Do you upgrade your Retro Bikes?
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sq_root_of_2
Retro Guru
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I personally try to go 100% factory even down to the correct date codes, :roll: ....but if there were options/upgrades that were available at the time, I see no problem with restoring a bike with those bits.
Much like seeing an antique/classic car with some rare period upgrades or unusual factory options. It makes it a bit cooler.
Much like seeing an antique/classic car with some rare period upgrades or unusual factory options. It makes it a bit cooler.
GoldenEraMTB
Old School Grand Master
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sq_root_of_2":8p3e6agz said:
Nothing irrational about that
Upgrade: Yes!
Update: Hell no!
FST4RD
Senior Retro Guru
I think it's down to what you as the owner of the bike want...
I know I might get flamed for this... but my ex team Yeti bike that I have is in for some changes. I still have the MBUK where I first layed eye's on one and I intend to change all the pars to make it the same as the one in the mag... Will keep the team bits and pieces though.
At the end of the day it's you that has to ride it, appreciate it etc so make your own mind up (unless your one of the people that has to try and please everyone else).
I know I might get flamed for this... but my ex team Yeti bike that I have is in for some changes. I still have the MBUK where I first layed eye's on one and I intend to change all the pars to make it the same as the one in the mag... Will keep the team bits and pieces though.
At the end of the day it's you that has to ride it, appreciate it etc so make your own mind up (unless your one of the people that has to try and please everyone else).
Period upgrades are great - like others have said nobody kept their bikes stock back in the day.
With road bikes it's a bit different - there are some fantastic builds using '70s or '80s frames with modern components, but then mountain bikes don't go as far back in time as road bikes do and 1990 Deore XT feels as good to use now as it did then, as far as I'm concerned.
With road bikes it's a bit different - there are some fantastic builds using '70s or '80s frames with modern components, but then mountain bikes don't go as far back in time as road bikes do and 1990 Deore XT feels as good to use now as it did then, as far as I'm concerned.
Depends on the bike. I have a few that are very close ton factory spec and I aim to have them full factory when the parts turn up. I gave a long term khs Montana team build which I aim to be totally factory too.
Where bikes are upgraded I like to keep them period correct for sure. I understand why people do it but I really don't like to see modern parts I'm old bikes.
Where bikes are upgraded I like to keep them period correct for sure. I understand why people do it but I really don't like to see modern parts I'm old bikes.
My first bike was a Raleigh Chopper when I was.. 7 or 8. Within a matter of days it had been painted DPM by my mate's Dad who was ex RAF. Then it got the front wheel changed to something slightly slightly bigger. Strika probably..All my own work. Changed some other bits along the way too.
Loved that bike with a passion and miss it dearly. Dad sold it when we moved home and in the confusion of the move I didnt notice it gone..
A mile and a half I could wheelie that for, from Langar down the road towards Cropwell Bishop. Jumps? 11 kids over an improvised ramp on the School green. landed it, didnt hit anyone but mega creamed into the school wall. BMX? Pffft. Skyway?! Haro? Hahaha bring it on, my Raleigh kicked ass all over the place. Jumps, racing, wheelies and straightline speed.. Right chick magnet too....
Next came a racer (brand new) that was bought most probably out of guilt for the fact they'd got rid of the world's best bike. Liked it after I got used to it.. altered it eventually to cowhorns when I perfected the art of rear wheel steering.. racer bars are no good for proper thrashing a bike when youre chasing after BMXes round village streets..
After I killed that.. I got my first BMX. Killed it after a short while (weeks) and picked up a racer 26" rear wheel and a frame, some random brake bits, utilised my cowhorns from the dead racer, fitted a 20" front wheel and forks and did my paper round on that.. wore the tyres out so re treaded them with glue, innertubes and black tape. got rid of the brakes and utilised the foot on back tyre method of stopping. Coppers saw my pic in the local newspaper and had a chat. put the brake back on the rear under protest. That bike lasted 3 years and hundreds of miles on my paper round til i killed that too. Patched up tyres lasted almost a year.
Then I joind the army.. women beer and cars figured higher than bikes but now I have kids of my own we're living the dreams out again.
Do I run 'straight from crate' retro bikes? Well yes. out of my sig list I have 3 that are straight. The twenty is straight. I almost upgraded it with BMX parts and higher spec Sturmey Archer gears but it looks too cool as old school.
The absolutely lovely Alpine BSO racer is straight too. nowt taken owt, changed or added. it's got style in a 'I'll outlast the lot of you and kick your ass while I do it..' way. Not one nut or bolt will be altered from standard.
Thirdly is the Holdsworth White Moss. I love the colour of the frame and it's fine how it is. it may've been upgraded but with no spec sheet to compare against and with the company having no info, Im assuming its pretty straight. I did change the grips and altered the fork internals..
The Mercian isn't straight. It's been modded but well before I got it. Different forks maybe and only one or two original bits. It's awaiting rescuing by someone who can do it justice I think..
Everything else is 'modded by moffy'. I ride it as I ride it, if something breaks and I have something to fit in it's place, then it will go on. Bikes are for riding, wearing out, rebuilding and enjoying. Ride it like you stole it.
Apart.... from Raleigh Grifters.
They are the spawn of the devil and must die. heavy, ugly, midland metal.
My mate cried like a girl when he got one for Xmas when we were kids. Proper bawled his eyes out. His dad n my dad tried to get me to swap my old chopper for this brand new Grifter. I have never forgiven them for even asking the question. He was crying for a reason you stupid adults.. Grifters are S***! End of! We both tried to kill it. Didnt happen. He's probably still trying to kill it (and probably still crying) now, 30 years later..
What was the original question? Ah Yes. Two sugars and milk please.
and yes I do upgrade, sidegrade and downgrade retrobikes!
Loved that bike with a passion and miss it dearly. Dad sold it when we moved home and in the confusion of the move I didnt notice it gone..
A mile and a half I could wheelie that for, from Langar down the road towards Cropwell Bishop. Jumps? 11 kids over an improvised ramp on the School green. landed it, didnt hit anyone but mega creamed into the school wall. BMX? Pffft. Skyway?! Haro? Hahaha bring it on, my Raleigh kicked ass all over the place. Jumps, racing, wheelies and straightline speed.. Right chick magnet too....
Next came a racer (brand new) that was bought most probably out of guilt for the fact they'd got rid of the world's best bike. Liked it after I got used to it.. altered it eventually to cowhorns when I perfected the art of rear wheel steering.. racer bars are no good for proper thrashing a bike when youre chasing after BMXes round village streets..
After I killed that.. I got my first BMX. Killed it after a short while (weeks) and picked up a racer 26" rear wheel and a frame, some random brake bits, utilised my cowhorns from the dead racer, fitted a 20" front wheel and forks and did my paper round on that.. wore the tyres out so re treaded them with glue, innertubes and black tape. got rid of the brakes and utilised the foot on back tyre method of stopping. Coppers saw my pic in the local newspaper and had a chat. put the brake back on the rear under protest. That bike lasted 3 years and hundreds of miles on my paper round til i killed that too. Patched up tyres lasted almost a year.
Then I joind the army.. women beer and cars figured higher than bikes but now I have kids of my own we're living the dreams out again.
Do I run 'straight from crate' retro bikes? Well yes. out of my sig list I have 3 that are straight. The twenty is straight. I almost upgraded it with BMX parts and higher spec Sturmey Archer gears but it looks too cool as old school.
The absolutely lovely Alpine BSO racer is straight too. nowt taken owt, changed or added. it's got style in a 'I'll outlast the lot of you and kick your ass while I do it..' way. Not one nut or bolt will be altered from standard.
Thirdly is the Holdsworth White Moss. I love the colour of the frame and it's fine how it is. it may've been upgraded but with no spec sheet to compare against and with the company having no info, Im assuming its pretty straight. I did change the grips and altered the fork internals..
The Mercian isn't straight. It's been modded but well before I got it. Different forks maybe and only one or two original bits. It's awaiting rescuing by someone who can do it justice I think..
Everything else is 'modded by moffy'. I ride it as I ride it, if something breaks and I have something to fit in it's place, then it will go on. Bikes are for riding, wearing out, rebuilding and enjoying. Ride it like you stole it.
Apart.... from Raleigh Grifters.
They are the spawn of the devil and must die. heavy, ugly, midland metal.
My mate cried like a girl when he got one for Xmas when we were kids. Proper bawled his eyes out. His dad n my dad tried to get me to swap my old chopper for this brand new Grifter. I have never forgiven them for even asking the question. He was crying for a reason you stupid adults.. Grifters are S***! End of! We both tried to kill it. Didnt happen. He's probably still trying to kill it (and probably still crying) now, 30 years later..
What was the original question? Ah Yes. Two sugars and milk please.
and yes I do upgrade, sidegrade and downgrade retrobikes!
rudymexico
Old School Hero
Thanks all for your comments, it has been a good read.
As for myself...I do not have much to upgrade yet, I was wondering what to do with my Explosif, if it should go back to canti's or stay with V's for starters...
As for myself...I do not have much to upgrade yet, I was wondering what to do with my Explosif, if it should go back to canti's or stay with V's for starters...
Depends on the bike.
1993 Yo Eddy--- sold as a frame set but has all sorts of blingy period-specific parts
1991 Yo Eddy--- I have a host of original and period-appropirate parts ready for a rebuild....but haven't decided on a repaint or not....
1991 Wicked-- built with XT 730 series, which is standard, but has some key upgrades (period) with the seat post, etc
1991 Monster-- mix of newer and period parts....some even 10-20 years newer. I pulled the bone stock XC LTD group to rebuild it with stuff I liked more.
1998 Phoenix-- pretty much period and original, save the grips and tires.
......and road/cross:
Steelman-- period specific + slightly OLDer stuff, except tires
2009 IF-- all modern
1982 Venus-- mix of period and some slightly newer stuff....
1981 Chris Chance---as period as I could (the saddle, bar tape, and tires are slightly newer and/or modern).....but dang, the componentry took about a year to piece together.
.....I am stoked to have limited the field to 9 bikes. I may still need to cull a bit, this apartment isn't getting any bigger.
1993 Yo Eddy--- sold as a frame set but has all sorts of blingy period-specific parts
1991 Yo Eddy--- I have a host of original and period-appropirate parts ready for a rebuild....but haven't decided on a repaint or not....
1991 Wicked-- built with XT 730 series, which is standard, but has some key upgrades (period) with the seat post, etc
1991 Monster-- mix of newer and period parts....some even 10-20 years newer. I pulled the bone stock XC LTD group to rebuild it with stuff I liked more.
1998 Phoenix-- pretty much period and original, save the grips and tires.
......and road/cross:
Steelman-- period specific + slightly OLDer stuff, except tires
2009 IF-- all modern
1982 Venus-- mix of period and some slightly newer stuff....
1981 Chris Chance---as period as I could (the saddle, bar tape, and tires are slightly newer and/or modern).....but dang, the componentry took about a year to piece together.
.....I am stoked to have limited the field to 9 bikes. I may still need to cull a bit, this apartment isn't getting any bigger.
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