Classic & Vintage - Vintage Mountain Bike Question

I posted some of this in the catch of the day thread but I was hoping someone would have some info on this bike/frame. It is very similar (fork) to a specialized or ritchey of the era but I'm sure these bikes were copied often. We have dated it to 83-84 because of the parts.

Here is an old mountain bike I picked up today. At first I thought it was a Schwinn and when i saw the "Renegade" name I almost walked away but the cranks caught my eye (175mm Sugino GT), and then the Deer Head Shimano F/R Derailleurs, nice Dia Compe cantilevers. The Wheels are Suzue "sealed Bearing" and the rims are "Sumo" 26x1.75. Cool fork crown with a braze on for a front rack and the frame is marked 4130, the Bull horns are in good shape and the fluted alloy seatpost actually moves! It has forged dropouts but a derailleur hanger and a no name brand. My guess is that this was a "house brand" and just one of a number of companies trying to get into the mountain bike business, but such nice parts as well. Anyone know anything about the "Renegade II"?

What to do with it? I have a friend visiting next week and he is too short to ride my bikes so this will be his for bar hopping and general around town stuff, but after that what do you think, Craigslist or part it out and sell the good stuff on ebay? It runs real nice, it would be a shame to part it out.

Does anyone collect bikes like this or does it have no value becasue it is not "name Brand"?

Thanks all

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That looks an awful lot like the 84 MB1 I just picked up. The only difference is that strange RD hanger. Not sure why they would do that with a bike with good components.

In a related question, I have a no-name (Full Force) MTB of similar vintage that is really a Specialized Rockhopper. Exactly the same in every way, and has a small decal that says "designed in the USA by Specialized". Why would a brand name forsake the value of the name to sell under a no-name? I wondered if it was perhaps just an ordinary Rockhopper that was intended for a foreign market (where perhaps there were trademark issues).

And, so back to your topic, could this be a Bridgestone that was sold under a funny name in another country perhaps? That fork is unique to Bridgestone, isn't it?

jim

I really like the double plate fork crown on the bike-

And, so back to your topic, could this be a Bridgestone that was sold under a funny name in another country perhaps? That fork is unique to Bridgestone, isn't it?

jim

If you have a second put up a picture of your MB-1 fork and a couple of frame details. I think the fork is a little different than a specialized that I looked at on line (slightly rounded edges rather than flat, etc). The TIG welding doesn't look like top quality work to me but it does say 4130 steel. Maybe Bridgestone/specialized had their frames made somewhere that held onto the rights to sell them like the Taiwan frame builders today that some small companies use (nashbar, etc)?

I think it is cool, no matter what but if it has some historical significance, then I'll look for someone who wants to keep it all together and sell it (at a loss for sure) rather than part it out. But for the summer it is the coolest "guest" bike around!

My 86 RockHopper has exactly the same shifters.
Fder looks the same. Rder has a hanger, but both are "Deerhead".
Brake levers are black.
Brakes look the same.
Crank & fork are different.
Can you post a picture looking from the rear with the brake cable stop (above the noodle) centered?

My wifes early MB-2 has the same rear stays and 4130 tubing. Very good chance more than one company bought those tubesets.

My wifes early MB-2 has the same rear stays and 4130 tubing. Very good chance more than one company bought those tubesets.

My 86 RockHopper and 87? Schwinn Sierra obviously came off the same line. The Schwinn was apparently made on Monday. Weld appearance sucks.

The earliest mountainbikes all looked similar to that renegade, it's not unusual that it would be a close approximation to several other bikes. I've seen other "no-name" bikes like that before, I think there were just a lot of companies that tried jumping in on the mountain bike biz when it first broke.

I don't think you'd be able to get much money for it. Realistically it doesn't have much intrinsic worth. It's cool and old and full of historic mtb parts, but something is a collectable only if a good number of people want it, and I doubt you could find anyone who specifically wants a "Renegade", and just a small handful who seriously want a very early mtb enough to push it past $100 or so.

However the parts could do pretty well, I'll bet. The derailleur and shifters are pretty desirable. The crankset might do OK, the brakes might too. I don't remember how loved those brakes are though, what their rep is. The frame by itself would make a neat single-speed, what with the cool fork. Parting it out would probably make the most $$.

Or you could keep it. It is a cool bike.

If you have a second put up a picture of your MB-1 fork and a couple of frame details.


My fork is not like yours; forgot to mention that. I glanced through the old Bridgestone catalogs on Sheldon's site and I seem to remember that the bi-plane fork was only there for a year or so.

And no pics just yet. But I am in the process of prettying it up and hopefully will have a neat old MB1 to show off in a week or so. Damn, I wish this bike was a tad bigger so I could use it as my own.

jim