I bought this bike new in 1999, it was a special frame color of the Element TO that was blue and white that year. Only 25 bikes were made in this color and I only ever saw one other like it 'in the wild' (Houffalize World Cup race weekend in 2004 I think) and a few months ago I found one for sale in Germany. I traded my Zaskar for this frame. Initially I ordered a 16" frame, but when I went to pick it up at the importer, it was way too small. Lucky for me an 18" model was not reserved yet, so I got that. I built the bike with parts from the Zaskar. I had Syncros Revolution cranks, titanium Syncros seatpost, a Votec GS4 dual crown fork and Magura HS22 brakes. When Fox came out with their fork, I got one of those. I still ride that frame and fork sometimes. Today I have built it with parts from the bin. I also got a new rear end from a 2001 Element Race (blue and red), since the top pivot was worn into the seatstays on the original stays. I also used the chainstays from this rear end as I thought it looked nicer. I still have the old stays, I might get them repaired at some point.
One of the early incarnations:
Here is one of the later iterations of the bike before I retired the bike and got a Titus RacerX in 2007 (sold that one to get the 29er Element in 2012). I fitted Hope disc brakes, Chris King wheels and Raceface Next LP cranks (still have those).
This one is with Magura disc brakes (I think they were Louise?) they were very light. But rubbish in every other aspect.
This is the new rear end. The color is slightly more orange than the front.
With some Manitou Black forks I had while my old Fox Forx did duty in my wife's bike. I have some old Hope Mini brakes on it now.
I really should get some nice shots of the current incarnation. The above shots still have the Manitou fork.
Some details of the frame:
One of the early incarnations:
Here is one of the later iterations of the bike before I retired the bike and got a Titus RacerX in 2007 (sold that one to get the 29er Element in 2012). I fitted Hope disc brakes, Chris King wheels and Raceface Next LP cranks (still have those).
This one is with Magura disc brakes (I think they were Louise?) they were very light. But rubbish in every other aspect.
This is the new rear end. The color is slightly more orange than the front.
With some Manitou Black forks I had while my old Fox Forx did duty in my wife's bike. I have some old Hope Mini brakes on it now.
I really should get some nice shots of the current incarnation. The above shots still have the Manitou fork.
Some details of the frame:
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thanks for sharing
