198x Firenze MT505 21" (Large) mountain bike

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Best for 6’0″-6’8″ riders. Not knowing much about Firenze bikes, I simply like this bike’s rugged frame and bullmoose handlebar.
Perfect city street bike with upgraded 18-speed drivetrain, and good components. I gave this bike a complete overhaul, replaced rusted steel wheels with aluminum MTB wheels, de-rust the frame and all components, installed new cables, brake pads, and 26″x1.5″ city street tires. It is still a mountain bike that will eat the “gravel” roads and trails.

This is Alex’s bike now.

BEFORE AND AFTER

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NEW & UPGRADED COMPONENTS

  • Wheels: 26” Araya rims, Sansun hubs, stainless spokes, brass nipples, quick release levers
  • Tires: CyclePro 26×1.5” City Street
  • Chain: Shimano IG 1/2×3/32″ silver/blue
  • Inner tubes: CST
  • Brake Pads: Shimano
  • Cables, housing, and ferrules: Shimano, Suntour
  • Rear Cogs: Shimano 7-speed, 13-30T
  • Tarlek Silicone protectors in all places where cables’ housing touch the frame

FRAME LABELS

  • Original label on seatpost: “Firenze Bicycles, Made in Taiwan for Diversified Investment Management Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin”
  • Original labels on seatpost and fork: “Competition. Guaranteed CR1010 high tension tubing”
  • Custom made labels: “Firenze” on down tube, and “MT505” on seat tube 

RESTORATION PICS

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ORIGINAL COMPONENTS

  • Frame and fork: 21” CroMoly steel CR1010 high tension tubing, made in Taiwan
  • Brake Levers: Lee Chi – they look more like motorcycle break levers on early Specialized Stumpjumpers
  • Shifters: Charger II, 3×6 speed
  • Bottom Bracket: Firenze – top quality steel, no signs of wear
  • Crankset: Firenze with cotters, 36x40x50T
  • Brakeset: Firenze aluminum cantilever
  • Front Derailleur: DNP bottom pull, 3 speed
  • Rear Derailleur: DNP-GX
  • Seatpost: Cromoly steel micro-adjust
  • Handlebar Stem: CroMoly steel 40-degree
  • Handlebars and Stem: Chromed CroMoly steel bullmoose
  • Pedals: Sakae resin platform with reflectors
  • Handlebar grips: soft serrated rubber, very comfortable
  • Saddle: Terra Viscount leather gel comfort