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My 1995 Amp Research B3
I thought it was about time I got a full thread up for this, as it’s one of my first two retro builds that I started. So here we go.
First up a bit of history around the bike and the build
During a ride in 1997 I had popped into Formby Cycles for the customary viewing of the Proshift Rear Mech in the glass cabinet, when Ben(benandemu) and I saw an aluminium full suspension frame hung on the wall. It was used and for sale with XT front mech, Syncros post and a Kona Titanium saddle fitted. We took the frame off the wall I think Ben first and he may have exclaimed “what the ….”. It was light yes. A while later that same day I was returning, having worked out my finances to buy the frame. I struck a deal with the shop and Part Xed my 1994 Kona Kilauea(regrettably).
Original Sales Receipt
My original build back then involved
Pace RC 36 forks, Syncros Stem, Pace Bars, Magura Jonny Ts(orange flouro), Gripshift srt 800, FSA headset, Syncros Post, Kona Titanium saddle(now on my 1993 Kilauea), Middleburn and Pace chainset(now on my Parkpre Pro 825), Hope Hubs(also on the Parkpre), and an M900 XTR rear mech.
I rode the bike for several months and even rode it into a Rover 200 and put the windscreen through. It was not long after this following a ride up at Grizedale with benandemu, we were loading the car when the back wheel dropped on the Amp as I lifted the bike off the ground. Further investigation showed that the bar in the centre of the shock had snapped in two.
I assumed that fixing an American frame/shock would cost a fortune, and the internet was not as established as it is now so research was hard. I bought an XLR8 Ritchey Prestige frame and fork from Leisure Lakes to keep me on the trails and threw all the parts onto that.
Several years later, and the internet discovery of the AMP Research Site. This led me to Brion Le Belle at Amp. Following a transaction in December 2005 and a charge of $34.50 my new replacement shock was on its way from Amp in the states. Further transactions and the purchase of some Amp forks set me on the path of a retro build. The blue Pace bars and the stars and strips decal on the seat tube set the theme of red and blue rolling.
Rear hub blue hope and Tioga Titanium cassette with blue spacers and lock ring
Clear grips show off the blue bars
Syncros Cattle Head stem from my original build costing over £80 BITD
Topline Cranks with Cooks, Middleburn, and Pace rings
Amp forks with new decals from Amp Research
Fully hand polished Magura Jonny Ts
Onza HO pedals with NOS bolt and plate kits fitted, plus new elasometer
Flite Saddle colour matched to overall scheme
Amp original brace looks simple but it does work
Mavic 517 rims with red and blue anno nipples
Note the seat tube decal which set of the theme against the chainset colours
Nos white Grip shift grips still to be fitted
Amp decals made up with stars and stripes inset by the graphic shop
Retro bike ridden at the “Crème Egg” ride last year
Spec:
Fork:Amp Research XC, 1"1/8 alu steerer Ahead
Headset:FSA
Stem:Syncros Cattle Head
Handlebar
ace RC sub 130 Renthal
Grips:Yetti clear with closed ends
Barends:None
Brakes:Magura Jonny Ts stripped and polished
Brake Pads:Magura
Brake Cables:Fluid tubing by Magura
Cantilever cable hangers: None
Brake Levers:Magura
Shifters:Grip Shift SRT 800 X-ray
Front Derailleur:XT M737
Rear Derailleur: XT M737
Derailleur Cables: Shimano
Cassette:Tioga full titanium
Chain:Sram PC60
Cranks: Topline (Suntour Micro Drive BCD)
Crank Bolts:SRP blue
Chainrings: Outer-Cook Bros, Middle-Middleburn, inner-Pace
Chainring bolts:Red aluminium
Bottom Bracket:Action Tech titanium
Pedals:Onza HOs Titanium axles
Hub Skewers:Red (upgrade later)
Rims:Mavic 517
Hubs:Hope Ti glide rear, and suspension front
Nipples:Red and Blue aluminium
SpokesT double butted
Tyresanaracer Magic
Tubes:Air-B Latex
Saddle:Selle Itallia Flite Kevlar
Seatpost:Syncros
Seatpost Binder:? came with frame in '97
I thought it was about time I got a full thread up for this, as it’s one of my first two retro builds that I started. So here we go.
First up a bit of history around the bike and the build
During a ride in 1997 I had popped into Formby Cycles for the customary viewing of the Proshift Rear Mech in the glass cabinet, when Ben(benandemu) and I saw an aluminium full suspension frame hung on the wall. It was used and for sale with XT front mech, Syncros post and a Kona Titanium saddle fitted. We took the frame off the wall I think Ben first and he may have exclaimed “what the ….”. It was light yes. A while later that same day I was returning, having worked out my finances to buy the frame. I struck a deal with the shop and Part Xed my 1994 Kona Kilauea(regrettably).
Original Sales Receipt
My original build back then involved
Pace RC 36 forks, Syncros Stem, Pace Bars, Magura Jonny Ts(orange flouro), Gripshift srt 800, FSA headset, Syncros Post, Kona Titanium saddle(now on my 1993 Kilauea), Middleburn and Pace chainset(now on my Parkpre Pro 825), Hope Hubs(also on the Parkpre), and an M900 XTR rear mech.
I rode the bike for several months and even rode it into a Rover 200 and put the windscreen through. It was not long after this following a ride up at Grizedale with benandemu, we were loading the car when the back wheel dropped on the Amp as I lifted the bike off the ground. Further investigation showed that the bar in the centre of the shock had snapped in two.
I assumed that fixing an American frame/shock would cost a fortune, and the internet was not as established as it is now so research was hard. I bought an XLR8 Ritchey Prestige frame and fork from Leisure Lakes to keep me on the trails and threw all the parts onto that.
Several years later, and the internet discovery of the AMP Research Site. This led me to Brion Le Belle at Amp. Following a transaction in December 2005 and a charge of $34.50 my new replacement shock was on its way from Amp in the states. Further transactions and the purchase of some Amp forks set me on the path of a retro build. The blue Pace bars and the stars and strips decal on the seat tube set the theme of red and blue rolling.
Rear hub blue hope and Tioga Titanium cassette with blue spacers and lock ring
Clear grips show off the blue bars
Syncros Cattle Head stem from my original build costing over £80 BITD
Topline Cranks with Cooks, Middleburn, and Pace rings
Amp forks with new decals from Amp Research
Fully hand polished Magura Jonny Ts
Onza HO pedals with NOS bolt and plate kits fitted, plus new elasometer
Flite Saddle colour matched to overall scheme
Amp original brace looks simple but it does work
Mavic 517 rims with red and blue anno nipples
Note the seat tube decal which set of the theme against the chainset colours
Nos white Grip shift grips still to be fitted
Amp decals made up with stars and stripes inset by the graphic shop
Retro bike ridden at the “Crème Egg” ride last year
Spec:
Fork:Amp Research XC, 1"1/8 alu steerer Ahead
Headset:FSA
Stem:Syncros Cattle Head
Handlebar
ace RC sub 130 Renthal Grips:Yetti clear with closed ends
Barends:None
Brakes:Magura Jonny Ts stripped and polished
Brake Pads:Magura
Brake Cables:Fluid tubing by Magura
Cantilever cable hangers: None
Brake Levers:Magura
Shifters:Grip Shift SRT 800 X-ray
Front Derailleur:XT M737
Rear Derailleur: XT M737
Derailleur Cables: Shimano
Cassette:Tioga full titanium
Chain:Sram PC60
Cranks: Topline (Suntour Micro Drive BCD)
Crank Bolts:SRP blue
Chainrings: Outer-Cook Bros, Middle-Middleburn, inner-Pace
Chainring bolts:Red aluminium
Bottom Bracket:Action Tech titanium
Pedals:Onza HOs Titanium axles
Hub Skewers:Red (upgrade later)
Rims:Mavic 517
Hubs:Hope Ti glide rear, and suspension front
Nipples:Red and Blue aluminium
Spokes
T double butted Tyres
anaracer Magic Tubes:Air-B Latex
Saddle:Selle Itallia Flite Kevlar
Seatpost:Syncros
Seatpost Binder:? came with frame in '97
