[Closed] My latest bike build, a 24.4lb steel hardtail

Love it, especially the tyres, nice finishing touch.

Thanks!

I'll be having a shakedown ride tomorrow, I think it'll be a little interesting as I've not ridden a bike with a stem that long in 20 years 😆

Pretty bike, really nice build! 😀

If you haven't already, you should get it up on Retrobike, they'll love it I'm sure 🙂

Didn't think it'd get such a good reaction as it has, wow thanks!

I'm really pleased to how well it's come out

The build thread is on retrobike 😉

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=129260&highlight=

PS there's an epic tale of how the build came about on page 4 of the above retrobike thread

Ace!

That looks lovely. Good job getting that build together.

love everything except the stem and forks.
i'd probably throw a set of rigid forks on there.

That looks great, and may inspire me to get my 'project' going - a 93 kona explosif (old steel bikes are ace!) with most of the original bits in a box in my garage.

First thing to do is get it sprayed, but just can't decide what colour. Seen a nice white one on retrobike.

i bet that's a giggle to ride, i used one of those rear mechs up until 2 years ago on a commuter, still fine, sitting in the spares box

Managed to gauge how good the tyres are yet? Quite interested in those, Nice bike

Looks good. Is stem a Zoom stem. Looks 150mm.Put 130 on and it'll look good. My mate had one and I always remember them being slightly lighter than most other big brands.

Really like the frame, spec is good (apart from tyres!!)

Good work.

[b]HTTP404[/b] I'd love to put some rigid forks on there to complete the catalogue spec list, but my arthritis wouldn't be too happy with rigid forks on the bike 🙁 Guess the stem issue is the mahoosive length? I'm trying to source another shorter one

[b]spock[/b] I'll let you know how the tyres fare, doing ~25 miles round Thetford tomorrow on em, so far only been round the block with them on so far

[b]Margin Walker[/b] I'm on the look out for a slightly shorter stem, as I do feel a little too far over the bars at the mo. How come you don't like the tyres?

Lovely bike.

I remember lusting after those Montana Pros back in the day. They did a blue and pink colour scheme IIRC which I fell in lurve with 🙂

There's a purple & pink Montana Team circa '93-'94

Same frame as the Pro, just dripping in XTR M900 instead of XT M73x stuff

OP ....no issue with tyres other than bike looks to have all the stuff from the era it was availbale apart from some modern /weird looking tyes.

I just remember Ritchey Z max /tioga Psycho / Continental Cross Country / Panaracer Smoke dart.

130 mm stem and it'll be reet.

Loving the frame.

As tyres are a consumable item I chose a modern equivalent close to what would be available back then I could search for some used Panaracer Smoke tyres which are catalogue spec, or Psycho's or any other tyre from back then but I'd rather have new rubber on the wheels rather than some perished old tyres, I'd not buy NOS ones either, the bike's a rider not a Garage Queen, so no NOS parts for me, it would be wasted on the bike.

I may have found a shorter stem too, plus the original bars!

1st ride was today at Thetford, around 23 miles in total, the tyres were perfect for the conditions, they are quite fast rolling & grip well, the front didn't wash out once & the rear just gave traction whenever I needed it.

The bike is lovely to ride, sharp handling, quick accelerating, nimble and deals with a bit of air pretty well, it's also pretty comfortable even sat on the nose of the saddle for most of the ride. That shorter stem can't come quick enough though, the saddle is at it's forward limit on the rails already!