Classic mountain bike components

[MJN]

XT Shark Fin

A much under rated classic bit of kit that an early '90s MTB shouldn't be without. Unless it's got square tubes.

What did the fin actually do?

 

[utahdog2003]

XT Shark Fin

A much under rated classic bit of kit that an early '90s MTB shouldn't be without. Unless it's got square tubes.

What did the fin actually do?

It looked cool! And even with zip-ties, when the double sided tape got wet, it wandered around on the chainstay until it got itself wrapped up in the tire or chainwheels.

The point was to 'scoop' a slapping chain away from the tire, where back in the day narrow chainstays and the forward rolling tire would've grabbed the chain and sucked it inside the stay, downward. Not too common a situation, if you ask me, but whatever. :?

I have one on my Beast, for kicks, but other than hard plastic chain-slap protection, it's pretty pointless. I just figured that Shimano needed something affordable to put the 'Deore XT' name on, as seemingly everyone I knew with Exage or Mountain LX components all ran out and bought one.

 

[MJN]

Just as I figured,I had one on an Orange Clockwork DX,it was the only piece of XT I could afford back then

 

[phoenixinflames]

Something very humble, very affordable and seldom seen. But for me...what more could you want from a bottom bracket.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the

UN7something XT BB

No matter if UN71, UN72 or UN73 I definitely agree.
Just like a King headset one of the few parts, I ever fitted on the next frame.


Apart from that my choice would be Control Tech Ahead stems.

Ahead of their time with steel inserts for the screws and still reasonably light at ~160g one of those is still going strong on one of my bikes, while most of the fancy, colored CNC stuff that was made at the same time broke a decade ago.

 

[Senri]

Just as I figured,I had one on an Orange Clockwork DX,it was the only piece of XT I could afford back then

I am wondering if that still is the case....
look at this http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shimano-Shimano-Deore-XT-Shark-Fin-Chainstay-PROtector-2041.htm
50 pounds!!!!

 

[BikePimp]

How about Avid and Campagnolo brakes...

The Avid 'Ultimate' brake levers along with the 'Arch Supreme' V-brakes.

The 'Campagnolo OR' canti brakes.

 

[South Bound]

Panaracer Smoke/Dart tyres, for me made the most difference of anything I ever upgraded.

(Echo the icon status of Cooks ((mine are CBRs though)) and CK headsets!)

 

[messiah]

Salsa quick releases.

One of the only pieces of anodised frippery that actually cut the mustard in that they function well and look lovely.

 

[agentorange]

Always had a soft spot for the XT wide triangular cantilever.

 

[Carlos the Slackal]

Original, Blue/Black Answer Flatfoots
Mark One Frogskins (Left a pair on a blonde in France and regret it to this day)
Buff

And, this - Mine has been with me through thick and thin. Built 100s of bikes in the bike industry, fettled many more since. Superb piece of kit.
Park AWS 9