Identification needed please

[bartholomew10]

Hi all, I have just purchased an older 'TEAM SARACEN' 18-speed 'Traverse' which the modern Company are unable to date - so suggested this site to se what you may think please? It has an Alloy 60/61 Frame and Suntour air suspended Forks, The headstem shows the word 'Zoom' on it! I will try to add some shots of it here and would much appreciate any info that may be offered.
With thanks, in advance, Richard

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

it's a very low-end turn of the century saracen Traverse.

Welcome to Retrobike, unfortunately snobs like me turn their nose up at bikes like this, but that doesn't mean it's not worth riding*


* saddle looks a bit uncomfortable though.

 

[bartholomew10]

Thanks to 'My teenage self' for the reply and info. As a more 'current bike' ignoramous (I used to be so keen back in the late 50's and 60's with a Claud Butler and a Cenelli! Yeah, yeah, that dates me!, but still active in my late 70's) I am quite keen to know what particular parts on my Saracen purchase that makes it 'low end' please? Is it the quality of frame (60/61 Alloy), the front forks (still sprung front shocks rather than plain) or maybe the choice of gear change, etc? So much else appears to be fairly standard.

I take your point that manufacturers produce a 'range' of quality, but what items really make a quality/price difference when it comes to the Saracen bikes of this era for sale?

I looked through various Catalogues on the website to see if I could identify in by Year, but although I could see some fairly close around late 1990's and early 2000's, and even found some Traverse's, I could'nt actually find this model - Might it be a mix and match, or do you reckon it's mostly original? Any thoughts on the above welcome and appreciated.

ps@: As regards the 'masochists saddle' - the one on it was missing so was just testing what diameter of saddle tube I will be needing. Seems to be bigger diameter then any I've seen so far.
Over to you (or anyone else who might chip in!) please? Cheers, Richard

 

[d8mok]

Re:

On basis it’s got a website on rear stays I’m going to say early 2000. There is several for sale the same currently on gumtree/schpock etc . It’s a very low end bike as mentioned prior.

 

[longun]

hi, welcome to the forum. Saracen were great at building bikes around solid platforms, the frames were generally pretty good but bolted a variety of components at different price points.

as it has disc tabs, anywhere post 2002 iirc, if you look under the saddle, there is generally a year stamped on them. not totally accurate granted as the components could have been stored prior to assembly and may have been changed if its not a saracen one etc. but......could help date it.

chris

 

[adroitstif]

"What particular parts on my Saracen purchase that makes it 'low end'?" - basically every single thing on the bike, including the frame, will weigh more than a more expensive equivalent part would. It'll all require a bit more work, go floppy sooner, and often be harder to service (eg the hex nut on a cheap derailleur requires you to carry a spanner around instead of a few Allen keys). And none of it will have the 'snob appeal' of Shimano XT. Lighter wheels and tyres would be the best upgrade in terms of riding pleasure if you're tempted to add zing somewhere down the line.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

As said, pretty much everything on that is from the low end of the catalogue - the forks are low end, from a low end manufacturer, the gears are very basic, the finishing kit will be heavy.

There is nothing wrong with it. At all. Just bear in mind that there are a lot of 'collectors' here, so we see some of the most stunning examples of bikes from the 90s and earlier. There's just not a lot to get excited about on that one. It's a £50 bike and this site has (many) bikes worth 100 times that

And, I'm a bike snob

 

[bartholomew10]

Well! - thank you all for the info and that seems to clear things up from my limited perspective! Time to clean the whole thing up and get riding to see what it may be like. Got to finish a Dawes first, which I spotted at a local car boot last Summer and took pity on.
Ride safely all, Richard