Hmm! Interesting info about the builders initials. I'll have to look now. I think I did a thread on this bike sometime but I'll have to check that too. This picture is the only one I have of it just after purchase; in this picture it's as original as it ever will be because the grips and pink cable housing are gone. Note the cable guide near the seatpost had already let go, even with light use. You are fortunate you have the one with integrated metal ones. The paint quality is nice on this frame but aluminum will indeed oxidize and in some spots the paint just let go. Uses a standard 27.2 seatpost.

Wow I somehow missed all the replies in this thread originally but these are some amazing bikes y'all have

agreeeeeed

Mb-1

Mine




Tomac's




The only MTB's , new or old - I ride anymore are from the snowmen -- not intentional - just how it worked out

I have been giving this a lot of thought and honestly when it comes to vintage MTB's you don't always get what you paid for, and sometimes you get a lot more than. I coveted the early lugged Stumpjumper(s) at least until I actually purchased mine . Granted mine was a Stumpjumper Sport model which admittedly is not as cool as a ,Team model which reportedly makes a difference in the weight department . Unfortunately for me the Stumpjumper was a tad too large so I ended up parting ways with it...

Fast forward 2 years , I end up getting a 1991 Rock Hopper for what amounts to free,. Very nice paint no real damage to speak of 19 inch frame size give or take a tad... and the icing on the cake so to speak is that this frame is fully double butted Tange tubing (this frame is actually lighter than that lugged Stumpy was) with a unicrown fork / no lugs . Another virtue is the 135mm in the rear drop outs, So I am currently building this bike out as we speak using a very nice set of wheels with XT hubs / Mavic rims which are very light compared to the original 7 speed wheels and a 1x10 drive train in an effort to make a lightweight vintage gravelish / cruiser bike.

The original specs from Specialized said that the 1991 Rock Hopper said the weight was 27 pounds , when I weighed the fully built bike before stripping was actually 30 pounds. My goal with my build is to get below the stated 27 pounds .

Now that I have went tangential in my thoughts which are this, I hope people do not realize what a great deal those early 90's Rock Hopper bikes are because they are almost free or literally free in some cases.

You just looking for tire clearance or off road performance? The old bikes were all good until you got into the mud. Bigger tires makes that tolerance go away.

Pretty close to max, but they sure soften the ride. Dry condition tires...

Late 80s and early 90s blue Schwinn's for me 😀

I have a fillet brazed Ritchey Timberwolf but any of the other higher end models will do too! Also been looking for a Cannondale SM600, with 26/24 inch wheels.

Is that an Orient Express? I bombed around on a Peugeot Orient Express for years and loved it. The thing had slack enough geometry giving enough trail to keep the fork pointed down the path in spite of my worst decisions. Probably saved my stupid young skull a few times. You could steer a little even with the front wheel locked up, and it handled high speeds over rock gardens surprisingly well. What a tank!

But what I'd really like to try is an old Merlin titanium 26er.

It is. Working on a Canyon Express that's in a lot of need.

The first brand new bike I ever bought myself in 1989. It was stolen a year later.
I have a soft spot for specialized bikes. Especially the cool colors of the late 80s.
Id like to find another someday.
Google pic for reference.

true

i klove this one

I bought this Schwinn Sierra in 1986 after reading a review in Bicycling magazine. It was my introduction to off-road biking, although the vast majority of it's miles have been on pavement or bike trails with the kids in tow. More recently, I built it into a drop-bar gravel bike. The geometry was well suited for that sort of riding, but all the roads near me are paved.
I had intended on getting the bike in red, but the shop only had Black Chrome. After having it all these years, I I think the Black Chrome was the better choice. It has some nicks but looks pretty good overall.

1986 Schwinn Sierra in Black Chrome
I put as many of the original parts back on as I could for the picture.

My favourite all around rider ... 88 Miele Aries... pretty much all original (ex tires/cables/seat) and I just love riding it.

Here is my late 80s I believe, Nishiki Colorado Cunningham Design I picked up last year knowing nothing about it. I cleaned it up and installed some new street tires and had fun with it.

My 1992 Stumpjumper Comp with Prestige tubing is a really fun all-rounder.

My favorite flat-bar gravel bike, ah... forgive me; vintage mountain bike.
Ritchey Ultra from 1989. Made in Japan, not the USA. I'm the second owner; I bought it used in 1992 and have had it since.
Now upgraded to mostly XT parts. Still running thumbshifters in 8-speeds using the "ghost shift" position.
Here on the fire roads above Santa Barbara, CA.

^^^^^^^ That is one loooong reach stem, looks like it could reach into the next dimension.

I'm a late arrival to this type of bike...like the last few months! But I've made a good start with a couple of 80s bikes that my wife and I will be riding next year. And who knows, something even better might come along this winter.

1986 (I think) Stumpjumper Sport, bought from original owner. Kinda rough, rode hard and stored for many years, but should clean up well. PO says that she broke the original frame so Specialized sent her a replacement; she worked in a shop so knows what she's talking about. She also replaced the original stem with a Salsa. Build is a curious mixture: Specialized 'flag' crankset, Shimano LX RD but 'Deerhead' front, D-C brake levers but Shimano canti in front and the rear is a roller-cam I haven't seen a name on yet, but looks like the Suntour one. Also the wheels don't match, both have Saturae rims (different widths!) but rear hub is Specialized and front is Deore. Of course this doesn't mean those parts aren't original!




1988 (I think) Schwinn Cimarron, nice mostly original condition, bought from wrk101! And re-using his picture.

You got 2 nice ones. Love that orange Stumpy. If 86, it must be one of the last lugged ones.

Bad case of N+1 lately:
Noticed old mt. bike prices were low, so I got a 95 Schwinn Moab Anniversary Edition, added tires, fenders, saddle, lights & scraps of bar tape. Now it's my favorite errand bike.

Same day I found the Moab, I called on this 1991 Gary Fisher Montare and arranged to pick up a few days later. Cheap, with unusual frame geometry! On gravel and local trails, it climbs fast and turns on a dime. I go slow on descents tho, as it's twitchy at speed. I added a N.O.S. front shifter, old fenders, old saddle and tail light.

So I wanted 1 but got 2. then, just recently, I found a Fisher HK-II. Components have mid to late 1988 date codes so I think it's an 89 model. Color is close to Gios Blue. Seller added the fenders, new saddle is by me. Came with a flat Mt. bike bar. I was converting to moustache bars, but some heavy lifting strained my back muscles, so went with VO porteur bars. That's all for now. Don

1995 Schwinn Moab

1991 Gary Fisher Montare

1989 Fisher HK-II

Both of the Fisher bikes have clearance for bigger tires. Those are 2" on the HK-II now, and with fenders off, could go way larger. Don

I had a 1992 Montare. I really liked that bike. I ended up replacing it with a 93 Paramount.