96' Bontrager Privateer Comp

[benjabbi]

Picked this up off ebay recently. Pretty good condition, mostly just needed a good clean! Mostly original aside from the saddle, forks and tyres, I fitted a set of Hs22's, dropped the forks to 70ish mm of travel, rebuilt the wheels with new nipples as the old ones were corroded and it allowed a full on clean/polish of the rims. It's wearing Titec bars and seatpost at the moment, but these are borrowed off of my Explosif, I have the originals and they will be back on as soon as the seatpost is polished and I find a suitable Bonty saddle. I have to say it rides a treat, even if it is supposedly the bastard stepchild of the real thing :twisted:

 

[Rod_Saetan]

I have to say it rides a treat, even if it is supposedly the bastard stepchild of the real thing :twisted:

Don't believe them when people say these aren't as good as the earlier ones pre-buyout, it's the same geometry and the same neat features but with a 1 1/8" head tube. I really like them and as far as I'm concerned they are vastly undervalued in comparison to some other period mass-produced bikes that seem to have a huge following.

 

[mk one]

Re: 96' Bo

Good buy, would like to see some more pics too

mark

 

[mynchiboy]

I have to say it rides a treat, even if it is supposedly the bastard stepchild of the real thing :twisted:

Don't believe them when people say these aren't as good as the earlier ones pre-buyout, it's the same geometry and the same neat features but with a 1 1/8" head tube. I really like them and as far as I'm concerned they are vastly undervalued in comparison to some other period mass-produced bikes that seem to have a huge following.

This, this and this - privateers ride exceptionally well, even in the gate size that I once had!

I can't believe how cheaply these seem to be selling for at the moment...

 

[benjabbi]

More photo's

 

[slackboy]

Re:

How do you drop the fork travel? I've got a set of original rc36 and would be interested in doing the same.


Nice bike too. I saw that and was tempted but it's too small for me

 

[james1985]

It has shone up very nicely. Great work mate.

 

[benjabbi]

Slackboy, I removed the two 20mm springs from the bottom of the spring stacks, then I would have put one of these springs behind the the top out bumper in the non damper side upper leg, to take up the excess pushrod length. On these forks the top out bumper had turned to goo, so I used a bit of elastomer from some old RSTs in place of the spring and top out bumper. Assuming yours are the same internally this seems to work, they're nice and plush with a fresh bit of grease and the axle to crown height is a lot better for this bike than the 90mm travel they had.

Nice one, James

 

[benjabbi]

Got a proper saddle and junked the X-rays! They work fine, I just don't like them much! XT rapidfires and v-brakes instead, Maguras have returned to the Explosif and ODI Attacks fitted.

 

[slackboy]

Nice. Just bagged one on eBay yesterday so I'll be strong Mr own thread when it arrives