1989 MBK Adventure recovery

[Lazpi]

Hi!

I'm writing from Spain.

I started in bicycle mechanics a couple of months ago.

I didn't even know what a crank, stem or fork was, so it's been fun to learn.

It all started because my 5-year-old daughter has started riding a bicycle and my wife and I wanted to have a second set of bicycles in our country house (we have 2 relatively new Orbeas in our main home).

Then, my father-in-law showed me an old MBK Adventure that he had in the garage. He bought it new when my wife learned to ride a bike, from what I have seen it is from approximately 1989.

It had not been paid attention to in several decades, so I got to work, and the list of works and spare parts to date is as follows:

New Shimano cables and covers
New Shimano Deore brake levers
New Shimano shift knobs
Second-hand Orbea grips
Kenda tires and new tubes
New Seye Royale saddle
New Sun Race rear shoes
Second hand Shimano DX pedals

All this along with a good wash and oil.

I still have to ride, next time I go

Second-hand Shimano XT M750 front V-Brake with Sun Race pads
New Zefal bottle cages

As you can see, I have done some 'mixing', some things do not coincide with the year, but I have prioritized functionality/ease of spare parts over being 100% faithful.

I hope to learn in this forum!

In fact, once I'm done with this I'll start with a Razesa from the mid/late 90s.

All the best!

 

[Lazpi]

Hello!

Today I took some time to dismantle the parallelograms of the V-Brake XT m-750.

Basically it is about releasing the 2 grub screws so that the axles are free. Clean the grime accumulated over the years with WD40, and reassemble the pin shafts with some grease. In my case I used a generic green grease from Zefal.

The truth is that it is a pleasure once assembled, to notice the difference in how soft they are after paying some attention to them, and it doesn't take more than 15 minutes. There is a very good tutorial on YouTube.

Next step, assemble it!

 

[27motorhead]

Your bike is from 1989. I had the Hi-Tech Ranger which was the next model up.

They are great to cruise around on and quite upright thanks to short/steep rise stem. They weigh a bloody ton though! Not sure how my scrawny teenage body managed to ride it where I did all those years ago.

The colours on your frame still look really bright so it must have been stored out of sunlight. This is a problem with fluorescent colours, so do keep stored away from direct sun if you want to protect the vibrancy of the paint.

 

[Lazpi]

Your bike is from 1989. I had the Hi-Tech Ranger which was the next model up.

They are great to cruise around on and quite upright thanks to short/steep rise stem. They weigh a bloody ton though! Not sure how my scrawny teenage body managed to ride it where I did all those years ago.

The colours on your frame still look really bright so it must have been stored out of sunlight. This is a problem with fluorescent colours, so do keep stored away from direct sun if you want to protect the vibrancy of the paint.

Thanks for your reply!

Yes, weights like a ton, I was joking with my wife that it will be probably done with tanks scrap.

We took a ride past sunday, and my wife told me she didn't understand how she ride that bike with 12 years, nowadays she is able to move it better (more sport done those years), and rides smoother.

I thinks my father in law firstly storage it in the attic, and then on the garage so, yes it has been away from direct sunligth.

Have a nice day

 

[vtwinvince]

Very cool paint scheme.

 

[Neilios]

I love the paint scheme and the logos, and the bike looks to be in really good condition!

 

[Lazpi]

Hi!

Today I was able to take some time to install the Shimano XT front brake.

Coupled with a set of new Sun Race pads and the new boot and cable, the difference in braking is incredible!

I took the opportunity to put 2 Zefal bottle cages, along with a Gurpil tool holder.

Throughout the week I found a Shimano shark tooth on Ebay for a reasonable price. I would say that by placing that accessory the bike would be finished from my side.

It is likely that at the end of the month I will take it to a bicycle mechanic to give it a final adjustment, and from then on it will only be necessary to maintain it properly and not leave it for another 20 years without paying attention to it.

 

[Lazpi]

I took advantage of the day to have a mechanic friend put the final touch on the adjustment of the gears and tension of the brakes, it was perfect.

We took it for a ride, and since I had brought it home for the adjustment, my wife pedaled with the MBK instead of her Orbea. Verdict: You have to change the saddle, it is uncomfortable.

So, I have 2 jobs: I have to remove the cranks and clean and grease everything well (luckily the bottom bracket has no play) and change the saddle for a Selle Bassano Volare that I have in the garage

I'll post the little news ;-)

 

[Lazpi]

And unwanted change...

Found those Michelin Taiga 26x1.95 at a (I think) reasonable price in Ebay (36€ including shipping for the pair). So, the black Kendas will go out and the MBK will fit those Taigas.

They are not the exact model wich this bike fit at factory, but they are more similar to them

Will post photos with them mounted

 

[27motorhead]

They’ll look great. French tyres on a French bike = parfait!