First post and advice sought ..

[JN23]

Greetings from a newbie.

I'm looking at buying a decent old steel MTB for my wife, to be used as a comfortable expedition/touring bike, with rear rack and guards to be added. The cost of the new equivalent bike these days is getting silly, not to mention poor availability, so it's got to be used.

Have got my eyes on two nice examples - one is a 1996 lugged "Reynolds Cr-Mo" 21 speed Claud Butler Oracle with Acera-X and the other is a 1988 Tange double butted 18 speed Saracen Limited Edition with Exage.

Pros and cons of each. I think the Saracen has the better frame (not sure what the "Reynolds Cr-Mo" is but no mention of 501/531 on the frame?). The Saracen has a rear u-brake which I no nothing about! The CB has Campag rims on Shimano hubs, and has a 7spd cassette rather than a 6spd screw-on etc..

My gut tells me to go for the better frame but I like them both so I though I'd ask the experts

Many thanks

 

[Tootyred]

I'm looking at buying a decent old steel MTB for my wife,

Sounds like a fair swap! Only kidding. Welcome.

I would probably avoid the ubrake, they can be fiddly to set up and need "monitoring" to keep them working well.

I would probably look at something a little newer than 80s....standards are more compatible with what the average bike shop might have if you go mid 90s.

A marin 7 speed bear valley from 92/93 is a cracking bike. 7 speed, good quality tange frame and a sensible hardworking groupset.

i say marin as like kona, they have bigger head tubes, which gets your head up more, which is what you want for touring. Possibly also look at a size up...

There was even a 94 pine mountain...higher up the range .....for sale recently...very reasonable price imho.

Just keep an eye on the forum and don't get sucked into those ridiculous ebay prices....

For Sale - Marin Pine Mountain 1994

1994 Marin Pine Mountain for sale. Recently purchased however just a little too compact for me. Seat tube is 17" center to top. Frame has a few scuffs and scrapes from over the years which can be seen in the photos but apart from that it's in a good overall condition for its age. I have...

www.retrobike.co.uk

 

[Imlach]

Tootyred summed it up perfectly
Definitely go for mid to late 90's steel if you want something that has standards that's still easy to source parts for. And go v brake for her and your comfort!

U brakes and cantilever is for BDSM enthusiasts

 

[Imlach]

Early 2000's steel hybrids/trekking bikes could also be a great idea.

 

[JN23]

Sounds like a fair swap! Only kidding. Welcome.

I would probably avoid the ubrake, they can be fiddly to set up and need "monitoring" to keep them working well.

I would probably look at something a little newer than 80s....standards are more compatible with what the average bike shop might have if you go mid 90s.

A marin 7 speed bear valley from 92/93 is a cracking bike. 7 speed, good quality tange frame and a sensible hardworking groupset.

i say marin as like kona, they have bigger head tubes, which gets your head up more, which is what you want for touring. Possibly also look at a size up...

There was even a 94 pine mountain...higher up the range .....for sale recently...very reasonable price imho.

Just keep an eye on the forum and don't get sucked into those ridiculous ebay prices....

For Sale - Marin Pine Mountain 1994

1994 Marin Pine Mountain for sale. Recently purchased however just a little too compact for me. Seat tube is 17" center to top. Frame has a few scuffs and scrapes from over the years which can be seen in the photos but apart from that it's in a good overall condition for its age. I have...

www.retrobike.co.uk

Fair swap indeed!

Thanks for the advice, really useful. Have always liked the look of older Marin MTB's, lovely designs

 

[JN23]

Early 2000's steel hybrids/trekking bikes could also be a great idea.

Yes, spotted a Marin Larkspur Tange hybrid which looks nice enough

 

[JN23]

Four days searching and this is ADDICTIVE

Went to see a Claud Butler and a Saracen and then decided that I wanted a 90's Marin with a Tange frameset. I found a few good examples but my wife does not want a dark coloured bike, and definitely not one with fluorescent forks and bars. She also prefers an upright position and Marins do seem to be on the long side. I’m also in a hurry as we're off touring at the end of May and I need to allow time for restoration if required.

So, I've gone for a Raleigh Apex21 with Reynolds main tubes which I pick up at the end of next week. Exotic it is not but it's been looked after and is still with the original owner. It is ‘pearl ruby’ and the right frame size so meets my wife’s requirements. It is steel with double butted chromoly frame tubes and a chromoly fork, has a sealed cartridge BB, decent enough components (Exage), a Shimano cassette (not screw-on freewheel), a seat post which moves and is inexpensive, so meets all of mine.

I'd like to keep it original but if the components and wheels turn out to be cr*p, I have a donor bike at the ready.

Looking forward to getting oily in the coming weeks

 

[JN23]

Bought a 750ml can of this stuff today so getting prepared....

 

[Markybeau]

Four days searching and this is ADDICTIVE

Went to see a Claud Butler and a Saracen and then decided that I wanted a 90's Marin with a Tange frameset. I found a few good examples but my wife does not want a dark coloured bike, and definitely not one with fluorescent forks and bars. She also prefers an upright position and Marins do seem to be on the long side. I’m also in a hurry as we're off touring at the end of May and I need to allow time for restoration if required.

So, I've gone for a Raleigh Apex21 with Reynolds main tubes which I pick up at the end of next week. Exotic it is not but it's been looked after and is still with the original owner. It is ‘pearl ruby’ and the right frame size so meets my wife’s requirements. It is steel with double butted chromoly frame tubes and a chromoly fork, has a sealed cartridge BB, decent enough components (Exage), a Shimano cassette (not screw-on freewheel), a seat post which moves and is inexpensive, so meets all of mine.

I'd like to keep it original but if the components and wheels turn out to be cr*p, I have a donor bike at the ready.

Looking forward to getting oily in the coming weeks

You won't go far wrong with this. Frame is bulletproof. Safe bet if, as you say, has been looked after.

 

[retrobikeguy]

+1 for a marin bear valley, built one up for a buddy for less than £50 and we cycled from York to Edinburgh with it and held its own against my thorn nomad.