Bontrager Racelite refurb thread

[jacksloan]

I’ve owned this Racelite for about 15 years. A little history, then my build details:

Bought frame and fork from a London cycle mechanic who, in turn, bought it direct from Keith Bontrager on one of his visits over the pond.

This frame is the third Racelite I’ve owned.

Number one was my first really proper mountain bike. I built it from new in around 1996. Was one of the very last Santa Cruz frames made, and I bought it through Trek when working as a young cycle mechanic in a LBS in London. It was gorgeous - burnt Orange with Rockshox Judy XC forks, wheels I built with Bullseye hubs and full XT groupset with Bontrager finishing kit. The wheels were the last thing to build and I finished them one hot summer day. At the end of my shift, I got ready to ride home for the first time on my dream bike. Except someone had already ridden it away… Stolen from the yard outside the shop before I got a chance to ride it!

Ever since then I’ve pined after a well built Racelite.

Number 2 was too small, bought cheap but I knew it would never do…

So this is number 3, and it’s a beauty. I think it’s from around 1992/3.

Original SID forks with proper Bontrager crowns. Some paint-wear and a couple of chips, but basically in great condition. I’ve ridden it for a while with 3x9 XT kit and wheels I built for a Marin project along with parts-bin finishing kit. All ok, but somehow never quite right for this frame.

So begins the build!

I will add comments with updates here, along with questions and would welcome any advice/suggestions…

 

[jacksloan]

I’ve decided not to respray this frame and forks… I really like the colour way and want to ride it once built.

So I’ve ordered new fork decals from Retrodecals. Frame decals are in remarkably good nick.

Also ordered - mech pulley to convert to proper bottom-pull operation.

Question: Does anyone have any suggestions for sorting the bottle-bosses? Two rotate when you try to insert a bolt. I think they’re bonded, but the flat plates that the bolts would screw into rotate freely so it’s impossible to do. I’ve tried gently holding them with pliers but I don’t want to knacker the paint. How can I get them to hold still? The threads seem ok… photo attached for clarity.

 

[jacksloan]

USE seatpost and Flite Titanium awaiting shim…

 

[Prodigal Son]

I suggest you rbuild it w/ xt m737 which is much better looking in my eyes than the late 90s xt you have there. I would also repaint the sid lowers: that blue clashes w/ the frame´s green. I always thought bontrager´s fork crowns were black. Anyway.. if it´s riding as you like don´t bother w/ the fork crown. I would swap the stem for the bling factor. A Titec titanium is not overly expensive and the grey would look good against the frame and king headset. Get a nice set of wheels and you are at the top of the world..

 

[jacksloan]

I suggest you rbuild it w/ xt m737 which is much better looking in my eyes than the late 90s xt you have there. I would also repaint the sid lowers: that blue clashes w/ the frame´s green. I always thought bontrager´s fork crowns were black. Anyway.. if it´s riding as you like don´t bother w/ the fork crown. I would swap the stem for the bling factor. A Titec titanium is not overly expensive and the grey would look good against the frame and king headset. Get a nice set of wheels and you are at the top of the world..

Thanks. I quite like the blue on green!

I’m waiting for a black Controltech stem and need to find some black bars/grips to go with it.

Plan is for xtr 952 groupset. Over the top - probably - but dreamy

 

[jacksloan]

Coming together…

New fork decals (thanks @gil_m)
USE post and Flite saddle
Controltech 1”stem
Continental Race Kings

Awaiting groupset and Bontrager bars…

 

[narcotitlan]

Excellent new parts choices. Good stuff!

 

[jacksloan]

Realised I started two threads on this build so will not post here any more. See my other thread for updates.