MB-1 Wannabe
09-13-16, 09:07 PM
#1
Wrench Savant
Thread Starter
MB-1 Wannabe
So I found this today. 1987, pretty much original. I thought some of you might find it interesting.
09-13-16, 10:05 PM
#2
Senior Member
that bike is full of so much win; i especially like that stem. the novara trionfo that i have is a literal copy of the dave scott centurion; i imagine that this XR might be of similar design. you're lucky that yours is in much better shape; i had the set mine on fire to free the seat post.
09-14-16, 12:17 PM
#3
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09-14-16, 12:47 PM
#4
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You just gave me a smile.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
09-14-16, 01:01 PM
#5
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Like that a lot. Bikes like this with "royal blood" are a lot of fun for the enthusiast. Apparently, Nicol was an early employee of REI and a few years later, after launching Ibis, was asked to design a line of bikes. He experimented with Japanese built Ibis frames when demand took off. I bet your Novara is little different.
09-14-16, 01:05 PM
#6
Wrench Savant
Thread Starter
Was out for a while between some personal stuff and work. Slowly working back in with a dozen more projects that I have the time to work on. Probably ought to be more selective, but I could not pass this one up.
09-14-16, 01:06 PM
#7
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
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LOVE this bike...what a great design. I don't understand why there aren't/weren't more production bikes like this.
09-14-16, 01:18 PM
#8
Wrench Savant
Thread Starter
More confounding are the old-style Shimano friction bartender shifters. The Shimano line was full SIS for 1987, but these are original to the bike (the RD is SIS). I do not see SIS bar ends in Shimano's catalog for the year, but I know "light action" bar ends existed.
09-14-16, 01:25 PM
#9
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There is some weirdness. It has three bottle bosses which was a bit unusual even for touring bikes at the time, Half-staff gearing, but no front low-rider fork mounts.
More confounding are the old-style Shimano friction bartender shifters. The Shimano line was full SIS for 1987, but these are original to the bike (the RD is SIS). I do not see SIS bar ends in Shimano's catalog for the year, but I know "light action" bar ends existed.
More confounding are the old-style Shimano friction bartender shifters. The Shimano line was full SIS for 1987, but these are original to the bike (the RD is SIS). I do not see SIS bar ends in Shimano's catalog for the year, but I know "light action" bar ends existed.
09-14-16, 01:26 PM
#10
Banned
They made a return counter force spring Bar end too .. (i Have 1) it pulled back against the return spring in the derailleur.
worked fine on FDs
worked fine on FDs
09-14-16, 01:34 PM
#11
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I think this would have been more like a "dirt drops" mtb, like Tomac style?
09-14-16, 03:45 PM
#12
Senior Member
Heck, yeah.
I would never pass that one by either. Those are great shifters there. Too much to hope for that it fits you? And that the seatpost isn't stuck? And that the sweet Rhode Gear rear mirror that was likely under that velcro strap on the left hood came with the purchase? Great project, solid components all.
I would never pass that one by either. Those are great shifters there. Too much to hope for that it fits you? And that the seatpost isn't stuck? And that the sweet Rhode Gear rear mirror that was likely under that velcro strap on the left hood came with the purchase? Great project, solid components all.
09-14-16, 07:49 PM
#13
Wrench Savant
Thread Starter
Heck, yeah.
I would never pass that one by either. Those are great shifters there. Too much to hope for that it fits you? And that the seatpost isn't stuck? And that the sweet Rhode Gear rear mirror that was likely under that velcro strap on the left hood came with the purchase? Great project, solid components all.
I would never pass that one by either. Those are great shifters there. Too much to hope for that it fits you? And that the seatpost isn't stuck? And that the sweet Rhode Gear rear mirror that was likely under that velcro strap on the left hood came with the purchase? Great project, solid components all.
09-14-16, 08:37 PM
#14
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Nice, some seller had a Novara that looked sharp, he was out in the country away, it would have taken a special trip though, not more than about 35 miles 1 way.
04-04-20, 10:00 AM
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I know this is an old post, but I just came on,,,
I have the same Novara, color and all, Not quite as nice, i have had the bike for over 20 years, kicking it around. it has been stored (poorly) for several years. I have just recently got it out and started the rehab process.
new continental ride tours, new brake shoes,
The rubber brake lever covers were rotted so I went to replace, but found the levers cracked, so I am replacing them, along with the brake wires.
earlier this year, my wife had this bike out in a garage sale for $10. didn't sell. (it had flat tires).
I will be using this bike to get back into better physical shape.
I have the same Novara, color and all, Not quite as nice, i have had the bike for over 20 years, kicking it around. it has been stored (poorly) for several years. I have just recently got it out and started the rehab process.
new continental ride tours, new brake shoes,
The rubber brake lever covers were rotted so I went to replace, but found the levers cracked, so I am replacing them, along with the brake wires.
earlier this year, my wife had this bike out in a garage sale for $10. didn't sell. (it had flat tires).
I will be using this bike to get back into better physical shape.
04-04-20, 10:12 AM
#16
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I know this is an old post, but I just came on,,,
I have the same Novara, color and all, Not quite as nice, i have had the bike for over 20 years, kicking it around. it has been stored (poorly) for several years. I have just recently got it out and started the rehab process.
new continental ride tours, new brake shoes,
The rubber brake lever covers were rotted so I went to replace, but found the levers cracked, so I am replacing them, along with the brake wires.
earlier this year, my wife had this bike out in a garage sale for $10. didn't sell. (it had flat tires).
I will be using this bike to get back into better physical shape.
I have the same Novara, color and all, Not quite as nice, i have had the bike for over 20 years, kicking it around. it has been stored (poorly) for several years. I have just recently got it out and started the rehab process.
new continental ride tours, new brake shoes,
The rubber brake lever covers were rotted so I went to replace, but found the levers cracked, so I am replacing them, along with the brake wires.
earlier this year, my wife had this bike out in a garage sale for $10. didn't sell. (it had flat tires).
I will be using this bike to get back into better physical shape.
12-23-21, 09:50 PM
#17
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'87/'88 Novara X-R Dirt Drop Touring Bike
Hey balindamood
Dredging up your 5+ year old thread.
I just picked up a Novara X-R framset and was wondering why/how you determined yours in gray/red was a 1987 model year?
The frame I picked up is blue & white, lugged Tange Infinity, and has a Tange unicrown fork. wonder if it's an earlier model? I read another thread that had a blue & white XR and the OP called it a 1987. From what I'read REI and Scot Nichols started selling these Novara MTBs in '86 or '87. Do you have any thought on that?
In any case I've been eyeing this frameset for about 1 year hanging in a local co-op, so today decided to 'save it'. I'm l
1987 or 1988 Novara X-R drop bar MTB/Touring Bike
ooking forward to building it up!
thanks!
Dredging up your 5+ year old thread.
I just picked up a Novara X-R framset and was wondering why/how you determined yours in gray/red was a 1987 model year?
The frame I picked up is blue & white, lugged Tange Infinity, and has a Tange unicrown fork. wonder if it's an earlier model? I read another thread that had a blue & white XR and the OP called it a 1987. From what I'read REI and Scot Nichols started selling these Novara MTBs in '86 or '87. Do you have any thought on that?
In any case I've been eyeing this frameset for about 1 year hanging in a local co-op, so today decided to 'save it'. I'm l
1987 or 1988 Novara X-R drop bar MTB/Touring Bike
ooking forward to building it up!
thanks!
Last edited by Iowhat; 12-23-21 at 09:55 PM. Reason: changed text
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