Marin Bear Valley

[Uncle Monty]

Evening all.

Long time no see.

Decades ago, I gave away my first MTB to a mates father, who used it for work, getting to the allotment, and general hack. It spent the last few years buried in his shed. All things pass, & today it was returned to me.
It is pretty much as it was. My 90s upgrades are still there - Shimano headset, XT rear mech, bar ends, XT hubs.
Can't remember If I fitted the Vee brakes or not.
The wheels have been rebuilt with a later set of Mavic 317 rims after it left me. A Girvin flex stem, 728 sti units, which are fairly horrible, along with Deore Vs. Specialised saddle.
Rather than it going down the tip, I am going to rescue it. I have a few bits and bobs. A set of BRM 734 XT cantilevers, a pair of BL-M733 levers in black.
So the question is: What shifters could I use? I very vaguely remember this being the original Rapidfire when it was new. Stem - that Girvin I think has to go. So I need a black Marin stem with a roller? I think its a 1" threaded fork. What other bits can you spot? I have straddle wires etc. I must have a Flite somewhere.
The rust and chips in the shitty Zolatone paint are staying, as are the worn ODI grips etc. I wont replace the decals, as they fell off within the first couple of years. Can I still get those grey jockey wheels for the rear mech? There is virtually nothing left of them. 7 speed casettes?

Cheers - Chris.

 

[vtwinvince]

Nice one, looks like about a '91? I have an '87 waiting in line for a resto.

 

[brocklanders023]

Ace getting your old bike back. I enquired about mine that my brother in law bought bitd only to be told it had gone in a skip the week before!
As for yours, post a wanted ad on here and you will probably get what you want cheap enough, especially the Shimano kit. The original 400lx shifters should also be easy to source as would be the almost identical LX version. Other option is obviously Deore or XT thumbies. Keep an eye out for a full bike to pinch parts off as snotty BV’s don’t tend to sell for much and could easily provide the bits you need.

 

[Uncle Monty]

91 sounds about right. Shame your old bike got binned. When things fell off or wore out, I replaced with XT if I had the money - which was not often. Will give the bike a clean & see what it needs. As you say, they are not expensive bikes. Are there many functioning Rapidfire XT brake & shifters out there, or have they all packed up? I'm not intending on doing any proper off road riding on it. Just want it to all work nicely.

 

[enigma]

Hi there,
Kool to remember things, and have history with a bike, I will be doing my first build thread if I can figure out how as i rebuild my dads old bear valley for gentle bike packing.
I can remember twenty plus years ago changing the brakes for stx rc with changeable pads, I can remember getting him the vp pedals, its amazing what you recall as you take it all apart.
not the most lively bikes but really good quality solid bikes back then, and worth more in use than the pennies required to own one.
Mine is staying pretty well box stock, as its still on original tyre's even..
I have a saddle bag, and riding jumper, and water bottle from when I had mine 25 years ago nearly as I am a hoarder so I think it will make a good build.
I purchased two more at a very good rate locally with small frames, as spares bikes, so as someone else said you don't need much in the way of spares before a lucky find of a complete bike is a good option...
Locally there was a dealer in my town so many people with the money bought them and didn't use them much which helps..! My dads was second hand and I can remember test riding it for him, and servicing it etc.. I bought it off him no he definately no longer rides, but I think he's quite pleased ive got it.
Enjoy the build there is stuff out there, but for me of late almost always the answer is buy spares on here, people are great.

 

[hamster]

Looks like a 91, as said (darker Zolatone). Personally I'd fit thumbshifters as they are simple and last forever. 7s cassettes are still available, the SRAM ones are nicer than Shimano which are now generally black painted with garish logos.