TerryParadise
Retro Guru
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Saw this old school gem come up on Gumtree, had always wanted one since I was a kid reading MBUK at lunchtimes. Something about the top tube team decals with all the logos on there and the colour scheme the same as the Martin Hawyes trials team bike.
Image from the listing:
Anyway. Went to take a look, the guy selling clearly had no idea what this thing was (if you're reading this I'm sorry, but correct me if I'm wrong). There was something up with the rear shock, specifically the upper pivot bolt. Knowing nothing about the bike I had to make an educated guess that the bolt had sheared off at one end, even though the seller assured me 'that's how it's meant to be'... yeah mate. Sure it is. The knocking sound is also a design feature? The aural equivalent of go faster stripes? Good one.
Seller attempted to take the whole assembly apart but the thread was so ruined that even with his considerable strength and a set of soviet era mole grips he was unable to free the ruined bolt. The bike, now completely unrideable was essentially worthless. Armed with this knowledge, and ensuring he was also, I made an offer. We haggled briefly, both pretending to know considerably more than either of us actually did.
Dropped the bike off at my LBS for a diagnosis, was told that the shock would need replacing and that the threads for the 6" travel setting were ruined, but that if I found a replacement shock along with all the mounting hardware then I could still use 5 1/4" travel. This being my first dual sus bike (having owned road / BMX / hardtails until this) I figured that was 5 1/4" more rear travel than I'd ever experienced before so it was probably worth fixing (little did I know the financial implications in store for me)...
The dead rear shock:
Image from the listing:
Anyway. Went to take a look, the guy selling clearly had no idea what this thing was (if you're reading this I'm sorry, but correct me if I'm wrong). There was something up with the rear shock, specifically the upper pivot bolt. Knowing nothing about the bike I had to make an educated guess that the bolt had sheared off at one end, even though the seller assured me 'that's how it's meant to be'... yeah mate. Sure it is. The knocking sound is also a design feature? The aural equivalent of go faster stripes? Good one.
Seller attempted to take the whole assembly apart but the thread was so ruined that even with his considerable strength and a set of soviet era mole grips he was unable to free the ruined bolt. The bike, now completely unrideable was essentially worthless. Armed with this knowledge, and ensuring he was also, I made an offer. We haggled briefly, both pretending to know considerably more than either of us actually did.
Dropped the bike off at my LBS for a diagnosis, was told that the shock would need replacing and that the threads for the 6" travel setting were ruined, but that if I found a replacement shock along with all the mounting hardware then I could still use 5 1/4" travel. This being my first dual sus bike (having owned road / BMX / hardtails until this) I figured that was 5 1/4" more rear travel than I'd ever experienced before so it was probably worth fixing (little did I know the financial implications in store for me)...
The dead rear shock:
