New user, wanting to build project P7 1996

[Andyaltz]

Hi all, I'm a new user so please bear with me . I have just been lucky to find a 1996 p7 on eBay to do up, only thing is the manitou forks which were on seem to have ceased. I asked a bike shop to service them but they said they were too old to service. Does anyone know where it is easy to get a set of decent forks cheap(ish) with 1" headset? Or if it would be straightforward enough to strip current ones and service myself? Also what kind of price would I be looking at to get nickel coat re done?

All responses will be much appreciated,

Andy

 

[azaro]

Might be better off looking for a set of Pace RC35 forks.
Seems to be destiny - Orange + Pace - and they do often come up on here.

 

[renaldo]

+1 for Pace. Look great, work well and no problem with parts or servicing from justbackdated on here.

 

[brocklanders023]

Pace RC35mxcd or RC36 would look ace on a 1996 P7. Stick an ad up in the wanted section and I'm sure someone will help you out. Saying that, the forks you've got might be fixable if you ask on the site.

Welcome btw

 

[Jussa]

Orange and Pace go together like Strawberries and Cream, Gin & Tonic, Morcambe & Wise, Roast Beef & Horseradish, etc etc you get the idea?

Owning two Oranges with PACE forks (C16R with RC35's and C16R with RC38's) I can vouch for how well they feel together.

PACE is the way ahead

 

[Barneyballbags]

Another vote for the Pace/Orange combo

If you do want to stick to the Manitous, however, then ignore what your bike shop told you. Older Manitous are simple to service and you can buy the bits you need online.

When your local bike shop told you:

"they're too old to service", what they meant was:

"we can't be a**ed to source the bits and we'd much rather sell you a new set of forks".

 

[Barneyballbags]

There are a couple of nice sets of Pace RC36's here (these would be the correct period for your Orange):

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=211517&highlight=pace+rc36
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=210508&highlight=pace+rc36

The steerers are interchangeable, so you can easily get a 1" steerer to fit your bike

 

[Dossa]

...Or keep it rigid - Orange F7 or Project 2's?

1" headsets (threaded or unthreaded, not sure which yours would be) are quite easy to pick up - Ritchey Logic would do for a tenner or so, but there are plenty more expensive ones than that of course...

Nickel re-plating is very costly however (anything between 200-400gbp?), a respray/powdercoat would be a better bet most would probably agree.



Enjoy your build though, they're ace frames - here's mine:

 

[Andyaltz]

Thanks all for the comments. I'm going to find my self a set of pace by the looks of it and dossa, I was looking at some of your posts last night and my frame is same one as yours I think but with original capital letters. I'm wondering if I could polish mine to the same standard as yours? Even if the frame has started to rust? Iv tried uploading pics but doesn't seem to work

 

[Andyaltz]

here are some pics of my frame, id really like to keep it looking as original as possible and would prefer to avoid spraying it in a different colour