1991 Alpinestars Al-Mega DX - FINISHED! Pages 7-9

[regan_ev]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Good shout with Argos mate

Oh definitely! It's costing waaaay more than I wanted to spend BUT I know it'll be done right and better than I could've hoped for anywhere else. And I feel vindicated in deciding to take it to them simply because as soon as Garry saw the frame he looked around the headtube/downtube and noticed the small crack, which I'd missed (thought it was simply a dirty mark!). So if it hadn't gone to Argos it might've got a whole lot worse or been fatal lol

Pic for you... Going from upper left and around clcokwise. Unless marked as mine (from my original bike back in the day!) then I've sourced what you see before you from this forum and eBay. Some NOS, some good old used stuff. Lots of it from lol over the world. This is a proper global build haha!
2 x Judy crowns, a 1 1/4" & a 1 1/8" (polished) with Ti bolts (NOS). The latter will probably get fitted with the Wheels Manufacturing ring problem solver reducer and Cane Creek Aheadset (still in wrapping, far left). SRP Ti canti studs for Judy (NOS), XT M732 thumbies (mine), M735 rear mech (mine), M535 SPDs (NOS), Flite Ti 1990 (mine), Magura HS-22 Racelines (mine) with Evo2 mounts and boosters (only one set shown but I've got two), HG91 chain (mine), BB-UN71 68/122.5, Shimano MT-60 chainset (original with this bike, 170mm crank length) cleaned and polished, Answer TaperLite 3° neon yellow bars (NOS), ODI Tomac clear (NOS), Onza silver aluminum bar ends (NOS) and a 1 1/8" silver A-Tac aheadstem. Stuff not pictured that's in the garage are original DX front mech and my USE seatpost, the wheels plus a set of wheels with Mavic M231 on XTR M900 rear & Hope Ti front hubs which might go on, not made up mind yet, because it'd probably need a mid/long cage rear mech if I go 8 speed :?

 

[Tc]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Sweet Jesus this will be the RS of alpinestars

 

[Retro Spud]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Sweet Jesus this will be the RS of alpinestars

Sod Jesus, this is gonna be one bad ass MOFO

The only down side about using Argos for the paint is they're not the quickest, but well worth the wait.

Looking forward to seeing yah picking up the spanners.

 

[regan_ev]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Sweet Jesus this will be the RS of alpinestars

Sod Jesus, this is gonna be one bad ass MOFO

The only down side about using Argos for the paint is they're not the quickest, but well worth the wait.

Looking forward to seeing yah picking up the spanners.

PMSL! I've approached this with the view that I'd like to have some bits I always wanted for mine when I was 14/15/16 years old but couldn't afford, whilst keeping it period correct and sort of coordinated. I've changed direction a couple of times as certain bits have come up for sale because they fit the plan, getting some bits for a bargain whilst undoubtedly paying over the odds for others I know are as rare as hens' teeth!
I've just bought a pair of XTR shifter mounts in case I decide not to use the thumbies and go for M900 RF+ with the XTR rear wheel I've got. I'm tempted to press the trigger on minifreak's M900 shifters he's got for sale at the moment, "just in case" lol
I said from the beginning I want to and will ride this, so not overly concerned if the NOS stuff I've bought gets worn to the point of total devaluation - if I could've got VGC bits for a fraction of the price instead of the NOS stuff then I would've done so, but it'll look prettier with the new bits for sure! And fitting tatty parts to a freshly painted frame would be a pity, so some effort was needed to source decent bits.

As for being on the spanners, I was never any good on them and usually broke most things I ever tried to service, but the useful guides and tips from members on this forum will hopefully steer me in the right direction! I have a set of Judys to put back together (with the NOS Kronos springs bought on here), which I am a bit concerned about, plus an overhaul of the Maguras which I last attempted 19 years ago! Wish me luck haha!

 

[twain]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

signing up! (a little late to the party :/)

 

[regan_ev]

Re:

Big news to share! Just got back from Argos Racing Cycles, Bristol, with the finished frame! Not to blow my own trumpet (more like the trumpet of Argos to be honest!) but I think this has to be the best restored 1991 Alpinestars Al-Mega DX frame in the world right now, especially considering the condition of it beforehand!

They've fully achieved the brief given to them and accommodated a major spec change mid way through - namely the addition of the late-91 spec headtube gusset (which was an OEM feature of all 92 Alpinestars Al-Mega frames) to provide some added strength to this fragile area. The crack that was discovered when I took the frame to them in August has been welded over. The heavy chainsuck rash on the chainstay and the BB shell plus wear around the rear dropouts have been given the filler treatment and are now smoother than a baby's bottom!

The white pearlescent paint and vivid neon yellow are stunning in the flesh and appear pretty realistic in the photos below. At this point another big compliment goes to Gil of Retro Decals (gil_m on this forum who did a superb job of making the decals and customised them to my own requirements (I changed the sizing on the ones on his existing proofs sheet and the colours on some parts too). These have been lacquered over by Argos for preservation and longevity.

Also pictured are the RS Judy lowers painted to match the yellow on the frame with a choice of two brake braces - with or without hanger, the former being NOS which was a shame to repaint but needs must! I decided not to apply the Rock Shox decals before lacquer on the lowers, just to give them the appearance of being more original - a contradiction because of the colour, I know - and hopefully I won't regret that. The obligatory RetroBike stickers (in my opinion for a RB member's retro-build) will go on top of the frame - sorry, wasn't brave enough to have those under the lacquer!

One regret I do have though is not getting Argos to repaint the original CroMo forks a the same time just in case I ever want to put it back to rigid, but hey-ho, the plan is for it to have the Judys!

It's going to be about another 3 to 4 weeks until it's fully rebuilt as I have a few other bits to gather and want to get the Alpinestars E-Stay bottle cages stripped and powder coated black before I can consider it "done". Enjoy the pics until the next update! Oh, and the final pic of Juicy Details Podium Wax and the appropriately-coloured pink and yellow microfibre cloths give you an idea of what my evening and the next few evenings will involve - getting a few layers of wax onto the frame before it has anything fitted to it!

No filters or fancy editing applied - pics taken with iPhone 5S.

 

[mamadirt]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Oh wow! Truly amazing job!!! That is gonna look awesome

 

[regan_ev]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Thank you mama Lynne! I honestly can't stop looking at it! I'm tempted to put a little squirt of GT85 into one of the tubes so it smells like my original bike too haha! That'll be nostalgia overload I think!

 

[mamadirt]

Re: 91 Al-Mega DX project

Ha ha, go for it. Can't beat a bit of GT85

 

[Retro Spud]

Re:

Think you "Aced" it there buddy

Great choice of Colour and also Painter.

Nuff said !

Spud