frantik

yeah i didn't mean an XO-1 as a base.. i meant using another mtb frame and setting it up like a roadbike. not exactly the same thing but much cheaper. what makes the xo-1 frame unique anyways? the fact it's got downtube shifter bosses?

jollysnowman

I'm building up one right now! She's a beauty. Give me another week or two and I'll provide a full report!

And about the price... $640 for new 631 and super comfy geometry seems perfectly reasonable to me.

that_guy_zach

Did you get the one that was at Ozone?

inkandsilver

Although they are of course substantially different from an XO-1/XOXO, I have a Coda and would second this recommendation for someone looking for a very versatile new steel bike on a tight budget.

KDNYC

Nothing, really. It's kinda like asking: what makes an old *insert CV bike here* unique? It's desirable to the right person. Decent frame, C&V cachet, Bstone cult weirdness.

I already have a great RB-1, which I love, but the complete bike (pristine!) cost less than $600.

KDNYC

Yup! The LBSs were all out of stock but I just scored a new 2011 for less online. It'll get the "grunge" treatment, stickahs, and pitlocks. Maybe avid brakes in place of the Tektros if I don't like them.

KDNYC

Would love to see it when it's done.

gorillagirl

What makes it unique is that it has 26" wheels with road bike tubing and road bike geometry. It has cantis, but is not overbuilt like a touring bike, and does not have slack angles like a touring bike or mtb. I think it actually is pretty unique. Until this homage to the xo-1, I don't think anyone has really offered anything like it.

guzziee

With patience you can still find a real one instead. I just need some pedals and bar tape to finish refreshing this one.

cs1

Nothing to be sorry about. I always thought it's better to add to a thread than start a new one.

cb400bill

Not a bad homage.

tarwheel 

I'd be all over that Handsome XOXO if I wanted a fat-tire bike. Not enough trails around here to make it worthwhile however. I wouldn't want to lug 26" wheels and tires up all of the hills around here. If I lived somewhere with lots of dirt roads and unpaved trails, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Orrery

Speaking of XO-1's, is this anyone's? I see it parked in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston often. Looks to be the '92. Kind of amazing but awesome to see it being used for commuter duty.


IMAG0405 by orrery84, on Flickr

KDNYC

Beautiful! I love that color.

jollysnowman

Yes!!! They finished my wheelset a couple weeks ago. I'm waiting for my bottom bracket to come in and I'll be dropping by the shop later today to get some downtube shifters, but other than that, she's done and just needs to be cleaned and assembled.

Ozone is a great shop; the guys are always willing to chat and the music is fun.

Purists probably won't be too happy with my build It's a mix of used and spare parts - I'm just too excited to get her rolling to "do it right." The only brand new bits are the chainrings, chain, freewheel, and wheelset. IMO, these are only parts that really need to be new anyway (well I guess I could've gone with used hubs ).

Whodat

It is in fact a '92. I'm trying to live up to the injunction that I saw as someone's signature line in another forum: "It ain't a teacup that the Queen gave you-it's a bike. Ride it!". It has subtracted a few minutes from, and added a great deal of fun to, my commute. In the month or so I've owned it I've put on about half as many miles as the preceding owner had in the previous 20 years.

Whodat

My bad. This was supposed to be @guzziee: Very pretty!! What kind of shape was it in-- how much work did you have to put into it?

Orrery

^That's awesome. Looks like a perfect commuter, and it is very nicely set up. Ride the bejeezus out of it!

mainstreetexile 

I think what they are doing here is cool, but this was my first thought. I've seen them go for 1000-1200. At this price point, why not wait it out and find an original for less $$$?

Chris Chicago

originals in the right size may not come up more than once a year, but I see your point. you have to weigh the authenticity, condition and wait vs price, new and immediate. I've thought about both angles for a while but havent pulled the trigger either way.

mainstreetexile 

True, makes sense. If you want one right away, it's nice to have a similar current production model available.

Another point for the original is that it is fully lugged, while this newer version is tig welded.

I've been a recent convert to 26" wheels with nicer tires on some vintage mtb conversions. I haven't ridden an XO-1, so I'm just curious, what makes it (or this newer clone) better than nice high end lugged vintage steel mountain bike frames? Is the geometry just a little more aggressive?

calstar 

Ditto. I realize lots of the old mtbs had a longish tt and high bb along with longer cs and wb but otherwise? I think high end vintage mtbs are the best deal going in bikes today, especially as a base to build on.

Brian

Chris Chicago

Far as I can tell its geometry , esp ht and st angles, 26in tires + mystique. I'm still intrigued, though less now that I tried mustache bars and found them meh.

Im pretty sure some 80's trek sport touring models have the same geo as the xo, but with 27in tires

guzziee

if you can find a cheap Bridgestone CB0-zip, it shares the same geometry has 26" wheels just no lugs like the handsome

mainstreetexile 

Here's the geometry for the 1993 (orange) XO-1:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgest...3/pages/63.htm

Most larger (21-23") lugged vintage MTBs I've seen from the mid/late 80s use a 71deg (or 71.5) head tube and a 73 deg seat tube. The XO-1 uses a 73 head and 73 seat.

It just seems a little more aggressive with shorter chainstays, top tube, and a two degree steeper head tube. It doesn't seem like a huge variation other than a little more responsive steering.