Fatal Swan
Senior Retro Guru
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I picked up this bike a few weeks back - a 1994 Raleigh DynaTech Diablo (STX model) which has appeared on a couple of other threads. Nice UGLI fork, Ti main tubes and Ti bar. I bought it locally for not much money, the plan is/was to use it as a backup to keep up north when I'm visiting family, to save me taking my bike up each time when I may or may not get the chance to use it. But once I bought it I found it was mostly in great condition and it deserves to be donated a few upgrades. I can't wait to get back to it to get working on it and ride it!
It's currently quite close to its original spec - shifters and brake levers have been replaced with nasty cheap modern Shimano 7-speed things. The plan is to get it a little lighter and set up for light off-road/towpath/road use, but without spending very much at all on it. There will be a smattering of anodised purple and I'll try and keep the rest of the parts silver. At the moment the following upgrades are ready and waiting to be fitted when I get back to it in a couple of weeks:
Anyway, I'm going to be fitting all the new parts on it over the Easter weekend when visiting the family again so there'll be more updates with pictures soon. Strangely excited by this little project as I haven't had a retro one for a while and the DynaTech is from the same year as I bought my first mountain bike.
It's currently quite close to its original spec - shifters and brake levers have been replaced with nasty cheap modern Shimano 7-speed things. The plan is to get it a little lighter and set up for light off-road/towpath/road use, but without spending very much at all on it. There will be a smattering of anodised purple and I'll try and keep the rest of the parts silver. At the moment the following upgrades are ready and waiting to be fitted when I get back to it in a couple of weeks:
- Hope silver Hubs (Lightweight front, XC rear) on Mavic X517s: had these spare in the garage. Will replace the STX/Bontrager wheels fitted (these will be up for sale and are in great condition, incidentally)
Kenda Short Tracker Folding 1.95 tyres. to replace the Conit tyres. Really like the Short Trackers and they're light too at a fraction over 400g each. Cost me £20, nearly new.
XT M739 V-brakes. To replace the STX cantis. Cost me £20
XT M739 brake levers: Cost me £13
STX/Alivio MC40 7-speed shifters: Cost me £12
Exustar PM25 SPDs: 276g/pr - had these spare in the garage
WTB Rocket saddle: the saddle I get along with best. Cost me £12
A load of purple bits: currently have bar end caps, bottle cage bolts, brake boss bolts, bolts to fill the mudguard holes, shifter clamp bolts, mech cable clamp bolts, headset spacer, allen bolt skewers. Cost about £30 (a bit of an indulgence, admittedly...)
Ritchey WCS foam grips: had these spare in the garage. Best grips ever, nice and comfy and light.
Anyway, I'm going to be fitting all the new parts on it over the Easter weekend when visiting the family again so there'll be more updates with pictures soon. Strangely excited by this little project as I haven't had a retro one for a while and the DynaTech is from the same year as I bought my first mountain bike.