Old Equipment on Modern Frame?

[bikeworkshop]

I've yet to see bmx calipers fitted to a disc frame

What's ok?
Brooks saddle
Shimano steel qrs
External headset cups

I can't really think of other vintage components that can offer an advantage
- and only the QRs are no longer available.

V brakes, 9 speed, square taper also still available, even found on some new bikes, usually at the lower end.

BSA threads and 27.2 posts are back obvs.

 

[frkl]

Historic frames offer quite a few advantages over modern ones, bizarrely often including ride quality.

Historic components do not - although some last for ever.

That is a very good point.

 

[frkl]

Ok, i will elaborate having thought a bit more.

I think that by the late 1980s, components had been pretty much figured out. Everything worked really well by then. And offered flexibility, in terms of mixing brands and eg a friction setting on index shifters.

After that point, things just got way too complex, codependent, and not nice looking. So good quality older stuff from this time period works really well, and also has advantages in technical transparency (i hesitate to say simplicity; parts weren't really simple then either, but you could look inside without it exploding) and flexibility in terms of mixing bits.

For me, however, frames peaked in ca. 1980 as an average,.so 10 years earlier. Some manufacturers sooner, some later.
Unfortunately that means a mismatch in optimal frame and optimal parts.

I find that for me, bits are more important, and i fit frames from both earlier and later with late 1980s (road) or early 90s (mountain) parts.

 

[averagebiker]

I say build the bike you want. I couldn't care less if it is newer components on an older frame or vice versa. In all hobbies I indulge there are always those that follow a set of rules that some unknown cabal has decreed is the only acceptable way lol
Please also mix it up by using a combo of road and mtb components too to set off some other twitches and tics

 

[bagpuss]

Currently building up a Spa audax titanium frame with a right mismash of components. Nitto north road bars, bar end shifters (Di compe ),aero brake levers (shimano ) dual pivot brakes Campagnolo front / rear mech. Square taper Cs. Hope hubs on mavic rims .
The bar end shifters are friction shift so they work with pretty much anything.
So far so good .
Finding brake levers that would fit the bars and work with dual pivots proved difficult ,so a compromise used...we will see .
The fun is doing it your way .

 

[pigman]

Currently building up a Spa audax titanium frame with a right mismash of components. Nitto north road bars, bar end shifters (Di compe ),aero brake levers (shimano ) dual pivot brakes Campagnolo front / rear mech. Square taper Cs. Hope hubs on mavic rims .
The bar end shifters are friction shift so they work with pretty much anything.
So far so good .
Finding brake levers that would fit the bars and work with dual pivots proved difficult ,so a compromise used...we will see .
The fun is doing it your way .

Never had a problem with Shimano aero levers and Shimano mid-length DP brakes on my spa audax titanium. They have great stopping power and decent clearance between blocks and rim.

Ps. I'm assuming you don't mean AX levers, of which I have no experience

 

[pigman]

The biggest problem is if you want to use down tube shifters. Some newer (circa 20 YO frames) still have bosses that accepts both levers or a stop. Most truly modern frames now have a built-in cable adjuster and no bosses.

There are exceptions though. I bought my Spa rather than anything from Sabbath, litespeed etc cos spa still has traditional bosses

 

[bagpuss]

The shimano aero levers work fine, its just how they sit on the north road handlebars that I have .The straight bar ultegra levers compatable with dual pivot brakes would not fit (wrong clamp size) . Fortunately I have big hands so reach is not an issue.
The reason for north road bars is I wanted something different . As I get older drops are less appealing. Pictures to follow once built.

As others have said its your bike so do as you wish.

Hipsters here i come

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Historic components do not (offer advantages) - although some last for ever.

Matter of opinion, I suppose. Seems like you listed an advantage right there. And front derailleurs are not what they used to be. Modern manufacturers are already looking at them like a vestigal limb, so they're only going to get worse. Hooray for less gear ratios!

 

[pigman]

Historic frames offer quite a few advantages over modern ones, bizarrely often including ride quality.

Historic components do not - although some last for ever.

Not sure I fully subscribe to this.
Giving credit to what you say though, in a perfect world though, every modern piece works better. It's lighter, shifts slicker, brakes harder, has a better range of gears etc etc. But that perfect world is one in which the weather is always nice, the rider always cleans his bike and he is wealthy.

My (winter bike) world is one where I ride in crap, cruddy weather, I quickly wash my bike down every couple months, the chain is covered in thick black lube, so clunky 8 speed is more reliable than temperamental 12 speed. I have no intention of risking a wet weather crash and having to buy a di2 hydraulic lever, when I have a store of ex bike jumble kit that works well. I personally see these as very real advantages of historic kit.