Giant Track ATX850

[thedevonoak]

Hi, new(ish) member here. Retrobike has come to my rescue so many times on my latest project, I thought it only right to share the end result.

I picked up this mint mid-90's (I think) Giant ATX850 with Rock Shox Quadra 21R's and full STX RC 7-speed from the local tip for £15 on a whim, and it's turned out to be a great bike. I'm hoping someone can tell me exactly what year it is, but from the forks (assuming they were standard fit) I'm guessing probably '95 or '96?

It's now replaced my 1995 GT Karakoram to be my primary MTB, and the GT is now relegated to road use. I know the pics show slicks, but the 22/32/42 gearing didn't work for road. I've replaced the elastomers with new firm ones from suspensionforkparts.net (though wish I'd bought the medium ones, as they are a little firm), and done a few green lane runs and I love it!

The bit that has confused me is the brakes. I stripped the bike down when I got it and never clocked the brakes (who needs to take a note of how cantilever brakes were fitted eh?!!) but couldn't figure them out so got a replacement set. They are asymmetric with different length springs and bodies and I couldn't get them back on, so gave up after a few hours fiddling. Does anyone have any ideas? They are I think the standard Giant (EX1 TEC or something written on them) and it's still bugging me...

I'm not much of one for social media, etc. so will only dip in and out of retrobike, but as I said, it's been a great inspiration, so the least I could do was share some pics

 

[Spudly]

Re:

Oh wow I've not seen one of those in a long time, still have my frame in the shed, forks aren't original, should have black cromo rigid giant branded forks, and other than the pedals it looks factory!

It's a 1996 model, I bought mine early 1997 as the previous years model and I upgraded the hell out of it, kind of wish I'd left it as it was looking back lol.

As for the brakes I think one side goes into the spring hole on the canti mount and runs a preset level of spring tension, the other side has a small arm that you use a spanner on to adjust to the desired tension, before clamping it tightly with the mounting bolt, if that makes sense?

 

[thedevonoak]

Re:

Thanks Spudly, it's good to know what year it is. When I got it, it had no pedals, and X-Lite stubby bar ends, which I swapped for the ski bend ones. Great bike though, so will likely stick with it - you getting yours out and rebuilt then?! I don't get out as much I'd like anyway, so don't need a £700 bike, and it's nice having something from the era when mountain bikes were my world!

Will have a play with the brakes then and see if I can get them set up. Was really bugging me - as someone who used to rebuild bikes from the bearings up, imagine not being able to get a set of cantilevers to work!!

 

[Once A Hero]

Re:

Link to the '96 brochure here for you
It's referred to simply as the Track in the brochure.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=409829

 

[thedevonoak]

Brilliant, thanks Retro Guru. Nice to know exactly what I've got. Difference from the brochure seems to be the forks and stem, but the current setup works for me. I'm just trying to train my body to handle the long-reach flat stem that was oh, so comfortable 20 years ago!! I note you have a few Giants in your stable, so not surprised you have access to the brochure.

 

[thedevonoak]

Sorry, Once a Hero...

 

[vtwinvince]

I have one of these currently in the rebuild stage, very beefy welds on these frames.

 

[thedevonoak]

You're right vtwinvince - not pretty but functional. Perfectly proportioned though - looks exactly like an MTB should! What state was yours in at the start of the rebuild? I was so lucky to find this waiting to be binned.

 

[vtwinvince]

Mine was pretty rough, had been sitting outside for some time, but has a usable Bomber fork and a nice Turbo saddle which was worth the price of admission. I've done a light steel wool\wet sand to remove the big nicks, and will build it up with mostly original parts. Let me know if you need a derailleur hanger, I've got a couple of spares.

 

[thedevonoak]

Thanks, will do Will be good to see the finished project soon.