Bontrager Road Lite - Original or Modern

[taysider]

At the risk of being burned at the stake, I would like to pose . . . .

I recently added a Road Lite to my 'Shed' of bikes, absolutely mint, absolutely original. It is the best Road bike I have ever ridden! by a long way.
The question I pose "How good could it be?"

I have sitting on the wall a piece of Italian Art, all new components.
I could fit Campagnolo all over, Centaur Carbon, 10 speed, including Campagnolo bearings and wheels. Fully Campagnolo but I would fit Zipp Bars and stem, I could fit all else in carbon.

Would Keith have fitted the best kit available?
Is it blasphemy to have your ultimate dream bike and then modernise it?

Sensible comments only please, this is not a hypothetical question, I really would chuck £3k at this frame, it is that good.

 

[gil_m]

As you say yourself "It is the best Road bike I have ever ridden! by a long way."

Why change a thing?

 

[taysider]

Re:

Yes but . . . .

Can it be improved?

Do I owe it to the frame?

 

[walleater]

There's obviously nothing 'wrong' with putting Campy on a Bontrager but it seems a bit weird to me. I can't help but think that the latest cable DA would be more complimentary in that it has the same mix of old world and new world technology that Bontrager frames had.

 

[sinnerman]

Re:

don't think you can really go wrong here. The frame is the essence for me, Steel is real and all that. the nice part is it was built to last, if it ever did break it can easily be repaired. I think the real part about Keith's frames is at his time and ownership of the Bontrager name it was all about building a great frame that was stong light and cheap. (not cheap in a derogatory way- just affordable for him and the consumer).

If im honest I don't think the frames were ever intended to be anything but upgraded over the years, stuff wore out and got replaced and upgraded with the next better component. The heart of any bike is the frame, if you can improve the ride by improving the efficiency of the gear change and its braking performance, and you feel that you spending money to make the bike lighter will help you ride it up hill better then I cant think of anything better to do, to enhance the ride of the bike or your love for it.

Ref keeping it original, well, the bikes were built to hit price points, and this of course had many governing factors, which did not necessarily achieve the ultimate from the frame.

For example this frame was offered with a Kestrel Carbon Fork upgrade (keith did a lot of consultingdesign work with Kestrel and designed the first Vbrake to fit there Full suspension Carbon bike, and the First full suspension Carbon bike way back in the day, hence the tie in with with the company).

IF it were me, I would simply box the original components or use them on another frame, I could always furnish you with an Orange Dynamo frame and fork which would suit Ultegra tricolour, and would make a nice comparison of the frames, or simply box the parts, thus ensuring the complete bike will always remain. As time goes on, it will only increase in value.

just my slant on it, but as you and Gil have said, you have found it perfect as it is, so perhaps, just use it, wear it, and replace as and when.

 

[sinnerman]

viewtopic.php?t=202608

 

[sinnerman]

Re:

....

 

[sinnerman]

Re:

stunning bikes.

 

[NeilM]

Re: Re:

don't think you can really go wrong here. The frame is the essence for me, Steel is real and all that. the nice part is it was built to last, if it ever did break it can easily be repaired. I think the real part about Keith's frames is at his time and ownership of the Bontrager name it was all about building a great frame that was stong light and cheap. (not cheap in a derogatory way- just affordable for him and the consumer).

If im honest I don't think the frames were ever intended to be anything but upgraded over the years, stuff wore out and got replaced and upgraded with the next better component. The heart of any bike is the frame, if you can improve the ride by improving the efficiency of the gear change and its braking performance, and you feel that you spending money to make the bike lighter will help you ride it up hill better then I cant think of anything better to do, to enhance the ride of the bike or your love for it.

Ref keeping it original, well, the bikes were built to hit price points, and this of course had many governing factors, which did not necessarily achieve the ultimate from the frame.

For example this frame was offered with a Kestrel Carbon Fork upgrade (keith did a lot of consultingdesign work with Kestrel and designed the first Vbrake to fit there Full suspension Carbon bike, and the First full suspension Carbon bike way back in the day, hence the tie in with with the company).

IF it were me, I would simply box the original components or use them on another frame, I could always furnish you with an Orange Dynamo frame and fork which would suit Ultegra tricolour, and would make a nice comparison of the frames, or simply box the parts, thus ensuring the complete bike will always remain. As time goes on, it will only increase in value.

just my slant on it, but as you and Gil have said, you have found it perfect as it is, so perhaps, just use it, wear it, and replace as and when.

I couldn't agree more or put it better myself.

 

[taysider]

Re:

Many thanks for your thoughts/advice/counsel.

The link to 'keithb' and his Bonty was interesting, a demonstration in the ability of Bontrager frames to continue to evolve/morph to fit the caretakers (nobody really 'owns' a bike) needs.

Constant reincarnation!

Carl your point about "wearing parts out" met with recognition from an old roadie pal, " you earn the right to do what you like, by shredding the bits on road, when you have put in the graft, no one can argue"

However, the soul of any bike is the frame and any enhancement/improvement must be a good thing if the intent is to ride.

I would love to live long enough to wear it out . . . .