Retro mountain bikes

But I’ve already got other retro MTBs with gears on?

One speed is all you need.

Show them! :)

OK, you asked for it.

Some that have gone:

Some of the current ones (due to space constraints most the 'bikes' are actually frames and bits in boxes spread across the land:

(had a new repaint in this colour scheme)

My bike envy levels have greatly increased :P

oh my

Great stuff there. Like that Bontrager.

Ta, I loved that Privateer, great riding bikes. I now have a 92 RaceLite who’s two previous owners were Keith’s wife and MTB journalist Steve Worland.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-Mtb-Klunker-Motobecane-1984-Columbus-Crmo-Vintage/113660155676

Lovely bikes! Love the Motobecane, but WAY too big for little me...

@Rod_Saetan what a great range of bikes you had/have!

Different saddle and tyres -

1 Attachment

Looking great, @SideshowBob!

Thanks @WimVDD

Now this is superb. And I reckon that that it sell quickly.

GT Richter - Collection near to Croydon.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333122334937

1 Attachment

It's still there. Don't get it. It's fabulous and cheap.

That's an hour drive/cycle from me! I love old GT's but this doesn't quite do it for me. Most of my MTB's in the 90s were GT's...

£75 is cheap and worth it for the original GT saddle, GT toe clips & straps, GT flip-flop stem, GT lock-nut headset, GT seat collar & QR and Ritchey Megabite tyres so could be a great donor bike for GT parts... or just enjoy it as it is! :)

Where in the hiarchy came this Richter? Lot of it is similar to my Karakoram (True Temper GTX tubing, xt shifter/levers, dx derailleurs, lx wheels, brakes and crankset).

Catalogue is on Retrobike:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/10517-2/1993-2.pdf

Things started to get messy with ranging with the introduction of full suspension and Taiwanese built aluminium bikes such as the Avalanche (Team Avalanche was still steel). Richter seems quite high up in the order...

Just took ownership of this! Gonna use it for a pub bike tbf...

1 Attachment

Richter was a Karakoram with Rock Shox.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CARRARO-REPLICA-vintage-italian-steel-MTB-SHIMANO-XT-WHITE-INDUSTRIES-FIR-PACE/323742929820

This maybe an odd question but does anyone on here use their retro MTB in it's intended use? I'm wondering how well something from the 90's holds up now and whether its viable to use a retro mountain bike instead of buying something more modern.

There are videos on youtube of people comparing modern (carbon/ full squish) bikes to older hardtails (riding the same trails/lines/etc) and the verdict is that they work but kinda suck in comparison. Any of course they get the job done, people have been throwing them around for decades but it all boils down to how 'gnarnly' you plan on getting. My Evil the Calling inspires muuuuch more confidence than my Litespeed Obed equipped with period correct parts.

The only real difference between a (decent) late 90s MTB and a modern rigid bike is worse tyre clearance and lighter weight. Put some decent rubber and gearing on them and they're plenty of fun in your average woods. Really depends on your aspirations.

Rode this for years as my only MTB

Mid 2000s is betterer though. You get disc brakes and room for a decent 100m fork if you so wish.