1990 OFFROAD PROFLEX Ben Serrota

[TillyfaylergtXiz]

Hello folks,
Bit of advice needed if at all possible,was lucky enough to get my hands on my Brother in law's old 1990 Bob GIRVIN off road proflex as of today for a complete restoration.
Apart from the bars which are Alloy Bull bars it is from what can tell complete and original down to the tyres/pads etc.
It was sprayed in GT45 and garaged since 1991 and now I'm going to restore it.
Is this particular year of manufacture rare? I've heard there are only very few 1990 SERROTA PROFLEX which I believe was the first year of these full suspension bikes then the numbered bikes followed.
As you can tell I'm far from knowledgeable so if anyone has any advice I will be all ears,also what's the chance of getting spare rubber suspension bushes if required?
Many thanks again folks and stay happy,Phil

 

[Once A Hero]

Hello and welcome.
It’ll be good if you can upload a pic or two of the bike in question

The first year of Pro-Flex was 1990, here’s the brochure…
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1990-offroad-bicycles.409225/

 

[TillyfaylergtXiz]

Hello and welcome.
It’ll be good if you can upload a pic or two of the bike in question

The first year of Pro-Flex was 1990, here’s the brochure…
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1990-offroad-bicycles.409225/

This is it 100% and a big thank you for the catalogue

 

[TillyfaylergtXiz]

Gutted my photos of her didn't upload,I'll try again soon but definitely the 1990 red Ben Serrota,appear to be a.

 

[gtturbo]

There is a few places you can get replacement elastomers. If you google it you should find some, Here is one based in the US but also people in the UK making them as well.

https://www.suspensionforkparts.net/eshop/proflex.html?page=all
There is a facebook group dedicated to proflex bikes which may be worth joining.

 

[TillyfaylergtXiz]

Superb, thanks for the response,I have seen some on eBay but wasn't sure of the quality and until it's stripped down I have time,thanks again for your time

 

[pete_mcc]

For the flex stem conical bumper look for skateboard truck bumpers, they are the same size and you can get them in a variety of strengths.
The rear bumper is tougher to get, the people linked above do a version (although contact them rather than buy off the website to ensure you buy the right one), alternatively Thudbuster seatpost bumpers were basically the same size and you could find them cheap, not sure if you’ll be lucky enough to find one now.

the rest of the bike is very simple. Everything can be easily taken to bits and greased, just don’t expect much (or any) travel. The movement in these is next to zero, its designed to take off trail buzz not absorb bumps.

mine:

 

[Once A Hero]

@pete_mcc that’s nice
Is it a genuine one or a recreation?

 

[TillyfaylergtXiz]

For the flex stem conical bumper look for skateboard truck bumpers, they are the same size and you can get them in a variety of strengths.
The rear bumper is tougher to get, the people linked above do a version (although contact them rather than buy off the website to ensure you buy the right one), alternatively Thudbuster seatpost bumpers were basically the same size and you could find them cheap, not sure if you’ll be lucky enough to find one now.

the rest of the bike is very simple. Everything can be easily taken to bits and greased, just don’t expect much (or any) travel. The movement in these is next to zero, its designed to take off trail buzz not absorb bumps.

mine:
View attachment 573058

Firstly very nice bike Peter and many thanks for the heads up on the SB bushes,what kinda price do these bikes fetch btw because I have to pay my brother in law and have no idea what to give him!! His one is a 100% genuine and not a recreation hence why I'm getting it restored but I understand that the representatives from the company were given these bikes to go around the bike shops and show them as prototype models before the lighter bikes would be mass produced so pretty rare indeed but it's only what I've found through some research,not much information on them tbh,do you know anything more Peter?

 

[TillyfaylergtXiz]

@pete_mcc that’s nice
Is it a genuine one or a recreation?

Hello Once A Hero I understand you are somewhat of a encyclopedia on Proflex,can you shed any light on my bike,it's completely original apart from the bull horn bars,all original tyres,pads etc,full original XT Groupset,are they as rare as folk say or is it all wind lol, kind regards Phil