I also have an 87 High Sierra- I got it 2 days before I got out of the Army- I don't ride it that often (it's a touch big for me), but it's such a cool bike I don't want to part with it.
This is really an ATB- a 'rough stuff tourer' before there was such a thing- the front rack mounts on the fork, rack mounts on the rear...
It's also got so much neat and cool stuff about it- first- the black chrome- (like everyone has said, it scratches easily) and that "craftsman" decal scheme.
The fillet brazed front end. (the Cimarron was fillet brazed in the front and lugged at the seat cluster- the HS was TIG welded at the seat and BB).
The lugged unicrown fork- the story I heard is that when the unicrown was new, people didn't trust it, so they made a lug to braze the unicrown legs to. It looks pretty cool.
The pump peg on the back of the seat post- (although yours looks like it's either not included or broken off)
The 6 speed Deore stuff- the derailleurs and the thumb shifters were the standard for years.
The Joytech high flange sealed hubs- pretty slick.
The triple butted tubing is a nice touch.
I'm not such a fan of the roller cam brakes- but they are unique.
Your stem used to be black- it's weathered to that bronze- same with the pedal cages.
I lent my bike to a relative- they left it outside over winter- and it took a beating (encased in ice). I've tried drop bars and right now it's living with a set of trekking bars on it- There's more to do with this bike.
Enjoy!!!
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*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.