I bought the bigger Bear Valley for my 30th birthday in 1989. My wife liked it so much she bought one too! A friend of mine owned a windsurfing/mountain-biking shop at the time, and we got them at trade price - £319 each, which was a LOT to me then. I still have the original receipts for the bikes.
We're now in our mid-fifties and have decided our mountain-biking days are over (no comments please, it's our decision), and I am offering them here on the forum for sale. I'd like to sell them to retro bike enthusiasts who would hopefully keep them in as original spec as possible.
The bikes are both 1989 Marin Bear Valley Black models, the first year of the sloping top-tube. The official frame sizes are 19" BBC to STT (17.5" BBC to TTC) and 17" BBC to STT (15.5" BBC to TTC). The smaller bike has a rear U-brake as there is insufficient clearance for a conventionally-mounted cantilever. Marin did four frame sizes that year - these are the smallest and next to smallest sizes. If it's a help I'm 5'11" with a 32" leg, and my wife is 5'4" with a 30" leg. The saddles and bars are set as we like in the pics.
The serial numbers are -
bigger bike - M902 52081
smaller bike - M902 52018
- oddly the serial numbers are almost identical!
The bikes numbers don't fit with the thread about Marin serial numbers, but I can assure you these are 1989 models. They were purchased in June 1989, and the 1989 advert I've attached below shows the same bike. Unless they were supplied via Dr. Who in the Tardis, there is no way they are 1990 bikes, as suggested by the thread.
They are both 100% original, exactly as they left the factory, with the tiny exception that my wife had to replace the chain on hers, when the original broke. Yes, they do both have their original Marin RockStar tyres on black Araya rims, and Biopace HP chainwheels - I appreciate a few things MIGHT have to be renewed for different reasons!!! The gearset and shifters are Mountain LX, the brake levers are Exage. The pics of the smaller bike show it fitted with a "comfy" saddle - the original saddle is sitting on the plastic tub. One of the foam grips on the bigger bike is damaged at the end.
Both bikes are totally straight and have never had any shunts. Although they were lightly used, there are of course scratches here and there, and most chrome fasteners are rust-tarnished. There are some superficial rust spots on both bikes at the common wear areas, but nothing of any concern. I'm pretty sure you will never find another pair of 1989 Bear Valleys in such original spec and reasonable condition.
The bikes are in Central Scotland and I would obviously prefer if they were collected. I MAY be up for having my arm twisted and send the bikes, at additional cost. If you would like more details and pictures, please PM me and I'll happily do this for you.
The bikes are £200.
We're now in our mid-fifties and have decided our mountain-biking days are over (no comments please, it's our decision), and I am offering them here on the forum for sale. I'd like to sell them to retro bike enthusiasts who would hopefully keep them in as original spec as possible.
The bikes are both 1989 Marin Bear Valley Black models, the first year of the sloping top-tube. The official frame sizes are 19" BBC to STT (17.5" BBC to TTC) and 17" BBC to STT (15.5" BBC to TTC). The smaller bike has a rear U-brake as there is insufficient clearance for a conventionally-mounted cantilever. Marin did four frame sizes that year - these are the smallest and next to smallest sizes. If it's a help I'm 5'11" with a 32" leg, and my wife is 5'4" with a 30" leg. The saddles and bars are set as we like in the pics.
The serial numbers are -
bigger bike - M902 52081
smaller bike - M902 52018
- oddly the serial numbers are almost identical!
The bikes numbers don't fit with the thread about Marin serial numbers, but I can assure you these are 1989 models. They were purchased in June 1989, and the 1989 advert I've attached below shows the same bike. Unless they were supplied via Dr. Who in the Tardis, there is no way they are 1990 bikes, as suggested by the thread.
They are both 100% original, exactly as they left the factory, with the tiny exception that my wife had to replace the chain on hers, when the original broke. Yes, they do both have their original Marin RockStar tyres on black Araya rims, and Biopace HP chainwheels - I appreciate a few things MIGHT have to be renewed for different reasons!!! The gearset and shifters are Mountain LX, the brake levers are Exage. The pics of the smaller bike show it fitted with a "comfy" saddle - the original saddle is sitting on the plastic tub. One of the foam grips on the bigger bike is damaged at the end.
Both bikes are totally straight and have never had any shunts. Although they were lightly used, there are of course scratches here and there, and most chrome fasteners are rust-tarnished. There are some superficial rust spots on both bikes at the common wear areas, but nothing of any concern. I'm pretty sure you will never find another pair of 1989 Bear Valleys in such original spec and reasonable condition.
The bikes are in Central Scotland and I would obviously prefer if they were collected. I MAY be up for having my arm twisted and send the bikes, at additional cost. If you would like more details and pictures, please PM me and I'll happily do this for you.
The bikes are £200.
