1992 Orange Clockwork. *Update, 21/04/24.*

[brocklanders023]

Hi all. I've had this for a while but was keeping it in my locker at work as the garage is a bit damp and I got to clean it up when on a break. The plan was to take all the parts in over time and build it slowly but then I stopped doing nights so it has sat neglected for a year or so. Anyway, Covid happened so I thought it would be a decent distraction from looking after the kids so I took a trip over to Harrogate and picked the parts up.

I bought it as a full bike but quickly decided it was in such good condition that it deserved better than the original M550 LX. I'd managed to bag a virtually unused black Clockwork at the same time that had a mixture of Suntour and Shimano XT parts so thought I'd use those. I stripped both down, sold the black frame to Calum and moved the LX kit on but then lost a bit of retro interest so never got round to rebuilding.

So that brings me to now and how to build it. I completed the Suntour groupset and it's almost perfect so that will probably be the direction but the headset is silver and I think it would look better with a black XT one. Same for the crankset, silver Suntour but the black ringed XT I have would look sweet (but not quite as tidy). I don't have Suntour pedals but I do XT, same as the shark fin, same as the seat post QR (although I do have a stock Orange one). Then there's the stem. This one is original but is a whooper and has no rise. I could use the silver one on my rat Clockwork or the other, shorter black Stalk I have....

I'll be asking for opinions in further posts so please call back in to give your view.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

A nice touch for me was the Airevalley Cycles sticker as I used to frequent that shop as a child. I even did my work experience there alongside Chris Akrigg who was working as a mechanic but also sponsored by the shop. There's a decent chance I saw this bike bitd and also that Chris prepared it.

You can see how bright and original the paint is by comparing the orange on the steertube. No fading here.

 

[mk one]

wow, beautiful condition!

Why not go full XT? or maybe use some different parts, headset etc other than suntour/shimano.

 

[enc]

Re:

Paintwork lkooks amazing. id have said it had been repainted but with that supplying shop sticker obviously not. Nice

 

[sinnerman]

Christ, its like Brand New.... :shock:

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Thanks all. It does have a few paint chips but the paint is certainly in superb shape and defo original.

As for the build, I do have nearly all of a XT groupset but even though it's very tidy it's not as good as the Suntour and I don't have XT wheels. I could source the parts but that would be very expensive to get the condition I'd want. I might do a mixture using the best bits I have. That's the great thing with early 90's Orange, you could spec what you wanted!

 

[Cheshire1980]

Fabulous mate. A clockwork of the highest order. Showroom condition. Not much else to add.. look forward to it being built.

 

[tintin40]

Lovely. That's what a Orange mtb should look like. Classic Orange & white. The first one i ever saw was that scheme. Got me back in to MTBing. So went and bought MF :facepalm:

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

So, on to the build considerations. The Suntour hubbed wheels are staying as I want 231CD wheels on this and my only other suitable pair has silver 231's on Hope.

Having dug out all the parts some are not quite as mint as I remembered (years bumping around in a garage draw could do that!) although everything is at least very good and will come up well once cleaned and polished.

Still leaning towards a Suntour build but the silver headset annoys me and I think the black XT chain rings look better. That being said the Suntour crankset has lower miles and should be mint once cleaned up....

Reckon I will use the Dia-Compe canti's whatever as they're like new and most new Oranges at the time came with them. The SS7 levers are lovely too but I have a soft spot for XT ones with the boots. Thumbies will depend on the rest of the build, as will the front mech.

Stem wise the tidier is the long one but there's not much in it and the mk2 Stalk was generally standard fit by 92. It's maybe too short for me to ride though? I also have the silver Orange branded one on the rat Clockwork that would work?

So what do we think, full Suntour/Dia-Compe, XT as much as possible or a mixture of both?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

mix it up, but with a suntour base.

what parts are not so good?
fit the nicer headset, that silver looks tatty.

what cassette is on the wherls? 7/8 speed?
11-28, 11-24?
12-28