1992 MBK Mirage Pro - Colombus Acciaio Aelle Ellipse Tubing - Suntour SL to 105

I took a couple of days off to sort out a couple of bikes I have at home with my brother so I thought I'd take pictures of one to share here.

It is yet another french bike, a 1992 MBK Mirage Pro, made of a Columbus Acciaio Aelle 54cm frame with ellipse tubing (1800gr) and a Cr-Mo fork (696gr). The tubes are ellipse shaped, the seatpost (not 27.2mm or 26.8mm, actually 26.4mm or 26.2mm...) is tightened via the top tube which even has a groove to hide the rear brake cable.

The bike was running perfectly fine with most of a Suntour SL groupset (2x8 speed) and downtube shifters but my brother wanted an upgrade to STI shifters, that's where it all started...

This time I took some before pictures:

First step was the 'pulling apart' and cleaning stage:
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-07155116.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-07181233.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-07161840.jpg
Pretty sweet top tube groove for the rear brake
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-07161752.jpg

Since the groupset chosen was 105, the BB had to be faced to accept an external BB:
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-07181253.jpg

I love those Haymes manual pictures so I took one of the parts - 105 5700 black 10 speed rear derailleur, 105 5600 double chainset (53 42 172.5) with external BB and front derailleur, ultegra chain, Tiagra 10 speed cassette, Microshift matching shifters (no cash for 105's i'm afraid), Promax calipers, black Mavic Aksium Race wheels, 4mm and 5mm white outer plus new inner cables.
I have kept the frame as it was as it is a training bike, the bars, stem, seatpost are all original:
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-08075727.jpg

Here are some pics of parts fitted before brake/gears adjustments:
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-09103335.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-09103352.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-09103506.jpg

Thanks you Mr Cow for the dowtube cable stops, perfect fit:
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/Useful%20Bike%20Stuff/1992%20MBK%20Mirage%20Pro/2012-03-09155437.jpg

Then these are the finished pictures, all adjusted and bar taped:

Voila! No problems putting it all together, the Microshift shifters were a bit of a pain to set up but worked out ok in the end.

***********************************DECEMBER 2012 ADD ON ************************************************

TL:DR

Latest changes are - proper seatpost and saddle, new aero bladed forks, Stronglight headset and putting the cable stops the right way around.
The Mavic Aksiums have also changed from black to silver and the pedals have changed to Eggbeaters.

The complete bike as it is now:

***********************************JUNE 2013 ADD ON ************************************************

New full carbon HED frame! I will be transferring all the components shortly...

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/lasseaux/20130611_192523_zpsc514dcf0.jpg

Cheers

Vince

Sort the saddle angle out.

quill seatpost??

quill seatpost??

no

really nice frame that. You need a bigger cycle computer, that one must be hard to read.

get rid of that shoddy old thing then, and get a decent seat pin with a decent saddle angle.

That is the plan - I didn't measure the seatpost before the built so when I try to stick in a 27.2mm post, I realised that it was too big.
I sold 2 27.0mm seatposts in the last couple of weeks, I should have kept one!

+1 saddle angle/seatpost debacle. Pedals and bottle cage(s) etc.

But yeah – very nicely done. I like the result. How do the shifters feel in use?

Saddle angle was sorted out after the first ride, seatpost will take a little longer (check the pre-built picture, I did have an Alpina carbon seatpost for it...).

SPD pedals have been fitted too.

The 10 speed Microshift shifter works really well, but i've not managed to set up the double shifter properly as I need to click it twice to change from small to big ring. It is a Microshift lever for a double chainset so I need to actually read the user manual to suss it out...

You don't want to be putting a carbon seat post in with the tightening mechanism of those MBK's.

Love the build though, I've got a similar MBK Trainer frame lying around.

one minor niggle on what is otherwise a nice looking bike:

the downtube cable stops are on upside down which gives an unfortunate look to the two gear cables as they pass down the frame to the bottom bracket; i'd also say that all of the cables could do with being an inch or so longer.

one minor niggle on what is otherwise a nice looking bike:

the downtube cable stops are on upside down which gives an unfortunate look to the two gear cables as they pass down the frame to the bottom bracket; i'd also say that all of the cables could do with being an inch or so longer.

Dammit! I knew something didn't look right, I'll have to refit them properly as, although they work, they do look far too high.

Cable length wise, I did check the lengths and cut them shorter as it looks better (in my opinion) and they don't pull on full lock.

Thanks for your input, this was my first STI shifter built so there is still loads to learn!

The 10 speed Microshift shifter works really well, but i've not managed to set up the double shifter properly as I need to click it twice to change from small to big ring. It is a Microshift lever for a double chainset so I need to actually read the user manual to suss it out...

I had the same issue setting up Shimano 10sp double but got there eventually after just patiently trying slightly different tensions. That 3rd movement (not a click though on my Ultegra) gives a bit of trim for when in the higher gears.

nice frame... looks like a gt pulse missing a few bits of metal

one minor niggle on what is otherwise a nice looking bike:

the downtube cable stops are on upside down which gives an unfortunate look to the two gear cables as they pass down the frame to the bottom bracket; i'd also say that all of the cables could do with being an inch or so longer.

Ha. Didn't even notice that. But then I didn't even know about down tube cable stops for STIs on old frames till recently...

Obviously flip the two cable stops to opposite sides... other than that and the seat angle, I like the look of this a lot.

I had the same issue setting up Shimano 10sp double but got there eventually after just patiently trying slightly different tensions. That 3rd movement (not a click though on my Ultegra) gives a bit of trim for when in the higher gears.

This. I think that trim feature is common to shimano shifters up to 105 (at least the new internal 105). I may be wrong though.

It often confuses people. Used to get loads of queries or returning bikes with that issue when I worked in cyclescurgery. Used to be so frustrating to see bikes booked into the workshop, and mechanics fruitlessly working on it, because the sales guy hadn't actually paid attention to the problem.

***********************************DECEMBER 2012 ADD ON ************************************************
I decided to finish the bike properly for my brother.

Changes are - proper seatpost and saddle, new aero bladed forks, Stronglight headset and putting the cable stops the right way around.
The Mavic Aksiums have also changed from black to silver and the pedals have changed to Eggbeaters.

Old Cro-Mo forks:

New bladed aluminium forks with steel steerer - saving a massive 47gr:

Old VP headset with ball bearings:

New Stronglight with cone bearings - saving a massive 8gr:

Forks, headset and downtube stops:

Sugino SP-H adjustable seatpost and Turbo saddle:

The complete bike as it is now:

Cheers

Vince

Those aero forks look awesome although changing the Aksiums from black to silver isn´t my cup of tea.

P.S. The QR on the front wheel is in the wrong position.

This could really do with a somewhat more modern seat (that is leveled). And maybe some famous forum compact bars.

Was thinking the same thing ^^ and perhaps a more modern seatpost aswell

It did look a whole lot more balanced with the original forks. Weight is hardly of importance, isn't it?

The seatpost size is funny on those french bikes - it is around 26.4mm so it isn't really easy to find a nice inline seatpost.
I've got a white San Marco Rolls so I will probably fit that to the bike.
I think the forks look good, the bike could do with a respray though...

47g isn't much of a saving, especially when those alu fork is going to be quite harsh.

I think the forks look good, the bike could do with a respray though...

argh :/ Also, these 'new' forks ruined your clearance. But suit yourself, it's your bike.

The ruin not only your clearance, but the whole geo.