1989 Orange Clockwork.

[randomdan]

That's absolutely beautiful mate..

I had hazy recollection that my first clockwork in the early 90s run all suntour XC pro kit and I'm pretty sure it was factory buit with it - so I when I recenly rebuilt the 92 I put mavic 231s with Suntour XT rims on it as a homage, and for nostalgas sake. Personally I think the XC pro kit is/was pretty damn nice, and obviously was an option on the clockwork.

I've seen virtually no other clockworks since running suntour gear - then this turns up! Wonderful - I didn't just dream it then... What shifters is it running?

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Thanks for the comments mate. The current shifters are just some generic Shimano STI that I believe were fitted at the same time as the V's. They will be replaced but I'm not sure what with yet. I'd like to go full Suntour as I've always wanted a Suntour Orange (Same memories as you ) but as I'm undecided what to do with this it will probably just get some period Shimano I have in stock for now.

I'm pretty sure the frame is an 89 but thought the Micro Drive Suntour gear didn't arrive until 1991? The frame is defo not that new so I wonder if it was an older frame built up to sell on?

 

[randomdan]

Re:

Yeah, I see what you mean - my original clocky was either a 91 or 92, and (I brought it S/H in '93, during finals at uni from a stinking rich friend who was a mountain biking nut, he'd just got bored of it and had brough a stumpy)

I think the factory suntour clockys are mostly from the 91-92 period not 1989. That choice of parts though is definitely exactly what they'd use. Could they really have had the frame in stock for a whole 2-3 years?

But then, the other hazy recollection I have about orange at the time is they just didn't really do "mass production" as we know it. One bike of the same year seemed to pop up with decals in different places, paint fades were never even similar, and just when you thought you had a handle on what they did, another different variant on the theme would pop out. They were quite creative sometimes, almost like a custom shop.

So with that in mind, painting up and building up a 2-3 year onld frame somehow seems possible I guess.

 

[elPedro666]

Re:

I *think* MD was a '93 introduction. Usual hazy memory caveats apply...

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Cheers Pete.

I'll do some digging. That then leave the dilemma of whether to leave as is and how it's always been or fit the 1989 XT groupo I have to it. :?

 

[HarryCrumb]

Re:

Very nice indeed, good find

looking forward to seeing the final build

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

Amazing condition, great find.
My Prestige was bought new (by me) in early '92 (I know because I rode it to school to sit GCSE's in June) and is full xcComp MD, and I think the MD was new that year. Also on 231cd's.
Mine came with SS7's lever and 986 canti's rather than Suntour - so you could replace the v's with those - I have spare of both (actually maybe 987's, but similar enough) which I'd sell for a super price if they were going on this!
Mine's A bit more battered than this one!

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Thanks both.

My orange/white 92 has dia-comp cantis and levers so I had considered moving them across then going full XT on the 92.

Problem with that is that both the 89 and 92 are pretty much original and I like that in a bike so am loathed to change too much on either.

Saying that, the V's and shifters need to go from the 89 so it will be changing anyway....... Add to that the 92 had a few tweeks between the original owner and me........ And I'm sick of DX builds so XT would suit the 92....... And the 89 is still too small.......... Plus the Suntour kit is too modern for the 89 (but not the 92) :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

 

[dyna-ti]

Im paroozing a bike at the mo.
A cobble together with some nice bits(RC30's Xlite,XT) The wheels are xt paralax on FIR Orange rims.
If i go for it would you be interested int he wheels ? Just so you have the Orange bikes rims

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Cheers for the offer mate but paralax hubs are too modern for any of my bikes and I like to keep things as period as possible. M737 XT counts as modern to me!