1997 Bontrager Privateer (Nos)

[Painkiller]

They say these were the best single track bikes ever made. Keith Bontrager knew how to make an awesome steel bicycle for sure. "Privateer" came about for the self funded racer, out of the box it was a capable race bike, a 24 speed Shimano STX-Rc equipped steelie. I have kicked it up out of the box with lots of Nos DeoreXT and high end Bontrager pieces to make a sub 25lb. steelie with a shock. Thanks Keith ! you are the man! All I have left to do is dress her out with a red Ano Alloy bolt kit. This may very well be the finest specimen on the planet! Certainly the nicest I have ever seen. Given the fact it has never ever been ridden more than for testing purposes only.

[elmore leonard]

(05-10-2015, 09:19 AM)painkiller Wrote:  They say these were the best single track bikes ever made. Keith Bontrager knew how to make an awesome steel bicycle for sure. "Privateer" came about for the self funded racer, out of the box it was a capable race bike, a 24 speed Shimano STX-Rc equipped steelie. I have kicked it up out of the box with lots of Nos DeoreXT and high end Bontrager pieces to make a sub 25lb. steelie with a shock. Thanks Keith ! you are the man! All I have left to do is dress her out with a red Ano Alloy bolt kit. This may very well be the finest specimen on the planet! Certainly the nicest I have ever seen. Given the fact it has never ever been ridden more than for testing purposes only.

Very nice. Love those Steel bikes. They last for ever.
Is that a keeper or are you moving it on?

[Painkiller]

You know what they say Elmore, everything has a price right? I plan on keeping her in the stable for now. There is about $2000 in this project. I built it to my taste which may or may not be suited for someone else. It may seem expensive but would even part out on ebay for that sum. Not very often you can buy a bike that will recoup what you spend on it like this one. It may never see the dirt, but who knows.

[fishboy316]

That is a Beautiful bike PK. I really like that! Have you ever ridden one like it in the dirt? Definite bike porn!!LOL

[Painkiller]

(05-10-2015, 06:53 PM)fishboy316 Wrote:  That is a Beautiful bike PK. I really like that! Have you ever ridden one like it in the dirt? Definite bike porn!!LOL

Thanks Bill, I may even finish it someday! ha. No, I have never ridden one in the dirt. It is on my bucket list though. I pulled it out of the box a couple years ago and just could not bring myself to do it. I wanted to do a semi-retro highend build with some Nos parts I had laying around just for fun. I would love to see somebody take it and put the smack down in a cross country race against the boys with the new stuff and make the podium. That would be awesome!