Retro MTB Frame Recommendation

[crashley]

So I’ve got an old Club Roost DH bike, equipped with Marzocchi Z1s, Magura rim brakes etc etc that I’ve had since around 1999. It was originally an GT LTS2 (I still have the frame but the rear quarter sadly has a hairline crack).

Anyway, I want to rebuild the bike around a different retro (hard tail) frame - was thinking something like a Chameleon but I’m buggered if I can find anything half decent. And I never liked the Zaskar. Anyone got any recommendations for something that would build up well?

Cheers
Ash

[anonymous-user]

Any hard tail Kona from the Joe Murray era will be nice or a Stab maybe? have a look for an old Offroad Proflex or a Marin from the grey/dayglo frame colour era

[Simon_GH]

Pace RC200?

[smifffymoto]

Gary Fisher Genesis 2 from the Big Sur.

[smifffymoto]

Gary Fisher Genesis 2 from the Big Sur.

[V1nce Fox]

Kona frames are cool. Also always liked the older orange or classic era marin.

Could hold out for a klein of some sort?

[aka_kerrly]

Are you looking for a cross country style frame or something a little bit more fun & jumpy? The Santa Cruz Chameleon is a bit half way between the two.

During the 90s/early 00s I had a tonne of 14/15inch short sloping framed jump bikes the Kona Scrap/Shed Saracen X-Ess/ E-xile & DDG Shooter were my favourites

Of the more cross country orientated a early to mid 90s Kona a 95 Kilauea was a particular highlight for me or Gary Fisher is a sure winner, as would a Specialized Stumpjumper . Another option is Richie or if you can find one a Yeti in bonkers luminous colours are one of the coolest things going.

Something to consider when rebuilding old frames is the availability of things like headsets and bottom brackets in what are considered non standard sizes these days!

[crashley]

aka_kerrly said:

Are you looking for a cross country style frame or something a little bit more fun & jumpy? The Santa Cruz Chameleon is a bit half way between the two.

During the 90s/early 00s I had a tonne of 14/15inch short sloping framed jump bikes the Kona Scrap/Shed Saracen X-Ess/ E-xile & DDG Shooter were my favourites

Of the more cross country orientated a early to mid 90s Kona a 95 Kilauea was a particular highlight for me or Gary Fisher is a sure winner, as would a Specialized Stumpjumper . Another option is Richie or if you can find one a Yeti in bonkers luminous colours are one of the coolest things going.

Something to consider when rebuilding old frames is the availability of things like headsets and bottom brackets in what are considered non standard sizes these days!

So a good few years back I built a ‘jump’ bike around a Cove Stiffee which sort of ticks that box; the aim for this one was to have something I could happily cover a bit more distance on, but equally I wanted to retain the Z1s as I’ve always liked them - I guess that’s what I’m conscious of - back then any fork with 100mm of travel was considered too much for most hard tails.

[Randy Winkman]

I'm not going to be much help other than to thank you for reminding me of the Kona Explosif.

A bike I always wanted, but never had.



Still gorgeous.

[crashley]

Well I forgot I had this hanging in a garage earlier. Unsure whether to use it or keep my eye out for something else (and sell this - it’s pretty scruffy)

[V1nce Fox]

I’d say that answers your problem really nicely.

Always loved the angles on early Konas, they just look right.

[Fat hippo]

Klein, Yeti, Fat Chance

Edited by Fat hippo on Tuesday 22 February 19:54

[Correvor]

I have the same Kona Kilauea, they're nice but later Kilauea models had better tange steel.

Depends a lot on what kind of riding you want to do on it. I had a Orange C-16r which for me rode a lot better than the Kona, would love a VIT-T2 at some point.

[V1nce Fox]

Fat hippo said:

Klein, Yeti, Fat Chance

Edited by Fat hippo on Tuesday 22 February 19:54

This generation just looks so spot on to me. Proper Mint Sauce territory.

[lufbramatt]

Orange made some decent frames- P7, O2/EV02, E4, Clockwork, C16R... the later ones around 2000 work well with a 100-120mm fork.

I liked the Specialized M2/M4 XC frames, IIRC they used to use them in dual slalom they were that tough.

There were also lots of boutiquey Italian frames around in that era made with fancy tubesets from columbus, Deddacai etc. would avoid these as they often used super thin wall tubes that cracked.

Check steel frames for rust- my dad has an early 90s Marin Eldrige Grade with terminal rust in the downtube/bottom bracket area and I have a mid 90s Saracen made from Tange tubing with some crusty spots on the chainstays

Edited by lufbramatt on Wednesday 23 February 09:35

[aka_kerrly]

V1nce Fox said:

Fat hippo said:

Klein, Yeti, Fat Chance

Edited by Fat hippo on Tuesday 22 February 19:54

This generation just looks so spot on to me. Proper Mint Sauce territory.

Wow , blast from the past!!

OP , I can't believe I forgot about the Cove Stiffy!!!! Those are good frames, more modern geometry that can handle 4" suspension and disc mount options which are big advantages over the 90s era cross country spec frames.

[S17Thumper]

Simon_GH said:

Pace RC200?

Christ that’s a reminder of a bike that feels awful to ride

I’d love a retro chameleon

Maybe stay full-sus, get a Klein Mantra and feel like you’re going to die every ride

[Simon_GH]

I’ve never ridden one but like the look of it!

[crashley]

Some great suggestions so far. Think I’ll def go hard tail route though.

[Spydaman]

You could always go the resto-mod route.