Hello,
First post one the forum though I have been lurking a long while. I apologize for the long post! I have seen a few posts here where the OP was going to add or remove something from a vintage MTB frame and there was definitely a lot of mixed opinions on the subject. I have searched and found a post for almost the same exact retrofit I am thinking about, same frame I have, a 90's Yeti FRO and getting disc mounts front and back. The bike turned out really nice I have to say. I believe though that frame was unmodified before the added brake mounts unlike mine.
I know the main theme of disagreement on retrofits seemed to be resale value and the notion to keep vintage collectable bikes as original as possible. My frame has had some things done to it to make it not original already so the value may be tanked right off the bat. I was hoping I could get some advise based on my frame and adding disc mounts. Pictures included...I hope.
I bought this frame brand new in 1990 from a shop in Seattle, we ordered it from Yeti in Agoura Hills. I guess it is just another old Yeti but I have had a lot of incredible adventures on that thing. I built it up with Suntour XC Pro thumb shifters and derailleurs, the mandatory for the time purple Hyperlite bar, Ritchie Vantage comp rims and bullseye hubs and a set of Sugino cranks, the Bullseye crankset was out of my price range back then sadly. I added a Manitou I then later a Manitou EFC, still got em. Parts have been changed over the years as is typical I guess. I have all the original parts so can put it back to be period correct easily.
This was all back before camelbacks so I had a local builder add a 3rd set of water bottle cage mounts on the seat tube and then in around '92 I finally cracked the seat tube at the top in the typical place, I am 6'4" and back then uhhh...a tad overweight.
The frame was sent back to Durango where Yeti repaired it with the sleeve and repainted it. The repair is nice and I have seen it done on a few old frames so may be semi common.
So here is where the question comes in, knowing I added a set of water bottle mounts and the seat tube has been repaired, would adding disc mounts really do anything worse to the value than what has already been done? I doubt I will ever sell it but would hate to totally destroy its value. My main bike is an Actiontec Curtlo I had Doug build after driving over to visit him right after he moved his shop to Washington State. These 2 bikes are totally different beasts from one another so I want to ride the Yeti more now.
I know there are pretty heated opinions on whether canti brakes work well or not. Where I live and ride it is always wet. Discs just hands down work better here.
Thoughts? You guys have some incredible bikes and reading through the restore threads is amazing so I truly value the knowledge here and would love some opinions...yay or nay on the discs?
Thank you for your time!
First post one the forum though I have been lurking a long while. I apologize for the long post! I have seen a few posts here where the OP was going to add or remove something from a vintage MTB frame and there was definitely a lot of mixed opinions on the subject. I have searched and found a post for almost the same exact retrofit I am thinking about, same frame I have, a 90's Yeti FRO and getting disc mounts front and back. The bike turned out really nice I have to say. I believe though that frame was unmodified before the added brake mounts unlike mine.
I know the main theme of disagreement on retrofits seemed to be resale value and the notion to keep vintage collectable bikes as original as possible. My frame has had some things done to it to make it not original already so the value may be tanked right off the bat. I was hoping I could get some advise based on my frame and adding disc mounts. Pictures included...I hope.
I bought this frame brand new in 1990 from a shop in Seattle, we ordered it from Yeti in Agoura Hills. I guess it is just another old Yeti but I have had a lot of incredible adventures on that thing. I built it up with Suntour XC Pro thumb shifters and derailleurs, the mandatory for the time purple Hyperlite bar, Ritchie Vantage comp rims and bullseye hubs and a set of Sugino cranks, the Bullseye crankset was out of my price range back then sadly. I added a Manitou I then later a Manitou EFC, still got em. Parts have been changed over the years as is typical I guess. I have all the original parts so can put it back to be period correct easily.
This was all back before camelbacks so I had a local builder add a 3rd set of water bottle cage mounts on the seat tube and then in around '92 I finally cracked the seat tube at the top in the typical place, I am 6'4" and back then uhhh...a tad overweight.
The frame was sent back to Durango where Yeti repaired it with the sleeve and repainted it. The repair is nice and I have seen it done on a few old frames so may be semi common.So here is where the question comes in, knowing I added a set of water bottle mounts and the seat tube has been repaired, would adding disc mounts really do anything worse to the value than what has already been done? I doubt I will ever sell it but would hate to totally destroy its value. My main bike is an Actiontec Curtlo I had Doug build after driving over to visit him right after he moved his shop to Washington State. These 2 bikes are totally different beasts from one another so I want to ride the Yeti more now.
I know there are pretty heated opinions on whether canti brakes work well or not. Where I live and ride it is always wet. Discs just hands down work better here.
Thoughts? You guys have some incredible bikes and reading through the restore threads is amazing so I truly value the knowledge here and would love some opinions...yay or nay on the discs?
Thank you for your time!
