missgreenjeans1

I am looking to add an xtracycle to a mtn bike. A friend said a good 80s mtn bike would cut the mustard for sturdiness and price. I am a newbie so I was hoping to get advice on what to look for and what name brands of 80s mtn bikes would be good. Im also Mad Frugal & a ThriftStore Junkie so bang for buck thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

bbattle

Trek, Diamondback, Specialized, Fisher would be some good ones. I wouldn't limit myself to the 80's; plenty of good bikes from the 90's, too.

You might also check out the Xtracycle website. They have a community section and a blog; lots of pics of bikes and good advice there.

I once borrowed a friend's Big Dummy for a beer run. 6 twelve packs and three bags of ice with room to spare. Everyone in the store came out to watch me load up and ride away. Slow but stable ride.

cs1

Agreed. Personally, I wouldn't go after an eighties bike unless I was a collector. They're almost universally, friction and 5 or 6 sp. The prices are climbing on them and good deals are out there but getting harder to find. Stick with a ninties vintage bike with indexed shifting and 8 or 9 sp.

Though most here will flame me for not going after friction shifters, they're a pain in the dirt. Good luck on your search.

SoreFeet

You want to look for Deore/LX components. Make sure that the thumbshifters are made of metal and not plastic. They will have a a rubber cover over the levers.

The exage mountain components are not so hot. Suntour XC is possibly some of the coolest retro stuff of the time. The older Cannondale bikes with gigantic aluminum tubes are also something to look for. Good luck.

bigwoo

People sleep on the lugged Panasonics and many of the Tange GT's and they can be had for a great price..... The Panny's are excellent for your needs. Cannondale's rock too. I'd go w/ 80's

EDIT: GT's are near-top on my list but they do have the unusual rear brake cable routing. However, I don't think that unusual routing would negatively affect adding an Xtracycle....

mstrpete

If you haven't been to the Utility Cycling forum here yet, I'd recommend it. Lots of good ideas bounce around there.

missgreenjeans1

Thank u guys! Im on the search now

tatfiend 

I recently picked up a 1990 Trek 950 in 20" size from my local Goodwill for $60. It had LX components except for the shifters which were Alivio trigger shifters. It needed a major cleaning along with new tires and a new BB along with a headset service.

I am considering it for an xtracycle conversion. I have already converted it to a NuVinci CVT gear hub.

RobbieTunes

Trek 800 series go from $50 to $100 here and are, hands down, the best bikes for the money in this market.

wrk101

+1 I have a 92 and a 94 Trek 950. The 950 was a high end bike back then. I prefer the 92 or earlier models as they had lugged frames. I think the last lugged frame was 1993.

Great value for the dollar.

jgedwa

All good makes mentioned above. But, like any bike decision, you can easily get a sense of where the bike falls in the lineup by looking at the components. Alternatively, any 80's or 90's MTB with butted tubing is going to be a good bike most likely.

j

LesterOfPuppets

Trek 9xx series, Specialized Stumpjumpers, GT Karakorams and up, KHS Comp and up, Kona Cinder Cones and up, Bridgestone MB3, 2, 1, Diamond Back Axis and up, Mongoose IBOC,

Those are some of my favorite mass-produced bikes. I'd likely look for early to mid 90s, myself. Basically, Shimano LX, DX, XT, Suntour XC Expert, Comp or Pro components.

sailorbenjamin

What size are you and how far from Maine are you? I've got a couple of old MTBs that I was just thinking of getting rid of.

thehammerdog

seek an old school steel Bontrager or Yo Eddy

LesterOfPuppets

I think I'd cry if I saw a Yo Eddy pushed into longtail service.

jgedwa

If the OP is not interested, you should talk to me. jim

Grand Bois

For reasons I can't put my finger on, my cheap Trek 850 rides better than my high dollar Bridgestone MB-2.

LesterOfPuppets

I wasn't too fond of the ride of my late 80s MB-2, either. I liked the early 90s MB-3 way better.

I've never been on a Trek 850, but can say that I liked the 1989 Trek 990 more than my late 80s MB-2 also. Something about that MB-2 frame just wasn't very sprightly. I'm not sure what year it was, but it was solid red and had a flat crown fork.

IceNine

Here's a NOS Trek 830 that just popped up on my local CL.

Grand Bois

I prefer large size mountain bikes because I ride them on the street. With a large frame, my saddle ends up at bar height or slightly under. I think my 850 is the same size as that 830 and I'm not quite 5'10". I actually built it for my daughter and she's 5'6". Girls have longer legs, though. I tried to give her my PX10 before I had it painted, but she prefers the Trek.

Bioflamingo

There was an 85 DB Apex frame on ebay for $150 or best offer. Already sold though since I was running late for work and didn't bother to make an offer. Oh well. I'd rather have an Axis anyway.

Grand Bois

I think the later Bridgestones had better tubing, and straighter forks. My '88 seems to have a very long wheelbase. It's pretty, though with it's cobalt paint.

sailorbenjamin

I found this one on the curb last summer. It's maybe 1989ish? But it seamed like the components were pretty nice so I haven't tossed it yet. If someone wants it just say so.


It's got this funky smoky chrome finish and XCM deraillers (for better or worse?). It needs some work.