DVC45

...which ones are they? My Trek 900 has them and I think the 820 too. Any other?
I want to build another tourer/commuter for my brother and I want to know which ones are equipped with this feature. My local CL always has some rigid fork MTB's for sale, but sometimes the pics on the ad don't show 'em well (they list the brand/model most times, though). If you have one with this feature or know which ones have them, please do tell. Thanks in advance!

sonatageek

I have an older Schwinn Sierra that has them.

roccobike

I'm assuming you're reffering to the drilled tab just behind the dropouts on the fork. I went down to my basement and checked out a few mountain bikes. All of the bikes I checked had the tabs. If you're referring to the rare bike that has an additional drilled tab in front of the dropouts on the fork, none of them had them. If I were in your position, I'd answer ads for any quality brand (LBS) bike and make the final decision when I get to see the bike.
Here's the examples I checked:
94 Specialized Rockhopper
88 Nishiki Ariel
88 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
91 Bianchi Ibex
90 Bianchi Boardwalk (hybrid)
87 Schwinn Mesa Runner
89 Panasonic MC2500
94 Cignal Zanzibar

PunctualAlex

I believe he's referring to lowrider rack mounts a.k.a. mid-fork braze-ons a.k.a. "those things on the fork."

OP, I'm not sure I know of any brands off the top of my head. I just found a Raleigh Mountain Tour yesterday with a lugged fork that I thought for sure would have them, but it didn't! I'm looking for one myself, for the same project you are I think.

wahoonc

Different brands, different years. FWIW you can buy replacement forks and the clamp on lowriders work just fine on a steel fork. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if I were looking for another steel MTB to convert. No fork eyelets would make me think twice though.

Aaron

DVC45

yup, that kind.


Okay, so clamps are just as secure and ' won't slide back under load? Thanks, that just widens my choices.

Thanks to all!

unworthy1

Miyata Ridgerunner has them, not sure of the years

wrk101

None of the Treks that passed through my hands in the last year had mid fork braze-ons. That includes two different Trek 950, a Trek 820 and three different Trek 800s. In fact, the four different vintage touring bikes I have had didn't have them either.

thestoutdog

My son's Trek 730 has them, though technically a 700 wheeled hybrid, he treats it like a mountain bike most of the time.

roccobike

OK, now I know what you're referring to, no none of the bikes I listed have the forks drilled (braze-on) at that point. I've seen one or two bikes with those, but can't remember which ones.

JohnDThompson 

Yup. No worries.

wilber.71

An '85 Nishiki Cascade or an mid 80's Mongoose Alta will have them. The Nishiki is a great bike. I kept mine when I switched to a Ross Mt. Hood because its' relaxed geometry made for a good street rider.

Walt

jgedwa

I have 50-60 frames in my hands now (including maybe 35-45 MTB's). The only ones that have those front rack braze-ons are a 1984ish Trek 620 and a 1986ish Mongoose Alta MTB. Even several actual touring bikes do not have them. I would not be afraid to run p-clamps, however.

jim

Chris_in_Miami

I spotted a Scott Sawtooth with mid-fork braze ons. Late-80's I think.

sonatageek

I thought you were talking about double eyelets on the dropouts, so scratch the Schwinn Sierra. I just picked up a Scott Sawtooth and it doesn't even have double eyelets on the front dropout, let alone a low rider mount up on the fork blade.

custermustache

My 1987 Schwinn High Sierra has them.

Chris_in_Miami

The one I saw was quite nice, with double eyelets on the dropouts and even a three-slot spare spoke holder on the chainstay. I didn't care for the bottom mounted u-brake though.

sonatageek

Wow, wish the one I picked up had those features. Mine has the U-brake in back too, which is not a high point in my book, but it was only $25.

Sirrus Rider

For road riding the U-brake isn't bad; however, for it's original intention of off road.. Well there's the reason they were only offered in '88.

7speed

+1 I have them on my 1988 Schwinn Sierra atb converted for touring and it's fine. I found it hard to set up the u-brake and needed the LBS's help, but it's been reliable and effective since then.

On the subject of fork front rack braze-ons, I have a GT crossover continuum that has a strange configuration. Now, the main thing that people find strange about this particular bicycle is the wheel size (700D), but I find the braze-ons to be a little weird. It has mid-fork mounts for a lowrider rack, mounts for three bottle cages and ..... no bosses at the seatstay for a rear rack! Weird, eh?

tatfiend 

My aproximately 1994 Univega 700c hybrid Via De Oro has them. The 1990 Trek 950 does not. Much more common I believe on hybrids than on MTBs and the higher end the MTB the less likely to have them.

Supertick

I have an 87 Trek 800 that has them. Straight gauge steel frame and tough as nails. I have converted it to a tourer and other than being a little heavy, it is a great bike. I also upgraded most of the components.
Tubus front and rear racks, Albatross bars with bar end shifters. I like it.

Chris_in_Miami

For what it's worth, here's the Scott I mentioned earlier. The seller flipped it on CL after I took these photos at the flea market, he sold it the same day.

Point

I had a Diamonback Ascent, circa 1986/87 that had the fork mounts. Didn't see too many on new bikes after about that time.

FLBandit

None on My ParkPre.