1989 Orange Clockwork.

Hello all. Here I have another segment of Orange, recently won on ebay.

I'd had the bike on my watch list for a while as the description said it was in superb condition and the pictures looked good. Saying that, having been stung before with supposedly mint items and with the listing not having much info + a strong start price I didn't pay much attention.

It was then relisted at a more realistic price so I contacted the buyer for more pictures. These were provided and seemed to back up the fact it was in very good nick. My interested was also pricked by the lack of a model name, the lack of a tubing decal and the use of a Orange decal that I've only ever seen on early or prototype frames before. I decided it was worth a bid just to find out if it was something other than a standard Clockwork/Prestige. With that single bid I won so off up to Bishop Auckland I went!

To my surprise the bike turned out to be just about the best example of an original retro bike I've seen or owned. It really is box fresh with virtually no markes to the paint work, little wear to the rims (The coating has not even worn through on the rear!) and with a drivetrain that looks like it hasn't done more than a handful of miles. Even the stem and bar look freshly painted and these are usually the first to deteriorate. My orange/white fade 1992 is in great condition but this is another world.

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Anyway, I got talking to the seller and he told me he'd had the bike from new, bought from Donahue Bikes in Bishop Auckland along with a matching one for his son. It was originally full Suntour MX Comp but he damaged the rear mech so replaced it with the XT one. At the same time the brakes and shifters were 'upgraded' :facepalm: Forgot to ask him what happened to the saddle.

He told me that it had been used a bit bitd but he always cleaned and lubed after every ride and stored it in his bedroom! He'd had to stop riding due to injury so it had sat unused for years. Felt sorry for him as he didn't seem like he really wanted to sell.

I told him of my interest in retro Orange and about the mystery surrounding his bike that had led me to buy it. When I mentioned tubeset decals he said 'hang on', before going in the house and returning with a small bag containing a couple of NOS Tange Infinity decals that he'd never got round to putting on. Who keeps such things for 27 years, never mind remembering where they've stored them!! :shock:

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Comparing it to my 1992 shows how quickly geometry was changing back then. They really do ride like completely different bikes.

Anyway, I'm unsure what to do with it now I've got it as I'd forgotten just how low and narrow the 18" 89's were which means I won't be using it unfortunately. I'm not sure whether to move it on and let some one use it as intended, restore it to full Suntour groupset or replace the brakes and shifters then leave as is. Seems a shame to change anything but also a shame not to restore! Who knows but in the meantime I'll just enjoy looking at it.

Does anyone know what the pedals are and if they're retro or not?

Stunning find that, really like it, see what you mean, beautiful mint condition, plus love those decals, always like that design. I was lucky enough to get a black 1992 clockwork that was bearly used for very little... Love the suntour tho...makes it that little bit more unusual.. and tange decals to boot!

Dont think the vp pedals are particularly retro tho, would guess late 90's...

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Cheers mate, always good to hear from another Or.ange nut

If that's the case with the pedals I'll take them off and use them on my cross bike.

Had a quick look in the spares cupboard today and found some period Deore/Dx canti's, levers and rear mech so might do that along with some good looking but unrideable amber walls . Lovely bike this.

Holy smokes, what a find!

Cheshire1980":25z5a1dw said:

Dont think the vp pedals are particularly retro tho, would guess late 90's...

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Agree with that, although maybe mid-nineties as they look like an early set

Very nice, also good that the original owner looked after it so well!

What happened to his son's matching one?

Sweet ride.

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Thanks all. Didn't ask about the second bike but had wondered the same on the journey home. I'll have to get it sorted then post some better pictures as the ones above really don't do it justice.

Still too small to ride though. :facepalm: