Pinarello Spring - retro beater MTB project

I've always wanted a heavy duty, cheap, not-so-worried-to-lock-up bike, and hopefully now I'm on the right direction.
I'm waiting for this ugly duckling to come from Italy, a cheap, mid-range 90s frame, conditions were reflected on the price and I can't complain as it will be an incentive to keep the spending for parts as low as possible.
I've never built a retro-MTB before so I will ask opinion from the experts on here.
I don't want to stick the first cheap 90s groupset that I can find, as I always like some prep&research when building a bike from scratch.

So, this model was sold between 1992 and 1995, and I've seen it only equipped with LX M550 or Exage 500LX.
I would like to have STIs on it rather than thumbies.
I guess it will be stupid to put anything better than LX or DX but I wouldn't mind splashing extra dinero for a ratty XT or XTR.
Preferably it will have slick or semi-slick tyres on, tanwall? Am I asking too much?

Please if you have bits for sale let me know.

Here's a picture from the seller:

Which stem and seatpost?
Silver or black groupset? Mixed?

Go with black

That's stunning but I would personally steer away from Campag on MTB stuff for practical, functional and budget purposes.
Did you find yours complete?
Mine has a Campagnolo BB on, not sure if it's there by mistake or just because it was easier to find Campagnolo Italian threaded BB from stockist rather than Shimano ones... Who knows?

Hell yeah, awesome frame! I'd go with DX or M560 LX, both are quite indestructible.

I'd keep an eye out for a cheap 2nd hand mtb with a dx group and transfer the parts, I've seen plenty for under 100€ in germany. Probably cheaper than buying the parts separately. I have LX on my Bottecchia and as vp says, it seems pretty indestructible but the DX has a nicer finish.

Can really recommend DX, mate has been commuting with it for a while now, hasn't had any problems. Plus it's cheap.

If you're after a LX or Exage500, I have both. Can miss one, I suppose.

Wim

Yeah! LX sounds appetising, 550 or 560?

I would go with m560 the sti's are great, better than most of the dx ones which were kind of still developing except for the very last version which is not what people probably actually have though. The m560 was the best low end shifter. I think this needs a silver crankset with black rings, like the m563 pictured. The chrome details on the 560 is also nice. Tanwalls + cheap = cityjets

Think it's 560, will check tomorrow.

M560 was nowehere near low end. Upper middle class. :P

+1

Mtb groupsets were Exage 200GS, 300LX, 400LX and 500LX, deore LX, DX and XT. XTR came a bit later.

Tanwalls + cheap = cityjets

Are they any good? Been looking into tanwalls recently.

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Got the frame today, even if the top tube is 55cm and seat tube at the "recommended" 18", after setting the saddle at the correct height, seems to be small... Am I just not used to 90's mtb sizing?
Probably I should judge just after fitting some wheels I guess!

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It starts to make more sense once I poorly potatochopped some wheels on.

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Soon..... (went for City Jets at the end)

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And thanks @WimVDD for the groupset and wheels! Luckily had a box of 264mm spokes!

Looks a lot better than I expected, nice!

Oh yes!! That looks spot on

stunning so far, can't wait to see it finished!

You're welcome, @Breso , I hope they're how you expected them to be. Bike looks great!

It couldn't have been better! All solid and looking good!!

This looks so nice.

current state: