Rocky Mountain Experience

[troje]

Last week, a fellow retrobiker pointed me towards a Dutch ad where someone was advertising his Rocky Mountain Experience. The seller bought it new BITD, in the early nineties, but finally decided to part with it after it was standing in the way, unused for many years. I contacted the seller and I was fortunate enough to make a deal. I'm really excited now that I finally own one, they don't appear often for sale. It's my size as well with 19.5".

Yesterday I picked it up and this night I stripped it with almost all parts. Most parts came off without much struggle but the bottom bracket really does not want to say goodbye to the frame, but it will get out when I have the right tool.

Not sure what year it is? Either 1991 or 1992? the RM catalog is not clear to me. Maybe someone with a similar Experience can compare his frame number with this one?

The build surely will take me some time. First, let's find a proper fork. Stock, this bike came with a Tange Super Big fork but finding one will prove not easy, given the size of this frame. Possibly I could go for a Syncros Powerlites set, which should look nice but again not easy to find in this length. Optionally, an AMP fork could look great so plenty of options here.

Anyway, suggestions I very much welcome!

 

[shutter]

Nice!

Here's mine... I started wanting to use the original tange fork... but I wanted to go threadless... so I had the steer lengthened... But... then I decided to swap to an amp fork... this is how it sits now... still unfinished

Now... IF you want that original fork with extended steer I'm happy to sell / swap it with you... I can measure the steer but this is an 18.5" frame so as you can see lots of extra steer there for your frame so it will be just fine... (But since it was extended you would have to go threadless...)

.

.

 

[troje]

Thanks! I think I will go for a threaded fork on this one, to keep it close to original. The AMP really looks good on this frame I have to admit, which is a bit of a dilemma as I think the Experience was really made for rigid forks with it's trial geometry. Maybe a set of Powerlites would suit.

I measured the headtube, it is 153mm. Adding a 37 mm stack for a headset means I need to source a fork with a 190 mm steerer....

How does your frame number compare to mine?

 

[Jamis Diablo]

Nice one! I'm looking forward to this build, should become very nice.
I wouldn't let the fork tube lenght stand in the way of your fork choice, if it is to short just lenghten it.

 

[troje]

Thanks! Do you happen to know any specialists in Holland who can do that?

 

[shutter]

Thanks! Do you happen to know any specialists in Holland who can do that?

Remember.... When you lengthen a steer you can only use it as a threadless setup...

This is because an insert has to be added on the inside of the steer behind the but join. If the join is right close to the crown and your head tube is very long then there is a SLIM chance that there will be enough space above the insert to allow room for the quill to reach down into the steer. I have had many steers lengthened and have not been able to accomplish this yet

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

YA1 iirc tend to be 1992 frames.

Could always fit MAG20/30 fork or cheat with the mag10/21 it was their fork of choice other than the Scott forks.

 

[RockiMtn]

congrats and welcome to the Experience club!

as you know, i have an AMP fork on my Cirrus, and Powerlite fork on the Expérience. Threadless and threaded respectively!

 

[troje]

Progress! Usually I don't like to remove decals as I think nothing beats the original livery, but this frame really needs a make over. The original decals are close to gone and the bare aluminium is in desperate need of a polish to get back to its former glory. So the bullet went through the church (direct translation from a Dutch saying), I've spend a few hours polishing the frame and removing the decals. It's at the same time a good moment to fully inspect the frame. It is in technical really good condition, no cracks, not even a single dent or major scratch. Rocky Mountain really made these bullet proof.

So I'm in doubt which decals to take. To be honest, I like the red on black decals used on the '91 Experience more than the purple on blue decals used on the '92 version. I don't think the frame differs on any point between the 1991 and 1992 version, but I'm happy to be educated by the retrobike community

Forks.... probably a set of Powerlites. I know it might take me up to a year to find one and surely it needs to be extended to 190 mm. I've found a specialist in the south of the Netherlands that can replace the steerer.

Component choice will probably be classic. Black Syncros for steerer, stem and seatpost and a full set of Deore DX are on my mind at the moment.

 

[troje]

congrats and welcome to the Experience club!

as you know, i have an AMP fork on my Cirrus, and Powerlite fork on the Expérience. Threadless and threaded respectively!

Thanks! Yes, you have the ideal set up. Powerlites is what I'm going for as well. The Cirrus will come eventually as well in my collection