YungBurke

Sorry to crosspost, I accidentally put this in C&V. my current general use MTB is an 07 Specialized Hardrock sped'd out as in my sig, and Its a sturdy bike and I can do a lot with it, but it really isnt my style. While it is definitely a XC bike, it kind of has free ride style styling, and the 100 mm travel fork doesnt compare at all to any of the 80mms I have tried(really stiff, doesn't ever even make it near the max travel) . Also it is heavy as a brick, with Acera derailleurs. I am thinking about selling this bike, and using the money to get an Nicer steel fully rigid MTB from the early-mid 90s and fixing that to be my trail rig. I feel like this would be a lighter bike, could be easily outfitted with used Deore components, and is very appealing to me. Would the price from my newer MTB offset the price of a semi vintage MTB?

dminor 

What . . . ever . . . trips . . . your . . . trigger.

bikinfool

Depends on what you're aiming at, but your bike isn't worth a whole lot, it was what $500 new? You might get lucky, though.

wrk101

Don't know what your current bike is worth, but I found two nice Trek 950s, (92 and 94). Both have Deore LX components. I paid $75 for one, and I have $35 in the other (bought the frame for $30, found a donor for $5), plus tires.

251

I know exactly where you're coming from. Most of the new hardtails have ridiculously slack head tubes and ride like monster trucks. I think you'll find what you're looking for in XC frames made between 1995 and 2000. My '95 M2 was my primary XC bike until this Spring when I had a new Ti frame built around the geometry of the M2.

The mid to late '90s Trek 930, 950, 970 and 990s were very nice steel hardtails that should be fairly inexpensive. I would check out a mid '90s Stumpjumper. If you're not set on steel, the Stumpjumper M2 is nice, light and responsive frame that was available with a rigid steel fork or as the M2 FS which was set up for short travel forks. My M2 FS was originally spec'd with a Mag 21, but I swapped it for a Manitou 4 before it left the shop; it currently has an 80mm SID that works well.

Another alternative you may want to consider is a cyclocross bike. I take my Gunnar on singletrack frequently and it is a blast. You may be able to pickup a used Poprad or a Crosscheck for a reasonable price.

ed 

Which new HT's are you referring to that have such slack HT's. What do you mean Monster trucks? They are still a HT.

There are still HT's out there that are XC bikes. There are also Trail bike geo and FRHT geo. They're all purpose-built and designed. The maj. of people who ride just need a trail bike. They're not gonno go ballsout XC and they're not gonna huck the thing.

251

Calm down. He asked for recommendations for an older-style XC bike and I gave him one.

dminor 

What is with all of the retro-grouchness on the Forum lately? All these people wanting to regress to bikes we've evolved out of.

pinkrobe

I dunno about the 2007 Hardrock, but this year's has a 70.25 head angle on an 80mm fork. Having owned several XC hardtails dating back to 1990, I can say that a head angle less than 71 can feel sluggish. Also, compared to a whippy steel rigid bike, the HR might ride like a POS when on certain types of trails - I'm thinking tight singletrack with short radius turns and the like.

To the OP, I would definitely recommend finding an early 90's Stumpjumper. They're out there... If you come across a Rocky Mountain Blizzard from that era in your size, just buy it. They are so sweet, it's not even funny.

Sixty Fiver

"To the OP, I would definitely recommend finding an early 90's Stumpjumper. They're out there... If you come across a Rocky Mountain Blizzard from that era in your size, just buy it. They are so sweet, it's not even funny."

My Blizzard is the sweetest hardtail I have ever ridden... not cheap... but so worth it.

elf 232

Go simple, and you'll be happy, if your budget isnt big, SS and rigid.

https://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/monocog.html

29er monocog flight is even better

https://www.redlinebicycles.com/adult...ight-29er.html

ed 

I'm not "un-calm"...I just responded with info that you may or may not know and I asked a question that I expect an answer to. I'm not flaming...yet

ed 

But, if you take the '07 HR and put a steel fork on it like the OP is suggesting that he wants to do with an older frame...then your 70.25 HA becomes steeper. Don't get me wrong though...I do like steel frames. I find a little bit of humor in the idea that someone can feel a significant difference in .75 degrees of HA.

I think you (OP) should keep your eyes open for a 90's Jamis Dakar HT with Lugged brazed frame. Those are pretty and people loved / love them.

Otherwise, check into the Redline bicycles. They make some decent rigid steel offerings.

yellowjeep

Still calmer than you are dude.

YungBurke

I have an 86 bianchi strada. Would a Lugged road frame support 29's with long reach brakes? Would the fork get destroyed if I did anything intense with it?

Cyclist30907654

Yeah, I don't get it either. Between the recommendations for rigid bikes and v brakes, I don't know what year we're in anymore...

TechKnowGN

I have a 93 Trek 800. Recently replaced bars, brake levers, and indexed shifters with the combination Deore LX shifters/levers from a Trek 950 of currently unidentified year. The 950 was completely torn apart or i would have moved my stuff to the 950, and taken it. Love my 800, just feel like it's not quite the right fit.

M_S

God forbid people should have different proferences for whatever reason. The OP's plan wouldn't float my boat, either, but I can also understand why someone would enjoy the geo of an older NORBA styled bike, at least on the climbs...

I second the sugestions about Redline, with the caveat that they are 29ers. I like 29ers, but they'll handle a bit slower than the classic rides you're loking at. This is particularly true of the base level monocog and d440, which use different geo than the higher end stuff.

ed 

What do you call intense?

To me...both of these are intense. (as long as you know who rastaboy is) I guess intense in different ways.

A road frame and fork won't handle extended exposure to rough trails.

mcoine

I think what the op is looking for is available in a new frame.. plus with a new frame you get 135mm rear spacing.. 1.125" fork steerer, disc brakes.. things that weren't available in the early 90's.

I like old mountain bikes for nostalgia sake.. but I would never ever want to ride one daily again.

ed 

He can also get the frame with a 1 1/8" steerer compatibility, me thinks.

mcoine

1 1/8" = 1.125"

ed 

Wow...really?

Wish I would have picked up on that one

dminor 

I think I can help here. I have a 95-97-ish Barracuda A2R frame - - even have the original rigid fork - - in nearly new condition (I was the first person to build it up about 3 years ago) that I would gladly trade straight across for that 07 Hardrock bare frame, no problem. It's TIG-welded Tange 4130 'teardrop' shaped tubing, nice welds, 1 1/8 headtube. It has an odd 27.0 seatpost size but, other than that, it's the modern-compatible retro schizz.

C Law

I wish I still had my aluminum late 80's Cannondale MTB. It was terrible. short top tube, crack your spine stiff as hell aluminum, higher than urkels pants top tube for nut crushing, terrible steel fork......

*sigh*

those were the days