough to keep the seat from moving on a hard drop?

Expletive Deleted

[jagur]

the seat clamp sucks,i took the lever out and put a bolt N nut in its place,seems to work better.

[bugman]

Originally posted by jagur
the seat clamp sucks,i took the lever out and put a bolt N nut in its place,seems to work better.

I will give that a try. Thanks