90s Raleigh frame - worth building up?

scrumpydave
scrumpydave Posts: 143
edited February 2017 in MTB buying advice
Been given this frame. Was told it was high quality but I can't find any info. It appears to be steel and from the 1990s. Does anyone know if this frame is any good? I'm tempted to build it up but not if it's just a heap of junk.

Shucks - don't know how to upload a picture. It's jet black with a "Dunlop" sticker on the down tube. Raleigh badge on head tube. Fittings for canti brakes.

Sorry for the rubbish information. If it helps I'm not sure the photo would have added much!
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Comments

  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    Decent raleigh frames in the 90's would have been m-trax branded and were generally lugged with different coloured tubes like these in this link
    http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11484

    I used to have a raleigh team edition, looked like an m trax but was a bit pap, I crashed it, big style then moved onto GTs.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
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    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • scrumpydave
    scrumpydave Posts: 143
    Thanks for the quick reply. I don't think this is one of those. The front derailleur cable routing is down the down tube for starters. Google really isn't helping on this one!
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  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Try www.retrobike.co.uk
    Pics always help a bit though. Look in FAQ 's for how to.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

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  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Do it up as a retro, I have an old Gary Fisher (1997ish) that I have as a hack bike, goes off road occasionaly but also has a trouser guard so I can use it to pop into town in long trousers as well.

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • scrumpydave
    scrumpydave Posts: 143
    Photo link:

    http://flic.kr/p/br2px2

    Just been to LBS. Opinion there is that is probably a dud. I'd be more inclined to build this up if I had many spare parts lying around but I've really only got a seat post and tyres that I won't have to buy.
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  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    Its an mTrax, might be a mint one (metal matrix) might be bog standard steel. Either way its been ruined with a shonky paint job and a Dunlop sticker... sorry. Not good enough to justify spending any money restoring the frame, and not worth having as a Poo Brown dunlop badged frame :(

    Sorry 'bout that.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    One man's poo brown is another man's chocolate.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    I don't want to know.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • scrumpydave
    scrumpydave Posts: 143
    Thanks benpinnick. It's not brown, it's quite a nice black and I'm pretty sure the Dunlop stickers will come off. I wasn't thinking of doing anything to the frame, just sticking some parts on it.

    I figured as a single speed with a disc brake on the front it might not be too shabby, but it's all dependent on the frame being passable. I'm not sure from your last post whether this could be OK or not. Is mtrax not necessarily decent?
    Riding the Etape du Tour for Beating Bowel Cancer - click to donate http://bit.ly/P9eBbM
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Its a 'good enough' frame at least, remove the stickers, give it a polish and build it, discs would look silly, canti's or perhaps mini V's (better braking but won't change the appearance too much)....keep it retro!

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    All mtrax were ok, so go ahead and build it. Back in the early 90s I would have given my right armto own even the base model. What you don't know is whether it's Cro-mo, metal matrix, or maybe even Ti.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    If it has any orange it's not Ti........a magnet will tell you as well!

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • scrumpydave
    scrumpydave Posts: 143
    Way ahead of you Simon! Fair bit of rust on the frame though it seems pretty superficial. I'm guessing this is the basic model because it's not very light.

    Might start scouring ebay for some forks...
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  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    scrumpydave wrote:
    Way ahead of you Simon! Fair bit of rust on the frame though it seems pretty superficial. I'm guessing this is the basic model because it's not very light.

    Might start scouring ebay for some forks...

    If the rust is only on the rear triangle and lugs, its opssibly still a MM frame. Only the top, seat and down tube were MM.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • S-M
    S-M Posts: 174
    Seriously, take your post and ask on Retrobike.

    Your LBS probably just wants to sell you nice shiny parts and they don't stock any retro spec stuff any more.

    The people on RB will know for sure, total retro-geeks!
    1999 Specialized FSR Elite MAX Backbone.
    1998 Specialized FSR Ground Control - stripped for parts.
    2011 Boardman Pro HT - SOLD! (low quality, expensive garbage)
  • Cxvin
    Cxvin Posts: 1
    I know this is a very old thread (and I don't know why I started reading), but: It's a very early Raleigh Dyna-tech frame. Probably around 1992. The head lug is the giveaway of both the date and type of frame. Dyna-techs were glued rather than brazed or welded, and the first generation had that headtube. Raleigh brought in the M-trax brand later in the 90s to further confuse the brand identity.

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