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It's all relative isn't it! The 26" BMX I've been riding has 390mm chain stays, and I have to say it's noticeably easier to initiate a manual compared to the Saracen. Both are of course much easier than a 440mm+ chain stay trail bike! I also think BB drop seems very important to how a bike...

Cheers mate! I'm pretty chuffed with it so far!

Hoping to get out to one of the local pump tracks later this week to see how it feels there, as that's going to be what decides if it's a keeper or not.

Interestingly, the fork doesn't make that annoying clicking noise when the bikes being ridden, only when standing and pushing down on the bars without weight on the pedals. I guess as long as the fork is under a little sag, whatever is causing the click isn't making contact. It feels good too...

One thing that pleasantly surprised me is that it manuals better than I'd expected. I thought 425mm chain stays might be long enough to make getting the front up noticeable more difficult, but it floats up quite nicely and does feel a bit more like I might one day be able to control it than the...

Really pleased with how it's come out. I'm liking the balance of black/silver/red a lot. Aesthetically the only thing I'm not sold on is the deep section rims which look a bit out of place on a jump bike, but silver disc wheels seem comparatively hard to come by so they'll likely stay...

Well it ended up being done in dribs and drabs rather than over the satisfying pot of tea I'd planned... But it's now ready to hit the pump track!

I would also say that while my 2000s Mount Vision feels very much "like a retro bike" (but with really good brakes and suspension), a pre-1997 bike is still sufficiently different that it makes a pretty solid cut off year.

Mind you I would describe the above bike as "awesome" and would love to still be in my thirties so.... 14 years wasn't that long was it? 😂

2010 is the definitely modern to me. This is the newest bike I own, a 2010 - it's definitely a bit different from a modern bike (in some good ways, some bad), but I'd say it's miles away from a pre-1997 one. IMO you can still get "classic" frames from the 2000-2010 period, I just wouldn't...

Future jobs that look like they need doing: If it's going to be a keeper, I'll pop some different tyres on. The fork makes a "click" noise when compressed quickly. I'm reasonably certain this is the sound of the SSV valve in the damper opening (it's independent of position in the travel &...

So, next jobs... Front QR skewer needs replacing with a proper closed cam one. Cable outers are pretty much sorted, but cable inners need adding, and brakes/gears setting up after that. Headset needs adjusting and general once over / bolt check across the whole bike. And it should be...

Pretty pleased with how it's shaping up so far!

Despite the bars now being a decent 680mm wide, the cockpit still looks super narrow by modern standards!

A step too far? Maybe... Can always replace with some boring black ones down the line if I decide I don't like them.

Feeling like this was the right choice 8)

The pedals cleaned up nicely and feel great after giving the bearings some TLC.

Made a bit more progress this week in dribs and drabs! Since I decided to go with the red Tioga stem, I thought I'd pop a few more red accents on - starting with the saddle:

I did wonder about that - do you reckon it's harder wearing than car touch up paint? Do you have to get posh stuff or will cheap and cheerful do?

These arrived in the post this week, so that's braking duties covered - basic but should be plenty good enough for it's intended use. Now all I need is a nice chunk of time to enjoy the build!