Retro mountain bikes

Thanks. I'm surprised how well the U-Brake performs (under dry conditions...).

My elder brother had the white Cromega LX back in '92 After 2 years the tubing at the fork end (drive side e-stay) cracked .
He contacted the uk distributor who said it was known fault with the Tange-built LX and their remedy was to upgrade to the Truetemper DX.
That was in '94 and the DX frame lasted 10 hard years of racing, touring and commuting before being hit by a car - so yes indeed, the DX can take a bit of a hammering.
I thought you may appreciate a photo of a fully laden CroMega Tourer - Here's one from a winter tour of Ireland in '97 apologies for the quality it's just the bottom corner of a massive landscape - it was all I could find.

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Thanks for the info. And that photo is really -uh- "cool"' ;)

While I'm here with the family album open, here are a couple more '90's mtbs loaded up for a sunnier trip across the Pyrenees (also late 90's)

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I have a set of U's on my Bianchi Migale's rear. The brake pads are stock from 1990-ish, and the stopping power is still more than acceptable. Haven't really tested it in the wet though.
Pita to set it up, limits clearance and looks crap though, I even prefer cantis to them...

I’m always surprised by how surprised people are that U’s are so awesome. I’d take on over a V or canti any day.

Maybe that's because we live in not-so-shiny countries and U brakes are hell in muddy conditions. ;)

About to build up my Bontrager RaceLite (c1993) again. Considering m950 (1996 XTR) as it will enable me to use vbrakes rather than earlier iterations but need to find it all first. Very excited.

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Nice frame. 950 is a fantastic group but the v brakes are shit. Too much pivots what makes them noisy as hell.

Top tip. Will consider something else...

Avid used to have some nice and good stuff back in the late nineties.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F133283152866

I've just had a set of SRAM 9.0 linear pull brakes through the post off eBay.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F264318328452

Not sure if current, old stock, fake or what!? Look ok though.

I know they had v brakes as my brother had them on his 1998 Sunn Exact Titanium, but don't remember any more how they looked like. Maybe they were called ESP back then.

New project arrived today: a 1989 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp. Will go for period correct build.

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Does anyone still make / sell decent quality suspension forks with V brake mounts? 1 1/8 steerer.

Few options here: https://www.bike-discount.de/en/shop/26-suspension-fork-80-110mm-820

Depending on what you're after maybe better getting something a few years old but looked after and getting them serviced?

There must be some NOS of those too, no? ;-)

Anybody know if I can put a rigid fork on this bike https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14951141/ ?

WIthout any problem. Looks like straight 1 1/8 forks. Can't be too hard to find one of those. Lots of steel forks available.

Wim

Sure you can, but you should seek one that has a compensated height for suspension.

Thanks guys! Can anyone point me in the right direction. Am searching for 1 1/8 26" rigid forks but all of them seem to be threaded, which doesn't seem necessary?

I have a black fork for sell, it's suspension corrected so should fit. Takes disc only though ( got a brake for sale as well).

need v-brakes :( thanks though!

Something like this should work? https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/radon-26-mtb-carbon-fork-1-1-8-v-brake-624734 Just looking for something cheaper to fix this one up.

This could be a winner? https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;product=149841;menu=1000,2,208;pgc%5B1679%5D=1680;pgc%5B2399%5D=2400

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FOOOCR26DV/on-one-cromo-26er-mtb-fork-v-brake--disc

This should do the trick and it's got another 10% off if you use the code, bringing it down to £45.