I've had an accident.. (98 Saracen content. Don't judge me)

[doctorstewie]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291451287256? ... EBIDX%3AIT


A 98 Maxtrax. Bloody horrible name but an intriguing frame. I fancied one of these at the time but had just spent all my cash on a Marin full bouncer so this will be interesting.
I reckon 98 was the last year Saracen did anything interesting or good ( in fact I'd normally plump for for 97 but hey ho )
I have most of the bits to do a vaguely period accurate build, ( Though if anyone has one of the straight saracen forks of the era I'd definitely be interested..) so lets see what happens. I pick it up next week
The bike is on pg 28 of this catalogue http://www.rideandrepair.co.uk/Retrobik ... n_1998.pdf

And of course it will have to wait till the Rift Zone rebuild is done

 

[02gf74]

That horrid orange thing? By the time these were being made, saracen were sliding downeards

 

[doctorstewie]

Oh they were, but this was only a tenner and will cost me nothing to build. I'm intrigued to find out if it's any good. ( And I think it looks quite good in a not quite apallingly townsendy kind of way) It's no classic, certainly

 

[02gf74]

I suppose there are worse ways to spend a tenner...... but not that many

 

[doctorstewie]

Well it's better than the heroin and explosives my mum taught me how to use

 

[hurcytm]

Re: its quite cool

I see that frame on ebay.
I was thinkin of buying too. well worth the money .
could make nice build really like the box section reminds me of the xtort, addiction. Pritty rad design .
I dislike the rear end of the frame skinny cheap lookin looks like saracen run out of money went over budget ,not just on that model

 

[doctorstewie]

I haven't had a chance to pick it up yet ( seller is away and I have to pick up as I am passing ) It's going to get made up into a bit of a clown bike: Orange stem, black bars, green pedals, ledftover bits, that kind of thing.
It will not be a model of restraint, I can guarantee that.

 

[doctorstewie]

I picked it up this evening and drove it a long way, so I am knackered, but first impressions are that this is a tenner more than well spent - it's surprisingly light - or at least feels it: I will weigh it tomorrow ( because that's just how I roll ) and seems well made. It has a very nice 2 bolt seatpost as well.
I slapped a Manitou Mach 5 in the headtube just to see how it looked and I think that's what I'll do: Mach 5s ( the spare set from my 97 Rift Zone, ) Deore brakes and gears ( later than the frame but they work well and I am not going to be all full period about this - it's going to be what MBUK used to call a "Hammertime bike" and I am not willing to wear Hammertime trousers ) I am thinking green cable outers, orange stem, the old badly sealed but otherwise sturdy wheels from my rift zone ( now replaced with period correct ones) Truvative ( ugly but now functional ) cranks and a mix of Deore and LX Mechs. Oh and a very scruffy DMR blue saddle, lime green flatties and an Orange Super Cross bar with green grips. Tasteful, no?

 

[02gf74]

Blue or black are the only colours that should be used with orange. But better mismatched colours than it not getting ridden.

 

[doctorstewie]

I see your point and concede your taste, ( I am not a tasteful man ) but I really fancy something very badly matched - after all it's not exactly a tasteful design in the first place And yes,it's largely being put together with what I have in stock: I am not well off ( It looks as though I shall be signed off sick for the forseeable ) so bargains are the order of the day And this looks like being a fairly hammerable bike for less than twenty quid, as well as a real er...fashion statement ;-)