advice/opinions wanted re 20 yr old jamis dakota

[jpn]

I still have my first mtb. Up until a couple years ago, I still rode it fairly regularly. it is an early 90s Jamis Dakota, rigid, 21 speed. Deore DX, came with friction shifters, I replaced them a few years ago with triggers. I thought the bike was done about 7-8 years ago when a couple of bike shops tried, but couldn't get the old BB bearings and cups out. Rob at Martys went above and beyond and got them out and replaced BB with a cartridge unit and when I got back into MTBing 7 years ago, I got a lot of good rides in on my Jamis.

When I got my KM 5 years ago, I put slicks on her and basically used the Jamis as a road bike. I got a road bike two years ago and now the Jamis is spare bike that has only been ridden a couple of times.

So here is what I would like some input on: I am thinking about converting the Jamis to a fixie, but I don't want to spend much money. Any ideas as to what it would cost to convert the rear hub to a SS fixed gear? I guess I would need a different handlebar too. the headset needs some tlc, probably new bearings and maybe cups too, as it feels a little gritty.

I am also open to other suggestions. I would like to ride this bike more - l love the frame (triple butted Tange steel), but again, at 20 plus years, I don't think it is worth putting a lot of money in.

any suggestions or ideas?

 

[grilledcheeseking]

Take apart headset, clean, assess wear/condition, if its in good shape grease and reassemble.

Different bars - howcome?

Fixed gear - you need a different rear wheel.

Looks like a good bike. I'd certainly ride it. Throw a sleeping bag on the rack with a bungee cord and go on an adventure or something.

 

[michael.su]

Take apart headset, clean, assess wear/condition, if its in good shape grease and reassemble.

Different bars - howcome?

Fixed gear - you need a different rear wheel.

Looks like a good bike. I'd certainly ride it. Throw a sleeping bag on the rack with a bungee cord and go on an adventure or something.

What the monkey said 😀

That's a wicked long stem BTW.

looks like a GWAR concert T in the background 😉

 

[BShow]

looks like your frame has vertical dropouts. it'll be tough to convert that to a fixie because you dont have a good way to set the chain tension. You could easily convert to a singlespeed though by using a tensioner that hangs in place of your derailleur. heck you could even use your derailleur as the tensioner. to convert to a singlespeed would cost next to nothing.

 

[jpn]

thats the stock stem, believe it or not.

I know it would be easier to do a singlespeed, but the idea of a fixed gear is rather intriguing. I thought with the drop outs that i might get lucky and find magic gear combo that might work.

the tee shirt is "artwork" done on an old tee shirt by my seven year old daughter. I realized when i posted the photos today that it could appear to a crime scene photo!

I think if I do anything, I might go the SS route and use the derailler as a tensioner. Could do that just be getting a cog and spacer kit for my existing wheel. Maybe keep the three rings up front and do a three speed?

I really would like to change the cockpit around and get more upright positioning. I have some stems and a riser Mtb handlebar, maybe i get get one of those doo dads that convert quill stems to use newer stems.