Vintage GT Karakoram restoration project..2017

Finally, found my 1" fork to replace the original missing fork from the previous owner. To me, it's really a bad idea to throw out the original fork and replace it with something new as it's REALLY, REALLY hard to find replacement. I guess the previous owner wasn't really keen in vintage...well, that makes restoration works interesting,right? I've been there and done that in my quest for bicycle parts in my days of restorative works. Although these days, I've slowed down a bit due to work and family commitments, the passion for me to restore an old bike to it's former glory or just owning one is still very strong.

 There is something about the well worn, weather beaten look on this bike. The discolouration due to being stored in a place where there's ample sunlight causes the fading of colour only on one side. I guess the previous owner love to park his bike at a particular location?

 Ah...TANGE...

 I suspect the sticker got worn out due to mounting and dismounting from the bike?

 This SAKAE SX crank was taken from my previous brandless MTB which I built back in 1994. I couldn't afford the expensive ones, especially the ones I saw at Cheap John. I always had my eyes on a Nishiki Alien Al. Those elevated stays....sexy, mystifying. A class on it's own. I wonder when I'll able to own one, though. I did managed to get hold of an Alpinestar Cromega from my previous hunt. Nice ride but it's a tad too short for me.

 Most of....in fact all the parts are from my previous MTB. Shimano 200GS rear derailleur.

 Bought this center pull Diacompe brake from a on-line seller. NOS. Pulls great. Yet to test the stopping power. Still trying to find the brake cable rail though. Maybe 3D print it myself?

 I have actually seen a different version stem, one that has a cable guide (or tube) that runs from the front instead of the top. Any comments on this?

 Still contemplating whether to change the Gripshift to thumbshifters,,,,

GT KARAKORAM, 1996

Finally, I get to own a legend of its time. A GT Karakoram. Back in the 90s, this bike with the unique tripple triangle took the MTB world by storm with this radical and yet sturdy,solid design. The design lasted till today. Although the new GTs are aluminium or alloy frames, the good old steel is still my favourite.
I bought the frame together with the stem online for SGD$200. The frame has been sun baked, thus the colour faded unevenly. I'm still trying to find the right rigid fork to complete the bike. Hopefully, fate will let me ride this legend again....

The previous owner changed the headset to a threadless one. I'm still trying to find a rigid fork, hopefully something similar and replace the headset to one meant for threaded fork.

Love the stickers that screams 'Tange"...

Managed to find a pair of NOS Diacompe centre pull brakes. FS990. Going to find another pair, which I believe to be AD990 originally used by this model.