1991 GT Karakoram

[john]

Bit of a slow burn this one. Frameset owned since new, purchased as a complete bike 1991 to replace the not much lamented Raleigh Mirage.
Collated parts on and off since the inception of retrobike but never quite got round to putting it all together.
Dug the frameset out of storage today, plan to get it together in the coming months (not decades this time)

As things stand today.

First job is to remove the post, think it is well seized.
Not sure about the original bars either, quite tatty having been used as extra leverage with a socket set at one point.

More to follow

 

[longun]

Love the older u brake models with funky paint. Did this have the groove tube?

 

[john]

Love the older u brake models with funky paint. Did this have the groove tube?

Makes touching in scratches easier for sure. Pre groove tube, iirc that came in 1992 or 1993.

 

[drystonepaul]

Great stuff.
What's the plan? Surely it's got to be full LX M550 with a set of amberwall Ritchey Megabites FTW.

My 1991 Karakoram Elite was and is still one of my all time favourite bikes.

(Groove tube was introduced in 1992)

 

[john]

Plan to keep it mostly stock.


Came with M550 LX and DX STI. Interestingly came with blackwall Ritchey megabytes.
Be keen to source a pair of the GT/AMES grips but expect that is a long shot.

 

[retrobikeguy]

My 1991 Karakoram Elite was and is still one of my all time favourite bikes.

+1...... Midnight sky colourway

But I do like a karakoram

 

[drystonepaul]

Interestingly came with blackwall Ritchey megabytes.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that. Should be a bit easier to source than the grips.

 

[kingoffootball]

Hurray! A build that has been waiting even longer than all mine.

Looking forward to watching this. I am also a Karakoram fan.

 

[john]

Rainy Saturday afternoon audit of stock for the build.

 

[john]

Not looking too bad. Pedals were on the GT at one point but are looking pretty trashed so may have to rethink. Grips from a newer GT so may also have to think on about this one.
Wheels are as per stock, shame about the hub / rim logo misalignment.
Main issue is the post is well stuck. Plus gas has been applied, will give it a few days but think it’ll have to go to someone with proper tools.