A couple months ago I shared a picture of a Bontrager Privateer frame.
I do not only have the frame, it is a full bike I acquired. I rebuilt it with original parts and a couple upgrades and this is how it looks like now.
The Privateer: the Privateer is not built in Santa Cruz like the Race (Lite) and Off Road models are. The Privateer models were issued around late 1995 and were built by Trek after the takeover. They are Made in the USA frames and share a lot charateristics with the Race (Lite), but not all. The aim was a more affordable way to ride and enjoy a Bontrager. The Race and Race Lite frames were very expensive to build. The same route was followed at Klein after the Trek takeover.
Bontrager characteristics:
- True Temper tubing
- gussets under down- and toptube
- Bontrager typical dropouts
- slim monostay
- geometry
- the black Rock Shox crown
Unlike the Race (Lite) the Privateer has no gussets near the bottom bracket. Ik think the tubing spec is different. The Race and Lite frames have a powder coat with seperate panels that can easily be replaced. That is not the case with the Privateer: it has a wetpaint and all graphics are applied under a clear coat.
More pictures soon.
