Orange P7 1995

[ishay]

Re:

Little bit overcast so the reflections could be sharper but managed to get outside for a photo yesterday. Also started prepping the Manitou forks that donated from the Proflex last week. Ordered various non-OEM components to try to fashion my own spring/elastomer options for a lot less than £50, I'll report back if I manage anything interesting

 

[ishay]

Re:

Well I've been experimenting with various industrial die springs off the internet and I think I've found a combination that works. Going to try one more set before I try to ride on a pair. The damping feels good even though there isn't really any. These die springs don't really seem to bounce so there's no pogoing from hand testing them.

The more I've worked on them the more i've realised how near mint these Manitous (that came with the proflex) are...

Needed acetone to melt the old blue elastomers that had turned to mush though. Vapourised them in seconds and made a tough job easy. The small red elastomers didn't, but were whole enough to fall out.

 

[ishay]

Haven't gone full send on cutting the steerer tube (and might not for a while) but the Manitous are on and work nicely with these springs. No pogoing from the test ride. Managed to use the only old elastomer that survived as a rebound elastomer on the top of the stack (cut it in half to make two of perfect height). Rebuilt working Manitous for £3.26...

 

[ishay]

Re:

Hopefully higher resolution...

 

[fattiman]

Looks fantastic!

 

[2manyoranges]

Re:

absolutely bloody fantastic.....from rust bucket to eye popper. Beautiful. One of the most refined MTBs ever and in a wonderful form. Brilliant job.

 

[emjay]

A lovely example of a P7 both with rigid and sus forks,

 

[ishay]

Really appreciate the positive feedback guys. I’m REALLY pleased and really quite shocked with how well it turned out. I thought this was always going to look like a rat build even with a lot more work than a rat build, but no.

I may still yet paint or replace the stem because the ex-rust pitting on that slightly lets down the cockpit as I look down at it whilst actually riding.

 

[ishay]

Well after all that time sorting the DX pedals (see page 7) I had the opportunity to get a vgc pair of 535 spds for a tenner, couldn’t resist putting them on this...

 

[ishay]

After a couple more changes (3rd set of peddles, now 1994 GT flats and a Kalloy post) this has now entered my rotation.

The stem is so long it feels more like my road bikes than a mountain bike. Given it’s used for gravel bike like rides with my daughter, that’s probably ok.

Onza Porcupines are terrible in the current conditions though...