MattP.

HOw long has everyone been upgrading (or downgrading...), and making your bike to your liking? When you first get the bike, do you go out and get all the new parts you want and put them in, or do you wait to see what you need, or do you just upgrade when you find some extra $$? I'm talking about a stock bike, cause obviously if you built it frame up, you would probably have gotten what you wanted for it. For me, I have had my bike for about 2 years and am still switching out/putting new parts on it.

-Matt

cryptid01

The first aftermarket parts I ever bought for a mountain bike were some Ringle skewers for my Trek 850, circa 1990. I still have them in my toolbox somwhere.

Lamplight

I've been modifying my bike since the end of 1992. It started out as a stock Mongoose Rockadile, and now it's a KHS. *confused*

zx108

the first thing i got was a lizard skin after the first ride, becasue i hated the sound of the chain slap. then when i took it back for a 30 day 'tune up' i bought a easton monkey bar. then i recently got my brakes from ebay. i havent had my bike for very long, so i havent replaced all that much. i would like to have a fox rlt up front mybe in march

Brian

Day one.

LowCel 

That pretty much covers it. Even though I build my bikes from the frame up I still end up doing upgrades to them on a pretty regular basis.

[bEn]

Don't sweat the components on your bike. Just ride the thing. Here are the most important upgrades:

-Saddle. It's hard to have fun sitting on a plastic anvil.
- Stem and handlebars- They should fit your body and riding style.
- Tires. Choose ones that match your riding conditions.

Run everything else stock until it breaks or wear out.

These are words from Brian Lopes & Lee Mcormack.

For me, the only upgrades i've done to my bike are the tires, grips and chainstay and its been more then a year since i've had my bike.

Brian

Stock grips rarely suit me. I like my clipless pedals too. For road or MTB, chances are the stem is not the right length/rise. And unless it comes with a Specialized BG or Selle Italia saddle, that's going right away too. And that's before I consider upgrades or custom bits.

Jason222

I got my bike the first of april, and didn't get anything new until mid summer when I broke my derailleur hanger and derailleur. Then I got a job in the fall and I've changed the fork (Mz comp -> Z1 Fr 3) then changed the Bottom Bracket and Cranks (Bontrager Earl cranks -> Bontrager Big Earl) (Truvativ giga pipe - > Giga Pipe DHLT) and then I changed the front brake, well actually, I did brake first, but I got it all put on at the same time, but anyway, I got an Avid bb7 that replaced my Hayes Mx 1 (front). Got a new front wheel for the Z1's 20 mm through axle, and I recently ordered new pedals on ebay(Welgo -> Crankworks 50/50 X blue). Should be here soon.

cyccommute 

Let's see. I got my first mountain bike in 1983 and since then I've changed...um...everything...four times It started with pedals as soon as I got it home and now it has been modified to a Stumpjumper FSR Expert 120 and/or a Stumpjumper Pro (kind of did the amoeba thing at one point) and even those are changing and evolving as we speak

mcoine

My bike is the result of a slow evolution starting in 1992.
xt front derailleur...1992
ringle seat binder qr...1992
grafton cranks... '95 traded for a case of beer
seat...'95
gripshifters...'96
wheels... '96
rd.. '96
frame/fork... '98
brakes... '98
tires...'03
bars...'05
and so on... next some pedals and new tires maybe.

koine2002

I own Abraham Lincoln's Axe, however, the head broke so I replaced it--then the handle broke, so I replaced that. Is it still Abraham Lincoln's Axe?

I upgrade/change parts as I see need. It started when I tacoed my rear wheel backing it into a tree while the bike was on the trunk rack However, I got frustrated with grip shifters, so switched to Rapidfire triggers. I just upgrade as I see a need/desire from my riding habits and when the money comes in. I've been doing it since about the second week.

never

Modifying or not depends on the bike...some I buy to ride as is (maybe just make minor changes to saddle/pedals/etc) and just upgrade as breakage occurs, others I start changing things right from the start.

Do cards in the spokes count as upgrades, because if so, it's been a long time!

Lamplight

Yeah, that's actually a pretty good description. lol However, my bike still has the orignial 1993 Shimano Exage brakes and rear derailleur, but that's it. I actually still have my Rockadile frame. Anyone want a 7+ pound hardtail frame? lol

Brian

Those were the days. Our tandem frame weighs about what your single frame weighs.

Lamplight

Lol Luckily my current frame is steel and weighs more like 4 pounds. The Rockadile also came with a steel stem and handlebar and I'm convinced those two together weighed more than the frame.

nodnerb

For me, It was when I was 20 or so(1995) and got back into biking. Bought my first mountain bike since I was a kid. A Bonelli. Total pos but that's not surprizing now. Sold it pretty qiuck for a used Asama and upgraded that for years. The thing was like 21-22 lbs in 1996. Pretty impressive for the time. Now in the past year and a half I've bought one bike and upgraded, built up 2 from the frame up and I'm still upgrading/changing the last one built. Sad thing is, after buying a bike, and building two in 1.5 years, I only have one bike. WTF?!
I've got lots of parts though......unfortunately most don't fit any frames I've got. lol

dirtbikedude

Since '72

DBD

jhota

16 years - and it's still the same frame, derailers, shifters and crank. everything else has changed at least once.

freeranger

Well, I started out with a '96 GT Timberline, cracked a weld in the frame around 98, GT replaced the frame with a new one. After that, every part on the bike has been replaced/upgraded at least once. So I guess there is nothing left of the original, except some old parts in boxes. I start out thinking about a new bike every year, but usually just end up replacing or upgrading parts. Just like how the old bike feels, rides and fits. Kind of like an old pair of worn-in jeans!

blue_neon

Bike is 3 years old, been upgrading for 6months...so far, Brakes, Fork, Tyres, Bottom Bracket, seat, headset. Hub service's, new cables and housing when needed (once a year usually). Thats about all, next thing would be the drivetrain, but that will be costly, so hopefully I wont need to touch it.

Tequila Joe

I upgraded the fork to a Z1 SL, tires to WTB MotoRaptor & shifters to XT when I purchased the Enduro. No upgrades since aside from replacing worn out parts with better ones.
I.e XT cassette from LX cassette, Thompson Elite seat post from stock Specialized. Jagwire cables & housing from stock ..

T.J.

Pheard

Ive been repairing, which also happen too be upgrades.