1999 frame. Custom build out.
XTR stuff... not thrilled about the rear caliper and rotor size and orientation, but it'll work. Waiting on a 160 to 180mm fork bracket. Ill need to fit the rear line, then pull the system off to bleed on another IS mount bike. The A2Z hayes mount adapter angles the caliper down, and spaces it out to 180mm.
Kinda fell into this conversion, thanks to a cracked head tube on an upgraded 99 Tassajara that I picked up for $80.
The guy wanted twice that, but after discovering that the forks were blown I offered 60 and agreed to 80. I missed the crack in the head tube... rookie mistake.
The good stuff:
A complete Mega 9 LX drivetrain ( minus the crankset).
Avid SD7 levers and SD 5 V-brakes. ( swapped later to SD3s by me)
Sunrims Rhyno lite wheels paired with Deore FMH510 32H hubs.
Easton EA50 seat post and (stem and bars, which I replaced).
WTB SST X seat (like new.)
17.5" Marlin frame purchased off E-bay with an Acera E-Type FD and triple chainring.
BB swapped from the Tass as it was almost new.
Aheadset was transplanted, along with the drivetrain and a used E-bay FC M569 LX crankset.
Complete Jagwire Cable update ( except for the front brake) Seatpost, seat, wheelset, and levers were kept. New Avid SD3s ( because they were clean and cheap.)
50mm (31.8 clamp) FSA Gradient stem and a FSA K-force XC carbon 25mm x 630mm bar with ergo grips.
Late 90's SID 100 Hydra air.
Frame ( shipped) 130
Fork 90
Crank 45
SD3 V-brakes 10
Jagwire cables ~$20ish (From a LOT purchase with 10 shift and 10 brake cables and housings.)
295 in "New" parts + $80 for the Tass = Way more than this bike is worth. But it kept my mind clear and was a cool project. She rides nice, the only issue I have is the E-type FD is sluggish, so I just bought a LX post mount FD for $20.
You gotta read the description ( next to last pic) to appreciate this.
The last pic was another active listing on the marketplace, and it is far more reasonably priced.
In general, I wouldn't have this issue, but I decided to use a period specific Titec stem for my build. I don't like how the shims sit under the stem. Is there a more elegant solution where the top shim tapers into the stem. These carbon bits work for newer stems just fine, but not this 90's era stem.
Snagged a very clean frame and fork combo. Gonna build this with a full Deore DX 3x7 group w/ Araya RX7 rims . I'm not sure if I'm gonna use Sl mt60 thumb shifters with BL mt60 levers or run ST M071 shifter lever combo on a 560mm Scott bullhorn bar. I'm contemplating using Panaracer dart/smoke tan sidewall tires or Blackwall 26 Specialized fast track tires.
I purchased this a few weeks ago. She was a filthy mess in the listing pictures. 90% original; 1 OE tire missing, and the pedals had been swapped sometime in its past.
I've cleaned and lubed her up and gave her a little curb appeal. I've spent about $150 in total, including the bike purchase.
Just swapped the tires today. Aside from deciding on what racks to mount. She's good to go.
Snagged a very clean frame and fork combo. Gonna build this with a full Deore DX 3x7 group w/ Araya RX7 rims . I'm not sure if I'm gonna use Sl mt60 thumb shifters with BL mt60 levers or run ST M071 shifter lever combo on a 560mm Scott bullhorn bar. I'm contemplating using Panaracer dart/smoke tan sidewall tires or Blackwall 26 Specialized fast track tires.
1998 Specalized Rockhopper Comp FS
All original except the tires and seat?
I was gonna buy this to strip for another steel build, but I just realized this isn't aluminum after getting some better photos.
She needed a little TLC but came out rather nice with minimal effort. I'm pretty stoked at how well the polisher freshened up the paint. I wet sanded a few spots, then polished it in two stages. I'm not sure what to do with this now. I really like the color, but I have another vintage steel DB mtb with similar components and also have a PDG50 frameset I'd like to build out. I know... 1st world problems.
Found the 1st bike, a 1990 Apex on FB Marketplace. (Very good condition and mechanically solid.) I was looking for period correct shifter pods and came across the second bike, a 1992 Ascent ex, also on 'marketplace.
I paid 125 for the Apex 2 weeks ago and 25 for the Ascent ex, yesterday.
I haven't done a thing to the black one but the purple one needed a wash and lube.
I think the Ascent is all original except the rear tire, and in mechanically outstanding condition.
I plan on doing a full tear down on both, buff the frames, then grease the BB, steerer, and hubs. I'm not sure what tires I want to run on the Ascent, either a pair of the Kendas or something similar to the Kickers that are on the Apex.
My Chisel Evo build.
20 months collection of parts finally coming to fruition after hitting up clearance sales, holiday sales, and marketplace for a lightly used Sram XO drivetrain. The headset and BB are Cane Creek Hellbender 70s.
Up front is a 130mm '26 Fox Factory 36SL in back is Fox Float SL Factory. Wheelset is Roval Traverse w/ DT240 hubs and Vittoria Barzo/Aggaro 2.35 tires. The cockpit consists of a PNW Range handlebar and Puget 2x dropper lever, 50mm Raceface Turbine SL stem, Trail 1 Hells gate grips, Sram DB6 levers, and XO shifter.
Seatpost is a 125mm PNW Range dropper. Seat is a WTB Volt Ti. Cranks are 165mm Sram XO eagle with a 34T chainring and Trail One Vortex flats.
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It's been 30+ years and two children since I built a spec bike, an Iron Horse FS-Works, which I sold off once I stopped XC racing. I've been on and off well-used cheap 26" Craigslist finds up until a couple of years ago when I decided to hit the trails again. The Chisel platform seems to be a sweet spot for me. 3 months into my Chisel HT ownership, I decided to build out another full suspension bike. I'm very happy with the outcome. This bike really rips and eats up the terrain better than I remember on all my previous bikes.
I stopped at my local bank and happened to park next to an early gen XC90. Don't see many of these on the road around here. I got excited to see one in the wild. My wife laughed when I said I had to snap a pic. She said: "I don't know why you get so excited when you park next to one at home every day."
Came upon this on FBM. The buyer was asking 500, and we settled on 250. This didn't see much use in its relatively short life.
It features a M5 hydroformed Aluminum frame kitted with ELIXR SL brakes, Rockshox SID RL 100mm fork, Fox Brain rear ahock, DT 420 rims on Spec hubs, Sram/ Shimano drivetrain, Spec house brand gear, Phenom Cro-mo saddle. Weighs around 22 lbs. The suspension works great. Snappy handling. It came with a pair of original Captain and Fast track XC tires as well.
The odd thing about this bike is the colorway. I can't seem to find this marketed in the US, and there's a Specialized Aus decal on the downtube.
I can't find much info on this exact bike, but the technical specs are exactly the same as the US model on Specialized web page.
I've been piecing this together for almost 20 months, hitting up clearance deals, FBM, and holiday sales. Finally, I completed it last weekend. I wrapped the frame a couple of weeks back while I was waiting on the wheels. I was on the fence about using the Sram DB4 brakes after I received a set of lightly used XT M8120 brakes from my brother but went ahead and installed them anyway. If I don't like em, I can always swap out, but they seem to work fine. I'm still figuring out the suspension tuning. I've been busy with work, so I haven't had much time to play. I'd list all the components, but you can see what's there.
Purchased a 2003 Fisher Sugar Team issue last week mainly for parts. Aside from the weeping FOX shocks, 1 siezed caliper, and a toasty BB the bike seemed like it was in good shape. However, I didn't expect this. The center of the spindle ( between the splines) is ~2.7mm thick. Would this degree of corrosion lead to a failure? Is this salvageable?
Wall art or ride? I think this would be safe enough for a gravel bike and XC trail use. Am I wrong?