Show me your older 26" mtb, turned modern day gravel grinder.

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Show me your older 26" mtb, turned modern day gravel grinder, tourer, etc. Drop, flat, riser bars. 1x, 3x. Racks and bags, stripped and light, restomod Etc etc.
Old mtb's given a new lease of life, post them up :thumbsup:
 
I'm in for the inspiration; all I have is an old thrashed Nishiki, some "before" pictures, and a vague plan
Been in pieces on the back shelf for too long
IMG_20200629_181412052.jpg

I'd love to go with a Nexus igh, make an all roads tourer like a Raleigh from the pre MTB days
 
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I have a 26" Access Comp that I've owned since 1989. 1.95" knobbies with a center ridge, fenders, rear rack, and drop bars with Shimano Tourney brifters. I'll try to remember to edit this post with a picture of it later.
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Here’s a ‘94 Scott I recently finished.
Swapped the suspension fork to a kona project 2 rigid one, shorter stem, and wider (motorcycle) handlebars. Thumbie shifters, indexed rear, friction front. Swapped up the gearing from a triple to a sub compact double up front, and a wider range cassette in the rear. The range now is similar to modern 1x12 drivetrains.

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And a few builds back I did this ‘91 Nishiki Ariel. 1x9 wide range set up, moto bars, Since these pics ive swapped to Hookworm tires.
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39008295-6D6C-467B-B237-2EE5258F97C2.jpeg
 
Here’s a ‘94 Scott I recently finished.
Swapped the suspension fork to a kona project 2 rigid one, shorter stem, and wider (motorcycle) handlebars. Thumbie shifters, indexed rear, friction front. Swapped up the gearing from a triple to a sub compact double up front, and a wider range cassette in the rear. The range now is similar to modern 1x12 drivetrains.

View attachment 181628
View attachment 181629


And a few builds back I did this ‘91 Nishiki Ariel. 1x9 wide range set up, moto bars, Since these pics ive swapped to Hookworm tires.
View attachment 181630
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Pair of nice rides there.
 
Those old 26ers can be reimagined into anything you want them to be.

Killa1.jpg


After dropping about $450 total on the bike and build, one would be hard-pressed to find anything new for less than $1000 that could match up with this bike in both performance and style. Of course the style factor is based on personal tastes...
 
You know, I did this to my old Diamondback (bought new in '92 or '93) a few years back, and I hated it. :bigsmile:
I think I went too far, trying to make it a comfort bike, and with the weird/wild style, with mini-apes, white grips, whitewall tires, etc. I'm going to have to revisit this idea after seeing all these cool bikes here! :cool:
 
My US made 97 Cannondale M700 ridge mountain bike, this is the first bike I bought new 25 yrs ago. I still have the receipt!
I've converted it to a variety of different 700C & 26" setups over the years, Currently running with 650Bs as a 1x8 trail bike for moderate trail riding, No jumping with these bars!!!!! It's great to get out on the old classic, all that is original is frame/fork/seat post clamp, all changed out and upgraded overtime. Love this aluminum frame/cromo fork frameset!

Ride on!

m700.jpeg
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