1985 Ridgeback XT

[Rampage]

Re:

It's now stripped, everything came apart like it was assembled yesterday. The stem has a steerer has a shim to take the 21.1mm bars and the seatpost is way undersized! It's not likely I'll find another seatpost like this so I'll probably cut the shaft off and make another one for it.

The original colour does seem to be on the steerer tube. It's the same very thin finish and looks like over spray, like what is on the frame.

The fork was made by Akisu in 1985 and is CR-MO, so the bike is at least mid-range according to catalog specs. I think this also means the main frame is fully CR-MO

It's looking like I'll get it powdercoated as close to original as I can. I've gone off pink now!

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Aww c'mon. Neon dayglo pink would be much more fun than silver/grey!

 

[xxnick1975]

Will be very nice in whatever colour, great resto here

Looks like most of the parts are salvageable

 

[Rampage]

Hmm, can't decide on colour., I'll have to go and see what colours the company has got.

Everything is surprisingly good except for the saddle and post. Oh and the bars of course, thanks for the new ones!
There is paint and general dirt on the parts, and everything needs a good polish.

 

[Rampage]

This build is aiming to make it look original, rather than every part looking perfect. So marks in the cast / forged parts will be left, it won't be polished smooth etc.

I started on the brake levers today, I didn't know if the blades would anodise well or not so I tested them otherwise they would be being powdercoated with the frame. The origional black anodising has faded to gold.

They were polished just to brighten them rather than remove marks, came out pretty much as planned.

The lever bodies were painted so I'm not going to bother trying to anodise them, they will be powdercoated.

 

[DrJo]

signing in for this, 85 was a good year for ridgebacks

 

[Rampage]

Did some more work on the brake levers today.
The front brake clamp bolts were pretty stuck, one came out with an extractor. The other had to have the head drilled out then chiseled off, then the stud was put in a vice and the lever body turned with an adjustable spanner. Took about 20 minutes.

I've media blasted the soda blasted the lever bodies, they are not perfect, the powdercoating company will be doing it anyway I just wanted to see what it came out like. The bodies are cast aluminium.

Levers are marked 'POLYGON MADE IN TAIWAN'

 

[DrJo]

new grips are going to be costly, Oakley 3's are rare as....

 

[Rampage]

I don't think they are Oakley are they? They don't say they are. I think the grips will be ok, just need a good clean! One of the ends is pushed through but I'm not too bothered.

 

[jaypee]

Re:

Great find! There's a very similar one often locked up at my local station, I'll take a photo next time I see it. It's grey like in the catalogue page.

Wonder where they got the name XT? Doesn't look like there's any XT on it! Was it even out then?

Cromo bull moose bar/stem must be worth salvaging? Could the powdercoaters shot blast it? Even if you just sold it you'd probably cover the cost easily. Or is just too far gone?