‘92 Alpinestars AL-Mega DX

[Jimmy oldskool]

After having owned one of these from new back in ‘92 it became a need of mine to have one in the collection.



My original Al-Mega was a 15” that I had M735 XT mechs and thumbies fitted to before I took delivery, then fitted a set of Manitous and a flite and went off racing…
I loved that thing but unfortunately it was nicked off the bike rack a few years later and that was that…



A chance flick through eBay back in 2018 brought up this little thing, a 15” (rarer than the usual larger sizes) with a total mish mash of components and what looked to be a polished frame!






After agreeing a very cheap deal I picked it up and quickly realised it was chrome powder coated, but importantly, fracture free!



I rode it a few times, just light stuff, tow paths, pub, shop and it always got admiring comments based on the quirky frame design and polished appearance, then put it away to come back to at a later date…




Last summer I decided to pull it apart and get stuck into the rebuild…A nice resto mod that I’ll keep forever! So, remember the bit where I said it was fracture free!?…





To be continued…

 

[Spankyfart]

Ouch that last pic.
I feel you, had the same on my IFT last jan.

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

So…After the discovery of the crack on the headtube, on closer examination it seems it was caused by an over zealous previous owner removing the headset cups with a chisel!?…Probably around the time the frame was powder coated…




You can see the tell tale mark which the crack leads off of.
After speaking to Dan Chambers, it’s quite an easy and inexpensive fix. Dan will remove the lower gusset, invisibly repair the crack, fabricate and refit a new matching gusset and all will be as good as new!

On hearing this news back from Dan, I’ve then continued to strip the frame and get it off to the strippers!?



Whilst it was away I managed to procure some front mech bolts due to the clamp on design of the front mech and some other nice bits to add to the theme of the bike…






Based on these bits and the colour scheme I’ve opted for, I think it’ll stay rigid, although if a set of RC35’s in 1 1/4 came up, I could be tempted to fit those…

 

[mk one]

What are you going to do with the finish once repaired, resprayed?

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

What are you going to do with the finish once repaired, resprayed?

I was going to do a Klein fade, either GLF or HLF with ‘92 Astars markings in black…But my painter has put me off that idea as my Attitude is just about to be painted in GLF, so I’m now back to thinking BRG with gold graphics…That should compliment the saddle and grips nicely

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

So it’s back from the strippers…



Other than the crack that I knew about, there are some odd marks on the down tube?




Anyone have any ideas?




All the Easton tubing marks are present and correct, but does anyone know how to decipher A-Stars frame numbers?



…In other news, I think I’ve decided to build it as a single speed…

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

Single speed idea is dead…

@danson67 now has the frame and I’m pretty much sorted on the bits…Although I’m still unsure on whether to stick with 1”1/4 or 1”1/8 (which will need reducers)

Still undecided on colour, so ideas would be good!

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

Quick thread revival…

Frame has now been repaired by @danson67 and in true fashion, Dan gave me a nice little write up and some pictures of the work he carried out to repair the headtube crack, so just waiting for its safe return and on with the rebuild we go!

Dans bits:

“Hi James, Thanks for the gentle kick up the arse...I finally pulled my bloody finger out and did it today.

Cut off the gusset and cleaned it up. Surprisingly soft alloy. Filled any grooves or nicks from cutting it off, and filed those back to the original tube surface. Grooved out the crack, welded and smoothed back, then refitted the gusset. Finally, cleaned up the remnants of the previous repair on the inside of the head tube and reamed it to spec.

All the best, Dan”

 

[EPX-Terrashark-UK]

I had one of these in polished finish back in 1995, still considering getting another one for a full nostalgia hit. Will follow along with this one mate, mine first one cracked on the seat tube in the end around 1998.