that_guy_zach

I had this Bridgestone for a bit. Should have never sold it.



And this Miyata ( Too small)


The Puma ( too Small )

eastcoaststeve

Finished the rebuild on my $25 Klein...total investment $96...,so I won't feel too guilty riding it hard.














Steve

Bikedued

Whoa, sweet find, especially in a larger size like that! I would be very tempted to go with drops, fenders, and slicks.

I too miss 48's on mtb's. When was it decided that EVERY mtb HAD to be ready to climb the nearest pine tree? Good thing the manufacturers are starting to diversify a little more lately. Stores used to have road, mtb, and a side of BMX. Now there are city bikes, you know the ones like they used to call ATB's? Very capable now with canti's V's or discs, room for fenders, and great gearing...

On a side note. I walked into work today wheeling my chrome Ross Mt Hood alongside. My boss(LBS owner) was somewhat glued to facebook, when I said "Check this out". He turns his head, and says "Whoa!". I found a cartridge BB in the right length, and I will install it if I find the time tomorrow. It also has some Moab "Sweet Roll" tires on it, that when paired with old wide Weinmann rims..Look massive. Almost 2.5 territory.,,,,BD

x136 

Thanks! Yeah, I was stoked to find a horizontal top tube, rigid mountain bike at all, let alone in a large size. So much so that I decided I could live with straight-gauge 4130 and probably paid a bit too much.

It is tempting to put some kind of shallow drop bars on it, but it's my only flat bar bike, so I think I'll try it that way for a while.

As for larger off-road/touring triples: There are a few out there. Velo-Orange's new triple crank comes in 28-36-48, and you can get a Sugino 26-36-46 crank from any QBP dealer. If you don't mind the more modern look, current-generation Shimano Deore cranksets come in a 26-36-48 model as well as the more common 22-32-44.

Ira B

Man, that is one all business looking off road machine.

RB1-luvr

I've got a stem like on that MB-3 if anyone is looking for one. Think I just figured out what it came from after seeing your picture. Nice bike.

gm1230126

1991 GT Cyclone, NOS frame with a mostly period correct build. Will swapping out the headset and stem shortly for something older.

Bikedued

VERY nice older GT. You don't see them that clean, ever!,,,,BD

werks

noglider 

werks, clever bike rack! Never seen that.

Tom

werks

Thanks ! It's lots of fun riding a motorcycle to the start of a bike ride.
Here's a several page link showing how it was originally made, and later modified... Tom

https://www.triumphrat.net/sprint-for...ml#post1535202

1995 Cannondale M900 on board


TriCross Comp (triple) at Loveland Pass


Specialized Rock Hopper and TriCross at Hoosier Pass


Mid - 1990's Rock Hopper and M900 in the Aspen forest at Kenosha Pass (Colorado Trail) ... Getting there is half the fun

WNG

+1 The GT looks like you just rolled it off the showroom floor.

x136 

Thankee.

The stem is a beast. I haven't removed it, but I have no doubt of its possible use as a bludgeon or a hammer.

Excellent work on the rack, werks! Very cool.

PHT

from what i can tell this is a 1990 or 1991 diamondback axis, w/double butted true temper ox frame. it came to me very dirty and with 2 busted chainrings. i swapped out the original knobbies for a pair of cheap city-oriented tires i had kickin' around. it will live its life out as an urban vehicle for an ex coworker who hasnt been on a bike in years.

fuji86

You know what I like about these bikes the most ? No shock absorbers ! Forks or anywhere else. I recall the motorcycle I had, what a pita it was to maintain and eventually replace those TRAC Showa cartridges. That was a street bike, I can only imagine a dirt bike and atb/mtb bicycle ?

special_k

1985 Cinelli Rampachinio
Before (all original):

fuji86

1997 Fuji MX-200 ATB, my Sports Authority $ 159 bike. The next model up was the MX-460 or 480, don't quite recall that as the price went up considerably for a chromolly frame and quick release hubs for that model. Tried finding pics on the internet to post, but the MX-200 is a rare picture. For that matter the MX-460/480 is a hard find too. Anyway, it's a hi-ten frame and basic components, nothing special, tough, reliable & durable. What more could I expect from a bike ?



Found a couple for sale $ 60-100, looks like I'm (happily) stuck with this one ?

https://www.iclassifieds.com/forsale/...tain-bike.html

Fuji Mx-200 21-speed Mountain Bike for $75

WNG

+1 I agree, the K-I-S-S principle applies here. They are rugged, versatile, cheaper, lighter, easier to maintain, long lasting. Most don't ride often in agressive terrain to warrant full suspension. (over a few curbs, across some gravel and sod to visit the neighborhood Starbucks)

tashi

In my experience, the older suspension was super unreliable and the maintenance nightmare that you allude to. The new stuff (Fox in particular) is a lot more reliable. I used to do 2-4 rebuilds/WINTER on my Manitou 2's; my Fox TALAS is just now starting to want it's second minor service after 3 years. Not too shabby considering how damn good it is.

There really is a sweet spot for reliability/bombproofness for mountain bikes: up until around 1992 or so. After that the market was really dominated by light weight race stuff and durability, versatility and rebuildibility took a back seat. Then freeride stepped in...

LesterOfPuppets

I'm more of a mid-90s guy. Right around the time 8-speed showed up on the upper-mid range models seems like when the best deals could be had.

For instance my Mongoose is the sweetest "production" rigid MTB I've ridden and I got it for just over half what I paid for my 1992 Bianchi Grizzly. Don't get me wrong, the Grizzly was SWEET, but I actually liked the 'goose just a hair better.

I definitely don't miss bending lots of axles back in the 6-sp freewheel days.

fuji86

Tashi, in my case, I don't ride trails or dirt hard enough to destroy a solid fork, so maintenance on that is nil. With a shock absorber fork, the part that travels is going to get dust and dirt on it, the smooth surface pits and if not cleaned right away will tear up the dust covers, they start to leak oil on the fork travel and if they hold air, they don't hold it very long. Then you have a coil spring in some designs on the frame that compresses and wears out. Just like a car, anything with a suspension eventually wears out. I realize that a suspension is going to be much nicer than a solid fork, but for that, there is a price to pay. With any of them you'll have to grease the bearings should that get compromised with trail sand and dirt. I've just seen too many cyclists put their bikes into the soup and just leave it for the next day to clean or simply leave it for spring cleaning. I was surprised at how much fine road grime would get on my motorcycle after a single ride, out of the garage, down the street a few miles, any dampness & humidity (FL) even in the dead of winter and microdust just attracts to that travelling portion of the fork. Add that a replacement fork isn't cheap for either style, but with shock suspension, that can get up there with a car repair for a replacement. Financing a fork replacement for a bike is a little ridiculous for me.

doOde

i have the same bike!
gold XT, dated the parts to 92 or 93

OzarkKing

My winter project: 1994 Mountain Cycle San Andreas. If I recall, it was the first commercially produced full suspension bike with disc brakes. It came with XTR components and the elastomer shocks (rubber that compresses/rebounds) are still good.

theschwinnman

That thing is legitimate, it looks like something Mad Max would ride. The Grateful Dead sticker even fits on it for some reason. I would kill for a bike like that.

enjoybikes

1991, 16th Anniversary GF Hoo Koo E Koo. Got the frame and fork free with noisy BB. Had to search out the proper diameter stem and seat post (1-1/4" and 28.6mm respectively). Otherwise built with thift store and donor parts, single speed... serving me well as a school commuter this fall. Total investment so far $38, but needs the BB rebuilt soon. It's got the press fit bearings and e-clipped spindle style BB. Should be fun.