1999 Gary Fisher Joshua F4
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1999 Gary Fisher Joshua F4
Back in time to '99! Picked up this Gary Fisher Joshua F4
at a moving sale this week for $20. I was out riding my Felt DD70 and had to give the twenty to a young fellow in a shady part of town and hope that it would be there when I returned. All the original parts are there (except the saddle) and look restorable including the Bontrager Corvair rims and hubs. Even the Shimano SPD pedals. DeoreLX, Rock Shox Judy, Fox Racing shock, Profile Design composite bar and Sugino XD crankset.
My plan is to restore it as I have never had the opportunity to ride a 90s full suspension MTB.
at a moving sale this week for $20. I was out riding my Felt DD70 and had to give the twenty to a young fellow in a shady part of town and hope that it would be there when I returned. All the original parts are there (except the saddle) and look restorable including the Bontrager Corvair rims and hubs. Even the Shimano SPD pedals. DeoreLX, Rock Shox Judy, Fox Racing shock, Profile Design composite bar and Sugino XD crankset.
My plan is to restore it as I have never had the opportunity to ride a 90s full suspension MTB.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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Awesome save!! Always wanted one of those . Recently missed one local on CL...
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Wow, It is like a free bike. I've got my 99' F3 (orange one) half year ago and like it a lot. My next mods may be tubeless tires as there are too many thorns around the trail I go. Have fun restoring the bike.
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Ready to ride!
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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This was just something new to enjoy rebuilding and hopefully a ride or two with a riding buddy who still often his 2004 Giant FS MTB even though he rides a 2018 carbon gravel bike most of the time.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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Wow, you did a fantastic job with that! Looks great.
I would definitely try to keep that bike as stock as possible. Its value (IMO) is as a well preserved/restored bit of the cycling experience from 25 years ago (the design is really more mid-90s than 1999). I would actually love to take that out for a spin to bring back some memories of riding in the 90s. Heck, maybe you could find a set of WTB Velociraptors or Panaracer Dart/Smoke for it.
Upgrading that would be, IMO, shame and an utter waste. It is a pig, but a lovely one. No sense trying to put lipstick and heels on it.
I would definitely try to keep that bike as stock as possible. Its value (IMO) is as a well preserved/restored bit of the cycling experience from 25 years ago (the design is really more mid-90s than 1999). I would actually love to take that out for a spin to bring back some memories of riding in the 90s. Heck, maybe you could find a set of WTB Velociraptors or Panaracer Dart/Smoke for it.
Upgrading that would be, IMO, shame and an utter waste. It is a pig, but a lovely one. No sense trying to put lipstick and heels on it.
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Thanks for the kind words. I will not be upgrading to disc although my riding buddy did his Giant with success a few years ago. It is what it is. The weather here is changing so I hope to take it for a ride soon and will do a ride report.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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Wow, looks great! I lusted after that bike when it was new.
Did you touch up those nicks or repaint (is there such a thing as color matching bike touchup paint)? I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Big Sur and every place you ever tag the frame with something you get a chip like you see in your first pics, it comes off easier than other bike paints off their aluminum frames. I've always wanted to clean up my "Acid Yellow" paint scheme.
Did you touch up those nicks or repaint (is there such a thing as color matching bike touchup paint)? I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Big Sur and every place you ever tag the frame with something you get a chip like you see in your first pics, it comes off easier than other bike paints off their aluminum frames. I've always wanted to clean up my "Acid Yellow" paint scheme.
#12
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That looks very sumilar in style and geometry to the Diamondback I recently rebuilt and gave to my brother. I’ve been riding and loving a 29er so I hadn’t ridden it in a while but when I took it on an extended test ride before giving it to him I was very impressed with the entire rig. The coil springs worked great and it still wasn’t that heavy. Enjoy!
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Wow, looks great! I lusted after that bike when it was new.
Did you touch up those nicks or repaint (is there such a thing as color matching bike touchup paint)? I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Big Sur and every place you ever tag the frame with something you get a chip like you see in your first pics, it comes off easier than other bike paints off their aluminum frames. I've always wanted to clean up my "Acid Yellow" paint scheme.
Did you touch up those nicks or repaint (is there such a thing as color matching bike touchup paint)? I have a 1998 Gary Fisher Big Sur and every place you ever tag the frame with something you get a chip like you see in your first pics, it comes off easier than other bike paints off their aluminum frames. I've always wanted to clean up my "Acid Yellow" paint scheme.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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You are spot on with your comments about the paint. Large areas were peeled or chipped down to bare metal. It is like they did not use a primer, and it is thicker, like a powder coat. I have a cupboard full of paints I mix and match for cycle touch-ups. The black on this one is simply Rustoleum Gloss Black applied in multicoats with various widths of artist brushes. I also have almost as many nail polish bottles as my wife now. They work well for smaller areas. I have not found touch up paint for bikes yet although my 2017 Felt fattie came with a small vial with built in brush. Good luck with your "Acid Yellow".
Since you use Rustoleum paint, I've found that their etching primer in a spray can works incredible on most bare metal surfaces, including aluminum.
The Acid Yellow is an in your face obnoxious almost fluorescent yellow... I like it :-P