Alpinestars Al mega XT 1990

[Elev12k]

Re: Real Steel

Like more vintage aluminium bike it is junk. It is even the junkiest of them all. Mega junk.

All original parts on my AlMega could easily be sold for 'new'. Frame cracked everywhere simply by aging.

Why is that? I know these are famous for cracking, but is it because of the design or is that Easton VariLite ProGram (that's what's used for these frames right?) tubing just "crappy tin-can" stuff?

Always wondered about that.... :?:

The later ones used Easton tubing. View Gallery 2 for a review. The ones with bended seattube are early ones. Have no experience with the Easton AlMegas, but not that Easton is a guarentee for durability :roll:

 

[beepbeep]

Glad I caught this thread, I was thinking of buying a Al Mega DX and have since changed my mind......... :?

 

[Void(EN12-82)]

Glad I caught this thread, I was thinking of buying a Al Mega DX and have since changed my mind......... :?

Well, if you can get one cheap: They're quite cool to look at. And of course, stare at it and think of how beautiful it could have been..... ;-)

At least that's what I think, the early non E-stay bikes had just awesome decals, and the newer E-stay bikes look very cool. Especially the AlMega-DX with it's bright yellow front.

Of course myself, I have a non E-stay CroMega-DX. So I have both the cool bright yellow front and the cool decals

 

[beepbeep]

Well, if you can get one cheap: They're quite cool to look at. And of course, stare at it and think of how beautiful it could have been..... ;-)

At least that's what I think, the early non E-stay bikes had just awesome decals, and the newer E-stay bikes look very cool. Especially the AlMega-DX with it's bright yellow front.

Of course myself, I have a non E-stay CroMega-DX. So I have both the cool bright yellow front and the cool decals

Yeah, I love the mad yellow front paint jobs with loud decals too, but the one I found was dark blue which isn't so cool in my book...

Like the look of the frame though with it's e-stays and bend in the seat tube they're certainly different

 

[neilll]

Glad I caught this thread, I was thinking of buying a Al Mega DX and have since changed my mind......... :?

Buy a Ti-Mega or a Cro-Mega

 

[sinnett177]

I would have loved to restore an al-mega especially the al-mega XT from 1991 (pictured earlier) but for all the reasons previously mentioned it's just wall art.

The ti or cro-mega's are the only way to go. Unfortunately though the ti-mega's are like hen's teeth. I'm sure the flying welshman will tell you very few were ever imported to this country and most were team issue. The cro-mega's have there draw backs too, firstly they are heavy, not quite anchor heavy but you need to spec them well to keep the weight to something reasonable. Secondly, they rust externally and internally so try and buy a well kept one or you'll be fighting to remove the bottom bracket and seat post for weeks once oxidized. Finally they too can break, but this time above the bottom bracket, my original from BITD went this way, i'll give it credit though it was ridden 5 days a week since 1992 though

 

[stevemar]

i must have got a "lemon". i got an almega dx secondhand that didnt look babied by any means---frame was solid---i rode it for a few summers and i didnt baby it either and never broke it--
A-stars had a wierd front fork on the almega xt that was threaded but took a threadless stem on top----and the stem size was different than normal--could only use an A-star stem

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

Re: Real Steel

CroMega is the only sane way to go here... then Ti and finally, as a last resort (and only after consulting Gypsy Rose Lea), an Al Mega... :roll:

Mr K

if i am correct; first of all; the alu is not the one i should go for ?
Second; these frames crack
third; this is not the elevated frame ? The one i would like to own ?

Like more vintage aluminium bike it is junk. It is even the junkiest of them all. Mega junk.

All original parts on my AlMega could easily be sold for 'new'. Frame cracked everywhere simply by aging.

Does this apply to the early Cannondales as well?

 

[Void(EN12-82)]

i must have got a "lemon". i got an almega dx secondhand that didnt look babied by any means---frame was solid---i rode it for a few summers and i didnt baby it either and never broke it--
A-stars had a wierd front fork on the almega xt that was threaded but took a threadless stem on top----and the stem size was different than normal--could only use an A-star stem

Well I've heard this before... but just as with people saying that Onza H.O. brakes will deffo crack sometime, there's also people using them without complaints.

I guess you'd have to be lucky with these things? But sometimes it makes me wonder: I have to assume that also AlpineStars had some way of testing their stuff before it hit the market? So if these things crack so easily why wasn't that found by their test riders, or computer simulations?

 

[flyingwelshman]

I woud be surprised if anyone has broke a 1992 or later aluminium AS frame.

As for the rarity of TI mega's I only know of one that came into the UK which was put on show at Earls Court Bike show early in 1991 ( think it was at Earls Court) and then used by myself later that season. Very few were actually made by Litespeed for AS.