Normies in the chat may not be able to see the potential here, but I'm sure you Xbikers can! I got a very good deal on this Villiger Manitoba touring rig that I plan to convert into a proper Xbike. It came with a Brooks that I immediately sold for the same amount I paid for the entire bike, so what you see in the picture was essentially completely free! The first picture is my bike, the second is one I found online which serves as a bit of inspiration – such a cool looking bike.
Plans include:
– Knobbly tan wall tyres, as dat as the fenders permit
– A cooler looking, lower spoke count wheelset
– Maintain the 3×9 drivetrain, maybe with modern derailleurs
– Sort out that cockpit – ahead stem and riser bars probably
– There's a shift lever on the seat tube that operates a roller dynamo under the bottom bracket, you may just about be able to make them out in the picture. I really want to maintain that system, but with a better looking headlight unit
Thanks for reading, do let me know your thoughts and insights!
by thefirstpigeon
5 Comments
It looks absolutely gorgeous. Old bikes just hit different.
(talks about lugs, doesn’t show lugs.)
the rack situation is the berries
i would have kept the saddle
Looks dope! I’d be tempted to rig that dynamo-lever up to the front derailleur- those bottle-dynamos are a bit crap IME
This is sick! Nice find.
Is the front brake cable as short as it looks? From here it looks like there’s no length to turn.