Hi there. My name is Kaleb Tessema. I am in my second year of my undergraduate degree in Information Technology in the stream of Business Commerce at York University.
I have always been a fan of hands-on work, whether repairing stuff or building things from the ground up, whether software or hands-on. My earliest memory of mine is building a Thomas the Tank engine track set! Also heading into elementary school was donated old desktop systems and I would always be in the tech room disassembling the old hardware for it to be scrapped just for the sheer fact that I enjoyed it. What made my passion for hands-on work stronger was the fact my dad is a mechanic, so I grew up seeing him fix our family's cars and other people's cars in our garage.
The 2.0T Audi engine that I rebuilt in high school.
When high school came along I took a bunch of technology courses which included an Intro course in grade 9. Throughout the next 3 years, I was in an automotive tech class, where I first learned to build a 4 stroke one-cylinder engine, change brakes, diagnose issues, etc. This all led to my last challenge which called for me to rebuild a 2.0T Audi engine which I was excited to get started on. Given that my dad taught me a thing or two about fixing cars I found it quite easy and fun, if following the specific guide and rules set in place. Within a month of working on it every day, I finished rebuilding it!
The mini bike I rebuilt from just a frame and a broken engine, now fully functional and making around 8hp.
After the whole experience, I decided to buy a mini bike or a phat bike in the image below and start rebuilding it. All I got was the frame and the engine but the engine was not in working condition so it required some maintenance. Also the transmission didn't come with the bike so it was my job to repair and buy everything using only my prior knowledge because nothing existed online that would fit my needs. Now I have a working bike that makes around 8hp and is in mint condition. My goal is to add performance upgrades just as a hobby, I have nowhere to ride it at the moment unless we take it up north where it's safe to do so.
In the meantime, I’m excited to create iFixit guides for phat bikes and mini bikes. These types of bikes have grown in popularity over the years, but finding proper repair guides and instructions can be challenging. From my own experience of building a mini bike from just a frame and a broken engine, I understand how difficult it can be to source the right parts and figure out the assembly process. I want to make it easier for other enthusiasts by creating step-by-step guides that walk users through repairing or rebuilding their mini bikes—from basic maintenance like replacing spark plugs and tuning carburetors to more complex tasks like fixing transmissions and upgrading performance parts.
Skills:
- Web Development (Javascript, React, Firebase)
- Java
- Mobile Development (React native, Expo)
- Technical Troubleshooting
Hobbies:
- Sports
- Coding
- Video games
- Playing Chess