I just got a 1997 Trek Singletrack 930 with rigid fork, I couldn't afford it back then, but now I get to do it how I want it. Great video and THANK YOU for the parts list
MAN! I'd LOVE to have this RockHopper AS IS! I've got 2 but they're both MUCH smaller. 17 inch frames. I've also got 2 HUGE GT's, about this size, that I absolutely adore. I'd give up BOTH of my RockHoppers for this one. Absolutely stunning bike in my opinion. I appreciate your work and content. Please, by all means, continue.❤️🙏🏾
Incredible Build! I did a similar build last year with my dad's '96 Rockhopper. I did end up buying a new rear wheel because I didn't know about changing the freehub. I also went with an AdventX derailleur (1x10) and a RockShox recon silver tk fork in the front to modernize the bike (still kept the v-brakes for now). Loving these videos, keep it up!
IMHO, I might call changing a 3x7 to 1x10 an update, but not necessarily an upgrade. My old 1999 Giant Sedona is 3x7 and I love it. Wide range, plenty of options, and the available combinations to maintain a straight, efficient chain line. All the best to you.
You get less possible gear options and people call this an upgrade. I don't get it either. Simplicity of 1x is nice but I too prefer my 3x7 as an ATB. Gears for any terrain and situation.
3x9 is what i currently use on an old giant yukon for commuting, has the gearing to haul groceries and a trailer up hills, but has plenty of top end when unloaded. friction shift front is the key in my opinion to avoid the annoyance of shifting an indexed triple. with that said, i totally get why people convert to 1x, it is much simpler.
depends on the bike. For commuting or a touring or something like that, it can be awesome. But for a trail mtb, 1x is the way to go. Less rattle, less complicated shifting, quiet riding..
Agree. I remember racing on 3x7, 3x8 and then 3x9. Though for racing the granny gear is essentially useless, normal daily riding tells me 3x anything is better than any 1x.
The finished product is awesome as well! I haven't yet but I just might experiment with the 1x9 or 10 conversion. Still a hard no as far as the forks are concerned. For me, it would go from awesome to absolutely mesmerizing with rigid forks instead. Still love it though. Keep up the good work. I greatly enjoy watching and learning.❤️🙏🏾
I’m enjoying your videos very much. I’m in the process of doing the same to a late 90’s MTB. Amazing how a few modern components can make these bike so enjoyable to ride. Cheers
I have a 1996 Santa Cruz Tazmon with a broken chain ring and completely gutted drive train. This video will serve as the blueprint for when I decide to get it all patched up. Thx for sharing!
Really enjoyed this. I have my 3 old 26in bikes I recently replaced with more modern bikes. I wanted to give the old ones some new life before getting rid of them. I think at this point I can just toss on a few upgrades and sell for the cost of the new parts and get the enjoyment out of doing the projects.
That's a great idea! It's fun to do these kinda projects. That Deore group set was reasonably priced. There's a link in the description that comes as a set.
Outstanding. I love the way my Gary Fisher 26" rides. I upgraded the cranks to Hollowtech II and the bike lost a pound or so. I would comment that SRAM sure does pedal better than Shimano in my humble opinion...but ain't cheap. Another option would have been 11-42 cassette and double cranks. Having a front derailleur has a cool retro look. Makes it nice for big transitions in terrain too.
That was so fun to watch! I have an old Stumpjumper with a 1x10, and it’s the first bike I reach for on our local trails. I’m looking to do the same with a vintage Cannondale F700.
I bet it rides nice! Steel frames on their own soak up the road chatter, so having it come w/ a decent fork + all the upgrades is a good formula for a fun time.
I did the same thing to my wife’s hard rock…. It was immaculate but old….. threw on some semi slicks, went from a 3x8 to a 1x9…. New cables, housings, brake pads, chain etc. now it’s good for another 15 years.
Great job on the editing and the tire mounting was especially fun, lol. I like the tire choice, and that you didn't just update other stuff, just because. Well done.
Very nice job, this is the second of your videos I've watched, lots of fun! I have a real 1997 Klein Attitude Comp that I'm getting ready to do a 1x11 swap on. The bike is in mint condition, I bought it off a collector. I have a 2024 Specialized SirrusX 4.0 1x11 and after riding it, it's hard to get back on the old 3x8 set up. Now I'm really pumped after watching this video! Thanks for the inspiration. 😁👊
My favourite of your videos so far! I have a 2003 Saracen Element 3 bike which I've upgraded to an air-shock suspension and hydraulic disc-brakes, but is still running a 3x7 drive-train. You've got me thinking...
Woahw I love it! Thanks for this video. Really instructive by the way. I am doing the same on my old Marin Nail Trail, 1994 Mtb. With the longer 8s freewheel body, does the same axis fit? Don't you need a longer one ?
Always good to see old bikes being brought back to life and these old Rockhoppers are cool bikes. Still I don't see an advantage of an 1x10 over a 3x7. Maybe with a 2x10 you could have retained or improved the range?
1x10 is a downgrade. I would have simply replaced the rear derailleur with a modern 8 speed version (works with 7), and maybe a wider range 7 speed cassette.
The axel width did not change nor did the centerline of the wheel. The most important thing to check is the clearance to the frame. The cassette and the freewheel are wider, so you need that space for those. Check how much space is between the chain on the smallest gear. You need around 4mm or more clearance with the 7 speed set up to make sure the 8-12 speed set up will fit.
Great vid. I just purchased (literally yesterday) a 90's Miyata Civi Cross and I'd like to change the 3x6 over to 1x10 for rail trail riding. Would the setup above work for that particular bike? Is there a link or a site that gives definitive info on conversions. Thanks!
Hey Mr. DePue, great video! Do you know what would have happened if you tried to install a 27.5" wheel on a rockhopper or trek mountain track type bike that was made for 26"? I'm going to try to build my first bike with a 1x conversion on a mountain track and am wondering if i should try it this way with the old wheels or try to run 27.5
I think it is possible, but the tires need to be pretty small, and the frame needs some extra space. I've been looking for the right combination to try a build like that. A mullet set up with a 27.5 up front would be easier but may mess with the bikes geometry.
Love the bike design ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L and functionality. It is hard to align the front tired to center the disk brakes. The brake wheel touches the stationery side of the brake caliper and pad. I aired the tire up to 40 psi as the markings say 40-60psi. Left the house for a few hours and came back to an exploded innertube.All in all it seems to be a good bike. Have not ridden it yet though so that's the max of my knowledge. Update, put a new innertube made sure the tire was set properly and it did the same thing in under 20 minutes as second pic shows.
I also think the 1X setups are much better. Specially if you use the bicycle in a daily basis, in your normal life... 1X requires considerably less maintenance... Easier to clean and keep tidy
Spreading the grease by finger and feel is nice but it hurt me mentally and almost physically because doing this as my job, I've just gotten so many tiny metal splinters in my fingers and if it hits a nerve it'll feel like soul leaves your body. Nowadays I spread grease with a brush. 8)
Hi, I recently just bought my first retro MTB and Im also a beginner in fiddling around with it. Can someone explain what is happening at 10:00 mark, It looks very important but Im not sure what it does. Thanks in advance!
That makes sure the hanger on the frame is parallel to the wheel, which in turn makes sure the cassette is also aligned to the derailleur. If this is not parallel, the shifting performance will be poor.
Great video! But if I can not change the free hub from 7-speed to 8/9/10 hub I can still use a 10-speed cassette (removing 1 cog) on my 7-speed hub, resulting in a 9-speed cassette. Do still have to use a 10-speed derailleur and shifter or can I just use a 9-speed derailleur/shifter?
3x7 is always better than 1x10, I refuse to debate this. I ride my vintage mountain bikes everywhere and never do I think to myself "You know what would make this bike better? Less gears" Front derailleurs are great and the range of gears is superior, especially if you're riding on the street to get to the trails like I am.
It was just a piece of the cable guide that goes across the top tube. In the end, it wouldn't stay in there and so I cut it out. I thought it would reduce the friction.
Amazing video!! Is it really as simple as just replacing the 7-speed freehub body with an 8-speed freehub body and then using the same original axle and hardware that was on it originally? My LBS is saying "It's not that simple, you may need a longer axle, new cone/cup hardware etc, the spacing will be off etc..." I want to do the exact same conversion, 3x7 on a 90's Bianchi MTB (with very nice Mavic/STX wheelset), but don't want to go into the whole trouble of rebuilding the wheel with a new modern hub etc... But you used the original axle and hardware from the 7-speed setup when installing the new 8-speed? THANKS!!!!!
You could still go 1x11 and just leave the smallest cog away, which will make the cassette fit the old 7x freewheel, and you still end up with 10 gears. Only two real downsides to this: your longest gear will be a tad shorter (12T on most MTB cassettes), and you'll have to find a matching 12T cassette lockring, as the one that comes with the new 11x cassette usually won't fit the 12T cog's friction surface. Use a matching 11x shifter (the 11th gear will be without function, but that doesn't really matter). Might be an option...
The Frisbee Golf scene was hilarious
Clever editing satisfying to watch. Love the disc golf throw 😂
Bikes of that era have the best lines. Just beautiful.
Finally somebody with a clear and original way to dispose of a dork disk 😂 !!! Great vid btw !!
I just got a 1997 Trek Singletrack 930 with rigid fork, I couldn't afford it back then, but now I get to do it how I want it. Great video and THANK YOU for the parts list
MAN! I'd LOVE to have this RockHopper AS IS! I've got 2 but they're both MUCH smaller. 17 inch frames. I've also got 2 HUGE GT's, about this size, that I absolutely adore. I'd give up BOTH of my RockHoppers for this one. Absolutely stunning bike in my opinion. I appreciate your work and content. Please, by all means, continue.❤️🙏🏾
I didn't know the hub swap was possible. Awesome! Also great edits, I love that the imagination is never lost.
Just got my roadbike, 1 x 12 speed. 44 tooth and 10-28 rear. Fantastic I love it. I used to have 2 x 11 before. Huge uprade for me.
I'm a rigid fork guy though. I've never been a fan of any suspension anywhere on my bikes. Hard-Tail Rigid lover for life!😁
awesome. I wanna do that now too.
I will keep this video in mind if I ever get my chance. Thanks for a great video
Sweet build! Thanks for the parts list. I have a 90s RockHopper (purple to blue fade) that i wanted to update the stem and bars..
Incredible Build! I did a similar build last year with my dad's '96 Rockhopper. I did end up buying a new rear wheel because I didn't know about changing the freehub. I also went with an AdventX derailleur (1x10) and a RockShox recon silver tk fork in the front to modernize the bike (still kept the v-brakes for now). Loving these videos, keep it up!
IMHO, I might call changing a 3x7 to 1x10 an update, but not necessarily an upgrade. My old 1999 Giant Sedona is 3x7 and I love it. Wide range, plenty of options, and the available combinations to maintain a straight, efficient chain line. All the best to you.
You get less possible gear options and people call this an upgrade. I don't get it either. Simplicity of 1x is nice but I too prefer my 3x7 as an ATB. Gears for any terrain and situation.
The 3x7 is a true workhorse that can do just about anything, I am just not patient enough to use 2 separate levers. Haha!
3x9 is what i currently use on an old giant yukon for commuting, has the gearing to haul groceries and a trailer up hills, but has plenty of top end when unloaded. friction shift front is the key in my opinion to avoid the annoyance of shifting an indexed triple.
with that said, i totally get why people convert to 1x, it is much simpler.
depends on the bike. For commuting or a touring or something like that, it can be awesome. But for a trail mtb, 1x is the way to go. Less rattle, less complicated shifting, quiet riding..
Agree. I remember racing on 3x7, 3x8 and then 3x9. Though for racing the granny gear is essentially useless, normal daily riding tells me 3x anything is better than any 1x.
The finished product is awesome as well! I haven't yet but I just might experiment with the 1x9 or 10 conversion. Still a hard no as far as the forks are concerned. For me, it would go from awesome to absolutely mesmerizing with rigid forks instead. Still love it though. Keep up the good work. I greatly enjoy watching and learning.❤️🙏🏾
This is what I'm wanting, old school. Front shock. Mostly pavement some gravel dirt road.. and the 1x is perfect.
Yep! That's exactly what this bike is all about....it will go anywhere.
I’m enjoying your videos very much. I’m in the process of doing the same to a late 90’s MTB. Amazing how a few modern components can make these bike so enjoyable to ride. Cheers
I have a 1996 Santa Cruz Tazmon with a broken chain ring and completely gutted drive train. This video will serve as the blueprint for when I decide to get it all patched up. Thx for sharing!
Really enjoyed this. I have my 3 old 26in bikes I recently replaced with more modern bikes. I wanted to give the old ones some new life before getting rid of them. I think at this point I can just toss on a few upgrades and sell for the cost of the new parts and get the enjoyment out of doing the projects.
That's a great idea! It's fun to do these kinda projects. That Deore group set was reasonably priced. There's a link in the description that comes as a set.
Those old Specialized bikes are very good bikes. Love the editing. I am really digging your channel. Keep it up!
I had mixed feelings about the new setup, but when I saw you ride it I knew what it was all about. Legend!
Outstanding. I love the way my Gary Fisher 26" rides. I upgraded the cranks to Hollowtech II and the bike lost a pound or so. I would comment that SRAM sure does pedal better than Shimano in my humble opinion...but ain't cheap. Another option would have been 11-42 cassette and double cranks. Having a front derailleur has a cool retro look. Makes it nice for big transitions in terrain too.
The tire transitions 👏 👏
That was so fun to watch! I have an old Stumpjumper with a 1x10, and it’s the first bike I reach for on our local trails. I’m looking to do the same with a vintage Cannondale F700.
reusing the old hub by changing the freewheel is great, bike looks cool
Wow! Great upgrade work. A friend of mine has a 90's Klein 3x7 that he wants to get rebuilt. Thanks!
Turned out super cool!! Keep the bikes coming!!
DAYUMM you flew putting that thing together!
I bet it rides nice! Steel frames on their own soak up the road chatter, so having it come w/ a decent fork + all the upgrades is a good formula for a fun time.
Awesome job, I have a Trek 7000 that I want to retromod, thanks for the motivation.
I’m watching this with the exact same bike in mind. Easton made?
5:30 to 5:44 that was one of the best bits, I've never removed one of this, they just auto destruct after a few runs.
That bike will last you a lifetime. 👍
I did the same thing to my wife’s hard rock…. It was immaculate but old….. threw on some semi slicks, went from a 3x8 to a 1x9…. New cables, housings, brake pads, chain etc. now it’s good for another 15 years.
Is it just as fast on the flats with a 1x9 as it is with a 3x8?
@@deltafour1212the 3x has the higher tooth in the front for more speed thsn the 1x
@@growingup4487 Thank you,. How fast we are talking though? Only couple MPH/KPH or more than that?
Very nice modernisation. Nice and simple. Switching to a modern stem and wider bars is a no brainier. 👍
Wow very inspirational. I’m gonna have to do the same. I have one sitting in the backyard.
Great story!! I truly enjoyed this video! One of the best I’ve ever seen. 🙏🏽
Love the video and the nice ride scenes at the end a lot!
Sweet ride, enjoyed every minute.
Great job on the editing and the tire mounting was especially fun, lol. I like the tire choice, and that you didn't just update other stuff, just because. Well done.
Really nice build and video!
Wow. Amazing. And with a few funny parts.
Cool build. Great Rockhopper 👍
Very nice job, this is the second of your videos I've watched, lots of fun! I have a real 1997 Klein Attitude Comp that I'm getting ready to do a 1x11 swap on. The bike is in mint condition, I bought it off a collector. I have a 2024 Specialized SirrusX 4.0 1x11 and after riding it, it's hard to get back on the old 3x8 set up. Now I'm really pumped after watching this video! Thanks for the inspiration. 😁👊
My favourite of your videos so far! I have a 2003 Saracen Element 3 bike which I've upgraded to an air-shock suspension and hydraulic disc-brakes, but is still running a 3x7 drive-train.
You've got me thinking...
So pleased I recently found your channel great builds thanks for sharing . Des P.
Great work !
Great video! Can’t wait to do this myself!
Very nice! Good looking bike!
That’s Epic, thank you so much, gonna make me one, also thanks for the links, this old Man gonna be young again….
nice build! great tire installation technique
First video of yours I’ve seen. Enjoyed watching the build. Subscribed before you even got the bike broken down.
Thank you!!
Nice build upgtade for and old bike.. Watching here in philippines..
I will be watching your singer restoration videos later, got one that's not working 👍
Very cool build
Perfect tired effect 🎉🎉🎉
Great looking bike that mate very clean 👍🚴♂️
Thanks, that’s really helpful. I didn’t réalisez you could just swap the cone thingie on the wheel.
Nice video and good conversion.
I love this idea
Great, great job!!
Love the bike and you’ve got your own woods …. Jealous or what wow
Excellent. Thank you
thanks for the video I have a GT I might do the same with
Nice resto/mod👍🏼
Great vid! Lots of good tips and info….
Thanks this was informative. I’ve got an old Giant rigid fork. Hope it has a free hub.
Nice job 👏👏👏👏
Throughly enjoyed that video, so interesting. The frisbee really topped it for me….
Good job 👍
Thanks for showing the freewheel swap! I was curious on the difference between 7 and 8 spd.
The body that support 7 gears is shorter than the one who support 8 to 11 gears.
he ALWAYS hops right on,and rips! love it!
Nice job I like it
amazing!!!
Woahw I love it! Thanks for this video. Really instructive by the way. I am doing the same on my old Marin Nail Trail, 1994 Mtb.
With the longer 8s freewheel body, does the same axis fit? Don't you need a longer one ?
I used the same axle. The only issue could be clearance to the frame.
Good job 🇨🇦👍
Those Yeti grips are sweet. Still have a set. That fork.....not so much. Mine anyway was pretty much worthless. Slooooow rebound😅
This one works kinda ok. It just takes the edge of the bumps.
nice job! next time line your tire valves up with the tire logos. finishes the wheels off trick
Great tip! I just realized that most people like this detail. And I agree!
Love your vids, only thing I'd say is why speed it up, would be great as is.
Johny, I struggle with that. It's the difference between an 18min video and one that is around 25 minutes.
@@DePuesshop I hear you, just great watching you work, however long it takes
@@johnykryll You can slow the speed down in the settings if you like.
sssoooo smooth
Dork disc golf 😂 nice
Subscribed
Dork Disc Golf😁
Love the video ! Ive got a 94 stumpjumper that id love to do this to . Do you have a parts list ? If you did post my apologize for not seeing it
Most of the stuff I used is in the comment section of the video with links to where to get it. Thanks!
you really made me 🤣at 7.53
Awesome build! Wanting to do something similar with an old diamondback i just got. What crank and bb did you use?
They were some FSA cranks that were used as well as the BB.
Always good to see old bikes being brought back to life and these old Rockhoppers are cool bikes. Still I don't see an advantage of an 1x10 over a 3x7. Maybe with a 2x10 you could have retained or improved the range?
1x10 is a downgrade. I would have simply replaced the rear derailleur with a modern 8 speed version (works with 7), and maybe a wider range 7 speed cassette.
@@SurpriseMeJT 11-34 and a good chainring size does it all offroad.
Hoping you can help, looking to do the same with my rockhopper. Did you need to change for a new axle to accommodate the slightly wider freehub body?
The axel width did not change nor did the centerline of the wheel. The most important thing to check is the clearance to the frame. The cassette and the freewheel are wider, so you need that space for those. Check how much space is between the chain on the smallest gear. You need around 4mm or more clearance with the 7 speed set up to make sure the 8-12 speed set up will fit.
There's a lot I love about old bikes but 3X front derailleurs aren't one of them.....PITA!....😆✌️...
I'm with you on that!
I feel the other way! Lots of things to like about newer bikes, but I'd rather have my 3x10 than a 1x10 (or 1x12).
I like the stem conversion piece to take the new headset. Don't suppose you have a link to where I can get 1
amzn.to/3XQEU8w
Not necessarily an "upgrade". Maybe if simplicity is the goal. Reliability may or may not be better...depends on chainline as it sideloads the chain.
Great vid. I just purchased (literally yesterday) a 90's Miyata Civi Cross and I'd like to change the 3x6 over to 1x10 for rail trail riding. Would the setup above work for that particular bike? Is there a link or a site that gives definitive info on conversions. Thanks!
I am not sure, but you may have a freewheel instead of a cassette on the back. If it's a freewheel, this conversion won't work.
Hey Mr. DePue, great video! Do you know what would have happened if you tried to install a 27.5" wheel on a rockhopper or trek mountain track type bike that was made for 26"? I'm going to try to build my first bike with a 1x conversion on a mountain track and am wondering if i should try it this way with the old wheels or try to run 27.5
I think it is possible, but the tires need to be pretty small, and the frame needs some extra space. I've been looking for the right combination to try a build like that. A mullet set up with a 27.5 up front would be easier but may mess with the bikes geometry.
Love the bike design ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L and functionality. It is hard to align the front tired to center the disk brakes. The brake wheel touches the stationery side of the brake caliper and pad. I aired the tire up to 40 psi as the markings say 40-60psi. Left the house for a few hours and came back to an exploded innertube.All in all it seems to be a good bike. Have not ridden it yet though so that's the max of my knowledge. Update, put a new innertube made sure the tire was set properly and it did the same thing in under 20 minutes as second pic shows.
Yes, making a single speed on a bike is easy for just about any bike.
I also think the 1X setups are much better. Specially if you use the bicycle in a daily basis, in your normal life... 1X requires considerably less maintenance... Easier to clean and keep tidy
nice!
Spreading the grease by finger and feel is nice but it hurt me mentally and almost physically because doing this as my job, I've just gotten so many tiny metal splinters in my fingers and if it hits a nerve it'll feel like soul leaves your body. Nowadays I spread grease with a brush. 8)
I agree! I have a hard time using gloves, but I should consider a small brush.
Hi, I recently just bought my first retro MTB and Im also a beginner in fiddling around with it. Can someone explain what is happening at 10:00 mark, It looks very important but Im not sure what it does. Thanks in advance!
That makes sure the hanger on the frame is parallel to the wheel, which in turn makes sure the cassette is also aligned to the derailleur. If this is not parallel, the shifting performance will be poor.
Great video!
But if I can not change the free hub from 7-speed to 8/9/10 hub I can still use a 10-speed cassette (removing 1 cog) on my 7-speed hub, resulting in a 9-speed cassette.
Do still have to use a 10-speed derailleur and shifter or can I just use a 9-speed derailleur/shifter?
I've seen others try that, but I think the drive train becomes a little fussy.
3x7 is always better than 1x10, I refuse to debate this. I ride my vintage mountain bikes everywhere and never do I think to myself "You know what would make this bike better? Less gears" Front derailleurs are great and the range of gears is superior, especially if you're riding on the street to get to the trails like I am.
I totally disagree. 3x6 is the best.😉
Excelente!
It’s this what you had on Shimano Exage (RM50 / FH-HG50)? Thanks
What's the rubber/cable guide you use in the frame's rear brake tube?
It was just a piece of the cable guide that goes across the top tube. In the end, it wouldn't stay in there and so I cut it out. I thought it would reduce the friction.
Amazing video!! Is it really as simple as just replacing the 7-speed freehub body with an 8-speed freehub body and then using the same original axle and hardware that was on it originally? My LBS is saying "It's not that simple, you may need a longer axle, new cone/cup hardware etc, the spacing will be off etc..." I want to do the exact same conversion, 3x7 on a 90's Bianchi MTB (with very nice Mavic/STX wheelset), but don't want to go into the whole trouble of rebuilding the wheel with a new modern hub etc... But you used the original axle and hardware from the 7-speed setup when installing the new 8-speed? THANKS!!!!!
I thought I would give it a try, and it worked great on this bike. There may be others with frame clearance issues
@@DePuesshop It's would bet it's almost definitely off dish and might not even be possible to get it to dish within a decent tolerance.
You could still go 1x11 and just leave the smallest cog away, which will make the cassette fit the old 7x freewheel, and you still end up with 10 gears. Only two real downsides to this: your longest gear will be a tad shorter (12T on most MTB cassettes), and you'll have to find a matching 12T cassette lockring, as the one that comes with the new 11x cassette usually won't fit the 12T cog's friction surface.
Use a matching 11x shifter (the 11th gear will be without function, but that doesn't really matter). Might be an option...