Re:
Yes that's lovely Unit3 your HT - I originally bought mine thinking I would make a really early replica, as it needed re-stickering anyway, and fit some Manitou1's up front. Now I know a bit more about them its probably best to keep it as it is and trim it as a mid-late '90s again (as the early Bradbury, pre Answer production bikes looked quite different close up anyway, with gussets and welds in all sorts of different places). I will source some decals and get some pics up in a week or so. I'm not sure if its a keeper for me long term, but I do like them. I too was surprised to see and "Answer Products" date stamp next to the serial no. on the BB. It is quite feint though and could just as easily be '93 as '99 and I can't quite make out the last digit, but I doubt its that early, although it does have the rear cant cable hanger which is more suited to that era. Yes, I'm sure the do last pretty well unless you are really rought with them - as it appears to be beefed up in all the right places and welds are very nice. I'm more a Ti man myself though and I started looking for a Manitou 1 or 2 based FS as that is more 'my era' but I can't help think the Marin Ti FS with the Manitou's up back is one I'd like to own - and I nearly bought one last year, so I may get one of those. However, I expect I would be equally tempted to anything with a Manitou badge on them - I remember proudly bringing a set of Manitou 2s back from a family holiday to Colorado in the early '90s before they were out in the UK - I wish I still had them, and can't even remember what happened to them now.... that must be nearly 50 bikes ago though for me, and as we probably all appreciate, you can't keep 'em all.