Ibis Bowti restomod 1997

[Stylus]

I'll stick this in here as i'm not sure what year my BowTi is, yet. Serial is #5319
-edit- i've just heard back from John Castellano and he says its low serial number so most likely made in 1997.

The frame was bought right here on retrobike just over a year ago and i hope to have it completed in a couple of months.

Build won't be period correct, main reason being the frame has been overhauled somewhere in the past and was fitted with a newish rear shock and a disc tab so no reason to stay stuck in the nineties

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

this turned up right around my 40th birthday, some say gift, others would argue midlife crisis

In the box was a very clean frame, rear shock is a Fox RP23, i was told it was fitted new by John Castellano when the frame was refurbished around 7 years ago, since then it had less than 250 sunny miles on it. I'd say practically mint.

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

Some details

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

I've talked to with John Castellano via e-mail and he told me i could run a 100mm fork, more wouldn't suit the frame.

So after some debating i settled for a nos DT Swiss XRC 100 WC from 2010

Mock Up

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

Let the part hoarding begin!

Since the frame decals have black in them and my other bike has silver parts i decided i want to use some black parts.

I found this really nice Chris King "NoLogo" headset on eBay and bought the topcaps from a fellow forum member. That's the headset sorted.

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

i bought some Ibis Ti bars, however condition wasn't up to par with the frame

so i bought another one which was slightly better and i also found a nice 120mm Ibis stem right here on retrobike

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

so front end sorted, right?

Well.... not quite. Still bothered by the condition of the bars i noticed i could buy original bar decals from Scot Nicol, founder of Ibis, so i got a little crazy.

I had the bars refurbished by Steve Potts with new decals, much better!

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

The Ibis sports a 28.6 seatpost, i was hoping to find a black American Classic or titanium post.. until then this good as new Thomson will do.

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

Found these two for sale on the German forum a couple of months ago, great timing!

 

[Stylus]

Re: Ibis Bowti restomod

so this showed up on eBay, what can you do

from a friendly forum member too, small world! Came of an Ibis i was told