This is a rare beastie.
My first real mtb (not counting my 5 speed Raleigh Marauder!) was a 1993 Saracen and I spent far too much of my early teens staring at pictures of the Kili Ultra and dreaming.
I've missed a few along the way and kicked myself for not buying a 1997 one on here maybe ten years back. That particular one had the rigid Ti forks too, it was parted out which I think is a shame - I would love a set of those forks if anyone out there has a set btw.
I stumbled upon this one by chance on a break from work, every once in a while I have a habit of googling particular bikes to see if there is anything out there that I've not come across before. Long story short, I found this one for sale and arranged to meet the seller and now it is mine
This has been owned from new, the seller was a really sound guy and only selling due to ill health. I spent a good hour chatting with him and its fair to say he loved this bike and has kept it in amazing condition, he was very sad to see it go and I think knowing that I won't be parting it out helped. Also if I do ever sell it I will offer him first refusal.
It is practically as per the catalogue except a few things seem to have been downgraded from factory spec, it has XT hubs and brakes rather than XTR. Other than that I think it is original and the seller told me he paid slightly less than the £2999 rrp so the downgrades make sense. He had the decals removed years back to make it a little stealthy. It weighed around 23lbs when I collected it, however I have switched out quite a few elements for lighter/more modern items as I will be riding this.
I have fully stripped the bike down and will update this when I have it completed, I have added 1997 decals by Gil the 1998 ones are in my view fussy and I prefer the look of the older ones.
My first real mtb (not counting my 5 speed Raleigh Marauder!) was a 1993 Saracen and I spent far too much of my early teens staring at pictures of the Kili Ultra and dreaming.
I've missed a few along the way and kicked myself for not buying a 1997 one on here maybe ten years back. That particular one had the rigid Ti forks too, it was parted out which I think is a shame - I would love a set of those forks if anyone out there has a set btw.
I stumbled upon this one by chance on a break from work, every once in a while I have a habit of googling particular bikes to see if there is anything out there that I've not come across before. Long story short, I found this one for sale and arranged to meet the seller and now it is mine
This has been owned from new, the seller was a really sound guy and only selling due to ill health. I spent a good hour chatting with him and its fair to say he loved this bike and has kept it in amazing condition, he was very sad to see it go and I think knowing that I won't be parting it out helped. Also if I do ever sell it I will offer him first refusal.
It is practically as per the catalogue except a few things seem to have been downgraded from factory spec, it has XT hubs and brakes rather than XTR. Other than that I think it is original and the seller told me he paid slightly less than the £2999 rrp so the downgrades make sense. He had the decals removed years back to make it a little stealthy. It weighed around 23lbs when I collected it, however I have switched out quite a few elements for lighter/more modern items as I will be riding this.
I have fully stripped the bike down and will update this when I have it completed, I have added 1997 decals by Gil the 1998 ones are in my view fussy and I prefer the look of the older ones.
