1995 Specialized Hardrock GSX project - Complete with Photos

[deandent1]

Hi all, sharing this ongoing project.

Found this frame and fork at a local car boot sale (Flea market / Garage sale for my non UK friends). Although it had parts of a headset the fork was separate. As you can see it had chain, front and rear derailleur, bottom bracket and crank / pedals. Bargain price so although I didn't need another project or bike for that matter, I had to have it

I've fancied doing a retro mtb / do it all / fat tyres commuter for a while.

I've worked on road bikes (modern and retro) and done a few fixie builds but the MTB world is alien to me.

I believe this to be 1995 looking at others with this paint

(skip to the end)

 

[deandent1]

First step. Remove all the greesy bits and get it back to bare frame

 

[deandent1]

There are a few ways I could go with this. Thrown together beater, faithful resto with all correct parts, drop bar gravel. But what I fancied was a fat tyred fun bike.

I'm not precious about having all the 'correct' parts but I do like the idea of being age appropriate. I'm also not fussed about having all brand new and shiny bits. I won't be respraying etc as I like its age and patina.

 

[deandent1]

Got the BB out. It was tight! But managed it. To be honest it was perfectly serviceable but the LHS cup was damaged getting it out. If I had an old knackered BB I would have just used the left hand cup off that and given this a good clean up but unfortunately I didn't.



The shell was lovely and clean inside after a wipe down. No rust. Great news!



I measured the old BB and got a new FSA unit.(68mm 127mm for those interested)

 

[deandent1]

The old crank was fine (apart from the pedals being stuck in there) but I'm fancying a 1X setup and as these rings appear to spot welded together so I looked for something else



I found this 90's Shimano Deore LX M563 170mm crankset. I have discovered that 94bcd isn't the easiest size in the world to find chain rings for though!




Going through my box o' bits I found these rather fetching chainring bolts from an old fixie project. Given we're in the 90's now I think they might work

 

[deandent1]

Gave the frame a clean and give it a once over with TCut. It ain't bad really. The drive side chain stay has pretty worn paint but it really isn't bad. It has character. None of us are perfect eh.

I'm thinking of maybe carrying the purple and yellow through somehow. Maybe brake / gear cables. Don't want to be gharish but I'll give it some thought

 

[deandent1]

Thanks to this link, I think I've found the bike in the '95 catalogue

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1995-specialized-catalogue.466428/

 

[slackboy]

Nice project, it's good to see a lower end frame getting some love.

That bottom bracket might be a bit wide for your replacement crank, that m563 crank takes a 107-113 size BB.

As ever, Sheldon brown is the guru:

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bbsize.html

 

[deandent1]

Thanks. I was just this minute having that thought. It does look wide!

I'll have a look at Sheldon. Thanks for the link. You read my mind

 

[deandent1]

Update, you're right. 107-113mm. Thanks for pointing that out