Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi all

first post here...but have been browsing for months...mainly read RetroBike UK and MTBR Retro classic forums..

anyway..just wondering if there are any retro MTB enthusiast on this board? doesn't have to be anything high end..rigid or suspended

I am located in Melbourne and would love to one day meet up with some liketreaders...dunno... for a yarra trail pub to pub blast etc

My current bikes are a 1990 Scott Pro Racing..tange Prestige tubing and full Ritchey and Deore XT ...its sweet

also a Diamondback Axis 1994 TT LIte short butted beast for commuting and general duties..

wish I could post pics...but assuming difficult for new members

be great to hear from people....

Matt

Does this qualify.....

.....or is it a bit too 'retro'?

thats a very nice unit....love the bars and fork

what is it about 85?

delafield37 wrote:what is it about 85?

Not sure..... Malvern Star 'Bushranger' - any ideas anyone? Mid-80's sounds about right. Some mid to top-end gear on it for that era! BB needs a bit of service - all else runs ok. Wouldn't mind taking it out for a bit of a ride one day (Lysterfield? Critical Mass?) May have to start up my own thread on it soon.....

I have a bike i ride every so often, It's circa 86/7 Apollo Everest fitted with Deore XT 6 spd, everything is XT except for Deore cranks and Dia comp 7 small brake levers. Handle bars and stem are not original, bot damaged in a crash a few yrs ago.


My main ride is a 96 Specialised S works HT

Someone gave me an early Gary Fisher Pro-Caliber frame last week. I thought it was the darndest looking thing - more a road geometry with a horizontal top bar and with the cantilever brake bosses under the chainstays I thought how stupid and doubted its authenticity.

A Google revealed I obviously don't know squat; this seems a pretty common feature of period MTB bikes. around mid 80s? It features Tange Prestige tubing and the old Fisher logo with the name formed into the mountain shaped "M". Probably would've been a nice bike when new

All it came with the was the clip in(?) bottom bracket with the coupla circlips.
Dunno what I'm going to do with it....

Single speed?

I have a Shogun Trailbreaker 4 that seems to be an 80's bike.
Cro-Mo frame (Tange Prestige MTB).
21-speed Shimano Acera-X groupset (even the hubs and brake cantilevers).
Tange suspension fork.
It is lighter than my Rocks T1 and as sweet as to ride - but cantilever brakes can't quite mix it with Hayes hydraulics.
I'm going to have the fork rebuilt and will probably fit the 90's Deore XT components that came on the SlingShot frame I showed in another thread - maybe for this year's Scott 24 Hour.
I read somewhere that the Shogun frames from that time 'borrowed' a lot from Gary Fisher's Genius frame geometry - perhaps there is some truth in that statement.
I'll post a photo soon.

Kalgrm wrote:Single speed?

Nice thought... but too many other half-baked projects already on the go

Still, the old School Fisher would have some sorta cred I suppose.... mmm.. I wonder if one of my spare old 26" wheels are screw on freewheels.... mmmmmmm..... *grind*whirrr*

I did an Audax dirt ride last Sunday with a bloke on a Jonesman single speed. Geometry was similar to the bike pictured above. Damn he was fit and fast!

If anyone is after a retro MTB frame there are a couple I spied on verge collection in Gamenya street, Canning Vale. Big pile of frames. I already have too many but its a shame to see them go to waste.

justalf wrote:If anyone is after a retro MTB frame there are a couple I spied on verge collection in Gamenya street, Canning Vale. Big pile of frames. I already have too many but its a shame to see them go to waste.

I could get a fork for mine

oh god.. I wish you'd all stop encouraging me.... 'sonly about 4 or 5 ks from my place

You could always just take a quick look, solely for interest sake...

justalf wrote:You could always just take a quick look, solely for interest sake...

ohh.. the temptation.... grnrngngh....

...and I have reason to tak.e the ute out tonight, too.. dammit. I usually like to combine my trips in the Juicechewer (tm)

HappyHumber wrote:cantilever brake bosses under the chainstays

My first 'serious' MTB was a second hand GT Richter circa 1990, with Deore DX components and the original RockShox Mag air shox. This came with the under-chainstay 'u-brake'. A pain in the butt to maintain, as I remember.
< Total Rush in Richmond (VIC) have an original (?) Specialized Stumpjumper pimped up with contemporary componentry hanging in their store. It is nowhere near as nice a frame as the MS 'Bushranger', which I have now passed onto a friend in the MBTC. He may or may not 'pimp-it-up'. Will have to wait and see

Another MBTC member still regularly commutes on a mid-late 80's Gary Fisher in fairly original condition

kukamunga wrote:

HappyHumber wrote:cantilever brake bosses under the chainstays

My first 'serious' MTB was a second hand GT Richter circa 1990, with Deore DX components and the original RockShox Mag air shox. This came with the under-chainstay 'u-brake'. A pain in the butt to maintain, as I remember.

Thinking about it... the frame I've got probably had U-brakes as well. Without checking; It seemed to have an inordinate amount of cable guides under the bottom bracket.

Googling around.. although the model name is different; the work mate who gave it to me (and brother of the original owner) said this example is very similar. Colour scheme certainly is.

*raises hand*

I like retro bikes! I dont have one but Im virtually in love with the old Manitou System FS. And the old thermoplastic GTs. Or are they not quite old enough?

Whitz End wrote:*raises hand*

I like retro bikes! I dont have one but Im virtually in love with the old Manitou System FS. And the old thermoplastic GTs. Or are they not quite old enough?

Remember them well. The guy that runs Total Rush used to be a Manitou sponsored rider back 'in the day' and raced one of those dual rear shocked 'coke can' bikes. Thermoplastic never was successful, but looked schmick. I think the older GT-RTS's (Rocker Tuned Suspension) probably fit the 'retro' tag better. And what about Pro Flex? I and a few friends had early-mid 90's models (mine a 755). Scrap metal now

I was still on training wheels then I believe.

That was my dream bike back in the day, I had to settle with an Apollo everest with the same Deore Xt 6spd groupset.

I would be interested in doing a rebuild with my parts if you want it to go to a good home

i feel retro MTB are going to be the next thing, and these will all be modded
to single speeds, for weight and also the cleaner lines etc.

i am in love with this

i have a great friend who found this under his house....



and to turn it into this.... which i might add weighs in at 9.24kg

ukalipt wrote:i feel retro MTB are going to be the next thing, and these will all be modded
to single speeds, for weight and also the cleaner lines etc.

i am in love with this

i have a great friend who found this under his house....



and to turn it into this.... which i might add weighs in at 9.24kg

It looks like your friend like his toys!

I think the original looks better!

oh yes. he likes his toys. you should see his car. !

and kuka - i guess it is a case of each to their own.
i am in two minds. i love the new clean look of the powder coat,
but with the other link to the retro specialised,
i really like the fact it looks almost original.

My Apollo Everest circa 86 I guess full Deore XT groupset except for deore cranks. mavic rims Physco front tyre