My old classic mtn bike
04-11-14, 07:33 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Singapore
Posts: 348
Bikes: Litespeed Ti Mtb, BikeE Recumbent, Cannondale H600 Hybrid,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
My old classic mtn bike
Back in 1991, I was looking to replace my Bridgestone MB-3 so what better material than titanium. Also wanted a bike that handles off-road in a predictable manner. So I got a sweet Litespeed Mtn frame that weighs only 1 kilo. Litespeed had just 2 models then - Mtn and Road before they started making those with hard-to-pronunce model names. Back then there was no disk brakes, no fancy suspension systems and headsets only come in 1 inch threaded. Now 23 years later, I'm still riding my dream bike.
No expense was spared. The parts chosen are either made of titanium or blue in color.
matching Litespeed quill stem on a blue Chris King 1" threaded headset with blue ControlTech handlebars. The bar-ends are X-Lite Stubbies Pro from UK and weigh only 90 gr.
Fitted a blue Manitou3 suspension, also got a blue CNC machined Kooka Brake Arch that replaced the dull stock one. The brakes are Critical Racing canti's with Avid Tri-Align straddle.
The Machine Tech hollow core suspension hubs looked great paired with Control Tech titanium skewers. No quick release because it uses allen key to remove.
The drive train was 8 speed Shimano XTR front derailleur, rear derailleur, chain and cassette. The shifters was the classic XT top shifters that in friction mode can handle any gear combination. Also had to put on a lightweight Paul's Love Levers in blue color. The crankset was Ritchey Logic and the pedals are Grafton Speed Traps with titanium spindle and blue cage.
The seatpost is Syncros titanium 26.8 attached to a Flite titanium saddle.
I must say that it has given me much joy to ride this classic for more than 20 years and I must add that when you put in quality parts and maintain them, they can really last a long time.
No expense was spared. The parts chosen are either made of titanium or blue in color.
matching Litespeed quill stem on a blue Chris King 1" threaded headset with blue ControlTech handlebars. The bar-ends are X-Lite Stubbies Pro from UK and weigh only 90 gr.
Fitted a blue Manitou3 suspension, also got a blue CNC machined Kooka Brake Arch that replaced the dull stock one. The brakes are Critical Racing canti's with Avid Tri-Align straddle.
The Machine Tech hollow core suspension hubs looked great paired with Control Tech titanium skewers. No quick release because it uses allen key to remove.
The drive train was 8 speed Shimano XTR front derailleur, rear derailleur, chain and cassette. The shifters was the classic XT top shifters that in friction mode can handle any gear combination. Also had to put on a lightweight Paul's Love Levers in blue color. The crankset was Ritchey Logic and the pedals are Grafton Speed Traps with titanium spindle and blue cage.
The seatpost is Syncros titanium 26.8 attached to a Flite titanium saddle.
I must say that it has given me much joy to ride this classic for more than 20 years and I must add that when you put in quality parts and maintain them, they can really last a long time.
04-11-14, 10:36 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Posts: 5,395
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1765 Post(s)
Liked 1,124 Times
in
746 Posts
A dream ride then --- still a dream ride. Some things don't ever really go out of style , they just lie dormant in the collective thinking for a bit -- thanks for the pics !
Nowadays, a Bridgestone MB-3 is no slouch in the classic mtb department either
Nowadays, a Bridgestone MB-3 is no slouch in the classic mtb department either
Last edited by DMC707; 04-11-14 at 10:40 PM.
04-13-14, 12:43 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Covington Ohio
Posts: 125
Bikes: 1985 Centurion Ironman Dave Scott, Winsor cliff 29er pro, 88 TREK 660, 84 TREK 610, 13 CAAD10-3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice Bike! One to ride with pride! I sold my 95 Gary Fisher Marlin (My first real mtb) a few years ago, and regret it. It was nowhere near as high end as your Lightspeed, but you come to realize newer is not always better.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mobilemail
Classic & Vintage
44
10-31-14 04:54 PM
rcommbikes
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
16
08-20-14 08:12 AM
