1999 Gary Fisher Joshua F4
 

Back in time to '99! Picked up this Gary Fisher Joshua F4 https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d339d9000d.jpg
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at a moving sale this week for $20. I was out riding my Felt DD70 and had to give the twenty to a young fellow in a shady part of town and hope that it would be there when I returned. All the original parts are there (except the saddle) and look restorable including the Bontrager Corvair rims and hubs. Even the Shimano SPD pedals. DeoreLX, Rock Shox Judy, Fox Racing shock, Profile Design composite bar and Sugino XD crankset.
My plan is to restore it as I have never had the opportunity to ride a 90s full suspension MTB.

Wow, It is like a free bike. I've got my 99' F3 (orange one) half year ago and like it a lot. My next mods may be tubeless tires as there are too many thorns around the trail I go. Have fun restoring the bike.

I'm envious! Great find.

Ready to ride!https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...686527bb15.jpg
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My question would be why would you want to?

Today's FS bikes ride much nicer.

Uncharacteristically, I will attempt to answer that question, hopefully not offending anyone in the process. Firstly, cycling to me is not a "sport" nor am I a "mountain biker" or a "road biker". Sometimes I might call myself an "adventure rider" and I always have 10 to 20 bikes ranging from 1958 to 2017 in the fleet. I have around $200 in this bike and if I don't like it will be sold as have others that preceded it. I enjoy the bicycle lifestyle and the history and development that has occurred in my some 65years. I have ridden some new FS bikes at the LBS and was impressed with the performance and shocked by the price. I have a modern Giant Hardtail, a fat bike, a Salsa Vaya Adventure bike a folding bike, an English light weight etc. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7c7e3ccc8a.jpg

This was just something new to enjoy rebuilding and hopefully a ride or two with a riding buddy who still often his 2004 Giant FS MTB even though he rides a 2018 carbon gravel bike most of the time.

nice i like those, this frame has the hook ups for disk brake are you planning on upgrading?

Wow, you did a fantastic job with that! Looks great.

I would definitely try to keep that bike as stock as possible. Its value (IMO) is as a well preserved/restored bit of the cycling experience from 25 years ago (the design is really more mid-90s than 1999). I would actually love to take that out for a spin to bring back some memories of riding in the 90s. Heck, maybe you could find a set of WTB Velociraptors or Panaracer Dart/Smoke for it.

Upgrading that would be, IMO, shame and an utter waste. It is a pig, but a lovely one. No sense trying to put lipstick and heels on it.

Thanks for the kind words. I will not be upgrading to disc although my riding buddy did his Giant with success a few years ago. It is what it is. The weather here is changing so I hope to take it for a ride soon and will do a ride report.

Wow, looks great! I lusted after that bike when it was new.


Did you touch up those nicks or repaint (is there such a thing as color matching bike touchup paint)? I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Big Sur and every place you ever tag the frame with something you get a chip like you see in your first pics, it comes off easier than other bike paints off their aluminum frames. I've always wanted to clean up my "Acid Yellow" paint scheme.

You are spot on with your comments about the paint. Large areas were peeled or chipped down to bare metal. It is like they did not use a primer, and it is thicker, like a powder coat. I have a cupboard full of paints I mix and match for cycle touch-ups. The black on this one is simply Rustoleum Gloss Black applied in multicoats with various widths of artist brushes. I also have almost as many nail polish bottles as my wife now. They work well for smaller areas. I have not found touch up paint for bikes yet although my 2017 Felt fattie came with a small vial with built in brush. Good luck with your "Acid Yellow".

Yea, you nailed it, it's like the alloy frame wasn't primed before it was painted or like it was powder coated too thick which causes to powder coat to pop off in large flakes/chips when it gets hit.

Since you use Rustoleum paint, I've found that their etching primer in a spray can works incredible on most bare metal surfaces, including aluminum.

The Acid Yellow is an in your face obnoxious almost fluorescent yellow... I like it :-P