Show Your Vintage MTB Drop Bar Conversions
01-31-20, 09:10 AM
#6601
Senior Member
A little before and after. This is my 1983 Miyata Ridge Runner, pretty much stock with original bullmoose bars and added porteur rack.
Here it is with Nitto dirt drop stem and Soma Portola bars, sans porteur rack.
So far, so fun. I took it out for a shakedown around the neighborhood and liked the way it felt. Truth be told, I almost certainly won't use the drops unless I'm pedaling into a fierce headwind or screaming down a steep descent. With the weight of the bike and those tries, I really don't think there will be much screaming.
Here it is with Nitto dirt drop stem and Soma Portola bars, sans porteur rack.
So far, so fun. I took it out for a shakedown around the neighborhood and liked the way it felt. Truth be told, I almost certainly won't use the drops unless I'm pedaling into a fierce headwind or screaming down a steep descent. With the weight of the bike and those tries, I really don't think there will be much screaming.
I got around to converting to moustache bars. I had to go with a dirt drop to get enough clearance over the basket/bag combo:
I would like to somehow get the branding off of the seatpost and the saddle is toast so I'm going to replace it with a brown B17. If you go back to around 2014 in this very same thread you'll see that I had a specialized riser stem that came with the bike but lost it along the way, presumably somewhere in Kansas City.
Last edited by blart; 01-31-20 at 02:12 PM.
02-05-20, 10:39 AM
#6602
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Bikes: Cinelli Experience Road Bike, Aventon Mataro Low Commuter Track Bike (Fixed with front brake), Cinelli Vigorelli Track Bike (Brakeless), Giant ATX770 (Drop bars), Aventon Cordoba Single Speed (wife)
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Hello!
Take a look at my gravel-converted Giant ATX770 nineties MTB.
im quite pleased with the end result.
Giant MTB to drop-bar Gravel.
Take a look at my gravel-converted Giant ATX770 nineties MTB.
im quite pleased with the end result.
Giant MTB to drop-bar Gravel.
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02-06-20, 09:26 AM
#6605
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R
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I'm feeling quite torn on converting my 89 Trek 950 to a gravel ride like this. On one hand, it is mostly original. But the missing pieces are tough to find... A conversion, in no way harms the bike itself... Andddddddddd, well, I do have the drop bars, Sora 3400 brifters and cx top bar brake levers already...
02-06-20, 02:10 PM
#6606
Senior Member
Still a work in progress, and in the final shot next to my other work in progress!
02-06-20, 02:57 PM
#6607
Happy banana slug
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I love the look of this bike!!!
I'm feeling quite torn on converting my 89 Trek 950 to a gravel ride like this. On one hand, it is mostly original. But the missing pieces are tough to find... A conversion, in no way harms the bike itself... Andddddddddd, well, I do have the drop bars, Sora 3400 brifters and cx top bar brake levers already...
I'm feeling quite torn on converting my 89 Trek 950 to a gravel ride like this. On one hand, it is mostly original. But the missing pieces are tough to find... A conversion, in no way harms the bike itself... Andddddddddd, well, I do have the drop bars, Sora 3400 brifters and cx top bar brake levers already...
02-08-20, 01:25 AM
#6608
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Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R
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I might hit the local Collective and see what I find...
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02-08-20, 07:04 AM
#6609
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Merlin Elevator with Ibis LD stem and (only looks a mother could only love!) Monolith fork - to be fair, actually works rather well. This is the setup as ordered by the original owner.
02-17-20, 10:52 AM
#6610
Senior Member
02-20-20, 01:07 PM
#6611
Full Member
Here is my contribution to this thread. Only thing left to swap is the stem which is a bit short, and not silver..
Ritchey Logic (Tange Prestige) frame
Shimano XT derailleurs
Sugino crankset
Mavic 217 SUP wheelset
PRO Discover 30° flared handlebars
My left leg is currently wounded, hence the left crank arm situation (I can only pedal with the right one for now).
Ritchey Logic (Tange Prestige) frame
Shimano XT derailleurs
Sugino crankset
Mavic 217 SUP wheelset
PRO Discover 30° flared handlebars
My left leg is currently wounded, hence the left crank arm situation (I can only pedal with the right one for now).
02-24-20, 02:02 AM
#6612
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Same here! Been following this epic/inspirational thread for a while and getting closer to sharing my build. Thanks for reminding me to make enough posts in order to share pics.
Last edited by squarenoise; 02-24-20 at 02:46 AM.
02-24-20, 03:08 AM
#6613
Junior Member
Schwinn pdg 70
Once I got enough posts, I will show my 1995 Schwinn pdg 70 in red white blue with full xtr and drop bar. Only minus is I don't have the original fork anymore. Time to sort that out.
02-24-20, 05:30 AM
#6614
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02-24-20, 08:58 AM
#6615
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02-24-20, 11:22 AM
#6616
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02-27-20, 05:27 PM
#6617
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This was my first drop bar conversion project, a late 80s (I think) Shogun ATB1. Bought the frameset as NOS and built it up with parts from a Kuwahara Aries (cracked frame), then added threadless stem adaptor, Velo Orange riser stem, Nitto Rando bars, first generation Shimano bar end shifters and Dia Compe Gran Compe levers. Great riding bike and super fun first project. I have a couple others in the works and will share soon.
Shogun ATB Drop Bar Conversion
Shogun ATB Drop Bar Conversion
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02-28-20, 06:03 PM
#6619
Senior Member
This was my first drop bar conversion project, a late 80s (I think) Shogun ATB1. Bought the frameset as NOS and built it up with parts from a Kuwahara Aries (cracked frame), then added threadless stem adaptor, Velo Orange riser stem, Nitto Rando bars, first generation Shimano bar end shifters and Dia Compe Gran Compe levers. Great riding bike and super fun first project. I have a couple others in the works and will share soon.
Shogun ATB Drop Bar Conversion
Shogun ATB Drop Bar Conversion
Are the brakes vintage? What make/model and can you post a pic of them?
Thanks.
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02-28-20, 06:21 PM
#6620
Full Member
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Dia Compe XCM
Last edited by squarenoise; 03-02-20 at 11:20 PM.
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03-01-20, 08:47 PM
#6621
Senior Member
This was my first drop bar conversion project, a late 80s (I think) Shogun ATB1. Bought the frameset as NOS and built it up with parts from a Kuwahara Aries (cracked frame), then added threadless stem adaptor, Velo Orange riser stem, Nitto Rando bars, first generation Shimano bar end shifters and Dia Compe Gran Compe levers. Great riding bike and super fun first project. I have a couple others in the works and will share soon.
Shogun ATB Drop Bar Conversion
Shogun ATB Drop Bar Conversion
03-08-20, 10:40 PM
#6622
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03-11-20, 05:54 PM
#6623
Member
Here's my Explorer 444. It's a 4130 non-lugged build. If anyone knows anything about this frame, please reach out trying to find any info I can about the make/model etc https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ification.html
It was built rather hastily (and cheaply) from mostly spare parts as an all purpose rig. I use it to tow my daughter around in the trailer and it does a fine job doing it and it's quite fun to ride fast without the kid behind me.
650B wheels with Panaracer Col de la Vie 650x38mm tires
Shimano XT 46-36-26 crank, Altus FD, Tourney RD, 7 speed cog, Rivbike bar end pods with 105 DT shifters in STI mode.
Tektro CR720 with Shimano 105 levers
I will eventually upgrade components but I'm enjoying it as it sits.
It was built rather hastily (and cheaply) from mostly spare parts as an all purpose rig. I use it to tow my daughter around in the trailer and it does a fine job doing it and it's quite fun to ride fast without the kid behind me.
650B wheels with Panaracer Col de la Vie 650x38mm tires
Shimano XT 46-36-26 crank, Altus FD, Tourney RD, 7 speed cog, Rivbike bar end pods with 105 DT shifters in STI mode.
Tektro CR720 with Shimano 105 levers
I will eventually upgrade components but I'm enjoying it as it sits.
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03-13-20, 02:05 AM
#6624
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The guy I bought this from had JUST the Suntour Barcons listed on Craigslist. After meeting, I asked what kind of bike they came off of and he showed me this Specialized Rock Combo. He mentioned parting it out to convert to a single speed flatbar commuter and at that point I said I would be interested in the handlebars and any other parts he didn't want, thinking there was no way he'd give up the frame. He took a deep breath and said "You know what... it'll take me forever to finish this project, I'll sell you the whole lot" and gave me a really good deal!
Unfortunate that it wasn't complete, but at least it came with the original Specialized BB1 Dirt Drops and Specialized Flag Crankset. I have most of the missing parts to move over from an 89 Stumpjumper (also incomplete) so it should be a fairly painless build. Hoping to make some progress on it this weekend. Onward!
1989 Specialized Rock Combo
Unfortunate that it wasn't complete, but at least it came with the original Specialized BB1 Dirt Drops and Specialized Flag Crankset. I have most of the missing parts to move over from an 89 Stumpjumper (also incomplete) so it should be a fairly painless build. Hoping to make some progress on it this weekend. Onward!
1989 Specialized Rock Combo
03-17-20, 11:56 PM
#6625
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Inspired from looking at your awesome drop bar conversions
So I picked up a trek 970,
Not sure if I should do a drop bar conversion , or just put bar ends ?? I will post pics . Would appreciate input or experience .. Also the fork , should I just go ridged and how do I go about getting a correct one , or should I look for a bike that has a rigid fork already 🤔???
(PS , I also have a trek 970 which has a rigid fork already, but I kinda like the upslope top tube for comfort on the 930)
Not sure if I should do a drop bar conversion , or just put bar ends ?? I will post pics . Would appreciate input or experience .. Also the fork , should I just go ridged and how do I go about getting a correct one , or should I look for a bike that has a rigid fork already 🤔???
(PS , I also have a trek 970 which has a rigid fork already, but I kinda like the upslope top tube for comfort on the 930)
Last edited by rossiny; 03-18-20 at 02:13 AM.
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