Modernise a classic build

[chriscl]

Keeping it subtle also gives you the option to replace older parts with (slightly?) more modern reliable (perhaps) alternates?

For example, you could upgrade parts of the groupset to a higher-spec version, whilst retaining the overall look and feel of your Gary Fisher, and without "spoiling" the ride - which of course, comes mostly from the frame.

While as you say, restoring a bike to full original spec might be the "holy grail" for some, practically speaking it might be better to sweeten the build with some newer more reliable parts!

Just my thoughts, of course...

 

[LTS Biker]

depending (like said) how you pick the parts.
I have a 99 Trek 9900 and build it with Extralite, KCNC, XTR M970 parts, but wanted the parts not to disturb the original look:
The wheels are different btw, now silver.

and have my old LTS. Where the Trek is a modern racer with an old jacket, the GT is just a retro ride, combined with some, non-disturbing modern parts, to save some weight and have a little modern touch. Like a Judy SL, what is acually a SID world cup:

But... if you really want to have a retro bike, than is just screems for old parts.
I also have a GT RTS, and that one is fully time correct.

 

[Andy B]

Build the bike you want to/can afford to build!

There is no hard and fast rule about building a bike, if it looks right and rides right, job's a good 'un.

I have a near catalogue spec bike (KHS in sig) & 2 RetroMod bikes (Clockwork and Marin in sig)

Clockwork is a fair bit of kit I had lying around that needed a frame to go on!

KHS was a relatively easy and cheap(ish) near catalogue spec build, hence going for that option, plus there aren't that many about in catalogue spec

Marin was built because of a set of wheels I owned, the rest either came with the bike or was borrowed from my other bikes. I'm still in the fettling process of sorting out which parts will be the final build

It all depends what you want from a build as to which way you go with yours.

 

[hydorah]

I strongly prefer period. I wouldn't dictate that that is 'correct'. I also avoid refinishing but again that's just a preference on my part

I think some dudes take a lot of the fun out of a build by just unboxing and bolting on new stuff they've bought, rather then re-bushing a rear mech or rebuilding shifters

Alright... Rant mode = Engage:

And TBH if you do it right your old revamped kit will in many respects be BETTER than the modern kit, not just in a misty eyed/aesthetic way but in a common sense engineering/maintainability way - Yes it's true!

And weight-wise Any advances made in materials technology in modern bikes has been 'wasted' on the likes of disk brakes and full suss

There were sub 20lb high end bikes all up with gears in the 80's and the modern XC bike is just starting to get there again

Disk brakes are also annoying too because of all the different types/patterns/diameters/standards

PROPERLY setup and maintained cantis are excellent, and you're already carrying a rim, so why not use it for some other purpose too? Plenty of info on here how to set up cantis and how not to have your rims eaten in one winter...

And modern bikes with all their cogs... They STILL ain't got a cog smaller than 11 and the chainsets are cr@p (mostly too small) with rubbish axles and bearings (rubbish because they need precise parallelism not to eat themselves) And more gears means chains are getting thinner and thinner, so are chainwheels... rear wheels are getting stupid dishing cos of all the crap either side of the hub flanges...

Yeah so I haven't got it in for modern parts but for me they usually aren't a value proposition

Apart from lock on grips, I like them

 

[The Rookie]

Thanks for that, most the kit on this bike is FUBAR (the altus rear mech is rusted solid and most the metal half the original thickness for example), and I'll ignore the recent innovasion of cogs down to 9T at the rear, but do agree that a lot of the recent innovations have added a lot of weight which is why my own modern MTB is a hardtail and on a budget is just 25lb.

My initial build will be basically what I have in the box of spares (that way it gets built quicker) with some subtle more modern parts as I've said (why have steel bars when I can have ally for example, and finding those cheap from a modern bike is easy).

Simon