This example turned up just a few miles from me so I thought I'd take it on.
I wasn't sure of the spec or condition and since I only caught the auction in the dying minutes so it was too late to ask (or think about whether I should buy it or not). But from the auction pics I could see it had mostly XT, seized Manitou 2s and was mostly original, so I took a punt on it.
I could see it had a little corrosion with the worst, on the top tube, photographed in the ad:
When I collected it the seller said he'd 'had a go at getting it off'. Luckily he'd been gentle and it was slightly better than it looked before. The rest of the frame isn't too bad at all, just a light sprinkling of rust under the lacquer all over.
Cockpit is all in order. Was a Syncros stem factory when a suspension fork was specced? I've seen
others with this combination. I know the bar ends are factory but I think I'm going to have to lose them.
Good old XT. Everything but the chainset, annoyingly.
These were the factory rims, yes? Interestingly it has an American Classic hub laced to the front. The rear is an LX.
I will try to find a more suitable rear wheel I think.
Not keen on the brake booster, that'll have to go.
M737 SPDs. Not sure whether they're staying on this bike or not yet.
Manitous need investigating. I have to admit, the last suspension fork I had was a Rockshox Mag 20, and I swore after that suspension just wasn't for me. Rigid ever since. Now I'm torn between rebuilding these and seeing how I get on or sacking them off and putting a Rockstar fork on it instead.
All in all I'm pretty pleased. I am looking forward to getting it running and seeing how we get on. If I like the way it rides then it will be a keeper.
The plan is to get it looking pretty again so I will strip it down, take the laquer off and bring that nickel plating back up to standard, and then replace the decals. I'll make the rest up as I go along.
First things first, I wanted to know if under all that electrical tape it was the original titanium railed saddle.
Yes I do believe it is! It was going to be in pretty bad condition, I prepared myself for that. But as long as the foam isn't ruined and the saddle is structurally sound then it's salvageable.
The leather is in as-expected condition but the foam is perfect. So once re-covered this saddle can go back on.
Anyone know what seat post these Marins had? I may go aftermarket there anyway, we'll see.
I wasn't sure of the spec or condition and since I only caught the auction in the dying minutes so it was too late to ask (or think about whether I should buy it or not). But from the auction pics I could see it had mostly XT, seized Manitou 2s and was mostly original, so I took a punt on it.
I could see it had a little corrosion with the worst, on the top tube, photographed in the ad:
When I collected it the seller said he'd 'had a go at getting it off'. Luckily he'd been gentle and it was slightly better than it looked before. The rest of the frame isn't too bad at all, just a light sprinkling of rust under the lacquer all over.
Cockpit is all in order. Was a Syncros stem factory when a suspension fork was specced? I've seen
others with this combination. I know the bar ends are factory but I think I'm going to have to lose them.
Good old XT. Everything but the chainset, annoyingly.
These were the factory rims, yes? Interestingly it has an American Classic hub laced to the front. The rear is an LX.
I will try to find a more suitable rear wheel I think.
Not keen on the brake booster, that'll have to go.
M737 SPDs. Not sure whether they're staying on this bike or not yet.
Manitous need investigating. I have to admit, the last suspension fork I had was a Rockshox Mag 20, and I swore after that suspension just wasn't for me. Rigid ever since. Now I'm torn between rebuilding these and seeing how I get on or sacking them off and putting a Rockstar fork on it instead.
All in all I'm pretty pleased. I am looking forward to getting it running and seeing how we get on. If I like the way it rides then it will be a keeper.
The plan is to get it looking pretty again so I will strip it down, take the laquer off and bring that nickel plating back up to standard, and then replace the decals. I'll make the rest up as I go along.
First things first, I wanted to know if under all that electrical tape it was the original titanium railed saddle.
Yes I do believe it is! It was going to be in pretty bad condition, I prepared myself for that. But as long as the foam isn't ruined and the saddle is structurally sound then it's salvageable.
The leather is in as-expected condition but the foam is perfect. So once re-covered this saddle can go back on.
Anyone know what seat post these Marins had? I may go aftermarket there anyway, we'll see.