AMP identification help

[nporternz]

Hi,

can anyone tell me what model amp this is - has anyone ever seen an older blackspire chainset befroe?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Cycling ... 938920.htm

 

[jango]

I think that's an Amp B3.......I'm sure Mr Zero can confirm for definate.

Looks like it's got the Risse air shock too, could be a nice buy.

 

[Benandemu]

As the man says.
Not sure on the year though. They made lots of small changes to the frame over its life span.

 

[Mr. Zero]

Yeah, you guys nailed it as a B3. It's a 1995 or later year model considering the round down tube and uninterrupted cable routing.

Unless you're really liking this particular kit these bikes do pop up now and again and often sell for much less. For example, I've picked up the following off eBay over the last year:

AMP B3 complete bike (LX/XT with Judy): $160
AMP B3 frame with Risse in immaculate condition: $125
AMP B2 complete bike (LX/XT with AMP fork): $160
Alpine Designs Fat Cat frame (B3 design + AMP rear end): $80
Basso FS Titanium frame (B3 design + AMP rear end) with Risse (shock required $40 rebuild): $140

Admittedly, I did spend over $300 for a Mongoose Amplifier (AMP B2) recently, but that bike is in showroom condition and really ought to go into a museum somewhere.

 

[cherrybomb]

I always loved the AMP bikes. They just don't come up over here though and most that pop up in the States tend to not have shipping to the UK.

I mean $160 for a full AMP..........That's like....£90! :shock:

 

[Mr. Zero]

I think the price tends to stay low on the AMP bikes because they've gotten a bad rap on a couple fronts. One is that the frame isn't stiff laterally. Like most any frame this really depends on your weight and riding style. All the AMPs are super-lightweight XC FS bikes after all and if you're a light to average weight rider using the bike in an XC application there's really no reason you ought to experience any exceptional lateral flex in the frame. However, if you're freeriding one of these bikes it wouldn't surprise me a bit if you got it to flex, and this is the type of riding I've gathered many of the complaints from.

A second complaint that seems to persist is that the AMP rear shocks are prone to leaking. In all of my experience with AMP rear shocks I've never had one leak. If you read the service manual it states that "The shock shafts for both the frame and fork will have a slight amount of oil on them. This is normal with the movement of the piston in and out of the shock assembly." I honestly believe this goes overlooked and many rider believe their shock has a leak as a result. Having both Risse and AMP shocks on my AMP and AMP-derived bikes I'm coming around to preferring the AMP for it's lower required maintenance (not that adding air to the Risse occasionally is a big deal, but it's still one more thing to do).

Above the light weight and great XC suspension designs of the AMP bikes I really like the fact that AMP assembled all of their frame pivots and shock dampers with nuts, bolts, washers and o-rings that are all available for pennies at my local hardware store enabling to carry out overhauls as needed and on the cheap.

 

[B3]

Mine's a '95 B3 and has the oval down tube, this is probably a '96 at the oldest.

Yeah, AMP's had a reputation for being a bit fragile :roll: , but you need to ride them as they were intended to be used, as Mr Zero says they are lightweight XC bikes not full on down hillers, as most of the people who moaned about them used them as.

As i said, 13 years old, still going stong. And you can still get spares for them.

 

[Mr. Zero]

Mine's a '95 B3 and has the oval down tube, this is probably a '96 at the oldest.

Yeah, just realized this morning while looking at the MBA review of the 94 B3 that AMP was still using the dual down tube at that time. So the down tube went oval in 95 and must have gone round in 96 since I'm pretty sure they only used the oval down tube for one year.

Thanks, B3. I never thought to date my oval down tube B3 and now I know.

 

[mudking]

AMP B3

Hi everybody,
I'm looking for a kit of O rings and tetraseal for the endcap for my rearshock of my AMP B3, can you help me ?

 

[B3]

Contact Brion at AMP in the states, they still do all the seals & bushes for the bikes.

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