So here is my latest acquisition, a Saracen Kili frame from either 1997 or 1998!
I bought this as an unknown frame from eBay, but suspected it was a Saracen from a bit of Google research.
There were some generic frames around the time that were very similar, but I'm 99% sure this is the genuine article - Saracen used the marketing phrase 'the proper bike company' at some point I'm sure, though I can't pinpoint when now I'm trying to find out. Also, now that it's here I can see the Easton logos on the top, down and seat tubes with the word 'Elan' on the down tube - I've been sanding it to polish, and I've both made them appear and nearly sanded them out during the process! They're quite faint anyway, and interestingly on the non-drive side which contradicts the other one I've seen.
From what I can tell from the catalogues, this was more or less the same frame used for Pro and Flyer models in both 1997 & 98, so I thought lumping it in with the '97 period seemed appropriate.
It's nice to think that this frame started life with the better part of an XTR groupset hanging off it!
It's not feather light at 1856g for the 15.5" frame, but not too shabby either.
The plan as mentioned is to sand down and polish before building up, though it's intended as a winter bike not a thing of beauty. I'm usually a steel guy, but I'm interested to see what the ride quality is like for aluminium of this calibre. Also, it won't rust and I'm thinking it will be great for shorter blats in the mud.
I've never seen another one of these and even online only one frame sale, so it's a rare animal for sure. I suspect this might have something to do with the price - these retailed for between £1,300 & £2,000; up to £4,000 in today's money! Aluminium back then was still seen as an exotic wonder metal, so these were hardly accessible to the average pocket - much less mine, as I had a Hardtrax as my first proper MTB being 12 at the time.
I've therefore got a certain nostalgia for Saracens, even if this isn't Tange Prestige or titanium.
The decals were pants after '96 though, so I think this will stay plain even if it does turn out nice..
I bought this as an unknown frame from eBay, but suspected it was a Saracen from a bit of Google research.
There were some generic frames around the time that were very similar, but I'm 99% sure this is the genuine article - Saracen used the marketing phrase 'the proper bike company' at some point I'm sure, though I can't pinpoint when now I'm trying to find out. Also, now that it's here I can see the Easton logos on the top, down and seat tubes with the word 'Elan' on the down tube - I've been sanding it to polish, and I've both made them appear and nearly sanded them out during the process! They're quite faint anyway, and interestingly on the non-drive side which contradicts the other one I've seen.
From what I can tell from the catalogues, this was more or less the same frame used for Pro and Flyer models in both 1997 & 98, so I thought lumping it in with the '97 period seemed appropriate.
It's nice to think that this frame started life with the better part of an XTR groupset hanging off it!
It's not feather light at 1856g for the 15.5" frame, but not too shabby either.
The plan as mentioned is to sand down and polish before building up, though it's intended as a winter bike not a thing of beauty. I'm usually a steel guy, but I'm interested to see what the ride quality is like for aluminium of this calibre. Also, it won't rust and I'm thinking it will be great for shorter blats in the mud.
I've never seen another one of these and even online only one frame sale, so it's a rare animal for sure. I suspect this might have something to do with the price - these retailed for between £1,300 & £2,000; up to £4,000 in today's money! Aluminium back then was still seen as an exotic wonder metal, so these were hardly accessible to the average pocket - much less mine, as I had a Hardtrax as my first proper MTB being 12 at the time.
I've therefore got a certain nostalgia for Saracens, even if this isn't Tange Prestige or titanium.
The decals were pants after '96 though, so I think this will stay plain even if it does turn out nice..
