[Closed] whos got a retro bike and...

I've got a 1990 Fisher which I've converted to singlespeed.

Although it's currently waiting a headset overhaul before being rideable over winter.

I've owned it since new and although it's a tad small it is so nice to ride.

nice one. Remember looking at those Fisher Brouchures...Lots of hippy stuff from Mr Fisher in them too 🙂

Yes, hence the username. It doesn't get ridden much these days, but there's something very nice about going back to basics and the type of bike (granted the P20 is a high end version) that got me into this.

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3637/3476554420_848e123f0a_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3637/3476554420_848e123f0a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/66452821@N00/3476554420/ ]Ritchey P20[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/66452821@N00/ ]ritcheyp20[/url], on Flickr

GT tequesta that is now a single speed commuter

Magura hs33s and original forks, bar and stem

Coated white with white grips, saddle and even the mags are white (eisbar edition)

Need to get some fatter tyres on it and get it off road over winter

I have a 1970s road frame - ornamental use these days (it sits unused on the turbo), though one of my mates used it as a fixed-wheel commuter for a little while

Early 90s zaskar will my commuter next year

p20 looks interesting.. no clue what it is.. other than the sticker??( a ritchey ).

Love gt's and always will. 90's zaskar , timberline, tequesta....
love those splatter paint jobs too..

Used to have a Marin pine mountain bitd...93 or 94 frame, pace rc-35s

Never had a frame like it!

'97 Kona Lava Dome - some retro bits, some modern bits. Sold the P2 forks like a fool. It's never been 100% right - probably never been 75% right, but I love it - been through a lot together. Oh and it's a steel Kona!

Will never sell it.

I've got 4 or 5 retro bikes and I love them all for different reasons - mostly because they aren't as good as modern bikes. Poorer brakes and suspension makes "basic" trails challenging again!

The one that gets most miles is the 1989 Raleigh Montage which I commute on. It's single speed just now and the whole bike cost me less than a round of drinks. The geometry and reynolds tubing keep making me think about getting disc tabs welded on and making it into a tourer.

tafkas/kona ..made me smile lol

unknown 4 or 5 is impressive.. more impressive is that your not sure exactly lol. Love the round of drinks comment..tis so true.

Add v brakes and run rigid is one way.. Although cantis and early sus may be fun as you describe...

Late 90s killi flyer with m952 xtr and USA made very light rst forks
It's only about 20lb and in everything but mud it still very quick and far prefer the ride to my carbon marida xc race bike

Also a 70s 531 road bike with campy for general riding over the summer , its just so comfy
1950 Raleigh 5 speed for pub bike

1950's pub bike for me..a day out in the country..

Bontrager Race from 1996. Bought as a frame from KMB with my first proper pay check - currently set up as a single speed with a set of 80mm travel RC 39's. It's just a great bike.

94 Marin still use it regularly.

What age defines 'retro' for an mtb?

17year old Marin hawk hill, still great fun, needs a service! but my new Trek Mamba 29er? different ride, just as good fun!

Claud Butler Kylami, in bits at the minute. used to tow a trailer normally. It was my first Mtb.

@iamroughrider The Ritchey was either built or designed, depending on the model by Tom Ritchey who you might be aware of in that he designs Ritchey components. He is also one of the pioneers of MTBing from the day when the first mountainbikers were in California blasting down Mt Tam on their clunkers. He was one of the first men to start welding and fillet brazing real mountainbikes. In the early 90s his bikes, like the one above were responsible for more than a few race wins on the World stage. His bikes were named the P20, P21, P22 and the P23 all after their weight on the scales. Basically a mountainbiking legend who has also just reintroduced a new line of frames this last year. I've got one 😀

Sadly I don't own any true retrobikes anymore. Still have my '95 Kona Kilauea which has been resprayed and had disc tabs welded on so doesn't really count. I have owned some pretty cool ones though. I've owned a Bontrager Race Lite, Klein Attitude Sea and Sky, Kona Hot Stars and Bars, Clark Kent CroMag and a Kona Titanium King Kahuna which I do still have but it's got a wee crack in it at the top tube/seat tube junction. Loads more on top of those as well. Too many to list but I kind of gave them up as I don't have time to ride them anymore and when I do go out riding I want to be able to take it to the max and know my brakes are going to stop me before I skelp that big tree and that maybe my suspension might keep me in contact with the Earth long enough for me to guide myself away from said tree. That said I do still love them very much and if a Coral Reef Klein Attitude or Adroit ever popped up I'd be all over it.

My beautiful GT in race trim.
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Raced it in the Gorrick 100 this year and didn't finish last.

'96 Kona Hahanna and a '98 Cannondale Cad something singlespeed.

I only bought the Hahanna as I was looking for a set of Project 2 forks, and the only ones I could find were attached to a bike, so I bought the whole thing for £50 posted... After converting the stem using a quill to Aheadset adapter, it was so good to ride that I just kept it going. It also scratched my itch to buy a Lavadome of the same era (first proper bike I ever owned).

The Cannondale I saw in a shed and the owner wasn't interested in money - swapped an air rifle for it! I never use it - turned out that S/S wasn't for me.

V-brakes can be plenty sharp enough you know
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I've got two. The first is an 85 Ritchey Ascent
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The second is a 1986 Ross Mt Hood
[img] ~original[/img]

The above photo is as bought earlier this year. The bike is currently in pieces awaiting the return of the frame from an artist reproducing the decals. Rear rack will be gone, and a Hite-Rite, Rock-Ring, and Avocet 20 computer installed.

They're fun to restore and ride a bit. I can ride the Ritchey on just about everything that I can ride my full suspension bike on, but not as fast. And you need to plan your braking well in advance (like by using a calendar!). 😉 Pulling the lever harder doesn't seem to make you stop any faster; it seems that it just causes the chainstays or fork to flex more! 😯

Most people have no idea how far bikes have come in the last 30 years or so. Or that early mountain bikes used a mix of road and touring components, because there were no mountain bike components till the mid-80s!

this is a sort of old with new, thing.
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The one that gets most miles is the 1989 Raleigh Montage

My second mtb was one of these it was a great bike .I raced it for a couple of years back in the day that there were loads of cheap cross country races

My first bike was a 1989 Raleigh Montage. Don't remember it being particularly great, especially the rear u-brake under the chain stay. I liked the colour though, spearmint green.
I do still have it and its infinitely superior successor, a 91 Clockwork Orange.

I've still got, and occasionally use, my 1988 Explosif. I keep thinking about getting rid of it but then I have had it for 25 years so I don't suppose I ever will.

i had until last year, a 1992 marin eldridge, which i put to the skip because i went to change the BB and a LOT of rust fell out of it.
it got stolen in 96' and the theiving barstewards ruined the paint job, when it got repainted after i got it back the shop i used didnt apply anything inside the tubes to stop rust.
i am convinced that if it hadnt rusted away i would still be happily using it.

This makes a regular appearance on here. 1989 Marin Pine Mountain. MTB, commuter and sometime tourer:

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There is a 1999 Trek Y5 hidden in the garage, and it is in a sorry state now.
It stood up to 1000 miles of commuting and a few trips round the red at Dalby in the last year until it was retired in March.
Bought it when my custom built Orange Prestige was stolen. Still miss that bike 😥

Here's mine.

1992 GT Tequesta - replica of my first ever decent MTB

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And me riding in the Dark Peak last year

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1991 Haro Extreme

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With NOS Haro Wing bars and stem - 31.8 clamp size in 1991. 🙂

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1991 Rocky Mountain Experience, being ridden in the Lakes

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1994 Kona Kilauea - this exact bike bought by me in 1994, stolen then recovered last year and restored

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1991 Dave Lloyd Beez Kneez
653 tubing, basically a road bike with lower gears!

[IMG] http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp187/rcatkin/Retrobikes/Dave%20Lloyd%20Beez%20Kneez/fdafd5bd.jp g" target="_blank">http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp187/rcatkin/Retrobikes/Dave%20Lloyd%20Beez%20Kneez/fdafd5bd.jp g"/> [/IMG]

In progress....
1997 Mk1 DMR trailstar - one of the first 100
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1996 Kona Hahanna - for a friend. Bought for 99p!
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1997 Saracen Kili Ultra Ti.
Full M952 XTR, 1st generation CrossMax wheels

96 GT Zaskar, had so many guises this bike: Street bike with RST forks and Hookworm tires. The early 2000's were a bad time with Tioga Downhill 2.3's, Judy XL twin crown forks and fluoro magura HS33's. Set up here as a singlespeed and now it has crest wheels with 10spd clutch mech and I raced the Bontrager 24hr on it. Not really a retro bike anymore, more of a retro frame...

It'll be rescued before the wife in a fire tbh..

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robdob, nice to see where the BEEZ NEEZ has ended up, I have a CATS WISKAS and have instantly become a DL fan.

On the subject in general, ALL my bikes are retro, both mtb and road, mainly because I am too, and I am stuck in 1994.

Also, BAH, HUMBUG and PAH! to all this new fangled nonsense, what was ever wrong the the Safety Cycle?

I've got a Dave Yates Diabolo that I bought new in about '90, and was my only mtb until a few years ago. It's now single speed, but I'm afraid I never really use it anymore, so I'm planning to sell it to fund a new road/audax/cx frame (can't decide).

Got a Klien Pulse from '96. Not a proper one as it is post Trek.
It is what I could afford at the time. Retired now and hanging on the garage wall. It does come out from time to time for a gentle ride with the kids. Main reason is I no longer trust it. Rode it like a BMX for too long and feel it is only a matter of time till it snaps.

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One of a few 😳

I have a 1994 Ridgeback 604 - Tange tubed and very nice.

One of the few bikes I haven't managed to snap over the years. Was in daily use until last year, now it's semi retired. I totally love the bike.

XT threaded headset lasted 17 years on one set of cartridge bearings, XTR square taper bottom bracket lasted +10 years. I wish I could get life like that out of current components!

Is 1999 old enough? The only bike I will never sell.

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I have a semi retro build at the moment.. I had a top flite Soul, but downgraded to free up some cash..

So now I have a late 90s steel Voodoo frame, 1x9, carbon fork and bars with budget wheels
I was hoping the geo would give a similar ride to the soul, but although the back end is just as forgiving, the longer chainstays make it a bit less perky and the gas pipe front triangle gives a very harsh ride.. Gonna have to bite the bullet and put a 100mm travel fork on.. Eurgh

93 Marin Palisades Trail - now singlespeeded and wider bars. Feels very fast!

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A 93 Palisades was my favourite ever bike.
Much, much nicer bike than the Clockwork I replaced it with.

I'm keeping an eye out for another 93 Marin on Retrobike at the mo.

Currently using one of these as a tourer:
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2001 Rockhopper.
Not really retro, but it's such a great bike to ride.

Here is a picture of my Fisher from when I did the singlespeed conversion:

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btw @ zippykona - where is that picture taken?

Picture was taken between Croyde and Puttsborough Devon.

Did have a 96 Stumpjumper for a long while and rode it in various guises. It was just about to be put back together but I noticed a crack in the chainstay, gutted.

Still running a pretty old DMR trailstar though.

zippykona - Member

Picture was taken between Croyde and Puttsborough Devon

Thanks. It wasn't where I thought it was then.

I still own my second MTB which is a 1989 MS Racing XT Comp.

It has a '94 groupset and a later addition was a Aheadset converter to get a better stem angle and some wider riser bars.

It is run as a singlespeed, I just leave it at my parents at Keswick so if I find myself their with some time to spare I take it for a spin or use it to go in to town to pick up pasties.

I am ashamed to say that this is languishing in my garage. Back in the day it was a ripper!

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/9567201895_70abfab788_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/9567201895_70abfab788_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/21877097@N06/9567201895/ ]Kona Kilauea 1993[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/21877097@N06/ ]Michael J Napier[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/9567202957_1d6ea2d0dd_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/9567202957_1d6ea2d0dd_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/21877097@N06/9567202957/ ]Kona Kilauea 1993[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/21877097@N06/ ]Michael J Napier[/url], on Flickr

yep, love my retro bikes, just bought another couple of frames to build up - a Funk Pro Comp and an Amp B5.

Why? hmmm thats a more interesting question.

Old bikes usually remind me that at the end of the day they are all just bikes.

To answer the question about what makes a bike "retro2....

On retrobike.co.uk the cutoff is 1997. Reason for this is summed up by a moderators post on RB about the very same question:

The 1997 date makes sense to me due to a number of technical changes and advances as seen on the widespread introduction of a number of components.

These included, the introduction of V-brakes, forks like the Marzocchi Bomber which were reliable and performed well and disc brakes became much more affordable and popular. There was also the introduction of Shimano's 4 arm chainsets.
Full suspension was also becoming accepted as not just for DH. Bikes like the Santa Cruz Heckler, GT LTS and the Marin Mount Vision proved to work well for general trail riding and XC racing too.

In 1997 in the UK, the first purpose built trail centres, notably Coed-Y-Brenin had just opened. This was a very significant step which has fundamentally changed and shaped mountain biking (at least in the UK) ever since.

Mountain bikes and mountain biking took a significant evolutionary step forward at around about this point so it seems to be about the right date for me.

But as already stated, it has already been a thoroughly discussed subject in the past.

EDIT: The more I've thought about it, the more significant the opening of the Red Bull trail was back in 1997. I visited it for the first time in November 97 and came away thinking that this was a great new experience to have on a mountain bike. Marked purpose built trails where bikes had priority. It was like racing but without the entry fee or the need to compete.

Everything was different after that.

Sold my RC200 recently and regretted it ever since....

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Still got my late 90's IF Deluxe singlespeed frame

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Also have a matching Club racer frame in the loft.

oh and a cracked Roberts Dogs Bolx frame too.

The biggest hurdle most people have with the older bikes is that they think they'll be rubbish to ride. Nowadays there aren't any really bad bikes, they all go, stop, handle ok, some are amazing but none are really going to kill you.... Older bikes, well, errr they can!

The 1991 Haro I have posted up already was a case in point. It handled brilliantly, maybe a bit twitchy but it was so direct. And it felt like a BMX in the air, not surprising given their heritage. However, it was harsh. Now I know some people think they have ridden harsh bikes but you haven't, beleive me, until you ride a Haro Extreme. Oh. My. Word. I am pretty good downhill and don't mind blatting down a Peaks descent on a fully rigid bike. I'm used to the knocks and can handle them. I rode the Haro in North Yorks on some trails that weren't as rocky as W Yorks where I live but I was reduced to a crumbling wreck, my bones turned to dust and my hands, arms, shoulders cried with pain!! The combination of plain guage cro-mo straight (basically BMX) forks, and the mega rigid wing bar and stem (both cro-mo and in mega rigid 31.8mm OS flavour) were just too much. So if you rode that bike compared to a modern bike you'd be put off for life!

However, my 94 Kona Kilauea is an absolute joy. We did a big retrobike.com national ride in the Surrey hills at the weekend and the Kona was perfection - darting round the singletrack like a dragonfly. 600mm bars, fully rigid. Big tyres absorbed the knocks well (there isn't many knocks there to be honest!) too. I got to the end of the ride and honestly thought if I came on my own I would bring the Kona rather than my modern Spesh FSR and it was amazing. Thats probably why you see so many old Konas around, and why they fetch a decent amount SH still - they are still great bikes to ride even compared with brand new ones.

It's great seeing what all these bikes ride like, and there are more pleasant surprises than horrible revelations!

interesting reading and viewing.

I've got this, which is a repro (and slight upgrade) of what I rode in '93

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I also have a 1990 Courier Prestige (which I picked up the majority of for £15.... 😀 ) as a pub bike.

oh and a cracked Roberts Dogs Bolx frame too.

Chas and the boys will take care of that for you. I had a new top tube put into my 92 DB and it rides like a dream.

Just misses the cutoff. 1998 1x1

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/8769267773_95a925b6d2_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/8769267773_95a925b6d2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

94 Marin Indian Fire Trail, rarely used these days

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I have a '96 Orange P7 that I've owned since new, its not retro though, its just old.

I'm about to start building it up again as its just a frame at the moment, I'm sending the pace rc36 forks I bought with it off for a rebuild on Saturday, taking the frame to be powder coated next week (either blue lilac or signal violet I think, and will the rebuild will be my winter project.

I won't be doing the whole original group set thing - I'll be building it up with a new modern groupset.

On that point any recommendations for a v brake groupset. Can't seem to find an XT one anywhere.

Why do I like it? Its a bike, I like to have a project, I enjoy making things look good again.

I've got a 1991 Orange Prestige and 1989 Saracen Tufftrax atm. Both in very tidy condition and both wearing nearly stock kit. Nice.

Don't ride either much but I like looking at them.

Get some orange Z1s on that trailstar! Or Judy DH's....

My Patriot LT 2000.... [b]born in '99[/b], according to the stamp underneath.

Why?

Always liked the look of them, and combined with 150mm forks (same bounce each end) it rides fantastically.

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I've got a Saracen Trekker Elite back at my parents house. Still got the full Shimano Exage groupset on it too. Not sure of the year but I think its around 1992/93

Go on then. A 96 Dekerf Generation. Not 100% in terms of original features but not far off. Bars are low and narrow which wasn't a problem for my younger self.

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The Flying Satsuma.. not quite retro either by retrobike standards, just old..
Not even approaching, or attempting to be original either.. 😳

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I had a 98 ZaskarLE in one of the best colours, but sadly (and stupidly) sold the frame last year.

Had it from new and it was always the bike I wanted as a youngster.

Last incarnation as a road based thing.

[URL= http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p31/twonks_photos/zaskarroad1.jp g" target="_blank">http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p31/twonks_photos/zaskarroad1.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

And this was when it was built up in its best state.
Lightweight RST XMO air forks and XTR/XT other bits.

[URL= http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p31/twonks_photos/FTD02.jp g" target="_blank">http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p31/twonks_photos/FTD02.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Its predecessor is now my dads bike and is still going strong.

95' GT Pantera with RST XMO Pro forks.

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1996 Cannondale M900, that was upgraded alot as it was raced every weekend for years till 2001. Still got it, take it for the odd ride, still makes me smile, but it's a bit like driving a classic car the brakes aren't as sharp etc, but it's still a good ride.

I've got a 1994 Cannondale Beast of the East that I'm rebuilding as a single speed. I inherited the bike from an uncle who passed away.

I've stripped the stuff off it because it was a bit too old school for me and am building it back up with a mix of old stuff and new. It looks ace so far.

On that point any recommendations for a v brake groupset. Can't seem to find an XT one anywhere.

Have a look on retrobike.co.uk for XT V-brakes, they come up from time to time. Alternatively there are the Avid groups, I have SD7's on a couple of bikes and they work well, but my current favourites are Cane Creek Direct Curve. I have one set of DC2, two sets of DC3 and have just got some DC5's. I have just fitted a DC3 setup to one of my daughters retrobikes and she managed to get some matching levers too, they are a really nice shape and better quality than pretty much any of the current Avid range (the older levers where much better).

I like the sound of your build, it's pretty much what I do. Are you sending your fork to Fork English? Tim really knows his stuff and is a good guy to do business with.

I'd have Avid Sd brakes over XT any day.

GT RTS2 sat in my shed with full first gen XTR and Rock Shox Judys and USE finishing kit. Just needs a bit of TLC to be off road worthy.

At the moment this is my only mtb, I love it though.

I had one from new but some s**** stole it! I found this one on here and it made me so happy to have again.

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Gave my 1993 Orange Clockwork to my dad a few years ago, but still love having a blast on it whenever I go to see my folks.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/8150967848_bba63b7e93.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/8150967848_bba63b7e93.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/j/8150967848/ ]IMAG0595[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/j/ ]J[/url], on Flickr

It still surprises me how sharp and direct its handling is and how low it feels too! Modern bikes with suspension forks feel like they're on stilts by comparison. Even though I used to ride it round the Peaks all the time I don't think I'd want to ride it everyday now though. Those rigid forks are too punishing on Yorkshire rocks for me these days 😉

this thread is my best ever. Never knew so many would have so much.

so yes modern bikes rock (except those worst of both world 27 thingy's)

BUT retro bikes rock hard!!!!

TBH, i'll probably upset some but the only thing I dislike about retros are cantis, but a v conversation is simple.

[b]keep the 25 ( +1 ) alive!!![/b]
take the 26 out into the sticks.
kill the 27 and send it to heaven.
not retro but the 29 is fine.
the 26 and the 29 can both be proud and stand in line.

these bikes featured and the insight shared is amazing...

This is our heritage... 26 inch .... I hope it doesn't die.....

( ok 27.whatever.. is fine as long as it doesn't replace 26 ).

([b]Well done Spesh[/b])

Retro bikes rock
this is our heritage..
nuff said.

last two posts were not my orignal intention but seem so related and fitting..imho.

anyway keep the retros coming though if you can...

Several in my collection. The Stumpy comes out for occasional dry weather trail riding; the Kona is my current daily commuter 🙂

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[i]I like the sound of your build, it's pretty much what I do. Are you sending your fork to Fork English? [/i]

I am, will be posting them tomorrow, new decals too. Agree that Tim is very good to deal with.

Very excited.

I still have and ride my 95 Kona Kilauea

It's been broken and repaired, repainted twice, build up in countless different ways and been to the US and France. It's got little value to anyone else so there would never be any point selling it and it's got so much in the way of memories that I'd be very sad to see it go.

At the moment, it's set up for child seat duties or commuting but it gets the odd foray to the proper mtb trails.

As it is now:
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As it's been over the years:
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Every one needs some retro action !!!

I have a 95 cindercone/ 1980 Ron cooper/2003(not quite retro tcr)

All ridden when I get chance 🙂

Just a tip - Waxoiling the frame is imho a good idea if the frame is steel and kills existing rust i think as well as preventing further spread.