I'm looking for a vintage MTB with the next necessary parameters and I would really appreciate for your advices:
– steel frame, lightweigh is the plus
– the top tube is horizontal, parallel to the ground (I don't like the geomtry with incline tob tube)
– the frame, the fork with disc brakes
– the fork is rigid
I know I can take modern frames from Surly, All-City, etc., as well as I can take vintage frames with a suspension fork and put there a rigid fork, but I'm sure that our big and knowledgeable community will able to give me several hints about the vintage MTB with such parameters.
Thank you in advance.
P.S.: AI picture is just for attention
by aikfrost
15 Comments
Vintage MTB with disc brakes are as rare as unicorns. Some advise to search for older Karate Monkey or something like that.
Never seen a vintage disk brake steel Mtb with a 80s style frame in the flesh. Do they even exist?
a couple of mechanics at the LBS ride stumpjumpers with front disc fork
the front brake is doing most of the stopping and the rear rim brake will lock up on dirt quite easily
It may be hard to find a vintage steel frame made for disc brakes. Disc brakes became popular around 2000. By then, aluminum had become the most common frame material.
The only bike i can think of like this is Bianchi MUSS, they often changed the names of their single speeds (BASS, BOSS, etc… the last two letters were SS for single speed while the first two referred to color or a pun)
Horizontal dropouts with disc brakes pose a challenge, as the rotor needs to be in a specific position
Jamis Exile single speed is another option, but has a sloping top tube.
https://preview.redd.it/3lxxmtwg1e4g1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3458c08ba231de5b32c84aca17313caaf9f01d30
This is my ‘13 Karate Monkey. Best bike I’ve ever had, actually sold my FS bike cause I was always riding this one. Steel and light in the same sentence sounds wild tho :’)
Crust Scapegoat?
Raleigh XXIX+G from the early 2010s is your bike. It’s a 29er steel frame
Ai Slop
Horizontal top tube and disc brake era don’t really overlap. The way to go about this is to have a framebuilder add a disc mount to the frame and to replace the fork with a disc fork.
Brother Pinecone would be my suggestion. It’s got disc and rim brake mounts 650b and looks like a vintage MTB.
If you don’t mind using 26 inches wheels (and the frame price – almost 1000 euro), there’s the Stridsland Beachcomber
You won’t find one unless you make your search more specific. Do you want 29″ wheels?
Is a 20 year old bike considered vintage or just old? You won’t find anything older with disc brakes. Every option will have 26″ wheels.
You might run into a custom build frame somewhere
Kona Unit had the proper geo you’re looking for. I think they started adding IS disc tabs around 2003ish?
Kona Unit maybe? They’ve been around for awhile now, but not exactly vintage. I have a singlespeed Unit and I love it…feels like a big BMX bike
Marin Muirwoods 2012 ish came with disks, steel. Will fit FAT tires. Not sure if the top tube is the angle you want, but I’ve got it’s predecessor, the Hamilton, and I LOVE that bike.