1991 Marin Team Titanium

[Benandemu]

I’m no stranger to Marin’s Titanium offerings, but it’s been a good while since I built up my last one. I’ve had this one sat patiently waiting for longer than I can remember now. In fact, I don’t even recall where it came from!
I stripped all its decals and prepped the scuffed and faded surface (which is originally polished) ready for polishing. It’s a pretty tough job if you’re using a wheel to polish Titanium, but by hand is even harder.
I toyed with the idea of some period suspension forks, but from its inception this frame has always really wanted some Ritchey Logic forks. Finding them in 11/8th threaded isn’t an easy task either! Utilising the original Marin roller stem (steel) really gives it the ‘Marin family’ feel too. So, my mind was set, and either side of those headset cups simply had to be fluorescent yellow.
The first picture will really give away the theme with this one, and I’ve been desperate to replicate the early neon coloured Marin paint schemes on to a Titanium frame somehow. Swapping out any of the components in this picture just dilutes the impact I’m trying to make.

 

[Benandemu]

Well, this one’s a slow burner for sure! I’m too busy with so many other things at the moment, but I managed to get some time today, so started building the front end up. It’s more involving than you think, as threads need chasing, fork crowns need to be a touch narrower, plus rebuilding the stem wasn’t quite straight forward, particularly getting those bars in without scratching them. The roller assembly is a custom made one, fabricated from stainless steel.
The Mavic headset is smooth, externally a little shabby perhaps, but I’m not going to over-restore it. I like some of the components to retain a small degree of patina.

 

[Mathes66]

Very nice.
I didn´t know that Marin had such dropouts in 1991.

 

[Double-E F]

Very !
Love the combination of Ti and neon yellow..

 

[manc_lad]

Very nice.
I didn´t know that Marin had such dropouts in 1991.

Should be a litespeed built frame

 

[Benandemu]

Yes, it’s a Litespeed built frame, manufactured in March 1991, and the first year of the afterburner dropout.

The pictures attached are all before it was polished.

 

[Benandemu]

I had a few hours spare last week, so I laced up the wheels. They’re Black XT hubs, Mavic 231 rims, using the classic 32 x DT DB spokes per wheel, and black alloy nipples. I think these are my 8th self built wheelset to date, so I’m getting much more accomplished with the whole process now.

 

[manc_lad]

Let me know if you ever want to sell them! Lovely

 

[fguki]

Absolutely no fan of the headset choice but titanium and neon yellow surely looks cool! would be even better if the frame was blasted instead of polished.

 

[Benandemu]

So, the wheels are true, and the cassette has been secured. I had the old brain scrambler of why the cassette wasn’t tightening up fully, but managed to find a suitable washer to take up the slack behind the cassette. I’ve had the tyres sat in storage for many years, and although they look a bit tired on the sidewalls now, I’m sure they’re actually unused.