1986? Dirt Shark

[blilrat]

I was going to wait until I was finished with the build to post this guy, but since it's just rims I'm waiting on, there's no reason to wait.

I'm not 100% sure it's an '86, but I was told it's an '86 by the seller so that's where I went with the build. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking it's more likely an '87/'88.

As purchased:

Some cleanup and trying to put a shine back into the paint:

 

[legrandefromage]

niiiice

 

[blilrat]

--- The Build ---

Frame: Land Shark Dirt Shark "Cotton Candy Camo" - Tange Prestige MTB

Fork: Tange

Headset: Shimano 600ex
Handlebar/Stem: Custom bars/stem by John Slawta?
Grips: Grab On

Brakes: Shimano Deerhead front/Suntour rollercam rear
Brake Levers: Suntour XC 9000

Shifters: Shimano Deerhead
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deerhead
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Deerhead
Cassette: Suntour New Winner 5 speed
Cranks: Shimano 600
Chainrings: Bio-pace
Pedals: Suntour XCII

Rims: Araya 7x
Hubs: Shimano Deerhead - nutted

Saddle: Selle Italia Turbo
Seatpost: Campy

The rear brake studs are too close together so the brake had been hacked/filed to fit the tire. I'm probably going to have to live with it since I can't find a brake that works without any modifications.

 

[blilrat]

Sorry if I went overboard with pictures.

Some cool things about the frame:
short chainstays - 16 3/8"
bottle cage bolts were installed before paint so each bolt has a specific spot on the frame
very trick internal brake cable noodle installed in the stem

Finished up. I would like to find some RM20 rims because I prefer double wall rims, but it won't change the look.

 

[Tc]

Beautiful BOTM In my opinion!

 

[dalecooper]

Re:

Nice bike! Lovely paintjob even the name is cool, Land Shark!

 

[DrJo]

sweet ride dude, props on your find that's one rare beauty...
stunning...

 

[Retro_Roy]

Re:

i like this alot.
too bad about the u-brake.
but it works.

 

[al-onestare]

I don't usually like the earlier slacker frames but that is really, really good. Defo BOTM contender.

 

[blilrat]

Re:

Thanks for all the kind words. This frame looks to have had a rough life - the ugly brake, the paint on the bars is almost gone under the cockpit components, it probably had a stuck seatpost at some point in it's life (there were paper towels stuffed in the seat tube that smelled like penetrating oil) and loads of scrapes and chipped paint. Amazing it's made it to now with all the original painted parts. It felt good to give it some love and get it back on the trails.