What should I do with this bike?
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Goofy Goober
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What should I do with this bike?
Today, I acquired an old Gary Fisher (Made in Taiwan
) mountain bike. It has a threaded 1" Gary Fisher stem, 26" wheels, Shimano Biopace rings, and Suntour mechs just to name a few features. Being the kind of person that likes to change things up a bit, what should I do with this bike? What would you do? Junk?
As you can see, it's not in the greatest condition, so that's one of the reasons I want to change some parts. I'm on a budget, so keep the suggestions realistic. I was thinking a rigid single speed. as I already have a mtb with gears and suspension fork.

As you can see, it's not in the greatest condition, so that's one of the reasons I want to change some parts. I'm on a budget, so keep the suggestions realistic. I was thinking a rigid single speed. as I already have a mtb with gears and suspension fork.
#2
Banned
As a standard fork, hardtail, they can be set up as loaded touring rigs.. have many times before
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What do you want to use it for? I have a similarly aged Giant Iguana with full Suntour XCM group on it that has been converted to expedition touring. I use it on fire trails and dirt roads to get further back in for camping. With fenders and an IGH it would make a decent city commuter too.
Aaron
Aaron

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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
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Here are a couple of pictures just to give you an idea of what can be done.
The first was when the bike was returned to me, the second is about how it looks today.
BTW that bike of yours most definitely is not junk. And the Taiwan built frames are some of the best built frames you will find.
Aaron

The first was when the bike was returned to me, the second is about how it looks today.
BTW that bike of yours most definitely is not junk. And the Taiwan built frames are some of the best built frames you will find.
Aaron



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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#6
Goofy Goober
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Here are a couple of pictures just to give you an idea of what can be done.
The first was when the bike was returned to me, the second is about how it looks today.
BTW that bike of yours most definitely is not junk. And the Taiwan built frames are some of the best built frames you will find.
Aaron


The first was when the bike was returned to me, the second is about how it looks today.
BTW that bike of yours most definitely is not junk. And the Taiwan built frames are some of the best built frames you will find.
Aaron



That looks really nice! How much did you invest in it?
I really don't know.
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Hard to tally up a lot of the stuff came out of my stash. If I had to buy everything new, probably $600 including the bags. I likely have less than half that in it. I buy things on clearance sale. The Ortliebs were on clearance sale at REI (last year's model
) List price was around $260 and I paid $128. Everything else was pretty much acquired the same way.
Here is a list of what I did to it:
Otherwise it was a matter of just cleaning things up, greasing or oiling.
Aaron

Here is a list of what I did to it:
- Seat Post
- Saddle
- New Cables
- Jandd Expedition Racks (scratch and dent sale)
- Tires
- Handlebars and Stem (clearance sale at Nashbar)
- Replacement Freewheel
- Planet Bike Freddy Fenders
Otherwise it was a matter of just cleaning things up, greasing or oiling.
Aaron

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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Last edited by wahoonc; 07-14-13 at 05:11 AM.
#9
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
Clean it thoroughly. Replace the chain, cables, and brake shoes. Lube the hubs, bottom bracket and headset. Fix or replace the seat. Inflate the tires.
Then go ride the snot out of it. It's nothing extraordinary, but then it's not "junk".
I had a Taiwan-built Fisher Hoo-Koo-E-Koo. It was a perfectly practical and durable bike. I used it for commuting and trail riding while I had it. Then I gave it away to a kid who needed it more than me.
Then go ride the snot out of it. It's nothing extraordinary, but then it's not "junk".
I had a Taiwan-built Fisher Hoo-Koo-E-Koo. It was a perfectly practical and durable bike. I used it for commuting and trail riding while I had it. Then I gave it away to a kid who needed it more than me.
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That saddle's got to go. I have a Specialized Hard Rock. It's gotten fenders, lights, street slicks, a rack, trailer hitch and a Bikes At Work trailer. It's my go to go anywhere bike.
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