Searching for a vintage ATB
Hi C&Vers! I've been looking around lately for an all terrain bike for riding this winter. I planned to ride an old mixte that I built up this summer for winter riding, but I ended up making it too nice to be beat up by Chicago's salty winters. Since my interest these days is primarily in C&V, I'd like to pick up a cool vintage ATB. I've been looking over CL and ebay and am mainly searching for a fully rigid (no suspension) Bridgestone, Miyata, Univega, Nishiki, Trek, and Gary Fisher. I think I'll need a 19ish" frame. I'm hoping to spend less than $200, but I could spend a little more for a really awesome bike. I want a mid to high end model, but I think I'm mainly seeing lower end bikes. I think I've found a few good candidates, can you offer your advise on which bike I should choose? Or suggest a different bike all together? Thanks!
1991 Bridgestone MB4 http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/1455468080.html 1992 Bridgeston MB6 http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/bik/1457154986.html Trek 750 http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/1457719542.html Univega Alpina http://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/1440692932.html |
the Univega was my vote until I saw it was 17" either of the Bstones are nice. if you want something to commute on the trek has 700 wheels right? that should accept tires up to almost 45.
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The Trek is a hybrid and will probably make your live easier as a commuter bike. Hybrids are sized the same as road bikes but with MTBs you really need a couple inches less CC than your road bike. That Univega is nice, if you rather go with an MTB and better than either Bridgestone for many reasons (including index shifting)
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Pretty much all non-super-high-end MTBs from that era are worth around a hundred bucks, so shoot for something nice - a bike with Deore components and thumbshifters from the late 80s or early 90s. The thumbshifters will help when you have gloves on, and the Deore stuff will continue to work even when it is dirty and super cold out.
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I'm kind of prejudiced towards the Univega.............prolly cuz it's in my basement. :D Glad you like it, sorry about the size. I have a few others but I think they're all in that size range and the Uni is likely the best in the bunch.
Have to check the size on another one down there.......a Specialized I think............ krems81 had a nice 19" Fisher Marlin, but I believe he may have sold it. |
Originally Posted by Jasmijo
(Post 10010976)
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Although a little overpriced, the MB-4 would be my choice. That Trek hybrid is nothing special.
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How about this one...................... http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/1458943925.html
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Originally Posted by EjustE
(Post 10011114)
...with MTBs you really need a couple inches less CC than your road bike.
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Originally Posted by r0ckh0und
(Post 10012138)
How about this one...................... http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/1458943925.html
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Originally Posted by Jasmijo
(Post 10012145)
That's what I thought, but I was still only guessing I'd need 19". My road bike fit is around 52-55cm. What do you all think that translates to in MTB?
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Originally Posted by Jasmijo
(Post 10012145)
That's what I thought, but I was still only guessing I'd need 19". My road bike fit is around 52-55cm. What do you all think that translates to in MTB?
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Originally Posted by Jasmijo
(Post 10012145)
That's what I thought, but I was still only guessing I'd need 19". My road bike fit is around 52-55cm. What do you all think that translates to in MTB?
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Thanks to everyone for their advise so far. This is all very fun for me because at the end of this thread I'm getting a new bike.
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I had a Nishiki Pueblo earlier this year. Its a decent, lower end MTB. For the price ($45), its a steal.
+1 If you are riding a 52cm road bike, you will need a 17", maybe a 18" MTB at most. 19 inch is too big. I ride a 56 cm road bike, my two MTBs are 18 inch (a little too small) and a 19.5 inch (just a tad big). I will be installing a shorter stem on the 19.5, and then it should be OK. |
There is another MB-6 on CL, listed just as Bridgestone Men's Bike (I think) for $50. And there has been a Miyata 'Shredder,' which I think is an early-to-mid 90s model, which has popped up a few times, apparently without selling. I have been tempted myself though I have just barely got the bike storage situation sorted out with what we have.
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Originally Posted by EjustE
(Post 10012286)
You really do not want to mess with the friction shifting of the Bridgestones.
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Ok, folks. I've eliminated the Bridgestones for being too big or having friction shifting. So I'm thinking about the:
Univega http://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/1440692932.html Nishiki http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/1458943925.html Trek http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/1457719542.html I can't find info for the first two outside of their ads, but here's some on the Trek: True temper avr double butted cromo main tubes, lugged, cromo stays, tange fork, shimano altus a10 rapid fire sis shifters, 700x38. |
Originally Posted by Jasmijo
(Post 10012643)
Ok, folks. I've eliminated the Bridgestones for being too big or having friction shifting. So I'm thinking about the:
Univega http://rockford.craigslist.org/bik/1440692932.html Nishiki http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/1458943925.html Trek http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/bik/1457719542.html I can't find info for the first two outside of their ads, but here's some on the Trek: True temper avr double butted cromo main tubes, lugged, cromo stays, tange fork, shimano altus a10 rapid fire sis shifters, 700x38. Not much into Nishiki's but the Alpina Uno was in the middle of Univega's MTB line up. Bottom of the line Univega MTB were Activa's (a couple of versions) then was the Alpina, the Alpina Country and Aplina Uno. Alpina Pro was the top of the line. This bike is very comparable to a Specialized Rockhopper of the era. Depending on the date, it will have Tange CroMo tubbing, TIG-welded and Exage 500LX components, 21 speeds. 26 inch tires. Totally different experience that the Trek. The Trek is more capable and faster on the road, can do some off-roading. The Univega is more capable in a path (and the snow) and will do road in a pinch but it will be slow. I think that weight wise they are probably both close to the south side of 30 lbs. |
Thanks E, you certainly know your mountain bikes!
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Originally Posted by treebound
(Post 10014877)
You're still stuck on that 19" frame size, aren't you. :-) Of those last three I'd lean towards the Univega.
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Originally Posted by treebound
(Post 10014877)
Could be worth your effort to check the Milwaukee CL as well as your local one.
http://www.searchtempest.com/ It's great for searching CL in neighboring cities. |
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