Please help identify frame and inverted suspension fork

[faust]

Hello folks, I found this mountain bike for sale and was curious about the frame and fork. I'm really only after the XTR components for a project I'm working on.

I did some research but I wasn't able to find anything for "FTW Cycles", "ETW" or "6TW". Also the seller's listing is VERY dodgy, they make no mention of the bike make, model, or components. It's as if they have no idea what they have.

 

[jimo746]

Maybe they have no idea what they have? Maybe it's a bit "dodgy"?
Forks say "Shiver" on them, so I assume they're Marzocchi Shiver.
FTW could be Frank The Welder, a well known & respected aluminium frame builder. Or they could just be stickers put on by someone. I'm no expert on his frames

 

[Splatter Paint]

X

 

[markoc]

Forks do look like Shivers

Frame looks like an Ellsworth, at least the rear triangle. Whether it is or not is another matter. Could FTW have used an Ellsworth rear end in that same way as some (Mongoose) used AMP?

 

[faust]

Maybe they have no idea what they have? Maybe it's a bit "dodgy"?
Forks say "Shiver" on them, so I assume they're Marzocchi Shiver.
FTW could be Frank The Welder, a well known & respected aluminium frame builder. Or they could just be stickers put on by someone. I'm no expert on his frames

Thanks! That's one piece of the puzzle. I did suspect it may be a Frank the Welder frame.

And yes, the listing is dodgy. The listing title was "Christine headset"...

 

[eshew]

A good shiver is worth a pretty hefty amount. I'd do your research, make sure it's not stolen. If it comes up clean, a good shiver is worth a good amount of xtr. I just spent $400 on one and am pretty happy about it.

With a bike that old there's a good chance it's been handed down, sold, given away etc multiple times over that last 30 years. Only the true bike nerds will get the ad right. Chances are it's being sold by someone who knows it's worth something but knows zip about bikes and less than zip about pretty rare bits, which the frame certainly is, as is the shiver SC.

In regards to the Shiver SC, seals and oil are usually all they need for a full factory fresh rebuild. Both are readily available. It's pretty uncommon, but check the crown for cracks and the bronze colored stanchions for any major gouges. And check the frame welds closely for any cracks. A rag and a flashlight help with that.

The frame does look more like an early Turner, the rear triangle and links especially. https://www.mtbr.com/threads/what-model-is-this-turner.87832/#lg=thread-87832&slide=0

 

[markoc]

Turner looks spot on. Think if you squint hard enough it might even have a Turner logo on the linkage plate now I'm on a monitor not my phone.

Definitely worth picking up if it's going cheap

 

[Twozaskars]

I bought 4 bikes from 2 different sellers last year where the seller had no idea what they had, all were inherited from deceased brothers of the sellers and I had no reason to believe otherwise.

 

[joglo]

Turner looks spot on. Think if you squint hard enough it might even have a Turner logo on the linkage plate now I'm on a monitor not my phone.

indeed