Retro MTB Tribe

[rangersac]

I scored a Diamondback Sorrento today as a parts bike.

My first, bought with my own cash bike. Ah the memories of insane downhills on cantis and a rigid frame....

[silentbutdeadly]

I scored a Diamondback Sorrento today as a parts bike.

My first, bought with my own cash bike. Ah the memories of insane downhills on cantis and a rigid frame....

Best be telling yugyug all about it since we have agreed to a bike for booze swap because it was a little too complete and a little too unsuitable for the use intended viewtopic.php?f=23&t=81608" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ryanscott1991]

Hey all, I picked myself up an Apollo Everest today on a whim. Guessing it's early 90's, pretty strange frame. Looked like an interesting project. Any idea what I should have paid? I'll post pictures once I've had a look at it myself!

[silentbutdeadly]

Hey all, I picked myself up an Apollo Everest today on a whim. Guessing it's early 90's, pretty strange frame. Looked like an interesting project. Any idea what I should have paid? I'll post pictures once I've had a look at it myself!

Actually quite a good score if it is in reasonable nick. First rule of retro biking......whatever you paid for it is what it is worth

[ryanscott1991]

Thanks silentbutdeadly! Yeah I do agree with your comment regarding value. I've been dabbling in the retro scene for a while now. Still meaning to post pictures. In quite good shape.... I thought. I think I've spotted a hairline fracture along the weld where the chain stay meets the down tube (it's got the strange chain stays that don't go to the BB). I paid $50 for it, because I knew it was a somewhat rare machine and I can't bear to see the frame be wasted because of this issue so I guess I need to decide what to do about it. I will post some pictures tonight. Perhaps start a thread and get some advice from those in the know.

[silentbutdeadly]

If you mean like this one then you've done just fine....

[singlespeedscott]

Elevated chainstays where the in thing back in the late 80's early 90's. Done properly they where suppose to reduce the length of the chainstays and improve climbing ability

I had an Alpinestars Al-Mega DX with the same features.

[bychosis]

Sounds like a great deal.

IMO any working good quality bike is worth $150, then you take off $ for damage or maintenance required. Eg needs new tyres and cables $100, only the frame in good nic with serviceable but not pretty parts for the parts box $50 and variations in between. You can add some $ for rarity or sentimental value if you like it and must have it.

[ryanscott1991]

Yeah it's very similar to the picture posted with the elevated chain stays, except it has suspension forks (Manitou Sport from memory).

[simon.young]

I think I've spotted a hairline fracture along the weld where the chain stay meets the down tube (it's got the strange chain stays that don't go to the BB)

I think there was a alu model which did have issue with cracking. I know the Alpinestars Alu-Mega did fail.

[ldrcycles]

Like this?







I sold that one a couple of years ago, juust got enough to cover the cost of the 1-1/4 to 1-1/8 headset reducers, chain and cables .

[jmacbrid86]

Can anyone help me source a mid to late 1990's 21" Kona Frame, looking to do a rigid build.
Cheers Jamie

[simon.young]

Latest gumtree pickup.

1989 Fisher AL-1 in great condition. I guess that "one lady owner" is true.

All original apart from tyres and seat. Hoping previous owner can find the seat. Way too small for me but couldn't let it go.

Even has the Odyssey Aerator seatpost.

[singlespeedscott]

Nice pickup.

[ryanscott1991]

[url]http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1076712125[url/]

Any thoughts on this?

[ryanscott1991]

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1076712125

[singlespeedscott]

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1076712125

Certainly not Vintage. mid-late 90's lower mid level model. The fork was pretty oridnary when it was new. God knows what it would be like now the elastomers have hardened up or perished.

[utedeej]

Latest gumtree pickup.

1989 Fisher AL-1 in great condition. I guess that "one lady owner" is true.

All original apart from tyres and seat. Hoping previous owner can find the seat. Way too small for me but couldn't let it go.

Even has the Odyssey Aerator seatpost.

That is an awesome find. Very nice pickup indeed.

I jusr got a mid 80s Apollo Cascade and a Kuwahara framed Apollo, which is too small for me though. Will try and get some pics by the weekend

[utedeej]

Here they are.

Apollo Himalaya - large size about 22" I think. Has the original Suntour Mountech FD and RD, and shifters. Dia Compe cantis. I think that I will turn this into a drop bar tourer.



Kuwahara made lugged Apollo. Too small for me, so if anyone is looking for a small lugged frame, give me a pm and i'll swap you something for it.



I'll have to finish off my 94 Axis/Apex TT and get some photos up of that too.

[singlespeedscott]

Apollo Himalaya - large size about 22" I think. Has the original Suntour Mountech FD and RD, and shifters. Dia Compe cantis. I think that I will turn this into a drop bar tourer.



I'll have to finish off my 94 Axis/Apex TT and get some photos up of that too.

I had similar plans for my Himalaya but the silly BMX OPC steerer diametre (21.15mm quill instead of 22.2mm) put a stop to that. Silly American standards are as frustrating as French stuff.

Look forward to the Diamondback pics.

[ldrcycles]

I had similar plans for my Himalaya but the silly BMX OPC steerer diametre (21.15mm quill instead of 22.2mm) put a stop to that. Silly American standards are as frustrating as French stuff.

Look forward to the Diamondback pics.

Have you heard of "Retro Ryder" headsets? Allows you to use a 1-1/8" fork in that size headtube. There are apparently some recipes of mixing and matching that will achieve the same end without buying a specific headset.

[singlespeedscott]

I had similar plans for my Himalaya but the silly BMX OPC steerer diametre (21.15mm quill instead of 22.2mm) put a stop to that. Silly American standards are as frustrating as French stuff.

Look forward to the Diamondback pics.

Have you heard of "Retro Ryder" headsets? Allows you to use a 1-1/8" fork in that size headtube. There are apparently some recipes of mixing and matching that will achieve the same end without buying a specific headset.

Wash your mouth out Lachlan. I would never put such a travesty on a vintage steel bike

[ldrcycles]

Soma do a nice lugged fork in 1-1/8.

[hitchhiker]

Latest gumtree pickup.

1989 Fisher AL-1 in great condition. I guess that "one lady owner" is true.

All original apart from tyres and seat. Hoping previous owner can find the seat. Way too small for me but couldn't let it go.

Even has the Odyssey Aerator seatpost.

That is very nice, looks like it could even be my size. If it ever needs a good home....

[LugNut]

Apollo Himalaya - large size about 22" I think. Has the original Suntour Mountech FD and RD, and shifters. Dia Compe cantis. I think that I will turn this into a drop bar tourer.



I'll have to finish off my 94 Axis/Apex TT and get some photos up of that too.

I had similar plans for my Himalaya but the silly BMX OPC steerer diametre (21.15mm quill instead of 22.2mm) put a stop to that. Silly American standards are as frustrating as French stuff.

Look forward to the Diamondback pics.

I have a slightly later model Apollo Everest sitting in my shed with the same deal. I managed to find a nice SR 'Slingshot' stem in 21.15mm, my thinking being that I can then use a nice swept back Nitto Albatross style bar with a 25.4 clamp section, as long as the clamp section tapers off to 22.2 fairly quickly, like this


Here's the stem, hopefully the tapered 25.4 section will sit in between the arms of the stem.


That's the best solution I could come up with anyway.