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

[doctor-bond]

To answer the original question simply:

Really easy and about £150:

 

[retrobiker273891]

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.

I wasn't aware 8 speed became available that long ago. I probably stopped being into biking, at least following the latest gear, around 95 probably right about the time I got into the rave scene and Djing!

Still had bikes but just bought them off friends here and there and was not keeping up with the tech.

I never expected the old ones to have 34s on just that it is trivial to buy one that would fit and only 20 quid or so.

 

[retrobiker273891]

Just back from a few hour ride now. I am using 28/38/48 upfront right now and 5 speed 14-28 'out back'.

I was thinking 22/32/42 set would be a nice improvement even for the 5 speed. Currently the middle ring is too hard and the granny aint really a granny. Shifting everything down would, I think, make the middle ring much more comfortable and the granny a proper granny. Then the biggest cog might even get some action at 42 but still not much!

Currently I spend about 60-70% of my time on the 28 and usually will 'bail out' of the 38 back down to 28 on anything the isn't totally flat or downhill.

I saw an offer for a crankset with those ratios selling for £15 yesterday but had a look again and not seeing it immediately. I forgot what search I put in!

EDIT: Ah here it is: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/fsa-alpha-drive-crankset-£13-posted.480034/

Doesn't say the toothage but looks smaller than my current 28! Oh I see it says withdrawn .

I would be fine with a riveted none changeable cheapy for now as this would be for my cheap bike that I am using as a run around now. To be frank I think I would be happy with this cheapo bike giving it good use until something big broke on it as it is all in good working order for the time being. It ain't pretty or cool but works fine except the unpleasant gearing!

 

[retrobiker273891]

If you use an MTB 5 arm 94/58mm crank set (Shimano M563, M737 for starters) then the 58mm inner will go as low as 20T. Fit a 28 or 30T on the back and you have around a 19" gear - which is all I need on a loaded tourer on Dartmoor.

If you have a 7s hub you can fit a 9 or 10 speed cassette, just leave off the smallest sprocket and run 8-from-9 or 9-from-10. Obviously you need a matching shifter and rear derailleur (7/8/9 speed derailleurs are interchangeable, despite what Shimano may tell you). 10 speed is totally different.

I am having trouble finding anyone selling 58bcd cranksets. Seem a lot rarer than 64.

This one guy with active sale thread seems to be awol on holiday.

I searched 58 bcd crankset and other permutations but not finding anything.

 

[retrobiker273891]

Oh I just found a set on deadrats for 25! Also looks like they are users on this forum or used to be as I was not able to tag.

Also a suntour offering: https://deadrats.co.uk/product/suntour-microdrive-xc-expert-compact-triple-94-bcd-cranks-175mm/

Any preference between the Impel and the microdrive?

If buying without the chainrings I can then pick my desired ratios. 20 granny for sure! Not sure about middle. 32 will be around right I reckon.

 

[Stressed]

Is this thread for real?

 

[nstarmore]

If you search '22 crankset' or '22 chainset' on ebay, sort by price: lowest to highest and condition: used there are plenty of options for £20 or less

Some are 4 x 104 with 64bcd inners but still gets you the 22t inner you want.

 

[slackboy]

It's ready enough to put a modern groupset in on a retro MTB. Hollowtech bottom brackets work fine with a 68mm shell

I've got '95 rocky mountain that's running a m9000 (2019ish) doubke drive train with older m950 v brakes.

 

[retrobiker273891]

If you search '22 crankset' or '22 chainset' on ebay, sort by price: lowest to highest and condition: used there are plenty of options for £20 or less

Some are 4 x 104 with 64bcd inners but still gets you the 22t inner you want.

I don't use ebay. I boycotted it after a couple of nasty false damage claims when selling where they got item for nothing and second time basically blackmailed me to offer item (record collection) at huge reduction. They clearly seemed professionals at doing that.

My gripe with ebay is they are hugely weighted in the buyer's favour which makes abuse very easy for those so inclined. I don't want to support an unfair system like that.

Once I cleared that dispute I closed the account and vowed never to use them again.

Would prefer to buy on here or other smaller places.

 

[retrobiker273891]

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.

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/kirk-revolution-400-wheel-set-exage-hubs.480852/page-2
What about these wheels? They have the right hubs for newer cassettes?

Going quite cheap and there is another sale thread someone selling a specialized frame for £25.

I can move the rest of the bits (derailleur, brakes, and the other bits and bobs) from the British Eagle and add replacements as I find deals on here. Frame and wheels, and crankset, will have a good base then right?