The Ventana Wiki - 1985 to 2021

[MattiThundrrr]

"Probably around 2005. Prototype Ventana, 29" front, 27.5" rear. I also tested a 26" rear. I loved this one with the 27.5". I wanted to call it the Mullet. But I got over ruled. They went with the 26" rear version and called it "El Chucho" (the mutt). The 27.5 size was so new to mtn biking at the time. They didn't know if that size would take off. Not many tire and rim manufacturers were producing that size. So they decided to stay safe with the 26" version."

 

[DrmZ]

I have a 1996 Ventana El Habanero.







It needed some love when I found it.
I polished the frame, added new decals and head badge (available from Ventana directly) and replaced the smaller bushings.
The original Fox Vanilla Coilover is heavy and works okay, I changed it for a Manitou Swinger Air which is more lightweight and works better.

Small build thread (in German) here:
https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/mal-was-anderes-ventana-el-habanero-aufbau.924633/

 

[Superretrodave]

One of the guys at ratrodbikes.com was a welder for ventana. He's shared a few of his bikes...

"Ventana started out steel but switched to aluminum. They did build a steel coupler tandem that was a work of art.

Their history is a bit on the secretive side. They built bikes for other companies also. It was always hush, hush. A few years back they were building Fat Chance frames. I happen to stop by one day and met Chris Chance. Waaaay back in the late 90s they built frames for a very large bike company. Most of those were built for the TDF."
https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/show-us-your-art-and-other-art-talk.118031/post-1243899

Oh wow that’s cool.

 

[slimjoe]

Not sure of the year but I had this 26” full susser a few years back. The frames construction was to a pretty high standard