Bikewright Workshop Project 1986 Bridgestone MB-1| Part III
This is the third post in our series on Bikewright Work Shop Project 1986 Bridgestone MB-1. Check out our previous post at Bikewright Workshop Project 1986 Bridgestone MB1 Part II
Handlebar/brakes/shifter.
I start disassembly taking the O.G.K Cobra grips off. If you set the end of the grip that goes to the center of the bar the grip looks like a Cobra. From what I can find on the web they were made in the mid-'80s and are straight-up old school BMX grips. They do have that ergonomic feel to them. It's funny how things come back in style. I don't know what it is but I am not feeling these grips and I have plans that I will replace them. Not sure what I will do but I love Ergon GP1's,
Next, I moved to the Dia-Compe 183 brake levers. All I needed to do was clean them up and replace the adjuster barrel on the right lever. I went to my local recycle bike shop too see if I could source another adjuster barrel. I was able to find a different model lever that had the type of adjuster barrel I was looking for. I think I paid $3 for the lever just to get the part I needed. One thing that is cool and they where thinking back-in-the-day is that the lever handle is replaceable.
The Suntour XC shifter is uncharted ground for me. When I started mountain biking in the mid 90's I started off using Grip Shift shifters, so the thumbies are something different to me. The Suntour XC shifters where a blast to take apart and clean-up 23-year-old grease off of them.
Learning how something works by taking it apart and putting it back together again has been the fun part of this project. I didn't cut my teeth on Suntour Shifters but now I understand how good of a shifter they were. Components in the early days of mountain biking were made to be serviceable and parts were to be replaced. It's a shame that as simple as a bike is that most modern parts just throw away.
Handlebar/brakes/shifter.
I start disassembly taking the O.G.K Cobra grips off. If you set the end of the grip that goes to the center of the bar the grip looks like a Cobra. From what I can find on the web they were made in the mid-'80s and are straight-up old school BMX grips. They do have that ergonomic feel to them. It's funny how things come back in style. I don't know what it is but I am not feeling these grips and I have plans that I will replace them. Not sure what I will do but I love Ergon GP1's,
Next, I moved to the Dia-Compe 183 brake levers. All I needed to do was clean them up and replace the adjuster barrel on the right lever. I went to my local recycle bike shop too see if I could source another adjuster barrel. I was able to find a different model lever that had the type of adjuster barrel I was looking for. I think I paid $3 for the lever just to get the part I needed. One thing that is cool and they where thinking back-in-the-day is that the lever handle is replaceable.
The Suntour XC shifter is uncharted ground for me. When I started mountain biking in the mid 90's I started off using Grip Shift shifters, so the thumbies are something different to me. The Suntour XC shifters where a blast to take apart and clean-up 23-year-old grease off of them.
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| That is a lot of parts for a shifter! I hope I remember how it goes back together |
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| Mount clamp and base of Suntour XC shifter |
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| Suntour XC Shifter cleaned, lubed and reassembled |
Learning how something works by taking it apart and putting it back together again has been the fun part of this project. I didn't cut my teeth on Suntour Shifters but now I understand how good of a shifter they were. Components in the early days of mountain biking were made to be serviceable and parts were to be replaced. It's a shame that as simple as a bike is that most modern parts just throw away.
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