Chris_in_Miami

Sorry, didn't notice the question until now. The Rockhoope does have slightly steeper angles, and feels noticeably more responsive than the High Sierra. I'm not sure I ever noticed how they differed specifically while standing and mashing, but my overall impression is that the Rockhopper feels lighter and more agile.

neo_pop_71

Hey gang,

There have been a number of nice Stumpjumpers posted recently, it got me thinking about getting another one together for a dirt drop project. I was searching various sites for an early Stumpjumper frame, turns out there is one a good deal on an early Stumpy in the northeast. It looks like it would be gem to build up but you could certainly sell it or trade your way into something else if it wasn't your size. It's an early lugged Stumpjumper, could be a 1983 or 1984... I believe the lugged '85 had different paint and frame decals. Too bad the bi-plane fork is missing but the frame is certainly worthy of a build, especially at that price! It's someone's project that was started but never finished. The Craigslist ad is only a few days old.

Here is the info:

https://newhaven.craigslist.org/bik/3693578869.html

Early '80s Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Frame and parts - $50 (Middlebury, CT)

early '80 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp frame and some parts. Was a project I started and never finished. Take it away for only $50.00.



I hope someone is able to pick it up and turn it into a sweet dirt drop bike!

Good luck!

-D-

SeanBonham

All done!




Can't wait to take it out. Crappy day out today, but the ride around the block was fun!

All in all about $350 spent on it

neo_pop_71

C O N G R A T S ! ! !

Super clean build... a real beauty! I really dig it, thanks for the inspiration!!!

-D-

wrk101

Great work Sean! It shows how flexible the old rigid frame mtbs are. You can go just about any direction with them.

My next one is going to be a grocery getter build, with the orange Ascent I picked up.

You can have a lot of fun building these bikes up, get the creative juices going, and not break the bank doing it! What's not to like??

frantik

looking good Sean

Shp4man

This mountain bike, a 1994 Diamondback Response Elite, was on CL yesterday. I've been helping my future son-in-law fix his mountain bike, and have been watching the bikes on CL for cheap parts mostly. So this bike comes up yesterday for $60, looks like a nice parts bike. The picture looks like crap, huh? Typical Craigslist cellphone picture.


So checking Bikepedia, turns out this bike sold for over a grand in 1994. It's in a bad part of town, so I enlist the kid to go with me, and get the bike for $50! Ha. nice hyeah:

This thread has got me going on MTB's.

Donkey Hodie

I noticed that ad today. I'm thinking I might have to sang this one up!

This is a truly beautiful looking build. Very inspiring!

ftimw

Talking about CL finds: https://savannah.craigslist.org/bik/3701038972.html
I'm thinking about it. What would you do?

acoffin 

Specialized Rock Combo Bike that could be yours for $50! Kind of beat up - could use a tune up.

Can't go wrong at that price.

neo_pop_71

Hey ftimw, go snag it man! Obviously, it's been messed with over the years, but there is still enough there to bring it back to dirt drop status! The heart of the original build is still there... the frame, fork, headset, Nitto dirt drop stem, seatpost, crankset, and wheels... definitely worth the time and effort based on the asking price! Dump those crappy riser bars, the Shimano v-brake shifter pods and v-brake calipers have to go, the thrashed Lazy-Boy seat needs to find the dumpster, and unbolt that silly 2 pound kickstand. Plenty of bar options these days, so that'll be a snap! Yep! $50.00 and you're well on your way to building a Bridgestone MB-1 clone!



Good luck!!!

-D-

frantik

that rock combo wouldn't last 30 minutes around here.. i saw one recently for a fair price and the seller raised it after getting a lot of responses

cooperryder

After having this 1987 , I think is the year model,
Specialized Hardrock Comp frame & fork for about 9 months
just setting there because I could not get used to the pink & cream
colored paint job on it, I finally decide to do my first 'rattlecan' paint job on a frame.

I removed all the decals, then sanded on it for 4 to 5 hours with 220, 400, then 2000 grit sandpaper
to get the surface pretty smooth not removing all the paint.

A terrific neighbor who is experienced at painting & I masked it off and then he did the actual spraying
to try to show me the technique. We used Duplicolor primer, color coat, and clear coat paints.
(2 cans of primer, 1 can of color coat, and 2 of clear coat, 5 cans about $50 worth of paint & wax products)

I built it up Saturday & here are pics of the first iteration using parts I had on hand & even some reused
white bar tape which I will change out soon.
Oops, that saddle is too tilted.

Overall I am pleased with the look of the paint other than we have had cooler temps and it seems to want to scratch
or chip fairly easy. I hope with coming warmer temps I can leave it in the sun & hopefully it will harden up a bit.

After having this painting experience & seeing the amount of labor the 2 of us put in, next time I think I will
pay $130 to one of the local powdercoaters who has a good reputation for doing a good job on bike frames.
However I am glad for the experience.

I had forgotten I had these Dia Compe canti's in the parts box but they mounted up pretty easily & work
pretty good. I could not find a model # on them.

I am thinking I will find some cool head badge & stick on it.

Frame & fork weigh an even 8 lbs & built up it is tipping scales at 29 lbs.

Oh, tan hoods on those Cane Creek levers were 'toast' so I yanked them.
Need to get replacements & wrap job was my attempt to make do until I do so.

cooperryder

Holy Moly! Just saw these NOS Dia Compe's on eBay the lister shows as the 960 model. They look the same to me.
Would shock me if he gets the $200 asking price but what do I know?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dia-Compe-96...item1c30b555f3

anixi

^Not often you see DiaCompe anything priced so high. If I could've found some good cantis for my bike I would've used them. I actually prefer them over V-Brakes, but the whole point is to make a dropbar MTB out of parts on hand, isn't it?

SeanBonham

I have a set of those DiaCompe cantis with matching levers. I had forgotten about mine as well haha

likebike23

Those brakes have been up there for a while. I was watching them because i've got a set that I was curious about. I think I'm going to put them back on my '83 univega Gran Turismo where they belong. I converted it to 700c and those brakes wouldn't work. There is no real vertical pad adjustment, they have an orbital thing going on.

Taxi Rob

While we're talking about brakes, have any of you u-brake or rollercam guys tried any of the new time trial brakes from TRP? https://www.trpbrakes.com/category.ph...1058&catid=182

likebike23

Never tried them, but they look nice. Not sure that under the chainstays is the best place for them though.

Bikedued

They're mainly meant as "slow downs" not actual brakes. The power is pretty dismal, and is made even worse with cable routings on most TT bikes, and bar end brake levers. They're also tiny, meant only for 700x23 applications.

I've worked on a few sets, and that's putting it mildly, lol. They ARE under the chainstays on most TT bikes they're spec'd on. Not to mention depending on the cranks on your bike, you may have to remove the cranks to adjust the side to side set screws. The set screws also LOVE to seize up from sweat, slung road dirt and rain water.,,,,BD

likebike23

I'm just saying it seems a bit silly to put such a nice looking brake under the chainstays. The price alone turned me off.

wrk101

That was part of my objective. Take a nice but neglected mtb, dig around in my parts bin a little bit, and bring it back in a more useful form. For my next one, I am planning to start with the orange Diamondback Ascent I picked up two weeks ago, add the better components from the Apex I picked up at the same time, and have some fun with it.

Now if the next person wants to start with some more expensive parts, I'm all for it too.

I liked my conversion so much that on a recent family vacation, where I could only take one bike, the Cimmaron conversion was my choice.

neo_pop_71

Hi Thrifty Bill, I'd have to agree with you, from all your cool MTN conversions that I've seen... your Cimarron conversion would definitely be the one that I would steal!!!

frantik

my first drop bar conversion is pretty much the ideal bike for me, so i'm not afraid to spend a bit more on my next one (or two )

That being said, i did spend a fair amount on my first one since I bought new levers, handlebars and cable stops.. probably spent more on just those things that i paid for the original bike. Some of that of course if the fact that older mtbs are under valued compared road bikes

ish

That's actually a really nice frame with rebadged True Temper OX II tubing. The frame is better than the parts hanging off of it.

Diamondback is one of the most underappreciated old MTB brands.