Modernising a classic retro bike

[TonyMerryfield]

I'm new here so excuse me if this is a subject that has been covered before, but how important is it to people that a bike remain original to its retro heritage? And more importantly, why?

For the most part, I am a believer that my bikes should evolve - I don't mean the trends & fads but actually improve based on what I ride.

So for instance, if I send a well loved 90's frame off to a framebuilder for a disc mount and to have the canti studs removed, will I be lynched if I post about it here?

 

[bwhsh8r]

It depends on what the bike was or is. If it's one of 10 you probably shouldn't go having a disc mount welded because of market value but it depends on what camp you fall into. I've kind of modernized my Moots, but I won't do it to my Steve Bauer road bike with the build that was on it when my dad raced it

 

[hamster]

I'm with you on hot-rodding an older bike if it means you ride it. However I'm not for doing anything irreversible like grinding off braze-ons etc.
However, most bikes are mass produced, seldom rare industrial products. The 'period correct' people sound all too much like the nasal bores at car shows who criticise the valve caps as being two years too young... :roll:

e.g. "far be it for me to criticise but I think you will find that Marin fitted a Ta Chen chain onto the 1993 Muirwoods and not a KMC...also the blob on the grease on the rear mech should be blue and not green..."

Ride your bike, have fun.

 

[TonyMerryfield]

e.g. "far be it for me to criticise but I think you will find that Marin fitted a Ta Chen chain onto the 1993 Muirwoods and not a KMC...also the blob on the grease on the rear mech should be blue and not green..."

Jeez. I've been to classic car meets, and I've met this type of person; I don't go to classic car meets anymore.

The sad thing is, there are people that apply that level fanaticism to every subject

 

[bwhsh8r]

The sad thing is, there are people that apply that level fanaticism to every subject

If you want to really have a laugh look at high end headphone people (HE__FI) lol fill in the blanks. I go sometimes to get laugh.

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

Holy moly, you wanna mess with the fabric of the universe? It will only upset the few who demand 'mint in box originality never to be ridden garage queen condition'.

It kind of depends on what bike it is and how 'iconic' it is. If it's something like Missy Giove's '93 Easton ARC Yeti, then it needs to be hung on a wall in a museum. If it's your one and only bike that you're never going to sell and you intend to ride it until you can no longer physically ride, then it's your bike to evolve and enjoy.

As the years advance and technology moves on, it gets harder to keep an older bike running – suitable parts become more obscure. I can see the argument for upgrading a well-loved bike to keep it running everyday. I have occasionally considered modding mine for the same reasons, though it might be a shame to lose the original features from the frame. If you do intend to sell your bike, the regulation retro pointy hats may disapprove if it's missing the original features and the subsequent value may be affected too.

With my old bike, I've upgraded from the old cantis to modern Avid V-brakes and will soon be acquiring new '26er' rim brake wheels. I intend to keep a good stock of replacements so that I can hopefully get another decade or more out of running the bike.

I think the biggest consideration is how cost effective and practical would it actually prove to be having the frame amended, then refinished, then refitted with new modern kit.

 

[enc]

Re:

I'm new here too, so far i get the impression most are not too precious about their bikes

have a look at the 'show us your dirty pics' thread

 

[KDM]

Re:

If your after a garage queen then do not deviate from the list spec

If however you have bits as most of us do, then an occasional bitsa isn't a problem, it's your bike after all. I tend to save the old difficult to find stuff for special builds and the bitsa builds I use generally easy to get stuff, preferably retro but if not, then something with a retro feel.

 

[legrandefromage]

I 'modernized' my '93 GT in 1998 by going 8spd speed instead of 7. Thats as far as I needed to go (it already had discs) and thats where it remained.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Do what the hell you like, it's your bike, if you want disc tabs then do it, if you want to chop off the canti studs then do it. Stick 2 fingers up to whatever anyone else may think, the important thing is that you're riding the bike.
"Garage Queens" may get internet praise, but the real kudos goes to those who actually ride their retro mtb's.