1994 Univega Alpina 5.7

[legrandefromage]

Dusk falls. The evening draws in...

All is quiet.

Well its not really is it? The A1 roars its presence to all as the rush hour traffic all but drowns out early spring birdsong attempts.

I finish a secret Univega quickly and efficiently and take it for its first spin in perhaps a decade. Wow! Fast. Long and low its a quicky test run.

Deore LX M563 with an M737 XT rear mech.

Original chainset has pedals seemingly welded to them so a later set volunteered.

NOS Tektro cantis

New Ritchey Z-Max

Top tube wears its battering well but there are the usual handlebar dents. Original bar had to go as the finish was peeling badly.. Rest looks pretty good given 20 years of abuse.

Total build cost - £32.48 all in including the bike.

 

[marc two tone]

Notin' wrong with that, a range that univega got right. Performing well with STX and up.

Under rated and under stated. The a-head system was here early too.

I've had the same tyres delivered today(sjs) very good,yes

 

[bikey :)]

That's ridiculously low cost for a bike as good as that!

 

[xerxes]

Smashing! Univega wasn't a brand I was familiar with until I started looking around this forum where I've come across some very nice ones, this one included, and for £32.48 I'm thinking you must have stolen most of it.

 

[andyfloyd82]

Amazing deal on that Alpina. I have a 5.5 and its been a keeper for over a year now...initial investment was about 65 bucks. I then added over 300 dollars into it with some XT, DX, Rolf Wheels, Wildgrippers, and a AMP front fork. I just love the way the bike rides. It is a very long bike...the toptube is very long...stretches you out a little bit but rides very light and responds very well. Its my go-to commuter bike when the weather is not the greatest and I need to do offroad/on road/sidewalk. Its just overall a great all around bike and it gets the most miles out of all my bikes. Enjoy it. Quite lightweight too. Here is a pic of mine....

 

[drystonepaul]

Very nice Mark.
My 93 Univega was almost a cheap to build up and is still one of my favourites.

People forget that Univega were one of the best selling brands in the very early days of mountain bikes in the USA.
Did you know that in 1982 the Alpina out sold the Specialized Stumpjumper by a factor of 5 to 1?

The problem was that they failed to innovate so, as with UK brands like Saracen and Muddy Fox, by the late nineties they were fighting for the dregs in the budget end of the market and with it lost their credibility.

It's a shame, because they did make some really good bikes, which are very nice to ride.

 

[gerryattrick]

These are brilliant bikes that don't seem to be recognised for how good they are, much better than the equivalent Konas, Marins and Specializeds IMO.

My 5.7 cost just around £20 locally on ebay, pictured on the day I bought it. I rode it for a year then, like a fool I sold it to a friend as a favour - an ex roadie who wanted to get back into riding. He was dubious about getting an mtb, but then couldn't believe how fast and good to ride it was. I've tried to buy it back but he doesn't want to know.

 

[chrisv40]

Loving that Mark, I'll never part with my 5.3 and 5.5.

 

[legrandefromage]

Have some daytime pictures.

Front hub bearings are happilly making gunshot sounds and bits need adjusting but so far its a pretty decent ride.

 

[andyfloyd82]

I think the Alpina 5 series from 1993-1994 is one the best kept secrets. Noone knows how nice these bikes ride, they are extremely fast and nimble and the frame material is the same thickness as Columbus SL which is a very light steel. I have taken mine on some trails and its a little flexy with the thin steel and small diameter tubes but its held up to a lot of abuse thus far, and on the street its the best commuter.