Wookiee's 1997 Mount Vision...

So it was an ebay bargain...but not without its issues...basically I have been toying with a retro full suss for a while after slightly falling out of love with my 2008 Rift Zone due to its weight and complexity of maintainence! So I saw this unloved Marin...so being a Marin lover I thought I would save the old girl! It had been left in a combination outside and dog kennels!! So it had its fair share of cobwebs and dog hair and general crud. The chain had been lubed generously with rust, which had migrated onto both mechs too. The V brakes are M739 XT as are the STI gear/brake levers which seem to still work as they should...the rear mech may be able to be saved but the front is very rusty.

The wheels are not right...Deore hubs with Sun Mammoth rims and more downhill rather than XC which is what I am after... It still has the original seat and post but the bars are Club roost risers and the stem an Ameoba jobby. The forks are the original Manitou's but whilst they move seem to need a serious overhaul! As or the rear shock its also the original but a big boingy for me. The cassette is a write off as is the crankset and pedals...Amazingly the original un71 BB is beautifully smooth and the headset seems ok too!!

So what needs doing...

- New wheelset XT/XTR hubs with some black/grey rims.
- Possibly new XT/XTR front rear mechs.
- New XT/XTR crankset.
- Forks maybe something else or a serious service ditto for rear shock.
- Marin stem/bars.
- New cassette, chain, cables and grips.

So it needs a fair bit of work, but I guess I was looking for another challenge! Any help on this ol girl appreciated...are the forks work saving or should I go for something else?? I am used to air shocks both front and rear what would suit??

Thanks in advance!

Doug

And the frame and forks after strip down and a bit of a wash!! The frame should polish up good with a bit of elbow grease!

Prone to cracking, so check swingarm especially. More so as this has been built up for ,ore fun then xc.

Mechs looks saveable just soak them in coke or vinegar for a easy and disassemble.

Lovely bikes, should build up nice and light too.

The x certs (if that is other manitous you have) are really quite good. Bombers are better but much heavier.

coomber":11e7mcvh said:

Prone to cracking, so check swingarm especially. More so as this has been built up for ,ore fun then xc.

Mechs looks saveable just soak them in coke or vinegar for a easy and disassemble.

Lovely bikes, should build up nice and light too.

The x certs (if that is other manitous you have) are really quite good. Bombers are better but much heavier.

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Yeah swingarm looks fine I had a '97 quake with the same swingarm and I bent it before it cracked! ...front mech is really toast but the rear may be ok.

The forks are Manitou FS Bulge...toying with changing them but not sure what for!

Have a look for a Fox Alps 5R shock. That's what was on my Mount Vision Pro. I loved it. Great bargain there.

Logic.Al":k352mc6u said:

Have a look for a Fox Alps 5R shock. That's what was on my Mount Vision Pro. I loved it. Great bargain there.

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I assume thats and air shock?

It is for the rear.

This was mine

Ahhh ok thanks for that...was thinking of a fox as thats what I have on my modern Marin...

Exactly the same model I had - and similar condition.. !
Mine broke the swingarm though :facepalm:

I dumped the forks as they were almost solid & not worth fixing - there's a lot of good forks out there at the mo tho, on the Sale forum & ebay. Plenty of Bombers / Sunn XC forks etc.

I cleaned up the mech on mine & it functioned perfectly, shifters & 1 set of V's were salvageable too - yours looks similar so should tidy up well!