[WilsonJvl]

I have a 1998 GT Backwoods so you don't have to look them up here are the specs:

Bicycle Type Mountain bike, front suspension
Sugg Retail $621.00
Weight Unspecified
Sizes 12.5", 14.5", 16", 18", 19", 20"
Colors Billet, black

Frame & Fork
Frame Construction TIG-welded
Frame Tubing Material 7000 aluminum, butted
Fork Brand & Model Rock Shox Indy S
Fork Material Aluminum/magnesium, triple-clamp crown
Rear Shock Not applicable

Components
Component Group Mountain Mix
Brakeset Avid 1D-20 brakes, Avid AD-1.0 L levers
Shift Levers Shimano Alivio RapidFire Plus
Front Derailleur Shimano Alivio top-swing
Rear Derailleur Shimano STX
Crankset SR/Suntour XR30, 24/34/46 teeth
Pedals Aluminum cage w/clips & straps
Bottom Bracket Shimano BB-UN52
BB Shell Width 68mm English
Rear Cogs 7-speed, 11 - 30 teeth
Chain Shimano CN-IG31, 1/2 x 3/32"
Seatpost Aluminum micro-adjust, 27.2mm diameter
Saddle WTB SST, hollow chromoly rails
Handlebar Kore Lite
Handlebar Extensions Not included
Handlebar Stem Aluminum
Headset 1 1/8" threadless Tioga

Wheels
Hubs Front: aluminum, Q/R, Rear: Shimano Alivio
Rims Mavic X138, 32-hole
Tires 26 x 2.10" WTB VelociRaptor
Spoke Brand Stainless steel, 2.0mm straight gauge
Spoke Nipples Brass nipples

Every thing is stock I have changed nothing on this bike I bought it new, it was ridden hard for the first few years but then kids came along and the riding stopped I have been limited to paved surfaces for some time now but my kids are getting to the age that they can go off road now. What I am wondering is--- should I keep this bike or get a new one? I know I would have to put money into this bike I know it would need new tubes and tires, new cables, the wheels are not straight, the cassette is starting to rust but other than that it is is pretty good shape other than needing a tune up as well. The one thing with this bike is that after about a 5 mile or more ride my right shoulder and neck really hurt but it takes a day or two for it to start.

I will have the money to be able to get a new bike if I want to in a few weeks but I don't know what to do I have been looking at the Gary Fisher Mamba and the Giant Yukon FX or just putting money into my GT I would like to get a really good bike but spend less money than the Fisher or the Giant and be able to get other things I could use for riding with the extra money but I really don't know what to be looking for.

Any help you can give me or point me in a good direction would be great.

Thank you
B

 

[ml9573]

If you could clean it up and grease it up, I would keep it. If you have to start changing parts, I would buy a new bike, which would have better parts and parts cost money. Parts for a 7 speed are a thing of the past and will be hard to find. Shox are made much better, there are disc brakes and on and on. So, it depends on what you could do with the bike. Good Luck.

 

[WilsonJvl]

Thats just it the shop said $90 for the tune up and they pretty much tear the bike down and re build it (with the existing parts) that would also include trueing the wheels. But any other parts would be more cost to me. I know tires will set me back another $80 and cables I am guessing at around $40 So with just that I am at $210. So that is alot of money to throw at a bike that is 12 yrs old. I just hate to spend close to a grand on a bike if I don't have to.

 

[ml9573]

Sound like it's time for a new bike, the cassette didn't sound to good either.

 

[Altcountryman]

I think it depends on the shops in your area. There are some shops who tend to stock some older parts (often from boxes of old used parts, but cheap and in working order) and are happy to help you get an old bike running well again. I've run into other shops whose solution to everything is an upgrade and aren't really in for keeping old bikes on the road. I'm not ragging on the different philosophies - it mainly depends on their clientele and what works for their business

If you have the former kind of shop, getting your GT up to speed and maybe even tweaking your riding position with a new stem, bars, etc. might be a pretty inexpensive way to get back in the saddle. If not, a newer bike may be a better investment than upgrading parts.

Just my $0.02. I'm a current roadie ex-mtb'er looking to get back in, too. I'm relegating my full rigid Trek 7000 from 1993 to town/rail-trail duty and looking at FS bikes, but if I had a decent shock on the Trek I'd be in similar shoes to yours.

 

[mitzikatzi]

I don't think it is worth spending money on. Buy a new second hand bike in good condition or something marked 50% off on sale at the LBS. Go to the Parktools site or others and learn to fix the GT up yourself. Watch ebay to get cheap parts if you choose to get the GT running again sometimes it is cheaper to buy another old bike for parts.

 

[colddirt]

Craigslist is your friend............................