Old mountain bikes of course make excellent touring bikes and have been used for that purpose by a great many people. The gearing is very good for touring and they have room for fat tires and fenders. There are lots of ways of mounting touring gear on bikes to deal with the chainstays being generally shorter than on touring bikes (although the first gen mountain bikes from the early 80s often had long chainstays).

that's a 93? some of them came with a suspension fork, think they called it Future Shock.

Some old mountain bikes make okay touring bikes. Many don’t. By 1993, the geometry was rapid changing towards making mountain bike much better mountain bikes. I’m not sure how you deal with mounting traditional touring gear on a mountain bike to solve the shorter chainstay problem since there really isn’t any way to push the bags further back to avoid heel strike. Yes, you can use bikepacking gear but bike packing gear is a recent invention (about 2007) and has its own issues.

But longer chainstays don’t just make heel strike less of an issue. The longer chainstays of a touring bike serve another purpose of putting more of the load ahead of the axle making for a more stable ride. Short stays puts more of the load further behind the axle which makes the bike less stable. The tail starts to wag the dog.

Interesting about the fork paint. Maybe a replacement with a "close enough" paint job?
I prefer the silver rims fwiw.
My '92 Comp is a blast to ride, although there are no mountains near me so it's relegated to (gasp!) all-rounder/path status. I think you'll enjoy yours.

Thanks!
I think the paint is original judging by the meagre remains of the fork decals.

It is hill where we are, Rocky and forests, some incredible goat tracks !!

I since uncovered the bb stamping and it says 92M2657, could it be a '92, I wonder.

Agree on silver wheels if keeping the silver seat post and stem/bars.

I won't debate you as I know you know your stuff..and then some..but the issue with broad brush generalities is that no one rides a generality..they ride a specific bike. I'm guessing the Spec Stumpjumper/Rockhopper frame geometries were about the same as Treks in the 1993 timeframe(71* HT, 73* ST angles..same as the Trek 520 tourer, 750 Multitrack, and Surly LHT until recently). "Generalities" while useful, can steer people away from very good options. I converted my '93 Trek 970 to a tourer. Very comfortable and capable bike. My size 12 riding shoes don't come close to any heelstrike issues(near 60L pannier set in back). While I don't doubt for a second that pannier weight behind the rear axel isn't a good thing, in practice, with about 23 pounds back there, I don't notice any issues at all(I've experienced tail-wag in the past with another bike). My stock low gear is 22.5 GI..ya..a bit high compared to the preferred 16-18 inches, but I don't tour in the mountains and so far I've seldom shifted into the low gear. If it becomes an issue at some point..I'll address it then. My bike would be inadequate for you & the trips you take. It isn't the perfect adventure bike by any means, but it was fun to build and is working great for me.. a pleasure to ride, loaded or not. Super stable platform...with how I use it.

Some numbers I assembled for comparison's sake(prior to converting to a tourer)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...289ddece13.png

Bike before drop bar conversion and front rack addition..no recent pics yet:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...533432716b.jpg

Suddenly I like the black wheels with silver stem & post.... mmm lovely bike sir.

Black wheels all the way.

'92 Catalog
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...essories92.pdf
'93
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...ec_Bikes93.pdf

Maybe if you can translate German it may help.

Scheisse!! Kann ich nicht mein fahrrad finden!

Aber vielen dank.

Here is the latest, for now it is just missing brakes (cantis for sure), chain and shifters, along with the cabling which I love doing, as it is the last job before tuning and maiden flight.
A real boring Shimano junkpile hotchpotch of Deore and Exage LX and STX, STX-RC rims. For now I have put on a riser bar instead of the flat bar due to this low and long Kalloy stem the Stumpy came with.
Those clean Mavic rims with Ritchey rubber make any old bike look fresh again.

It looks quite chirpy in this setup, though I am tempted to try the black version too. I did up a red '88 Hardrock with black wheels and components and it was beautiful.

As a side note, lacking the chain, one crank arm, one pedal, shifters and brake system, it weighs 22lb. I think this thing is going to be a hoot.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...67c97187a.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...749e96d39.jpeg



That BB axle is really short, so check out the pic of the really minimal clearance (<1mm) between the ring bolts and the chain stay. What is the recommended clearance?
..might be pushing it a bit.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87a59e800.jpeg

I have been looking at the various methods of non-mechanical and non-paint damaging rust removal, and I still find that a paper kitchen towel soaked in household white vinegar left overnight works miracles.

This rust patch looked awfully pitted, but the vinegar treatment and light rubbing with the same paper towel gets me to this state.

I am not going for full concourse with this frame, but I will be touching up wherever it needs it, bit by bit, to get a uniform finish once again.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a5489cced.jpeg
And there is that long-since defunct local dealer's sticker, well worth saving.



https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1668a1463.jpeg
just working along the chain stay with vinegar and paper towel

... and sizing up the STX cantis. I love the STX stuff with its dark chrome finish. These match both the headset and RD, and I have an STX bottom-pull FD but it needs an adapter to fit the seat tube.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...738e860fb.jpeg

I suppose there should be a plastic sleeve within the noodle to prevent cable abrasion. Rear brake mocked up and working with horrible colour-matched pads I had spare.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5604ebc63.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...628baaf32.jpeg

This is the likely working setup, I am pleased with the quality of the components and also the simple aesthetics. I refitted the lightweight saddle it came with, which is very comfortable. The grotesque brake pads must go, and I should decide how to or not to modify the stem with a noodle for the front cantis. So far I have spent zero extra over the price of this bike, and I aim to spend nothing to get it running well.
I hope to take it for a spin this week before breaking it all down again and tackling the frame cosmetics, which is the biggest job in this project.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...32d0bd7886.jpg

At some point I will try to find the correct stem, but for the moment this one will do. Do we trust drilled stems for cable routing?
Time will tell.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b6e1f5c14.jpeg

Looking good!
The frame looks great from a distance, and given where you will be riding it, best not to have a fussy finish to worry about.
I also would not worry about the stem. Curious though - was it factory drilled or is that DIY? Either way, it seems to me it would take a lot to break that stem.

Thanks.
Yep, I drilled it, 2mm hole below and 6mm up top.
I have not done any calculations but my engineer's ears tell me it will be great for the use I will put it to.

The best compromise for what I want, I lifted these 'controversial' LX brifters off a rusty alpinestars. They make for a tidy, uncluttered forward cockpit.

The silver crank rightly had to go back to its DB Ascent, but this black 400 looks like it belongs with the matching mech.

Now I have the build sorted, it will be time to really strip it down and deep clean, paint and polish. The patina shall remain beneath a waxy gloss. But first a little play.

.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0a321ad82.jpeg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e87749224.jpeg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...26f646c5f.jpeg

That's looking good. 90s MTBs used a blend of black and silver, so some mixing is ok IMO. Don't forget to treat the inside of the frame for rust, as this is pretty thin steel. These can be fairly light. Both of these are way under 24 lbs with pedals with basic builds. The secret is the fork, its a 600 grammer.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6af9b02640.jpg
23 lbs 7oz
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...42fe736d5d.png
23lbs 5oz
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...69e0d49f1f.jpg

Agreed, I am loving the simple black & silver component mix over a red frame. Thanks for the heads-up re tube interiors.

26 1/4 lb. I don't think I can get it much lighter and yet keep it mountain friendly.
It is going to make lovely wheelies.

Whoa. That’s impressive. I bet my 92 Comp (looks like same frame size) is a couple # heavier than that, at least. But I have a replacement fork, stock crankset, fenders...still, it’s a very lively ride.

I hope you rescued that 950. They aren't making them anymore; it would be a shame to have one less in the world. If nothing else, you could sell it here.