1998 WTB Phoenix (repost from VRC and RBUK)

yo-Nate-y · January 28th, 2012, 10:00 PM

Repost from MTBR and RBUK...on the odd, off chance that any of my fellow Cogs are only here.

================================================== ==

I'd been drooling over these for some time now thanks to you lot. And I am happy to report that I found one thanks to the glory of internet bike-geekery.

The Phoenix landed late yesterday afternoon after a life in the pacific North West. Many thanks to Lawrence for wrangling it and packing/shipping so well (and alerting me to it to begin with!).

Specs:

1998 WTB Phoenix, 18", in a really awesome pistachio sage-y color
140mm rear, standard brakes, suspension corrected
Manitou R7 80mm
XTR m952-series BB, crankset, brakes, shifter/brake lever, SPDs
Thomson post and stem, Flite saddle
Koski titanium bar
King ti cages
DKG collar
Momentum headset
Gravy-built WTB Momentum Hubs on SpeedMaster rims
Velociraptor front, Panaracer Fire XC rear

Yesterday evening I unpacked and disassembled everything. Cleaned, de/re-greased, and rebuilt. This morning I really wanted to get a ride in, but didn't make it out until around 11am.

I headed up San Roque Road past the reservoir to the Jesusita trail. There are a ton of videos on YouTube if anyone is interested. It is a really fun multi-use trail with lots of twisty singletrack, large rocks and some roots, a couple stream crossings, and great dirt that's mostly shaded under a thick canopy or trees. The trail pops out onto a road

yo-Nate-y · January 28th, 2012, 10:00 PM

And some back at home afterward:

yo-Nate-y · January 28th, 2012, 10:01 PM

Teh Suck!

nader · January 29th, 2012, 5:40 AM

very nice story with beautiful pictures.

Well we all love the old metal but sometimes make the modern parts more fun and more sense. The trails as San Roque Road just need more suspension, the combination of modern and old is very useful, especially on such trails.

rthomer · January 29th, 2012, 11:06 AM

Beautiful bike!
A WTB Phoenix has always been on my short list of bikes I'd love to own.
Curious how the Manitou Seven performed. I've considered getting one for my Ibis Mojo.

fat-tony · January 29th, 2012, 11:44 AM

yo-Nate-y:
That is one sweet bike. I bet it rides fanastanic!

yo-Nate-y · January 29th, 2012, 12:23 PM

Thanks guys.

If you ever get the chance to ride/buy one, take it. I was on the hunt for a while...

They are great riding bikes. Not as, oh... "exciting" as a Yo Eddy, but a very stable and comfy ride. My Yo Eddy has been my go-to bike for most off-roading since I sold the Salsa. I dig it and its nimbleness, but it does take a good degree of attention. For an all day ride I think I would likely pick the Phoenix. I wonder how the comparison would stack up rigid vs rigid, but as it stands, the Phoenix is a super well balanced, well mannered ride.

As for the fork, I have to say that I really liked the R7. Granted, I don't have a huge base of comparison on modern forks, but if felt very stout, and it was a super plush ride. Locked out there was no bobbing, and the adjuster was easy to manipulate from the bike. Like I mentioned, it was also nice to have a modern fork and a slightly more vintage v-brake option.

Zamfir · January 30th, 2012, 12:49 PM

Super classy looking frame and very slick build.

January 28th, 2012, 10:00 PM	#1
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 809	1998 WTB Phoenix (repost from VRC and RBUK) Repost from MTBR and RBUK...on the odd, off chance that any of my fellow Cogs are only here. ================================================== == I'd been drooling over these for some time now thanks to you lot. And I am happy to report that I found one thanks to the glory of internet bike-geekery. The Phoenix landed late yesterday afternoon after a life in the pacific North West. Many thanks to Lawrence for wrangling it and packing/shipping so well (and alerting me to it to begin with!). Specs: 1998 WTB Phoenix, 18", in a really awesome pistachio sage-y color 140mm rear, standard brakes, suspension corrected Manitou R7 80mm XTR m952-series BB, crankset, brakes, shifter/brake lever, SPDs Thomson post and stem, Flite saddle Koski titanium bar King ti cages DKG collar Momentum headset Gravy-built WTB Momentum Hubs on SpeedMaster rims Velociraptor front, Panaracer Fire XC rear Yesterday evening I unpacked and disassembled everything. Cleaned, de/re-greased, and rebuilt. This morning I really wanted to get a ride in, but didn't make it out until around 11am. I headed up San Roque Road past the reservoir to the Jesusita trail. There are a ton of videos on YouTube if anyone is interested. It is a really fun multi-use trail with lots of twisty singletrack, large rocks and some roots, a couple stream crossings, and great dirt that's mostly shaded under a thick canopy or trees. The trail pops out onto a road __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

January 28th, 2012, 10:00 PM	#2
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 809	And some back at home afterward: __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

January 28th, 2012, 10:01 PM	#3
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 809	Teh Suck! __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

January 29th, 2012, 12:23 PM	#7
yo-Nate-y Global Moderator Join Date: March 12th, 2009 Location: Tucson Posts: 809	Thanks guys. If you ever get the chance to ride/buy one, take it. I was on the hunt for a while... They are great riding bikes. Not as, oh... "exciting" as a Yo Eddy, but a very stable and comfy ride. My Yo Eddy has been my go-to bike for most off-roading since I sold the Salsa. I dig it and its nimbleness, but it does take a good degree of attention. For an all day ride I think I would likely pick the Phoenix. I wonder how the comparison would stack up rigid vs rigid, but as it stands, the Phoenix is a super well balanced, well mannered ride. As for the fork, I have to say that I really liked the R7. Granted, I don't have a huge base of comparison on modern forks, but if felt very stout, and it was a super plush ride. Locked out there was no bobbing, and the adjuster was easy to manipulate from the bike. Like I mentioned, it was also nice to have a modern fork and a slightly more vintage v-brake option. __________________ 1975 Witcomb USA, 1981 Chris Chance; 1984 Fat Chance, 1987 Team Comp, 1991 Yo Eddy, Monster Fat, and Wicked ....happy to have finally found a clean 80s Fat Team Comp with a box crown fork

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January 29th, 2012, 5:40 AM	#4
nader Senior Member Join Date: July 17th, 2011 Location: in the harbor Posts: 317	very nice story with beautiful pictures. Well we all love the old metal but sometimes make the modern parts more fun and more sense. The trails as San Roque Road just need more suspension, the combination of modern and old is very useful, especially on such trails.

January 29th, 2012, 11:06 AM	#5
rthomer Senior Member Join Date: October 14th, 2007 Location: Sierra Madre, CA Posts: 143	Beautiful bike! A WTB Phoenix has always been on my short list of bikes I'd love to own. Curious how the Manitou Seven performed. I've considered getting one for my Ibis Mojo.

January 29th, 2012, 11:44 AM	#6
fat-tony Global Moderator Join Date: October 13th, 2004 Location: birmingham, al - usa Posts: 720	yo-Nate-y: That is one sweet bike. I bet it rides fanastanic!

January 30th, 2012, 12:49 PM	#8
Zamfir Senior Member Join Date: May 31st, 2011 Location: Spokane Posts: 248	Super classy looking frame and very slick build.

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