1997 S Works M2

[Locked.Cog]

Purchased this frame recently pretty excited about it. Can’t lie I love the features of newer hardware- that’s me saying sorry to the purists. I do have taste though and while it will not be period correct I think this year and style of bike blends perfectly with the era that was to come and where we are now. And let’s be honest building a bike you won’t ever use is not very fun..

Plan was to go rigid fork but any suspension correcting fork or variable AC fork like the surly/stridsland/Kona P2/Carver is well exceeding into mid range shock territory. So the plan switched to throwing on this busted 2004 Mazzochi EXR Supra I had saved from an old project. Little higher Axle to crown then what was on the bike but nothing drastic, I think I calculated 20ac difference.

This was my first rebuild of a fork and it was rough. No manuals and trying to piece together basically any information was difficult. They made these medium range forks in all sorts of variations from air to double coil with air preload, I got super lucky with the air, oil and coil variant… I finally got it done (mostly because I want it on this bike).

Next was tackling some chipping paint on the bottom welds by the cable guide on the BB shell. And installing one. Unfortunately it was about this time I decided to document things a little better.

Next up is securing a crown race for this headset, I have a feeling I can get something to work. Raceface doesn’t really do proprietary things so here’s to me hoping.

 

[Locked.Cog]

No luck with the race, ended up purchasing and installing a crane creek forty headset. For a bike with almost no wear these cups were pretty beat. No clue why a bike from 1997 has had now 3 headsets but here we are. Cleaned up the marring from the previous installs before the mock up.

Picked up a NOS Eastern XC one front wheel (not pictured) going disc front and v rear

 

[vtwinvince]

Cool project, and my favourite colour. My wife has a 'hopper in this colour.

 

[Locked.Cog]

Cool project, and my favourite colour. My wife has a 'hopper in this colour.

Thanks Vince, I was skeptical on the color at first but everyone seems to like it, bold color for a bold bike I guess

I come with a little update. Eastern One XC wheel is on, mt200 hydro lined up ready for a rotor. Standard “wheelshop” WTB DX18 rim/Formula HG hub, paired with a newer deore clutch rd. Found some red resin FSA spacers on ebay, unsure of age but they screem 90’s to me. Also spent a bit of time on this older hallowtech crank to remove logos and markings and keep it running in my stable for another season(ocd).

Axle to crown seems a little high at 460 but I wont be able to set fork till I can ride the bike, I think I can get it a little lower with less air, still learning unfortunately but I think it’ll work regardless.

Also have a period correct Deore crankset, and the opportunity to purchase the NOS sworks crankset but I’m just not a fan of square taper, I’ve ridden fixed my whole life and can really feel the mush compared to hallowtech/dub so this is the route I’m shooting for right now- just don’t shoot me for it

Alright all that is left is getting this external dropper routed, and everything housed up. That should give me enough time to decided on a cockpit. Starting to look like something you could actually ride.

Thanks for viewing so far, appreciate all likes!

 

[Nothin-fancy]

That's a sweet bike. I love the color. Definitely pops!

About the 3 headsets, have you thought about having the headtube faced and aligned? Maybe it's just a smidge misaligned and causing problems that the suspension is magnifying?

 

[Locked.Cog]

That's a sweet bike. I love the color. Definitely pops!

About the 3 headsets, have you thought about having the headtube faced and aligned? Maybe it's just a smidge misaligned and causing problems that the suspension is magnifying?

Hey good question, but I’m not sure! I dont think the head tube is misaligned, crane creek 40 headset uses a rubber seal placed on top of the crown race that fits into the lower cup on preload, as well as one for the fork steeer ontop. I feel like I would get some mad binding/dragging on the headset if this was the case, specially as that lower seal goes right up inside and against the bearing.

This fork has more travel, a higher AC, and more rake at the CSU then the one that came on it, so by nature its going to feel stretched out.

But if anyone has information on this I would love to know, I’m still thinking these bikes had a steeper headtube on the smaller varients, because I can find a bunch like the catalog but many built up share the same characteristc, might have to find out by just sending it

 

[Nothin-fancy]

You're probably right. I would think it would bind too. Oh, well

I was just wondering because if you have a outboard bottom bracket and your BB shell isn't aligned you'll burn through bearings. That was my thinking.

 

[Locked.Cog]

Appreciate the discussion regardless, my first ever bike I’ve built up from just a frame so a lot of these things are new to me. I’ll be honest with you I’ve heard of facing a BB shell but never a headtube so that was a cool rabbit hole to go down I’m still not convinced its fine, (a lot of material is moved around in there) and will keep and eye on it. Maybe a reaming is in order in its future.

 

[Nothin-fancy]

Stoked you're jumping into the deep end and just going for it! There's plenty of people here that can help if you get stuck. So feel free to ask.