boy"O"boy's 1989 Kestrel MXZ
- Thread starter boy"O"boy
- Start date
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a non-elevated chainstay Kestrel before.
@27motorhead - couldn't resist! Actually having those 'dream' bikes from the Freewheel Catalogue in the collection seems excessive - but seeing them all together outside of a Freewheel shop from BITD looks great!Amazing bike @boy"O"boy !!! I was also very tempted myself and had to stop myself from looking at the advert, but obviously kept looking and was very relieved to see it go to the best home possible with the rest of the Freewheel catalogue as company!!!
@Chr1st0phe - that's a great looking Kestrel. Looks the part with the Suntour XC Pro MD.
Am I correct in thinking that the CSX followed the e-stay MXZ?
The top one is the Kestrel Rubicon from 98
The prototype had a interesting double shock set-up
The lower one is the CSX.
What about the prototype Kestrel 'Nitro' - seriously nice looking bike from the same era as the MXZ
boy"O"boy
So what about my own Kestrel MXZ?
Well, trying to finish up the Serotta Pro-flex prototype, I haven't really done anything with it but look at it since I got it!
Today was a chance to give it a proper shakedown in 'as purchased' condition. A casual 'family lap' of Draycote water followed by a 'flying dad lap' whilst my wife and kids picnicked by the playground.
1st impressions? - the saddle is awful! I'm more moulded to a flite or a turbo. This was putting pressure in the wrong places!
The riding position with the slightly extended stem was perfect though. Felt very rigid.... I'd expected flex from around the bottom bracket but nothing....solid. Climbed well. Only did 10 miles with a little off-road in the mix, but I felt I could comfortably go further on it.
Love that it came equipped with some original Freewheel/ Madison parts.... remember the Madison Air grips being high on the wanted list BITD. Knowing what we know now, these rotated a bit on the ride. Lock-on grips do away with this sort of problem.....but for originality, they have the looks.
So....1st up. Change the saddle for a Turbo. That's better.
Just for visuals - try the rider wheels from Aluminum "O" #2. Amberwall and reduced tyre size suit the Kestrel better.
This is not the final spec.... it's going to be seriously cleaned up, new decals, wheels rebuilt as I don't like the rim decal alignment and a nice pair of NOS Tioga amberwall added.
For now, I'm enjoying just riding it.
Slow updates to come!
Cheers
boy"O"boy
Well, trying to finish up the Serotta Pro-flex prototype, I haven't really done anything with it but look at it since I got it!
Today was a chance to give it a proper shakedown in 'as purchased' condition. A casual 'family lap' of Draycote water followed by a 'flying dad lap' whilst my wife and kids picnicked by the playground.
1st impressions? - the saddle is awful! I'm more moulded to a flite or a turbo. This was putting pressure in the wrong places!
The riding position with the slightly extended stem was perfect though. Felt very rigid.... I'd expected flex from around the bottom bracket but nothing....solid. Climbed well. Only did 10 miles with a little off-road in the mix, but I felt I could comfortably go further on it.
Love that it came equipped with some original Freewheel/ Madison parts.... remember the Madison Air grips being high on the wanted list BITD. Knowing what we know now, these rotated a bit on the ride. Lock-on grips do away with this sort of problem.....but for originality, they have the looks.
So....1st up. Change the saddle for a Turbo. That's better.
Just for visuals - try the rider wheels from Aluminum "O" #2. Amberwall and reduced tyre size suit the Kestrel better.
This is not the final spec.... it's going to be seriously cleaned up, new decals, wheels rebuilt as I don't like the rim decal alignment and a nice pair of NOS Tioga amberwall added.
For now, I'm enjoying just riding it.
Slow updates to come!
Cheers
boy"O"boy
27motorhead
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27motorhead
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Looks a lot happier with a turbo and amberwalls! You must be so happy getting that iconic Freewheel machine! I think many a pair of RetroBike eyes lit up when we saw that for sale!!!So what about my own Kestrel MXZ?
Well, trying to finish up the Serotta Pro-flex prototype, I haven't really done anything with it but look at it since I got it!
Today was a chance to give it a proper shakedown in 'as purchased' condition. A casual 'family lap' of Draycote water followed by a 'flying dad lap' whilst my wife and kids picnicked by the playground.
View attachment 953494
1st impressions? - the saddle is awful! I'm more moulded to a flite or a turbo. This was putting pressure in the wrong places!
The riding position with the slightly extended stem was perfect though. Felt very rigid.... I'd expected flex from around the bottom bracket but nothing....solid. Climbed well. Only did 10 miles with a little off-road in the mix, but I felt I could comfortably go further on it.
Love that it came equipped with some original Freewheel/ Madison parts.... remember the Madison Air grips being high on the wanted list BITD. Knowing what we know now, these rotated a bit on the ride. Lock-on grips do away with this sort of problem.....but for originality, they have the looks.
View attachment 953497
So....1st up. Change the saddle for a Turbo. That's better.
View attachment 953498
Just for visuals - try the rider wheels from Aluminum "O" #2. Amberwall and reduced tyre size suit the Kestrel better.
This is not the final spec.... it's going to be seriously cleaned up, new decals, wheels rebuilt as I don't like the rim decal alignment and a nice pair of NOS Tioga amberwall added.
For now, I'm enjoying just riding it.
Slow updates to come!
Cheers
boy"O"boy
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