While complete bikes are getting better and better these days, nothing quite beats getting a new frame and building it up. In this case, it was the Sunday Wave-C.
I had been thinking about a Wave-C ever since I heard that a prototype was being tested. The fact that it was going to be offered with a 22″ top tube also got me pretty excited.
The build
When I took the frame out of the box I was stoked. This was a nice looking frame! And you can just tell it can stand up to just about anything.
But I still had to wait for a few parts to arrive before I could start building.
When the last few parts came in the mail, I went over to my friend, Mike “Carbon” Pavao’s place to put it together. While trading BMX stories, we were both impressed by how well built the frame was and the attention to detail.
The only potential snag was a brake bolt that needed a little grinding down. Luckily, Gary Quill dropped by, and he just so happened to have a grinder in the back of his work van. A couple of seconds of grinding later, a few more twists of the wrench and this puppy was ready to ride!
We grabbed our bikes and took off for an old school ride through the neighbourhood, hitting things along the way and made our way downtown. We finally ended up at the 7-11 Mike and Gary used to hang out at when they were 14 year old hoodlums.
Initial impression of the frame: Wow!
I took it out on the local trails today and I continue to be impressed. (For another perspective on the Wave-C, check out Jon Faure’s review.)
Shoutouts for their help with this build: Bobby Parker from Sunday/Full Factory, Tom at Empire BMX, Mike Pavao from…uh… Casa Carbon and Gary Quill for his skills with a grinder.
Parts list
Frame: Sunday Wave-C 22″
Fork: We The People
Bars: Sunday 24umph
Stem: Salt Front load
Grips: Eclat Chester Blacksmith
Barends: Eclat plugs
Headset: We The People sealed
Seatpost Clamp: Sunday
Seat/Seat Post: Macneil Fat Capital /pivotal
Cranks: Salt 175mm
Sprocket: Macneil
Chain: Shadow Conspiracy
Front Tire: Kenda K-rad 24×1.95″
Front Wheel: Alex with Salt hub
Rear Tire: Intense Microknobbie 24×1.85″
Rear Wheel: Odyssey Hazard Lite rim with Odyssey V3 Hazard hub
Pedals: Macneil Face
Brake: Tektro
Brake Cable: We The People
Brake Lever: Tektro
Pegs: None
Modifications: Spacers under the stem, Gold anodized valve caps and Cruiser Revolution stickers
Future mods planned: Switch to a top-load stem, slightly fatter tires (and maybe taller bars)
Nice grip/seat color combo. Tuff looking bike!
I like it. I’m really wanting one of these. I had a 21.25 Model C and I felt it was to short so I went to a 22.25 Liquid and that might be to long, so I think the 22″ will be just right 🙂 Does anyone have a picture of an all vapor blue Wave C built up?
try a slightly shorter reach stem and tilt your bars back. also, taller bars tilted back on a longer bike will bring your grips back closer to you.
have you tried 8″ rise bars on your Liquid yet? several of us have done it and it feels great.
schweeeeet!
man i wish i could still get those macneil pedals in the burnt orange. it would complement my quad 24 nicely… sigh.
Thanks!
I’m especially fond of those orange macneil pedals myself…they look awesome!
(And I have a little secret for you…you can still get them…on sale!….at Empire BMX. That’s where I got mine…. but I would suggest getting them soon because I’m sure their supply is running low.)
Now if I could just find the seatpost and stem they did in the same colorway….
That is a nice frame and it feels awesome,rode my friends tuesday at the pump track.
hey ed, izzat u on the wave-c or or a friend?
It’s me…at my friend’s place (Casa Carbon).
I put 8 inch bars on my older-generation model C this weekend and it really lit up my world!
I have the Sunday tall T bars on mine (8.75″)!
Will never go back to smaller bars.