Pretty insane Rotec Pro Downhill frame/bike "restoration"
- Thread starter captainspauldin
- Start date
Dig the bar clamps below. That's exactly what I've been toying with - - reboring 1 1/8 clamps for 31.8 to get a zero-offset stem.
incredible read.. will be checking that thread as its updated
Not going to read 7 pages... what does Yamaha have to do with Rotec?
something something Sully something something motocross something something
ever hear the story about the original Rotec's in the woods at Mount Snow?
FYI - This version was pre Lawwill and Sully.
FYI - This version was pre Lawwill and Sully.
No, but im sure we will now. You tend to have good stories
Lol that's a buddy of mine Alan in boise.....yeah he's tall and never knew he raced for them he's pretty hush hush about himself....
Sweet resto. If I had the time and patience, I'd recreate my old 2001 era RM7 to exactly how I had it set up.
ha, I saw that bike on PB and thought about picking it up to have something cheap this season to dick around on. I'm glad he got it, as it looks like he loves it. Nice work!
I didn't think this sport was old enough for a retro bike restoration project, but that is 100% awesome. I need to sell my old cars and start a project like this.
Did you see the guy is also starting up a bike company? Can't wait to see his designs. Although I hope they don't pivot around the BB...
Did you see the guy is also starting up a bike company? Can't wait to see his designs. Although I hope they don't pivot around the BB...
i was wondering when 'vintage' dh bikes were going to start to become collectable - ie, when we olden bastards become nostalgic and begin to dust off some of the cobweb covered hardware. nostalgia + disposable income = trick projects like these. it's happened in bmx and it's going strong in the early mtb (80's-early 90's) scene. the trick stuff is being hoarded and prices are jumping. curious to see what happens. i love to see projects like this regardless.
That's really cool. Definitely have a soft spot for those bikes. I used to have that same model back in the day built with a Risse Champ. Interesting to see the build is not full retro and more of an exercise in modernization/restoration/optimization.
As bad-ass as that project is, anyone else notice the tool box/table this bloke has? WANT
As bad-ass as that project is, anyone else notice the tool box/table this bloke has? WANT
I know, right??!?anyone else notice the tool box/table this bloke has? WANT
Anyone venture a guess if it's stainless or just plain steel bench top? I want to cover my work benches with metal, but am currently weighing options/prices.
Back to the Rotec- I would love to see an actual modern version of this frame. I wonder how well it functions with a shock to make up for the concentric pivot?
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It's stainless. Steel = Oxidation unless it's covered in oil.
Yes, back to the Rotec
Galvanized makes a decent compromise between protection and price. I have the 'engine tear-down' section of one of my benches done that way and it's held up well for about 20 years.
xy9ine- i sold my old fat chance titanium frame a few years ago for more than i bought the entire bike with full xt for in the 90s. i wonder when the random beat dh crap in my basement will be worth similar $ 
The one thing about DH bikes is most of them are already beat to crap. I think it would be tough to get the retro thing going with bikes that are beat to piss. I guess we'll see in a few years. There was a guy on MTBR that had just redone his sts lobo...that was kind of hot too.
This is such an awesome money pit project. What a weird combo of a CCDB shock with a White Brothers fork
On the flipside, now that bike designs are starting to stabilize, the old/retro bikes are going to stay more relevant for kids, sport riders and just-for-fun dudes. Other than the big issue of parts availability, a 2005 IH Sunday should still be ripping in 2015. The earlier generation of bikes... not so much.
MX bikes have been like this for like 20+ years, and it's kinda cool that the newest technology is only a little bit better. DH bikes from 95 to '05 are light years apart in capability.
Though this may be seen as a negative from the big bike manufacturers, from the resorts and shop perspective, lowering the barriers to entry means more customers.
I wonder how many plastic Lobos are still in existence? (And not cracked...)
I've got this bike in storage, I guess it's not quite a classic, I don't know what do you guys think? Should I hot rod it like the Rotec? Always thought it would look awesome polished...
^^ Strip it, do an all-over 'engine-turn' pattern with a brass cup brush and shoot it candy red .
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That Tomac sure is a classic! Looks to be in really nice condition too. I would not change a thing.
Funny you say that, I was thinking polished, but with the big Tomac letters done with the exact finish you describe. I even tried to google it and find out what that kind of finish is called and couldn't find it anywhere...and yet we both had the same idea. Kind of a retro, 1930s air racer or vintage race car look.^^ Strip it, do an all-over 'engine-turn' pattern with a brass cup brush and shoot it candy red
Horror Business...thanks man! Unfortunately that picture was taken when it was new. It no longer looks that good. The black powder coat is pretty dull, so it needs a new finish. Those bikes were bombproof tanks though, so I'm sure it's got a lot of life left in it.
I used to want one of those so bad.
Nice 204!
I still have mine hanging in the garage. I don't miss the insane rear hub/axle setup (17 X 170 ?) and the chain running along the stay in 9th gear with anything less than a 44t ring. I also remember it having a crazy wide BB and the Mr. Dirt POS of a guide. I ended up swapping some hardware to get an E.13 to fit. Wasn't too bad for a first bike from what I remember.
I bookmarked the thread, can't wait to see the finished/rolling product!
I still have mine hanging in the garage. I don't miss the insane rear hub/axle setup (17 X 170 ?) and the chain running along the stay in 9th gear with anything less than a 44t ring. I also remember it having a crazy wide BB and the Mr. Dirt POS of a guide. I ended up swapping some hardware to get an E.13 to fit. Wasn't too bad for a first bike from what I remember.
I bookmarked the thread, can't wait to see the finished/rolling product!
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haha - - funny we were on the same wavelength. I've seen a similar finish called 'wired' but believe that was more random and not a regularly-spaced engine-turned look. Just the letters would be tricky to achieve - - might have to 'mask' it with the same type of rubber that monument makers use to sandblast lettering in stone.
An easy alternative would be to get the lettering cut out of vehicle vinyl in engine-turned red. (funny, until I just searched, I thought it was only available in silver or gold)
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Nice rebuild.
Did my own refurbisment in 2007 of an '02 Cortina Europa DS.
Too young to be a classic then i guess.
She lasted a full season of general boosting around, didn't spare the old lady and she held up great.
Right now she's a shelfqueen because the main bearing gave in.
This thread got me seriously scavenging for parts ! Keep it coming ;-)
I feel you guys on rinding classic DH-frames that must have had the snot beaten out of them.
Does alu age bad ? Can one put a timeframe on how long a general-structural-strongness-thingthat should remain thrustworthy ?
I'm 100% shure this frame had no 'accidents' and was, realy, realy, only gently ridden by a girl. Would you do this old lady ?
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Did my own refurbisment in 2007 of an '02 Cortina Europa DS.
Too young to be a classic then i guess.
She lasted a full season of general boosting around, didn't spare the old lady and she held up great.
Right now she's a shelfqueen because the main bearing gave in.
This thread got me seriously scavenging for parts ! Keep it coming ;-)
I feel you guys on rinding classic DH-frames that must have had the snot beaten out of them.
Does alu age bad ? Can one put a timeframe on how long a general-structural-strongness-thingthat should remain thrustworthy ?
I'm 100% shure this frame had no 'accidents' and was, realy, realy, only gently ridden by a girl. Would you do this old lady ?
Before:
After:
Nice! A classic DS bike. That's absolutely wicked!!Before:
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