Hey everyone, I got this 2009 Haro Flightline Comp mountain bike for free, and it’s not in too bad shape. There’s a bit of rust and some grime and grease on a few components, but I think most of it can be cleaned up and greased properly to get it running smoothly again.
The tires definitely need replacing though – they look pretty brittle after sitting in a garage for so long. The fork had some pitting that I was able to clean up with some WD40 and 3000 grit, needs some polishing though
I’m thinking about swapping out the cassette and derailleurs, but if they’re not too rusted, especially the cassette, maybe I can clean them up and keep them. What do you think?
Are there any tires that would make trail riding a bit more comfortable on a hard-tail? Can I use tubeless tires with these rims? I’m also wondering if it’s worth upgrading to hydraulic brakes instead of mechanical ones. Would that be something I could do with a budget of $200 or less?
The frame looks decent, but I’ve been out of the game for a while and don’t exactly know what’s available these days.
Eventually, I’d like to move up to a full suspension bike, especially because of the seat height – trails just feel more comfortable with a better geometry. But for now, cross-country and light trails should be fine with this setup.
I’ve built road and trekking bikes from scratch, so I’m comfortable with doing repairs myself.
So, any recommendations on parts, tires, or upgrades? What’s worth investing in and what can I do with a smaller budget?
by kaeptnphlop
3 Comments
I have a nice hardtail for actual trail riding and use an older model MTB I invested 300 into for winter riding and gravel riding. It’s only worth putting part bin or cheap second hand parts into these bikes and using them as an ATB. Modern geo on hardtails and tire size increases have made these bikes feel very dated for real MTB trails. So to answer the question it’s worth a small investment to have a rideable bike yes but I wouldn’t recommend going overboard.
Should work fine. Tire are still available at big box stores that still sell 26″ wheeled MTB bikes. Likely Kenda :). I wouldn’t change anything else for now. You can get cheap hydro brake kits, but the cables ones are not bad if tuned well.
That’s worth restoring, they were around £800 new. Don’t expect it to be worth much when you’re done, but they ride well. Fix it up enough to ride and see how it feels before going any further. I’d look at swapping the crankset and forks in the future as they were weak links in the package.
I wouldn’t expect the wheels to be tubeless-ready given the age and price range of the bike, but check on Google. As for tyres, I used to run maxxis high rollers on the front and maxxis ardent on the back when I had 26″ wheels. Continental mountain kings are good too for a less aggressive tyre.
If the cable discs work then keep them, you won’t get good hydraulic brakes along with the other parts you need for 200. Or keep an eye on eBay but expect the brakes to need bleeding.