Modernising a classic retro bike

[SEANSTEPHENS]

Re: 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.

+1

Most people here stay retro because they have some degree of nostalgia attached, but modern parts are far superior easier to find and often cheaper. If you fit 100mm sus forks on some older bikes then if throws the geometry outta whack and tuins the ride, but a lot of newer parts suit the style of an older bike, they just need to be chosen carefully

if you build an early 90s mountainbike with period parts, then it wont ride very well on modern trails but looks good on a garage wall. It just depends on the intended purpose

 

[TonyMerryfield]

Do what the hell you like, it's your bike

Oh, don't worry - I will. I just don't want to give people heart attacks while I do it. The NHS is stretched as it is

...if it's something like Missy Giove's '93 Easton ARC Yeti...

I wish

I won't be defacing any heritage bikes. Like any good full restoration I'll be starting with fairly tatty bikes - and because it's not my intention to sell them I'll be doing them how I think they should be.

The question was sorta hypothetical - I know people do it, just wondered what the general feeling towards it?

 

[TonyMerryfield]

I 'modernized' my '93 GT in 1998 by going 8spd speed instead of 7

I like a bit of restraint - I have a modern Cannondale from about 2005, only thing I have changed is the brakes; came with Magura Louise (?) that were just awful.

If only I had the same restraint in other parts of my life

 

[surealneil]

Re:

There's always going to be those that want a as produced on such a such date with exact colour match for that production run and will only settle for original everything. Spending years hunting down an exact original part paint colour to match frame number exact original decals. Measuring to with in a thousandth of an inch for the perfect placement of everything & probably wont ever be happy unless they have the original production personnel put it together for them. Well good luck to them.

I personally will go for what ever I feel like on a rebuild see what works see what don't. My motto is to rebuild how ever one likes.

Also having a eclectic parts collection is a good idea.

The lyrics from Frank Sinatra's – My Way, Basically sum it up for me.

So happy retro building.

 

[Takingabreak]

I'm really not sure I should have painted a 98 reynolds 853 Kona Explosif bright Orange.

Orange is obviously faster than blue but now the frame is worthless, original it would have had some value, even in it's very tatty state.

 

[TonyMerryfield]

Orange is obviously faster than blue but now the frame is worthless, original it would have had some value, even in it's very tatty state.

Oh, if that is the case then I'm about to create a slow & worthless bike for the other half :roll:

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

From the early days of mountain biking, many were in a continual process of "modernising" their bikes as newer/better/tricker/shinier kit came along, long before this retro thing. The only way of recreating a 'mint in box period catalogue correct' classic is to find a wormhole back to the start of mountain biking time, go there and comeback with all the goodies.

My old bike is possibly an old "classic retro" or whatever, but since '92, it has evolved and been upgraded and kept running with new components as parts wore out. The old stuff is kept in a crate for posterior. I'm still running the old deore II thumbies and XT headset but everything else on it now is modern but chosen to create a classic timeless look. It will never be 'mint in box period catalogue correct' because I simply want to enjoy riding it everyday as originally intended.

So, the best thing to do is create a bike that you will enjoy putting together and, most importantly, enjoy riding. Don't worry about the pointy hats.

Oh, and an orange Orange is definitely faster...

 

[Takingabreak]

 

[legrandefromage]

Anodised blue is faster. Fact.

I bought my bike in 93 and immediately dumped the too narrow bars/ too long stem and set about it with as much Venhill Racing bolts as I could find. Within two years it had acquired Hope Ti-glide hubs, disc front and Judy DH over the knackered Mag21. By 1998 only the frame, front mech and BB were original.

Sooooo, as others have said, do what you like...


...But:

There are some unwritten rools

Cutting off a rear cant cable guide is a crime punishable by replacement of ALL the bikes you own with one slightly worn out Raleigh Activator

Theres nothing worse than an unused cable guide - punishable by replacement of ALL the bikes you own with one slightly worn out Raleigh Activator

Too tall spenshun forks on a non spenshun corrected frame - punishable by replacement of ALL the bikes you own with one slightly worn out Raleigh Activator

Riser bars and bar ends - punishable by replacement of ALL the bikes you own with one slightly worn out Raleigh Activator

And so-on

 

[Silvergoat]

Re:

re: LGF's points #2 and #4 – I'll be swapping for that "slightly worn out Raleigh Activator" then... :facepalm: mmm, nice.