Early Bontrager OR - full first edition XTR

[2manyoranges]

Re:

mynch many thanks - just checked and I had a false memory, I thought that the wishbone tube was blanked off, but in fact it's open, if that is a clue in any way. I have just taken a photo of the head tube, which I will post in a moment. And I had a dig around and you may be right - the sequence of models according to this on Pinkbike

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/now-that- ... -lite.html

is OR...then Race...then Racelite.

Mine has OR on the decals on the top tube.

 

[2manyoranges]

Re: Very early Bontrager OR - full first edition XTR

I’ve adjusted title to ‘OR’ and removed ‘racelite’ since I think this is the earlier model. Many thanks. Here’s the photo of the headtube sans headcase:

 

[Rod_Saetan]

Re: Very early Bontrager OR - full first edition XTR

Looks like a 'Race'; some interesting reading here:

https://forums.mtbr.com/vintage-retro-c ... -1916.html

Including:

The "OR" is the "Off Road" model. That sticker is shared by both the Race and Race Lite.

Race Lite vs Race - The headtube on Race Lites are milled out to save weight, and Race models are not. If you look at the front of the bike where the Bontrager "dot" is on the head tube, you will see an obvious line where material was removed form the head tube on Race Lites.

And from the man himself:

https://web.archive.org/web/20040217224 ... 122499.htm

Doesn't look like a milled head tube from the above picture.

And I don't think it's very early. Tis nice though!

 

[2manyoranges]

Re:

Thanks - the serial number and the time at which I got it - 1993; plus the provenance from the person who got it for me places it as 1991.

 

[1978]

Re:

Looks like a late OR now that we have the detail re the non milled head tube and open wishbone. The earlier OR frames had riveted alloy cable stops on the top tube.