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Recent new bike purchase has highlighted some issues with my old bike which I've been ignoring while focusing on getting a new full sus (which is a flipping hoot).
Its a medium saracen zen 3 2010 ( https://www.bikes2udirect.com/B3181.html) , burlyish for the time, still pretty stock. Keen to keep something as a spare for mates and also on some local rides it's still a blast even compared to the new steed.
As a minimum I need a dropper and chainset as the old slx is tired and i can"t get a full range of gears (rear shifter i suspect despite strip, clean and grease). Then ideally the tyres are worn, fork (RS Recon 355 U-turn) doesn't really work that well and tends to dive (prob needs a service) so I'd like to upgrade that and from then on anything I can do to lighten the bike as and when.
Arguably I'm a bit sentimental about my bikes as i still have my 90s bike and ive really enjoyed getting back in to riding with the saracen but wondering if the list above is unjustified expense on an old heavy frame and if I'm better moving it on to someone who wants to test the water as I did, then find a more modern second hand cheapish hardtail that ticks the boxes.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Anyone want to chip in with good and bad experiences of either route, upgrade an oldie or set her free? I have mild concern I'll start upgrading an old but otherwise usable bike and then end up either killing it or finding an ever growing list of parts to replace. </span>
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">As a guide due to recent significant purchase short term budget for upgrades is £200 and I'm happy with second hand kit. </span>
I think it's time to take Old Yeller out for a goodbye walk...
8 Year old Alu hard tail?
First thing would be to go over the welds carefully to check for cracks, older bikes can tell when cash is being spent and the excitement can open up cracks!!
But £200 for Drivetrain, tyres, dropper and a fork service would be a great deal!!
Personally I'd cut my losses on it as it's going to end up with a fair amount of cash being spent to get it to somewhere average.
I thought it was a post about a Giant..
I had one of those, but black with blue stickers. Excellent quality frame and really good for the time, one of the best 26in bikes I owned.
Had a Revelation 150mm on mine, might be a good option if you can find a nice one on ebay or PB.
on some local rides it’s still a blast
Singlespeed it 🙂 Cheap & cheerful and it makes riding familiar stuff feel new again.
<div class="bbp-reply-author">mikewsmith
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<div class="bbp-reply-content">8 Year old Alu hard tail?
First thing would be to go over the welds carefully to check for cracks, older bikes can tell when cash is being spent and the excitement can open up cracks!!
But £200 for Drivetrain, tyres, dropper and a fork service would be a great deal!!
Personally I’d cut my losses on it as it’s going to end up with a fair amount of cash being spent to get it to somewhere average.
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Good tip on checking the frame over.
I was thinking the £200 might get the dropper and chainset. Although actually if i can get away with with a new shifter rather than the whole chainset I could put the rest in to the tyres.
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I don't think it's worth worrying about. If you can't afford a whole new bike, just replace parts on the old bike that need replacing. My commuter is a budget hard tail, a 26" Trek 3900, owned since 2012. It's done 15000 miles since 2015. The frame and seat tube and clamp are the only stock parts left on it. Saved a bit for new bikes at the same time.
Singlespeed ! Lose bike weight, new riding experience, great for winter riding and pub bike, perfect for short blasts and you won't worry when you loan it out about fixing it because they are unbreakable
Being that age it's going to be 26"? and 9 speed? Yeah? And I'm guessing from your description nothing's wrong with the actual chainset just the drivetrain is worn?. SLX is 104bcd so replacement chainrings are easy to come by.
If so £200 will easily get you a full new drivetrain and a dropper. even more so if you 1x9 it.
Brand X dropper -£90
11-36 9 speed cassette - £15
9 speed shifter - £20
New cable outer - £5
9 speed rear mech - £30
9 speed chain - £12
32T Narrow wide ring - £5 (alixpress/ebay)
top guide - £5 (alixpress/ebay) - Oneupcomponents style copy
Spend the change on a fork seal kit (ebay) and oil and do a service on the recon.
If you ask around plenty folk will offer you S/H 26" tyres for free if you're willing to collect.
Up to you really. I got a 2004 Kona Caldera frameset and put half decent forks on it, decent sram guide brakes, a wide handlebar and tubeless wheels. Made it pretty fun on certain trails, but whenever I got up a head of speed it always felt a bit dodgy - like you were too far over the front wheel.
Not sure how the geometry would compare to your Saracen but things have moved on since 2010. If enough stuff is worn out I think I’d just sell it off cheaply as you suggested and try to get something a bit newer. There are good bikes like the Voodoo Bizango for around £600.