Santuri32

I know about the 1988 and 89 Access Comp only, would you mind sharing a pic of the '87?. This are the only 1987 models that I have identified. I thought the Access Sport was the top line this year, followed by Access and lastly by A.P.B. and that Access Comp was a new model for 1988. These all share the 1987 decal pattern interpreted from a May 1987 magazine. I have no serials.

Sagi57

Santuri32 you asked who raced it. In an earlier post you may have answered your own question;
"Apparently, they had a Racing Team, and one point the advertised was their full Shimano components. Is possible the OP’ bike was raced, but I don’t know the Team colors. The two-color fade was typical of many Team bikes of the period, and sometimes reflected colors offered. Shimano may have sponsored the particular race Team."

Santuri32

Thank you, and for going to the trouble of removing the guide. All matches between our bikes except for the guide, maybe steel was cheaper than plastic in 1988.

T-Mar

Unfortunately, I don't own a phone camera or a working scanner. I wait until my son visits with his camera phone before I can post pictures.

I still don't think that the OP's bicycle is a team bicycle. While Supergo/Bikecology may have sponsored a team, it wouldn't seem logical to remove the decals of the brand that the team was promoting. Also, if the team bicycles were painted in a red and blue livery, I would think that the blue would be the much darker shade that was used as the other colour option on this model. Finally, if we operate on the assumption that production was limited to 1000 units, the OP's bicycle would be mid-run production, which would not be typical for a team bicycle, unless it was a replacement.

Santuri32

Those are 3 very valid points. The missing SuperGo logo may indicate as the OP suggests it could have been a Shimano Team bike, but that would also made more sense if it was a late 1986 model matching the time of the 6-speed XT-730 intro.. I own a Team Marin Bike in a fading duo-tone color scheme and the colors do represent colors offered in their bikes that year and it does have the Marin decal, although no sponsors, it was their first year racing and it wasn't a Joe Murray raced bike to the best of my knowledge. The pink for the red in the OP bike may still be acceptable on a Team bike as it was so trendy after the late 1984 Specialized Team raced prototype versions of the 1985 Team model, that pink may have been used just for that by some company. Maybe SuperGo sold lots of pink colored items. The paint in my bike seems high quality and thick. It could be also a Team "Tribute" bike.


The only reference I have found about a SuperGo race Team is for their 2002 Clif bar, finding a 1988 Team picture would be the only way of finding for sure, until then these are just open to opinion suggestions.

Santuri32

If someone has old 1986 to 1988 Issues of Mountain Bike Action Magazines, these are full of SuperGo advertisement, reviews came in several issues (some of these are March 1987, October 1987 "Rockit?), May 1988, Nov. 1988, Dec 1988).

Sagi57

Amazing how a bike buy and a question has spawned such chatter.
I'm sure I've seen this bike, this exact one or a sibling, before. (I'd swear) It was in an Ohio Thrift Store, Grove City to be exact. It would have been $35 or under. Not knowing then what I was looking at I passed it up.
Whether it's a Team bike or a fan(?) copy it's a find for me.

Question. Would I be foolish to put these bars on it? Bars are SOMA Late Risers bought at Franklinton Cycle Works in Columbus. I found the bars in the bins. They had lavender grips, I can only assume they were off a kid's bike. Too narrow for the brakes and shifters?

T-Mar

My recollection is that the Supergo brand didn't exist until the 1987 model year and that in 1986 their house brand was Sintesi, with the ATB model being a Crested Butte or similar name.

Regarding the handlebars, I would install whatever makes the bicycle more enjoyable to ride. However, when I make such modifications, I always keep the OEM equipment so that I can restore things, should I decide to sell the bicycle in the future. In my experience, most buyers prefer OEM condition, when it comes to higher end, vintage bicycles.

Santuri32

I believe that's the case as well, but as you know new model year bikes like cars come out a few months before the model-year. And Action magazine began in July 1986 and feature many of their bikes, is possible it became a good customer of the magazine late that year (1986). I even read somewhere that the 1987 Access came relatively late that year, but since I don't know for sure, it doesn't hurt to ask, must likely we wont see any magazines being so old.

But again, you scanned the 1988 ad, I am hoping there's a family reunion soon. I believe the decal on that Sport from 1987 is Tange Infinity MTB. It is likely that the Access Sport was a lesser model than the plain Access in an 80s Stumpjumper fashion. I believe the Columbus SL tubing is higher end that the Tange Infinity, could you please confirm if that was the case? If so, full XT was an option as you made reference earlier.

Cheers

Santuri32

Short handlebars were a 90's fashion. I'm kidding whatever works for you, as you are not racing it on trails it would work. I prefer the original look but that just me. Are you looking for a riser set, I'll trade you the original for one

Santuri32

This is an 1989 Access Comp in a similar blue tone to the OPs, maybe the Rockit was pink

Sagi57

Thanks for the offer of taking the original (OEM?) handlebars off my hands but, sorry, imma keep them. I'm siding w Mr T in keeping the original equipment w the bike. The flat bar is in the riser you see in the last pic right now anyway. The kid's gold one's are too narrow for this old man. I'd love some bullhorns using a long stemmed road bike stem and the original thumb shifters and brake levels. Is it out there?

Sagi57

Forgot to do update pictures.



Nothing's screwed down yet and I'm trying to figure out my comfort zoning.
so the question; What are these holes on the framing for?


I recognize the center pull brake cable holder but what are these holes for?
Ive bought Zinn's Mountain Bike Maintenance and so far see no illustrations or definitions for them.

katsup

The seat stay holes look like they are for a rear rack.

T-Mar

I don't have any MBA for 1986 but went through all my Bicycling issues from 1986. I wouldn't think that Bikecology would create different advertisements for different magazines, so what's in Bicycling probably also appeared in MBA. . Regardless, only ATB mentioned is Sintesi Crested Butte II. What happened to Crested Butte (I)? I'll have to go back and check 1985 issues. I had thought 1986 was the 1st year for their house brand bicycles.

Santuri32

Do you think they skipped the I since Raleigh had their own Crested Butte in 1985?

Here's a pic on the Crested Butte II






It looks like 1986 WSI bike DiamondBack Ascent/Novara AT to the seat collar lug. But with the nicer components of the Apex/Scott Boulder

T-Mar

No house brand bicycles in 1985 Bikecology advertisements, only Alan, Bob Jackson and Rauler.

T-Mar

Only advertisement run by Bikecology for their Sintesi Crested Butte II. Note late July arrival, making it 1986-1-2 model.

T-Mar

The only ATB advertised by Bikecology in Bicycling for the 1987 model year was the Supergo Access, though they had two different advertisements. They were really pushing this model, as it was featured on the inside back cover for the entire year.

T-Mar

Here's the 2nd version Bikecology's advertisement for the 1987 Supergo Access. Further evidence of their big push for this model are the bicycle submissions to four different magazines for (off) road tests. Note that his is only 1/2 the advertisement. I edited out the bottom section containing a road model.

Sagi57

Posted this before checking what others wrote, which is interesting. Thanks.;
So here's where I'm at atm.

I'm back to the original setup as far as the handlebar. I've a new stem w an extension foward I'd like further but...
I'll head to Franklinton Cycle Works in the next few days to get final set w the levers and figure out these V-brakes. Right now I can't get the right rear brake pad adjusted away from the rim. I'll also ask about those holes. Rear fender posts?

T-Mar

There's really nothing to figure out with V-brakes, outside of pad height and angles. The mechanical advantage is fixed, unless you start mixing brakes levers and brake arms. It was Shimano's attempt to mistake proof brake set-up, for both LBS mechanics and owners. From that point of view they were a big success. It's hard not to get optimum performance out of a V-brake, beyond pad issues and parts mixing.

clubman 

You're not far off on that. Many urban riders cut bars short for weaving though traffic. I did.

Santuri32

Great find, thank you so much for sharing it. Its funny how the advertised the colors as Ferrari Red and Royal blue Colors, both dark colors but the picture shows a light colored bike. So the weight went from 29.5 in the 1986 (Access, Tange 900), to 27.5 in 1987 (Access, Columbus SL), to 27? in 1987 (Access Team Issue, Tange Prestige).

July was sometime the first moth of fabrication for imported "next" year models. Like first Stumpjumper Sport and Lugged Stumpjumper. It seems they were jumping late each year. Your 1987 ad for the Access says their 1987 came with new for 1988 Shimano pedals and headset. Was that a tactic to save money? Toyo for example was making 10,000 frames per year and they were making frames for Ritchey, Gary Fisher, Specialized, GT and others, maybe they chose not to press for early fabrication to avoid paying a prime or getting a better deal.

Santuri32

I have a slightly different Ad, that mentions the weight, but does not mention the 1988 Shimano pedals. It's from May 1987, what month is yours from?