Old Equipment on Modern Frame?

I agree with that - I use 8 speed, 26" triple on my mtb, but I don't think that's proper historic because you can still buy it at half decent quality points.
And we sell many nice new bikes with 8 speed setups.

Historic stuff i think of more like weinmann brakes, cotter pin, Threaded headsets - long, deep drops, saddles with no give, rat trap pedals that sort of thing.
 
I would say it depends on the frame and whether it was originally conceived to be multi-purpose and intercompatible ( braze ons, cable routing etc). Case in point, Surly Cross check, this frameset is deliberately designed to take a huge variety of different hub and rim sizes, tyre clearances etc, has a very standard 68mm BB shell, 27.2 seatpost , cantilever posts and pretty much everything else lends itself to either retro components or reasonably modern. The cable routing goes under the BB and either supports downtube shifters or a variety of brifters, bar end shifters and thumbies -according to the whim of the owner and whether they go for drops or flat bar. I think that is pretty versatile and there are other similar cyclocross and hybrid frames that can be equally as adaptable - as such it is very easy to fit retro or vintage parts to such a frame
 
I strongly prefer late 80s early 90s 7 and 8-speed stuff and find there are lots of advantages. It works great when tuned, and still works when not maintained or dirty. And it still works today.

But this stuff i just consider as "out-of-step." They are essentially modern parts but without as many clicks. I have 7400 6-speed indexed Dura Ace downtubers shifting easily across 8 speeds in friction mode, and to me this means that technically, Shim had it all figured out in 1985, and has just been adding clicks, complexity, and fragility since then. And selling it at a markup.

@bikeworkshop "historic" is for me a bit older than this. For me, the historic stuff wiggles a bit too much
 
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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!
Oh the demise of the FD, it is surely another sign of the End.
 
Velo Orange make some lovely retro look components. Modern engineering etc .
This all comes at a price however.
I have seen modern steel frames built up with these . The end product looked great . Not sure they would work on a carbon fibre frame ?

I think it boils down to what you want to achieve with a build.

The bikes i ride cover right across the spectrum .
All have their quirks . I just have to remember where the gear levers are .

All quality shed time .
 
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