1988 Orbit Frontier Refurb project

[sparkybhp]

Just collected this from a nice chap in Barnet. I just couldn’t resist the chance to give it a new lease of life, the Exage groupset is all complete and various other original bits too.
Needs a heap of love and care but should be a nice (501) steel ATB.
More pics and updates to follow..

 

[sparkybhp]

Had a bit of spare time today so stripped this down (after a quick ride to test it out). It all came apart fairly easily, the only sticking point so far was an incorrect gear cable end which was lodged in the shifter (some people - fit the right parts, c’mon!), this came out with a bit of wd40 and careful wiggling. All date stamps I’ve seen are MD - so April 1988.
I’ll clean and polish the frame and see how much ‘patina’ washes away and decide where to go from there. I’m tempted to keep the frame original if slightly scruffy but clean up the components and get it working well.
Side note: I had no idea that these 450 shifters were indexed on the front derailleur, that’s pretty trick for 1988 no?

 

[KermitGKona88]

Looking good, got to love an Orbit, I have 2 myself.... BTW don't look now but you seem to have some sort of infestation in your garden

 

[sparkybhp]

I’ve surprised myself with how well this frame is cleaning up. It had so much surface rust and numerous scuffs and scratches. A thorough clean and in intensive t cut and polish has brought this up a treat, still patinated but so much nicer.
Not sure if it’s far from mint or mint from far, but once the components are polished up and serviced it should look pretty sweet.

 

[retrobikeguy]

That's looking quite fresh young sir.

Nice

 

[mk one]

Good find. Its come up a treat too.

Looking forward to updates

 

[sparkybhp]

Cheers for the encouraging comments folks. Had a bit of time today so cracked on with this one, stripped and cleaned up the uni-glide cassette and then serviced both hubs and the free hub. Was keen to get it back on its wheels and try these Halo whitewall tyres on it, they were on my Cannondale - but I think they suit this better with the white paint on the frame..
Might upset the purists though? Next step will be to clean up the components and start rebuilding, will update as I go.

 

[sparkybhp]

Finished! The components got a strip and thorough clean before re-assembly, a quick polish of the crank arms got those looking much tidier. I fitted a sealed bearing bottom bracket (UN51) as the old caged bearing one needed persuading with a blow torch to come out. Went with some new white outer cables for the brakes and gears. Also fitted my Brooks B66s saddle with matching grips and lyotard pedals with brown cristophe toe straps.
One interesting thing was that the chain stays are so long and the gear ratios so broad that a new KMC 8 speed chain fresh out the box wasn’t long enough! Had to add a couple of extra links from my spares box! It is apparent from riding it how long the bike feels, coupled with the upright riding position it should make a nice back lane cruiser for the summer months.
...and it’s beautiful.

 

[dnbmatt28]

The sprung saddle really tops that off nicely