A new interest in vintage Mountain Bikes
#51
Senior Member
Well they were actially made in Japan but imported by WSI which was located in Camarillo among other places in Ventura County
WSI also owned the Centurion brand name.
I was born and raised in Camarillo, so i'm partial to Centurions and Diamondbacks myself
When I flipped over my Centurion the first time and saw this sticker, i did a double take


I was born and raised in Camarillo, so i'm partial to Centurions and Diamondbacks myself


#52
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Definately into old MTB's. I love the way they ride.
Current projects include:
1993 Breezer Jet Stream
1991 Bridgestone MB-2
1986 Fisher Montare
1985 Ritchey Ascent
1984 Ritchey Comp (in the mail)
1983 Univega Alpina Ultimate
1983 MountainBikes Montare (Fisher)
1982 Diamondback Ridgerunner
Looking for direction:
1983 Miyata Ridge Runner
1984 Trek 830
Commuter/truck/Costco/drag-the-kids-about bike:
1985 Schwinn Siera
Current projects include:
1993 Breezer Jet Stream
1991 Bridgestone MB-2
1986 Fisher Montare
1985 Ritchey Ascent
1984 Ritchey Comp (in the mail)
1983 Univega Alpina Ultimate
1983 MountainBikes Montare (Fisher)
1982 Diamondback Ridgerunner
Looking for direction:
1983 Miyata Ridge Runner
1984 Trek 830
Commuter/truck/Costco/drag-the-kids-about bike:
1985 Schwinn Siera

#53
Ridin' South Cackalacky
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Lately, I have developed an interest in vintage mountain bikes. Part of it is that I am C&V road bike saturated (I have all that I need or want), part of it is that I am looking for a new mod/wrenching outlet, and part of it is that vintage MTB's are rapidly gaining some traction. Your thoughts, are we seeing a spike in C&V MTB's, particularly at the higher end, Fishers, Ritcheys, Specialized, etc?
Really, in a way, this trend is very similar to Muscle Cars and age groups -- what was hot when you were 20?
BTW, let me add that, in an effort to find training variety, I am doing more MUPs and trails, which favor bigger tires.
Really, in a way, this trend is very similar to Muscle Cars and age groups -- what was hot when you were 20?
BTW, let me add that, in an effort to find training variety, I am doing more MUPs and trails, which favor bigger tires.
#54
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Reminds me of the Riv Bombadil (certainly puts it in context anyway): https://sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/mtbwelcome.htm

Last edited by Soma Roark; 09-08-11 at 09:10 PM.
#55
Wrench Savant
Of all the newish bikes out there, I rather covet the Bombadil. Not saying I am sane or anything, I just like it. For the $3000 or so it would take for a new one, I could have an old klunker for each day of the month. Probably flawed logic.
#56
cowboy, steel horse, etc
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I think the main thing I like about olde MTBs is that most were made from steel. I don't miss horiz. top tubes or 1" quill stems or cantilever brakes or Ubrakes or...
One modern bike I lust after. Not very retro except for frame material and frame's only $489.
One modern bike I lust after. Not very retro except for frame material and frame's only $489.

#57
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Here is my Mongoose ATB I'm about to build back up for winter. It has some surface rust at the bottom bracket and I got it for free so it's my bling bling hoopty ride. Pic is just mocked up with 27" road wheels before I got some 26ers but I'm thinking of just running it SS with some gnarly knobbies.

#58
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Oh yea, don't want to forgot this old Kuwahara I used to own that I put some Hutchinson Piranha tires on. It was gnarl gnarl kill mode style, SO badass!

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I have a Trek Singletrack sitting in the garage that I plan on getting to one of these days. It has a pretty cool paint job. Purple fade to green.. lol..
#60
Senior Member
Here is my Mongoose ATB I'm about to build back up for winter. It has some surface rust at the bottom bracket and I got it for free so it's my bling bling hoopty ride. Pic is just mocked up with 27" road wheels before I got some 26ers but I'm thinking of just running it SS with some gnarly knobbies.
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Nice! but such a pretty bike for the snow? why not sell those air jordans and get another bike for the muck...lol
#61
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I just got my Trek 7000ZX back on a trade after selling it earier this year. I traded a used portable generator I had sitting in the shed for it. After the hurricane I ran into the guy I sold it to (he lives two streets over), and he was asking me about generators, and I told him I had an exrta one in my shed, and the deal began. I really don't know why I bothered, cause I didn'tneed it, so it's up for sale.

#65
Curmudgeon in Training
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#68
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I think there is a lot of interest in these. I mean every time I look at what they are calling a hybrid/comfort/fitness/street/commuter bikes, I basically see old mountain bike. I've been getting my sons into road riding and while I wish I could afford to just go drop big money on them for bikes I can't and since they don't exactly treat them well or I'm still afraid of theft, they get what I decide to put together for them.
The pluses of old mountain bikes new/renewing fitness riders are clear.
+indexed shifting
+triple in the front so those hills won't have them walking
+great brakes
+often plenty of places for accessories to attach
We add bar ends, thinner tires and everyone is pretty happy. They ride comfortably, can hold 15-17 mph pretty well and are fantastic on the value curve.
The pluses of old mountain bikes new/renewing fitness riders are clear.
+indexed shifting
+triple in the front so those hills won't have them walking
+great brakes
+often plenty of places for accessories to attach
We add bar ends, thinner tires and everyone is pretty happy. They ride comfortably, can hold 15-17 mph pretty well and are fantastic on the value curve.
#69
Ridin' South Cackalacky
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I think there is a lot of interest in these. I mean every time I look at what they are calling a hybrid/comfort/fitness/street/commuter bikes, I basically see old mountain bike. I've been getting my sons into road riding and while I wish I could afford to just go drop big money on them for bikes I can't and since they don't exactly treat them well or I'm still afraid of theft, they get what I decide to put together for them.
The pluses of old mountain bikes new/renewing fitness riders are clear.
+indexed shifting
+triple in the front so those hills won't have them walking
+great brakes
+often plenty of places for accessories to attach
We add bar ends, thinner tires and everyone is pretty happy. They ride comfortably, can hold 15-17 mph pretty well and are fantastic on the value curve.
The pluses of old mountain bikes new/renewing fitness riders are clear.
+indexed shifting
+triple in the front so those hills won't have them walking
+great brakes
+often plenty of places for accessories to attach
We add bar ends, thinner tires and everyone is pretty happy. They ride comfortably, can hold 15-17 mph pretty well and are fantastic on the value curve.
#70
I'm doing it wrong.
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I have a 1996 Stumpjumper M2 frame, which is not technically a vintage bike yet, but it isn't exactly modern, doesn't make a good commuter because it has no braze ons for racks or anything. It is a light frame and stiff, quite a climber. It was a heck of a trail bike back in the day, still rides trails fine but the shock fork I put on it is completely shot. I have though long and hard about putting a rigid fork with v-brake bosses, some Paul motolite bmx brakes and swapping it to 650b wheels that I have laying around. I would keep the rear gearing, but switch the crank to a single ring and see how it does on the trails. It has the tire clearance for decently wide tires using the 650 wheels, just have to get a fork.
#71
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#75
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