19" Marin Bear Valley - Advice please

[Zer0]

Hi,
I wanted to show you all what I picked up yesterday, is this original any idea of the year? Do you have any suggestions what to do to it. I plan to fix the spokes and overhaul but have been out of the bike scene for a long time, got this because I used to have one.

 

[brocklanders023]

That looks like a great project to me and it's a 1990 bike. Plenty of bit's are not original as it should be 400LX from memory but even the replacements are not miles out, just sympathetic upgrades/replacements from the 90's.

Personally I'd rebuild it to original spec.

 

[Zer0]

Thanks Brocklaners any other thoughts what's not original?

 

[Gtpulse]

It’s been said before but I think the Bear Valley is such a good bike, not shouty but really competent and great looking.

Something like this though this is from the 1991 catalogue. I’ve had a couple of these and the last one had the dark silver STX group which while it wasn’t “correct” was right enough to and looked great.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/12569-2/1991-2.pdf

 

[Zer0]

Wow that's incredible thanks

 

[brocklanders023]

Yeah, pretty much as above. The Exage crank set was 93 only, the V brakes, shifters and levers a few years later. The rear mech is period correct but should be 400LX. It's possible that it was original though as I've had Marin's with slightly off group sets and the LX is an upgrade!

 

[Zer0]

Thanks Brocklanders very helpful

 

[greencat]

Ride enjoy, replace bits (perhaps with factory spec or modern) to make it fit well/as they wear out as needed. Bear Valleys of that vintage are not particularly rare so no need to feel like you have to create a museum specimen. Plenty of others have done so already.

 

[Lhatch4]

As was stated it's had some sensible upgrades through the 90's. I consider bikes like that one to be eligible for a fun restoration. No need to worry about a specific groupset or build kit. Just strip it down. Clean it. And build it back the way you want for your style of riding. I really like a project like that.