Bontrager privateer 1996

[Stinus]

Been looking for a new project, and this one came up in Germany for the right price:



The seller claimes it’s a 1996, but there is no canti hanger, might be a later but will have to investigate. It’s built up whit a mix of xt and lx parts pretty close to the original spec but with avid v-brakes. I’m in doubt if the forks are original, will try to measure the rake to check.

The plan is to build a bike to ride on gravel paths with a child seat so it’s not gonna be 100% period correct, but will keep it close.

Better pictures will follow soon

 

[Stinus]

Some slightly better photos:

 

[Stinus]

The forks seams fine, but I'm really wondering if thy are original, to me thy look a bit short. I'm trying to find information on the original bontrager unicrown forks, did thy have 1.25" rake (like his rock shox) and length for suspension correction or were thy just standard off the shelve tange forks?
I looks here on rerobike and in the old catalogues and on the old webpage (go check it out: Bontrager.com ano 1997) but no luck, if any one have info on the i would be amazing.


Here is one to compare:

The crown seams to look different and the brake studs are not the same - but I’m not sure if it means thy are a bad fit.

I will properly end up doing a total rebuild but the bar, stem and seat post are the first parts I will have find a replacement for, I have some old bontrager parts from a privateer I’m building for the wife (yes i know ) - thy will do, for now but I will have to find something more relaxed down the road. Maybe i will try see if some one will swap a salsa to one with some more angle, else it has to be a riser bar.

I also have the original silver tange headset i think it looks nicer.

 

[Stinus]

Tested the flat bar around the block this morning, is way to aggressive for my plans whit this bike. So fitted a Ti high riser i got from a fellow retrobiker. The stem and seat post are spot on!



I'm still trying to figure out how the build will go - Thinking to build a set of XTR m910 to ceramic mavic 717 or Dt Swiss 535 rim or maybe a XTR m950 rear and a son dynamo front?
The gear system might just stay a mix of XT and LX, but the shifters are either gonna be Poul or XT thumbies, or maybe i will go more late 90is and put some grib shifts on. Also looking to fit a pair of MKS allways
I have some Avid ultimate that might be need for this bike, now that the rear cable stop is missing - dreaming about matching them with a set of Paul 2.5 levers - But it might end up to fancy

I think a red bobike mini will look great it kind of matches the decals

 

[Joe_Rides]

Lovely looking bike

 

[Joe_Rides]

I ran a "wee-ride" bike seat for a while. Still got it, but now the kids are a bit older I may switch to something similar to the one you're considering

 

[Stinus]

That looks so hyggeligt!

Did i work well? Looks like a smart mounting system - the bobike/yepp's that are common in denmark are mounted on the stem and im thinking that this affect the stearing less - I'm not gonna race whit my kiddo, but handling is still important

 

[Joe_Rides]

Yes, worked well, the bike handled pretty good with it, I managed some decent off-road riding!

Only slight downside is that it gets in the way of your knees slightly if you don't have a long top tube. Still comfortable enough, but you have to splay your legs a little bit.