GT Avalanche ‘91

[Northernlight]

Love the avalanche the 91 and 92 colours and pain have always been a personal favourite, and yours looks in great shape,

if you swap the GT bar out for a pace 130 could a buy the Gt one off you I am after one for my 91 Xizang build

Drop me a pm - I’m sure we can sort something on this!

 

[Prodigal Son]

I may be wrong but those stems look similar to stems used by Ibis, Potts and others in California but with double expanders instead of the nub on the fork.
Btw.. had the same vintage Karakoram w/ suntour x1. Loved that bike but was it heavy?!

 

[Northernlight]

Managed to escape to the garage for a bit of fettling this eve.

Started a deep clean and polish up of the components and hardware and quickly realised this was going to take a while. Also noticed that Shimano used to be quite shy with stainless bolts so will need to source some new ones for a few areas where they have surface corrosion.

Second job for the eve was installing a new bar. I know I’m straying a little from the true OEM look, but I’m really undertaking this for the sheer enjoyment and trying to use period nostalgia pieces that I always wanted as a kid. So I’ve swapped the black duraluminum one for a Renthal RC130 in blue to keep with the white/black/blue theme.

From


To


Next job on the list was finding a replacement seatpost and saddle as these were missing when I bought. The originals were like hens teeth and the 27.0 diameter post didn’t offer up many options, but I eventually managed to find a NOS Tioga DL2000 (which seems quite an unusual model - couldn’t find much info) and a trusty Flite, which hopefully will be more comfortable than I remember back in the day!



Will hopefully find some more time later this week to keep the progress ticking along!

 

[Ganimed]

I love these nice GT paintjobs from the late 80's to early 90's.

My 1992 GT Timberline comes in the same colour sheme. I think that colour was called "Daktari".



regards
Olli

 

[Northernlight]

After many distractions I finally got round to getting the Avalanche towards completion this weekend.

Still need to source some new bolts for various corroded originals, but a strip down and clean of the drivetrain brought it back to former glory and a clean, touch up and polish of the frame worked wonders.

Final bit was to add the new seatpost and saddle and it’s all but there.

Still not ridden it yet….feel almost scared to do so! Think I’ll wait for slightly better weather, white and mud don’t mix well

 

[mtbdave]

Looks great cleaned up well

 

[Prodigal Son]

Those GRIPS. Now i remember those grips. Thank you for the trip down memory lane.

 

[Freddyman90]

Stunning mate. Lovely bike

 

[minor_LEGEND]

Nice bike. You have similar ethos with the hero bikes of your youth being as much about mass produced bikes out of our pocket-money range to the retro American exotica I still can't afford.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

Having been hooked into mtb since I was a 12 year old with a hand me down Falcon Everest back in 1989, I always hankered after one of those real world hero mtb’s that you only saw in photos when looking at MBUK with your mates.

At school, a classmate worked endless odd-jobs over one summer and ended up the envy of everyone when he proudly rode in one day on a shiny new ‘91 Karakoram Elite. We all marvelled at the frankly awe inspiring paintwork (particularly having just re-painted my rusty Falcon with Hammerite) and ever since then I was always bewitched by those early GT paint jobs.

Fast forward ‘many’ years and after lurking on here marvelling at the awesome bikes and stories for many moons (but sadly with little real spare time to get involved), I finally decided to bite the bullet with a sanity project in lockdown.

After a lot of internet scouring, ebay watchlists etc, I finally spotted a half decent looking Daktari white 91 Avalanche in the right size. After a few questions to the eBay seller, it looked like a decent bet (being too far to go and view) and I was fortunate enough to win the auction.

Headed down to collect and was delighted to find that it had been very sparingly used and always garaged - still on its original tyres and missing only its original seat and post.

Been slowly collecting a few period correct parts with the idea of making it the bike I always lusted over as a kid (when Deore XT was akin to platinum compared to my workmanlike Exage Trail).

Finally started putting it together recently and really enjoying the mix of nostalgia and wonder at how simple yet effective bike engineering was back then. No hydraulics to bleed, no dropper posts or tyre sealant, just good old steel! Although if I’m being honest, I had forgotten what a faff cantilever brakes are to get (and stay) properly set up!

First photos as it was when collected, will add progress pics following.

View attachment 602219View attachment 602221View attachment 602222

"A classmate worked endless summer jobs" ha that's how I got my elite . You didn't go to school in Ashford Kent by chance??!!