How hard (moreso costly) is it to put a modern drivetrain on a vintage mtb?

Sorry from reading it, it read as you wanted 22 front.....which i couldn't understand need / use for in a single set up, as you were originally taking of a modern 1x adaptation on a 90s frame.

I will upgrade the lot but wondering if I could run 22/34 now for a few weeks until I am ready to get new/old frame/bike.

Would that be a 58 bcd crankset as well? I had had my eye on the bike and if it had the crankset suitable for 20t or 22t replacements

Tbh a 110/74 with 24/36/46 triple with a 9 speed 11- 36 will give you a huge spread and would fit on any old 90s frame. Cheap as chips too.
 
Sorry from reading it, it read as you wanted 22 front.....which i couldn't understand need / use for in a single set up, as you were originally taking of a modern 1x adaptation on a 90s frame.





Tbh a 110/74 with 24/36/46 triple with a 9 speed 11- 36 will give you a huge spread and would fit on any old 90s frame. Cheap as chips too.
9 can go on an old frame without redishing the wheel? I read on sheldon brown earlier that if you go above 7s on 7 hub you have to redish.

I wanna get smallest granny I can find.

I am not the only one on a quest for super low gear. Just found this thread of a guy wanting to go 18t granny and get a gearing of 13"!!!:

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/18-tooth-cog-to-granny-ring-conversion-need-help-please.703178/
Seem plenty other super low lovers in the replies too!
 
Last edited:
I personally (and im not alone from the above comments) would not go down the 8 on 7 speed freehub route. Its an imperfect fit by some degree!

Plus 8+ hubs are easy to find and can then take your chosen cassette with no drama and with correct shifting guaranteed. They are still 135mm, so will still fit any 90s frame.

In fact, all my daily use 90s frames run 8 speed as cassettes are cheap, gives a good spread of gears and the chains last well. But 9 is equally as good if you want the extra cog for extending the range.
 
I personal (and im not alone from the above comments) would not go down the 8 on 7 speed freehub route. Its an imperfect fit by some degree!

Plus 8+ hubs are easy to find and can then take your chosen cassette with no drama and with correct shifting guaranteed. They are still 135mm, so will still fit any 90s frame.

In fact, all my daily use 90s frames run 8 speed as cassettes are cheap, gives a good spread of gears and the chains last well. But 9 is equally as good if you want the extra cog for extending the range.
Sorry, I don't understand then.

Do you mean to rather buy a new wheel and 8/9/10 hub instead?

This seems like an expensive option if so compared to 20/22 granny and 34 freewheel on the back of existing freewheel setup, which is most likely what the old bike will have.
 
If you haven't got the bike, surley buying a mid 90s bike with 8 speed would answer all your issues. They will still be rigid, probably have a lower bcd crank than early 90s 110/74 (if you want lower than low gearing), chains and cassettes of quality easy to find and cheap too. Plus will probably come with Vs instead of cantilevers.

Try a 95 / 96 marin Eldridge or pine mountain. £150.... job done.
 
This seems like an expensive option if so compared to 20/22 granny and 34 freewheel on the back of existing freewheel setup, which is most likely what the old bike will have

I doubt very much an early 90s bike will have a 34 rear. 12 28 was the most popular cassette sometimes 30 or possibly 32. Also a lot of early 90s had 110/74 bcd, so you wont get smaller than 24 on the front.

A second had pair of wheels with a 5mm longer 8+ speed freehub will be only as much as buying cassette, crank, chain, shifters. Plus its plug and play, rather than trying to rig 8 onto 7.

But as i said abouve a mid 90s bike will have all that straight off without expense or drama.
 
All right, settle down. Settle down... Now, before I begin the again, will those of you who are cycling this afternoon move your clothes down onto the lower peg immediately after lunch, before you write your letter home, if you're not getting your hair cut, unless you've got a younger brother who is going out this weekend as the guest of another boy, in which case, collect his note before lunch, put it in your letter after you've had your hair cut, and make sure he moves your clothes down onto the lower peg for you.
 
All right, settle down. Settle down... Now, before I begin the again, will those of you who are cycling this afternoon move your clothes down onto the lower peg immediately after lunch, before you write your letter home, if you're not getting your hair cut, unless you've got a younger brother who is going out this weekend as the guest of another boy, in which case, collect his note before lunch, put it in your letter after you've had your hair cut, and make sure he moves your clothes down onto the lower peg for you.
😂🤣👏
 
Back
Top