"MUSASHI66" (musashi66)
08/24/2020 at 11:42 • Filed to: None
1
37|
"MUSASHI66" (musashi66)
08/24/2020 at 11:42 • Filed to: None | 1
| 37 |
I sold my father in laws Audi, then I sold his old SoftRide road bike for $500 which was double what he was hoping for.
I told him I’ll sell some of his other bikes he doesn’t ride and won’t ride any longer. He told me he’d sell the mountain bike - I asked how much would he sell it for to me, and he told me to take it home as a thank you (plus we got a juice steak dinner and best peanut butter pie ever made).
I knew nothing about the bike, so I did some digging when I got it home. Only sticker on it was this:
That led me on a wild goose chase as this was just the material type apparently, and many bike makers in the 90’s used this. I stumbled upon a photo on eBay which led me in the direction of Alpinestars AL Mega bikes, and I think that is what I have!
These babies still sell for like $500!! I just ordered new tubes and new grips, and while I know I need new tires as well, these look so damn good and I don’t want to buy just any boring black tires for it, but I also can’t find any quality 26” MTB tires in red like you used to be able to back in the day.
I think I’ll pay for a tune on the drivetrain, but I can’t decide if I should pay for fork maintenance or just buy a new fork?
Manitou SX Mach 5 - I imagine it would be good enough for me as chances of me doing anything serious on a mountain bike are slim, and keeping it retro would be cool.
Any leads on red or blue or same color tires in 26x2.10 size?
VincentMalamute-Kim
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:13 |
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I don’t think there’s much in terms of maintenance for that fork. Disassemble, clean, and re-grease the elastomers. Possibly replace the elastomers. I can’t imagine it’s going to be cost-effective to upgrade the fork. Unless you convert to a rigid fork. I’m in the same boat with a 1998 Stumpjumper I have.
I think the market for 26" mtn bike tires is small compared with modern sizes
so I’d think
finding colors is going to be tough.
Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:14 |
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Any leads on red or blue or same color tires in 26x2.10 size?
Having gone through the tire hunt recently, good luck getting half decent 26x2.10 tires at all, let alone red. I stepped up to 26x2.20 from 1.95".
- 26" is a dying breed to start with
- As people have discovered that wider tires don’t really impact aero as much as previously thought, na
rrow tires (which may have been considered wide in the 90's)
just aren’t a thing anymore. Unless you go super cheap.
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MUSASHI66
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/24/2020 at 12:19 |
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I hate the modern 29" wheels. I’d be fine with 27.5" I think, but 26" still rules for me as I am an old fart.
I’ll have to check some videos on fork maintenance. I never did it before. Thanks!
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MUSASHI66
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/24/2020 at 12:21 |
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I might have to go black..
Are these decent for $60 for a pair? I’d have to wait weeks for them to arrive - I am just not in Denver often enough to go to a bike shop and look for tires there, and Fort Collins seems to be limited.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:25 |
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Have you ridden a 29? I haven’t. Just curious why you hate them.
I bought a 27.5+ bike and I love the cushioning and dramatically increased traction
of 2.8/3.0" tires compared with my old 26x2.0 bike
. I read the P
lus tires are
beginner’s and I’m OK with that.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:26 |
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I assume anything Maxxis is fine. yeah, just not going to find 26" tires in bike shops anywhere I bet. Including Denver.
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MUSASHI66
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/24/2020 at 12:31 |
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I have - I bought a lower end Specialized... I think a Rockhopper 29er few years ago and I simply didn’t like how it felt. It made me feel higher off the ground, and I just felt awkward on the bike.
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MUSASHI66
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/24/2020 at 12:32 |
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Is it that bad?? They made millions of 26" bikes, I am shocked to hear that tires are so hard to find.
kanadanmajava1
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:39 |
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That a quite weird looking frame. Some bike collector likely would want to buy it. I’m expecting originality be ing quite important with these and that one looks quite nice .
I have stas hed away a similarly weird (but sill completely different) looking B ianchi T heridion MTB bike. B ut it’s in bad condition and and we don’t have serious bike collectors here. Likely nearly zero resale value in its current condition. I should just built something usable out of it.
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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:43 |
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They’ll be a lower end Maxxis for that price, but Maxxis makes good shit anyway . Not sure you’ll find anything in a bike shop. The whole reason I ended up shopping online for mine is because my locals were totally out of stock and having trouble finding them. That said that WAS in May, so...
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MUSASHI66
> kanadanmajava1
08/24/2020 at 12:44 |
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I might keep the old tires, just in case I ever decide to sell it :D
I am not sure how well it will fit me as my FIL is 4" taller. I might need to replace the stem with the shortest model they sell.
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MUSASHI66
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/24/2020 at 12:45 |
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Everywhere is out of stock on bike stuff. Because of Covid, m aybe people are dusting off their old 26" tire bikes and buying out all the parts...
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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:48 |
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They did, but 29ers became mainstream about 10-15 years ago, and 27.5's maybe 5-8 years (?).. . 26ers are now mostly relegated to people looking for old cheap used bikes. Most of those people will also purchase the cheapest tires available. Here that would be $25 Canadian Tire specials (they are literally selling brand name tires - Kenda - that simply cannot be purchased anywhere else), or your local equivalent.
I’m in a similar situation to you - got a good bike for nothing - but I don’t like crappy components so... tires are a pain
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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:49 |
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This is a fact. 26ers are just more nimble. If I ever “upgrade”, it’ll have to be 27.5"...
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:51 |
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The crossmarks are really good tires, I ran those for years. 10/10 would recommend. They role well and actually corner.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 12:58 |
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That bike is a frozen in time late 1990's museum piece . I love it for it’s funkiness. They didn’t make many of these and frankly compared to a modern mountain bike they are terrible, however if it’s running good there is no reason you couldn’t use it for some smoother paths and just ridding around. If the fork is still squishy just lube the sliders with some chain lube and ride it. Those elastomer forks tend to disintegrate over time.
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MUSASHI66
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/24/2020 at 13:02 |
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I ordered those Maxxis ones and the tubes I wanted are backordered as well, so it will be a few weeks before I can ride.
To be honest, after I sold my carbon fiber road bike and my full suspension Stumpjumper (due to not riding them), I’ve put more miles on a pair of cruisers ( I bought for wife and myself) than I put on the fancy bikes in the last 5 years. I imagine I won’t ride this bike a ton either, but they are making a new trail which will go 300 yards away from my house, so I might use it more often.
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MUSASHI66
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/24/2020 at 13:03 |
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Awesome, I just placed the order! Thanks!
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MUSASHI66
> Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/24/2020 at 13:04 |
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It might be as old as 1991-1992. The Softwing I sold for him was 1999-2001. He bought nice stuff ages ago and never upgraded.
I’d probably be better off selling it to a collector and buying a newer Rockhopper or similar.
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kanadanmajava1
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 13:12 |
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Good idea. Those tires look nice.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 13:47 |
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If you have some zoomed in shots of the components I could tell you quickly how old it is.
Nom De Plume
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 13:56 |
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The value proposition is going to be in leaving this bike alone unless you actually ride it. As in don’t touch a thing. Take decently lit and descriptive photos that will help a buyer ascertain the condition and parts.
Spend the money earned on fancy tires for the bikes you and the wife ride.
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Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 14:10 |
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You are correct something like a rockhopper or similar trek/kona/giant would have 29" wheels and disc brakes and a fork that moves pretty well, a huge improvement over this bike.
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MUSASHI66
> Nom De Plume
08/24/2020 at 14:38 |
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I am not sure I’d sell it. I have to see how it rides with new tubes (changing those shouldn’t diminish the value). If I don’t like it or don’t fit it, I might be looking into a newer bike.
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Nom De Plume
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 14:55 |
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The truth is a bike that sat unused for most the time since the early 90's needs to be taken down to the frame and gone over.
There is no grease left in any bearing. Riding it will be metal on metal which will quickly destroy numerous moving parts. Cables and housing are highly suspect/unlubed, nuts/bolts might be loose, etc.
This is a hard GO/NO GO. I’m going to rebuild it with fresh lube and ride it. Or I’m not touching a thing and shipping it out the door.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 15:05 |
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You can get 26" tires but not near the selection as 29". My guess would be that local bike shops aren’t going to stock 26". Maybe Walmart?
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/24/2020 at 15:08 |
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I’ve been shopping a new mtn bike. 27.5" are getting hard to find. I have a Scott 27.5+ and Scott is only making 29" now.
26" are more nimble but the traction of the 27.5+ tires are worth the tradeoff to me. I don’t know why they the 27.5+ went out of style.
If I get a new bike,
I’m resigned to
29"
at max width which seems to be 2.6".
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 15:09 |
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It’s so subjective. I just remembered 27.5+ are almost the same diameter as 29" wheels
and I don’t have the complaint you do when I move between my 26" and
27.5+ bikes.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 15:33 |
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What Vincent said is right. If it sat, there’s a chance the elastomers dried out and split the first time the fork was compressed. It’s easy to work on that fork. Just be very careful to avoid cross-threading the top caps. If you’re lucky, you may be able to find an elastomer kit that will let you fine-tune it to your weight. I went with speed springs on mine so I could get more support for my weight , but I don’t know if those guys are still in business.
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MUSASHI66
> Nom De Plume
08/24/2020 at 16:49 |
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I’m planning on taking it for a tuneup.
It was ridden since the 90’s, it was made in the 90’s.
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MUSASHI66
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/24/2020 at 16:50 |
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I ordered the Maxxis ones.
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MUSASHI66
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/24/2020 at 16:50 |
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Never ridden a 27.5” so I’ll have to test that eventually.
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MUSASHI66
> TheRealBicycleBuck
08/24/2020 at 16:59 |
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I’ll probably just have it tuned. I know nothing about this stuff.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> MUSASHI66
08/24/2020 at 17:04 |
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This is a good place to get started. Seriously. This one is easy.
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MUSASHI66
> TheRealBicycleBuck
08/24/2020 at 18:23 |
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Well that sure is handy! Thanks a bunch for that link!
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Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/25/2020 at 08:03 |
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The whole reason 27.5" exists is because enough people felt like 29" was too big, so that seems kinda odd to me. Eh, whatever... Not like I was planning an upgrade anytime soon anyway. And there’s always the used market.
Also, fat bikes. I’ve been looking at them sideways for a while now. Seem like a fun machine.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
08/25/2020 at 16:12 |
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I’ve never ridden an actual 27.5". My 27.5 Plus is basically the same size as a 29". It’s also partway to a fat bike.
I can see why regular 27.5 is unnecessary but
I don’t understand why the 27.5
Plus wheels went out of favor.
I love how much more traction the Plus
has.