....so here comes another one out of the woodwork!

Picked this up at the weekend after seeing it advertised on retrobike.

I don't need it. But I want it - need to feed the zolatone addiction.....!

Luckily the zolatone is still hanging on to this frame - there's a dent on one of the rear stays but overall very little scuffs and rust damage and no flaking paint. A few new decals should sort this one out nicely - I'm the 3rd owner and it looks like it's been looked after well. Some of the components have been swapped out at some point in it's life but overall it's in great shape....

Frame: 1991 Marin Bear Valley

Fork: Spinner Full Cro-Mo Oversize with cast end

Headset: 1 1/8" Ritchey Logic
Stem: Marin Oversized - 15° rise
Handlebar: Marin Bulge - Alloy
Grips: None as yet
Barends: None

Brakes: Shimano XT BR-M730 (front) Shimano Deore LK (Rear)
Brake Pads: XT cartridge
Brake Cables: Clarks
Cantilever cable hangers:
Brake Levers: Shimano ST-M050

Shifters: Shimano ST-M050
Front Derailleur: Shimano FD-M400
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Exage 500LX
Derailleur Cables: Unkown
Cassette: Unknown
Chain: Unknown
Cranks: Shimano Exage 400LX
Crank Bolts:
Chainrings: Shimano Biopace
Chainring bolts:
Bottom Bracket: Unknown
Pedals: Unknown

Hub Skewers:
Rims: Front - Alesa, Rear - Outland Enduro 100 (!?)
Hubs: Unknown
Nipples:
Spokes:
Tyres: Marin Rockstar
Tubes: Continental

Saddle: Flite Titanium
Seatpost: Std Marin Lite
Seatpost Binder: Shimano DX

Weight:

Some close ups...

Looks nice, I'm developing a bit of a hankering for a steel marin.

Oh yes liking that.. check out my sig for the 'alternative' colour version of the exact same bike.

Seems like there are quite a few cropping up for sale at the moment! Go for it, you know you want to!

Lovely looking bike......any ideas why are there 2 different colour schemes available on the same model year of bike?

Different colours for different markets I think. IIRC the neon version was not available in the UK.

My Wife's 1993 Marin, love the simple understated grey paint. Don't tell her, but I do take this out for a quick ride every now and then and, although I am used to my Kona Explosif, must admit that these early steel Marins ride beautifully! Can't understand why they are so cheap.

My brother still has a completely original 1993 Bear Valley SE lying in his garage.

I'm fighting it at present but I suspect it's a losing battle.

well my brother is open to offers on his if anyone is interested, frame size is 17.5" i think? He's owned it since new. It needs a new chain/cassette and probably a new BB, as the original items are quite worn, but otherwise it's ready to roll.

cheers

Greig.

@Shaun - is that definitely a 93 Bear Valley? It looks looks like a different colour scheme to the one I had as a teenager....

@GMC - if that bike was a 20" frame I'd buy it off your bro' in a shot.....it's the SE version of the one I had as a teenager - I rode miles on that bike and it never let me down, loved it to bits!

Had these decals laser-cut by a friend this morning....I laid out the artworks for my Pine Mountain ages ago so all that was needed was to create an artwork for the Bear Valley text....I emailed him last night with the updated file and he dropped these round this afternoon.

Not sure how well these will stick - they're laser cut from exterior grade vinyl so should do the job *fingers crossed* As they were done as a favour they certainly cant be sniffed at!

Bit of progress on the BV.....swapped onto slicks for the road, fitted a new seat & marin bottle cage and fitted my m734 XT brakes (to replace the crap std cantis). Ridden it to work for a week and it feels a lot better to ride now.

Taking me a while to get used to "push-push" gears - might be on the look out for some "push - pull" sti's after payday, ideally some M095's (got these on the Pine Mountain and love 'em....)

When I get a free day I'm gonna strip the bike down and give everything a good clean, prior to fitting the new decals - it's in such good condition overall that I think that will probably be enough to getting it looking top notch again.....

Got the camera & light painting kit out a couple of nights ago, thought a moody low-key shot would suit the dark grey/black frame a treat........


bear valley by sherlylock, on Flickr

Had a free afternoon a few weekends ago so in the spring sunshine I took to the garden with my bike toolbox and the Bear Valley and completely stripped it down to give it a good cleaning.

Was pleasantly surprised with the state of the frame and the Zolatone paint. There is no chain suck damage, no damage to the chainstays from chain impact, minor rusting where the Zolatone has chipped. The only area of damage (which I was fully aware of when I bought it) is a dent/paint removal on one of the seat stays.

The only thing letting it down was the damage to the decals so I decided to strip the old Marin and Bear Valley decals off and replace with my new laser-cut versions. I've currently only done the worst side (hence the non-drive side photo). Since the photos were taken I've resprayed the handlebars gloss black and tarted up the shifters as they were quite faded. I'm keen to keep some degree of originality to the bike as it's in such good nick.......just an upgrade to the crappy brakes (not sure whether 400lx brakes are much cop but these were rubbish) and some slicks for the time being.