'93-4 (?) Marin Team Issue non-cat spec (sorry, purists) 👀

[JoniMarin]

So, another Marin came my way a little while back.

It was / is in a state of fairly severe disrepair, and hence I think this project will be a little different from a catalogue-spec rebuild.
I'm not sure what to do with it yet but I may get a little radical (Resto-mod? Discs? 1x11 speed? Respray? Leave it as a rusty rat bike?)

Here's how it found me:

 

[JoniMarin]

Some very rusty bits

 

[XTSTIMAN]

That looks more crusty than my rat project!

 

[fearfactoryüberalles]

Derelict I must say, but saveable. If that Ti seat can speak...

So I'd give it a cheap but nice powdercoat (black for the forks), some Ti bling from CCP, M735/737 XT or M900 XTR stuff and here's a lightweight weapon for fast singletracks/pub runs.

So a proper resto object is this bike. Is the U.S.E. seatpost Ti? I can see most of the 7 speed XT is still there, even the pedals are retro Tiogas. So I'd follow that route, perhaps with a modern lightweight cassette and some 8 sp. low-profile cranks.

Old top-end Marins certainly has their charms, even with one foot in the grave.

 

[Lhatch4]

I agree that media blasting the old paint and rust off of the frame and powder coating is the way to go. Once you go full frame restoration, you're basically ready to do a full build to the spec that you want. The choice is really between cleaning it up and making it functional or going full restoration. I know what most of us want to see.

 

[Carlwilliams1984]

My Marin bear valley , after it's restoration to my own spec , great bike to ride it's done a silly amount of mileage now and still looks spot on

 

[JoniMarin]

Derelict I must say, but saveable. If that Ti seat can speak...

So I'd give it a cheap but nice powdercoat (black for the forks), some Ti bling from CCP, M735/737 XT or M900 XTR stuff and here's a lightweight weapon for fast singletracks/pub runs.

So a proper resto object is this bike. Is the U.S.E. seatpost Ti? I can see most of the 7 speed XT is still there, even the pedals are retro Tiogas. So I'd follow that route, perhaps with a modern lightweight cassette and some 8 sp. low-profile cranks.

Old top-end Marins certainly has their charms, even with one foot in the grave.

Good shout! Tbh I think we are on the same page

The seatpost came with the bike but wasn't on the bike when I found it. It doesn't look like it's Ti... and it's also 25.0mm so not going to work without a shim...

 

[JoniMarin]

A quick teardown and initial go at the rust... there is some pitting - what do you guys think?

 

[Carlwilliams1984]

A quick teardown and initial go at the rust... there is some pitting - what do you guys think?

View attachment 947017View attachment 947018

Get it grit blasted and powder coated mate , you won't stop the rust otherwise

 

[Lhatch4]

There is high gloss silver powder coating. Media blasting and powder coat would fill in the small amount of pitting. It would be very close the the original appearance.