1991 GT Zaskar from storage
- Thread starter TT_Zaskar91
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TT_Zaskar91
Dirt Disciple
cheers !
Undecided on keeping it rigid or not at the moment. The bike is no museum piece given it has a total mix of suntour, XT and LX parts. I bought the bike IIRC for around £600.00 complete in '91 from Ribble Cycles, Preston, as I really wanted the Zaskar frame, but couldn't stretch to the full XT version that was for sale at the time (I was 16 and had saved like made to get £600.00 !!). Over the next 2 or 3 years I changed out some of the (really) crappy suntour stuff as and when I could, added some PACE Crank wheels, had the rims stolen so bought some 2nd hand Specialzed rims, painted a few bits gold (??), bought the fashionable Flight seat and ONZAS and pretty much rode it to death fuelled by adolecent testosterone.......... then when to UNI and got somewhat distracted ha ha.
My sons are of an age where they want to got for bike rides now, hence me dusting it off and bringing it out of retirement !
Undecided on keeping it rigid or not at the moment. The bike is no museum piece given it has a total mix of suntour, XT and LX parts. I bought the bike IIRC for around £600.00 complete in '91 from Ribble Cycles, Preston, as I really wanted the Zaskar frame, but couldn't stretch to the full XT version that was for sale at the time (I was 16 and had saved like made to get £600.00 !!). Over the next 2 or 3 years I changed out some of the (really) crappy suntour stuff as and when I could, added some PACE Crank wheels, had the rims stolen so bought some 2nd hand Specialzed rims, painted a few bits gold (??), bought the fashionable Flight seat and ONZAS and pretty much rode it to death fuelled by adolecent testosterone.......... then when to UNI and got somewhat distracted ha ha.
My sons are of an age where they want to got for bike rides now, hence me dusting it off and bringing it out of retirement !
rigid vs suspension is a tricky one. going with suspension will give you a bit more comfort, flexibility with where you can go & update the looks a touch but rigid keeps it pure, keeps the memory's & perhaps more importantly, keeps the handling as it should be.
the flip flop stem should stay regardless of what you do as it matches up really nicely, as do the onza bar ends.
if it were me, and i had a few quid spare I would look at giving it a good clean & t-cut to bring the paint back a tad, find an xt wheelset & swap out all the non-xt bits for the proper vintage xt equivalent. there is fairly good demand for suntour bits as they aren't as common as shimano so selling shouldn't be an issue. the wheelset will sell easily enough as will any lx parts provided they are in reasonable condition.
budget is key with a retro build (as i found out to my cost a few times!) if you pick your budget for the project, you will really need to triple it because as you sort out the bike bit by bit, the parts you thought were ok suddenly look out of place & need switching out too! I would imagine you could get this to full xt spec & looking stunning for less than the cost of an entry level raleigh providing you sold the bits you didn't need (easily done on here or on ebay) & you would have a lighter, better performing, desireable, good looking, nice riding bike that people will be jealous of!
the flip flop stem should stay regardless of what you do as it matches up really nicely, as do the onza bar ends.
if it were me, and i had a few quid spare I would look at giving it a good clean & t-cut to bring the paint back a tad, find an xt wheelset & swap out all the non-xt bits for the proper vintage xt equivalent. there is fairly good demand for suntour bits as they aren't as common as shimano so selling shouldn't be an issue. the wheelset will sell easily enough as will any lx parts provided they are in reasonable condition.
budget is key with a retro build (as i found out to my cost a few times!) if you pick your budget for the project, you will really need to triple it because as you sort out the bike bit by bit, the parts you thought were ok suddenly look out of place & need switching out too! I would imagine you could get this to full xt spec & looking stunning for less than the cost of an entry level raleigh providing you sold the bits you didn't need (easily done on here or on ebay) & you would have a lighter, better performing, desireable, good looking, nice riding bike that people will be jealous of!
I'm going to shove a different spanner in the spokes here. You have great bike, with huge potential, I think you should turn it into the bike you want.
I've attached a photo of my 94 Zaskar LE; with the exception of the Marzocchi XC700's, which replaced a pair of (British) Shocktech forks, and a change from 7 speed to 8 speed gripshift and cassette, it is the bike I built in 94.
My choice at the time was for a light, stiff alum frame. I could not afford Pace or Orange, which were the two most common home grown options, so I went for the Zaskar, and as much UK built hardware as possible, so you'll see Hope, Middleburn, and X-Lite in evidence. It remains the bike I wanted and the only future change would be a pair of Pace RC35's.
The way I see it, it's your bike and you make it exactly the way you want.
Keep us posted mind, as it's a great project.
My 94 Zaskar LE
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I've attached a photo of my 94 Zaskar LE; with the exception of the Marzocchi XC700's, which replaced a pair of (British) Shocktech forks, and a change from 7 speed to 8 speed gripshift and cassette, it is the bike I built in 94.
My choice at the time was for a light, stiff alum frame. I could not afford Pace or Orange, which were the two most common home grown options, so I went for the Zaskar, and as much UK built hardware as possible, so you'll see Hope, Middleburn, and X-Lite in evidence. It remains the bike I wanted and the only future change would be a pair of Pace RC35's.
The way I see it, it's your bike and you make it exactly the way you want.
Keep us posted mind, as it's a great project.
My 94 Zaskar LE
very similar
Hi Tony,
Your situation is so similar to me I am 38 - and one of the kids is just getting to ride bikes. I found the website late last year and had no idea of the following of such olds bikes. I had a Muddy Fox courier comp new back in 1988 from Halesowen cycles, over the riding years a lot of components got changed up until I went to Uni - only the hubs from my courier comp remain - but now on mavic M6's - they still go round well!. I have moved houses so many times and just garaged the bike until last year. I have a lot of XTR M900 stuff which we basically swappped with friends back then. I had no idea of the value of the stuff. The website is a bit addictive.
Hi Tony,
Your situation is so similar to me I am 38 - and one of the kids is just getting to ride bikes. I found the website late last year and had no idea of the following of such olds bikes. I had a Muddy Fox courier comp new back in 1988 from Halesowen cycles, over the riding years a lot of components got changed up until I went to Uni - only the hubs from my courier comp remain - but now on mavic M6's - they still go round well!. I have moved houses so many times and just garaged the bike until last year. I have a lot of XTR M900 stuff which we basically swappped with friends back then. I had no idea of the value of the stuff. The website is a bit addictive.
TT_Zaskar91
Dirt Disciple
all good ideas fellas, cheers.
definitely will get the, ahem, gold bits painted back to black again. Don't think my pics did the frame justice but it is the polished aluminium version, which after Duraglit polishes up to a mirror finish
No T-Cutting required.
Will look around for some XT bits though, it's what I always wanted back then and fortunately these days I can probably afford them better than I could 20 years ago.
Looking forward to getting my teeth into the project, though finding the time will be the only problem for me now..... difficult to spend an entire afternoon polishing and cleaning with a toothbrush like I used too :roll:
more pics to follow when I actually have something to show off. At the moment it's just a dusty, oxidised dull alu frame with flat persihed tyres !
Nice Zaskar LE pic btw
definitely will get the, ahem, gold bits painted back to black again. Don't think my pics did the frame justice but it is the polished aluminium version, which after Duraglit polishes up to a mirror finish
No T-Cutting required. Will look around for some XT bits though, it's what I always wanted back then and fortunately these days I can probably afford them better than I could 20 years ago.
Looking forward to getting my teeth into the project, though finding the time will be the only problem for me now..... difficult to spend an entire afternoon polishing and cleaning with a toothbrush like I used too :roll:
more pics to follow when I actually have something to show off. At the moment it's just a dusty, oxidised dull alu frame with flat persihed tyres !
Nice Zaskar LE pic btw
TT_Zaskar91
Dirt Disciple
been quite busy in the restoration of the 'ol Zaskar lately. Stripped everything off the frame except the sealed BB, used Nitromoss on any part that had paint, stripping back to bare metal. Cleaned all mechs with toothbrush etc and am at a point now where I'm just waiting for a few XT parts from fleabay, and a elastomers for the M1s to start rebuilding.
Quite like how the Flip Flop stem turned out after wire brushing, and think I'll just lacquer that to seal it from moisture and keep it silver !
I also never liked the powder coating on the Lx Crank, so that will get a proper polish to at least make it look like the old XT version.... which to be fair it is in every dimension otherwise but couldn't afford back in the day.
Found XT front mech, XT V brake and brand new boxed 1994 XT HS to complete the groupset. New bars, grips, seat post clamp and seat to follow.
It's gonna be one 'silver' bike
Quite like how the Flip Flop stem turned out after wire brushing, and think I'll just lacquer that to seal it from moisture and keep it silver !
I also never liked the powder coating on the Lx Crank, so that will get a proper polish to at least make it look like the old XT version.... which to be fair it is in every dimension otherwise but couldn't afford back in the day.
Found XT front mech, XT V brake and brand new boxed 1994 XT HS to complete the groupset. New bars, grips, seat post clamp and seat to follow.
It's gonna be one 'silver' bike
TT_Zaskar91
Dirt Disciple
Cheers that would be great. Can't remember if the bike ever had them, but will take your word for it ! I'll pm my address and send some beer money for postage if you like.
Not sure about the slick tyres at the mo, look like inner tubes on rims don't you think? :shock:
Not sure about the slick tyres at the mo, look like inner tubes on rims don't you think? :shock:
