Serotta ATX Build Help/Questions/Rant

[elllguapo]

Hi All - I have finaly just picked up the attached frame (sellers photo - not mine) and I have to say I am pretty psyched to start riding an MTB again and expect that I will enjoy this frame. The frame is in amazing condition, just some chainslap and lots of tape marks on it which I will remove with WD40... Couldnt be happier. Guy I bought it from didnt know anything about it - got it free when he bought another bike - so didnt build it up just wanted to get rid of it.

I have been spending the last couple of years getting into road bikes (and riding them mind you) -and have therefore a better idea of build and components for road use. So the main reason I am posting here - is to get some input from people that know more about the market, what looks right and mistakes or successes you have made in your own builds.

As I have spent what is for me a decent deal of money on aquiring 3 road bikes + components to build an additional when the right frame comes along (tommasini please) - I want to make this build right enough and cheap enough, with as few screwups as possible. And I will be riding this - it will not be a showpiece, allthough I do take care of my bikes.

Soooo - in the little time that I have been here I am expecting that I will get the suggestions for full XTR900-950 build XTR Hubs/Mavic Wheels etc etc. I would love to go that way - but not sure if my budget will stretch. Lets say my budget to get this one the path with all components except a seat... say 400-500 squid...can i do it? To make things worse I live in sweden, so postage adds to my cost as I have not had much luck in sourcing local components yet. But I do have the opportunity to purchase in the US (my experience cheaper and cheaper shipping) as I will be heading there for vacation in about a month.

Timeline - I want to try to gather all components by the beginning of August - and build it up then.

Am I crazy to think that using XT shifters of perhaps incorrect period, mixed with XTR950 front and rear deraillers and XT Brakes - or otherwise mix - perhaps full XT Group - and spending as much money as I can on the wheels? Forks? From a Serotta Catalogue from the period -they say its geometry is for a RockShow Mag 21 or Manitou 3. I am seriously looking for suggestions on EVERYTHING - colour, material, think of this as your own cheap build if that gets you all excited.

This build should be about making me happy and out on the trails riding - and potentially upgrading components next year or the year after as I get in deeper ... but please - I need some affirmation or a kick in the teeth!

If you have read this long ... I would really appreciate any input I can get. In the meantime, I will continue to search the forum for more build ideas (I have already done this - like the nice build by Bas Defiant and received some info from him alread).

Cheers!
D

 

[Tazio]

I'd recommend buying all the parts on here if you can. If you are patient and wait for the right things to come up you could make it for under £500 easily. Makes it a more interesting project as well.

You could with get your front and rear XT or XTR for £50+ pounds, V brakes around the same. Crankset £100. Maybe compromise on XT for levers and shifters. Good wheels at a cheap price are harder to find but people might not be willing to post such a big thing to Sweden.

Lovely frame, very pretty.

 

[bduc61]

welcome to a serotta "aficionado"

not that many around here

need to finish mine which is a bit later model

defiant has raised the bar high for an ATX - see his.

deserve XTR and as said, with patience you can get it within your budget
managed to limit budget on wheels through building these. Had to learn and a bit wary at the beginning but actually not that complicated

as the frame is quite colourful, would go for silver parts. makes the frame stand out (black would be less classy)
nice crankset can sometimes be bought cheaper if quite scratched or anodizing damaged and desanodizing and hard work with polishing can rejuvenate it ( race face turbine, or middleburn )

 

[Defiant]

Hi Dan

thats a great find
did you get the seatclamp with the frame?

I would personally go for the M900 group, maybe combined with Xt thumbshifters.
Brake wise you need to use canti's because you are missing a cable stop at the back, i have had mine put on by Serotta.
On the seatclamp there is a little router for the cable line.

I think Black would look cool also with the red.

Bas

 

[elllguapo]

Thanks for the comments and reassurances.

Defiant : No - didnt get the seatpost clamp, he didnt get one with the bike - so I have to find a replacement for now.

What cantis do you think should I use at the back? All of the ones I have been looking at are Vs - or how could I sort out a hanger?

Any other thoughts on the fork? I expect that I will mostly be riding on pretty non-rough trails - but really have no idea as I dont know what is in this area. All of the serotta catalogues I have seen have the bikes built with susp. forks. I also have not been able to date the bike specifically against the catalogue and the colours available each year (the sticker colour is throwing me off...).

What wheels would not look out of place and be the lightest option I should shoot for. I am planning that my biggest weight savings and benefit will be there. I assume they might not be 100% period correct - but something that wont look out of place.

Cheers,
Dan

p.s. I have not told my wife I bought a new bike - so it has to hang out in the basement until the right moment...

 

[Defiant]

could you make a picture from the back, so we can see the seatpost?
my original seatpost clamp was integrated in the seatpost tube before the replacement
Now i have a external serotta clamp, in combination with V's (i have had serotta put another cable stop on the toptube.

you will need to find a clamp with a cable router attached, like the one i have on th Serotta TiMax.

ragarding the fork.
I ride mine rigid with a Switchblade fork, which is rather nice.
Before that i Used a Pace RC35 and Rock Shox Judy SL ti in yellow, which looked nice icw the original Yellow decals on the frame.
Do you ant to go for rigid or suspension?

 

[elllguapo]

Hi Bas! I will take a photo as soon as I get the bike up out of the basement this sunday I hope.

And I agree on getting a hanger for the seatpost clamp and will also need for the stem as I have XTR cantis front and back now.

Thinking now that I will go with a suspension - have a friend with a rock shox sid that I can buy from him. Waiting to see a photo and measurements to know if I will go with that fork.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Defiant]

Hi Dan,

what size headset do you have in the ATX?
Mine has a 1" and it you have the same size, that would limit the number of ahead shox you can use.

Cable hanger in the front you could solve with a Syncros Doggy Hanger

B

 

[elllguapo]

Hi again Bas - See attached photo of the seatpost - lack of clamp. Clamp would have to be a 1 1/8 - same with the headset.

After looking at some serotta catalogues - I guess mine is a 96 or later (when did they stop making the ATX?)

Sorry for the photo backdrop - trying to remove a bunch of old tape glue that was on the frame - so letting some WD40 work on it... Will get some decent photos of the frame once it is cleaned up

Cheers,
Dan

 

[Defiant]

you need a seatclamp like this.
might want to check Serotta, they might still have these, could be pricey because this one is Titanium
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... c&start=38