Back in 94, on my way to my second year of college I bought the best bike I've ever owned. I don't mean best, as in top-of-the-line, I mean best as in, the most fun, and best riding bike I've ever been on. It was a black 1994 Gary Fisher Aquila. Basically a very nice US made entry level rigid steel mountain bike. I rode it EVERYWHERE. To class, to the store, and on daily bike rides. I don't know how many miles I put on it, but it had to be well into the tens of thousands.

Fast forward to 1999 I move out east. I was afraid to ride much out here with all the traffic, and lack of trails or even bike lanes at the time. I sold old Gary to my best friend back in Iowa and picked up a BMX bike, figuring it would be more practical for getting around on, going up and down curbs, into the subway, and take less space in my apartment. Well, as time went on I was ready for another mountain bike for long rides. I went through quite a few over the past few years, trying to find one that fit as well as the old Fisher. I had some pretty nice ones, but none felt as good as the old bike. Plus, I couldn't get my friend to sell the old bike back to me, even though it was his back-up bike, he loves it so much I wouldn't take any offers. I can't blame him. Finally I built a Soma Groove and it does rule, rigid, steel, similar geometry with disc brakes.

So, a couple weeks ago, this minty 94 Gary Fisher Aquila in metallic green (the only other color it was offered in) pops up on the bay. I hit the BIN and got totally raped on shipping. The total was probably quite a bit more than the average person would pay for a 14 year old mtb, but it was still a bargain to me, and a bargain compared to vintage BMX stuff for sure. I cleaned, lubed and adjusted it and it's awesome. It's a solid 9 out of 10 condition-wise, the guy must have used it for a season or less and put it away. I couldn't be happier. I definitely don't need two mountain bikes, but I'm glad I found this old gem. It feels soooo good to ride. I plan to put some more street-friendly tires on it, and keep the rest pretty much bone-stock. Here it is, my all time favorite bicycle:

wow, that thing looks new!

Man , those frames where sick. I loved that green color. When i ran a few bike shops in San Antonio and Austin i sold the hell out of those. I used to ride the Cronus from the same year, it was yellow red and black on the same frame. So good.

agghh. man that bike is mint. i'm currently on the same quest. that was the first good bike i had as a kid. sold it when i got to college and have kicked myself ever since. if for some reason you decide you want to part ways i would be more than willing to take it off your hands!

Ah man - I had this EXACT bike and it was stolen out of my own garage. I rode it for years and years and have been scouring the earth for a replacement. Way to go! What's the frame size, just out of curiosity?

This frame is a 19. A few weeks ago I saw a green Aquila tied to a sign pole by my subway stop, pretty cool.

I've made a few changes to the bike. First I added a Brooks B17 and some Geax Evolution tires. Then, I got a shorter stem and put on some DMR chromo wing bars. It's definitely a bit more of an "old man's" bike now, but I guess that's what I am, lol. It's super comfy now, a nice commuter. I should get some updated pics and post them up.

I have the same story as you guys, sold my beauty a 1996 GT RTS-3, cherry red/black, suspension everything, spend close to 33 hundred on it, sold it 750 after 4 years, 4k miles, and 1 collision with a black bear, its still local, although a shadow of its past.

Ive a number of old MTB's myself, and Im back to riding one until I get my bmx frame, after my last ride got scammed on a grub run.

For now Im riding a Black 1999 Norco Bushpilot, Rock Shox Magnesium's and a Girvin stem, Suntour XC-II's, Shimano Bio-pace set, Diacompe Dirty Harry's, Koolstop Eagle 2's,IRC Racer-X's, Sealed Suzues on Arayas, ODI Mountaineer grips, kashimax Aero seat. I love riding it, Im thinking about chaging the cranks Sugino CT's with a CAM USA 46 tooth, and dump the front shifter/derailer, maybe the front brake as well, not that I want it much lighter, just wanna cut down on cleanup/repair work..

and Im rebuilding an old Kuwahara MTB, its been ridden, but its got some nice parts for 10 bucks, like suntour xc's and sealed suzue hubs. the ugliest bars/stem Ive ever seen, I cant wait to pull them and toss on a set of haro bars, and scott stem, its got an old groupset, nice but old, only 18 speed, so Im prolly gonna pull that to and through on a nos set of suntour/shimano this or that.

Im going to be posting a fairly large amount of NOS/NIB vintage mtb/roadbike stuff soon, just estimates are 100+ wheelsets, some are dated, Im hoping for some campy's.
2-3 full group sets, 10+ handlebars, 10+ vintage seats, 40+ 26" tires, mainly IRC's but a couple of other dated tires, all are in minty condition, no fade,rot, or bends. tons of seperate parts, like couple of bottom brackets, headsets, 20+ cranksets, blah blah blah, anyway, Ill post soon hopefully.

PS: heres a couple of those GF's you guys were talkin bout..

175 buck on CL


195 bucks on CL


225 buck on CL


300 for gary fisher and trek.

Wow, good thing that black Aquila for $175 isn't in NYC, or I'd probably have another mtb tonight.

Oh yeah, that is a classic looking bike. I had decided to get a leg back over, and in about the same itme a STUMPY was found, but the thing had all the right angles like your Fisher, but a 3" HT.

Years later I built up this ride off of a typical but unique platform still under-framed for what I intended.
It in current and betterment is in the 4X forum a few under here.



As much as i loved and felt for my BMX racing and anything that entailed, I never thought I would leave it behind.
MTNB is defintely that much better, and racing is so fun.

Nice bike, Melvin. It looks basically new. I still have my old mountain bike from '95. Maybe I'll post pictures of it.

Thanks!

Okay, I finally got some updated pics. Here it is in commuter mode. Brooks B17 Champion saddle, Geax Evolution tires (wish they were skinwalls, but oh well), DMR chromo wingbar riser bars and a short Profile stem. It's a bit more old-man-y right now, but hey, I'm getting old. It's definitely a more comfortable ride for commuting like this. I kept all the original parts of course.

(

Brooks saddles are awesome. Being from Zoo York, I should think that thing is where it's at.

I'm gonna go take a picture of my '95 and post on your thread.