New old favorite bike- reborn again ! I got one chance left in a nine live cat...... Finished re-building my 2004 Intense Tracer recently. I lusted after the Tracer when it first came out, and finally bought this frame in 2004. I built it up, but ended up getting seduced by longer travel / slacker angle frames not too long afterwards. I ended up stripping the bike not too long afte building it up and using the parts for subsequent purchases. In the past few years, I have rebuilt this frame couple of times.. replaced the original float shock (leaked ) with an RP23, and replaced the decals with 2005/6 model. I could not get myself to sell this frame though, as it was my dream frame for a few years. The last time I had this bike built up with a 120mm travel fork thinking that it would slacken the HA a bit and make it more stable on downhills. Bad move on my part. Instead of the desired intent, the 120mm fork made the BB way too high and it rode like a chopper. I went back to a 100mm fork for this build, and have been riding this for the past 3 weekends. It has been a blast getting to know this Tracer again. The 100mm fork is the right choice for this bike. No, its not a 29er, not a 650B, does not have more than 100mm travel, its got a steepish HA, and it is not made of Carbon Fiber..... but I have been having a blast riding her and grinning from ear to ear ! Good ol' Made in the USA classic ! Here is the most recent config...... Fork - Rockshox Recon Gold HS- Cane Creek S2 Crank - FSA Team Carbon F Der - XT R Der - X9 Shifters - X0 9 speed Twist ! Cassett - PG990 Post - Raceface ride Stem - Bontrager race X lite Bars - Azonic DH Brakes - Hayes Stroker Grams 160mm rotor F&R Wheels - Easton XC-One Tires - WTB Wolverine Race 2.2 Saddle - Pro-Logo Kappa Pedals - Crank Bros Candy Weight - 26.0lbs
Sorry to bump an old thread but im picking this Kona aa tomorrow! my plans are to convert it to ss, with a ridgid fork for commuting. Stoked!
my ancient 2001 Schwinn Straight 8 .. i also have a 2000 Homegrown and an Rocket 88 hiding in the garage
So didnt get the kona aa because someone beat me to it But i found a 1998 kona lava dome. Needs some work but it should make a fun commuter/trail beater! Pics tomorrow
90's Cannondale M200 I bought 2 frames (Cannondale M200 & Raleigh M60) for $25, both were in practically new condition. I build up the Cannondale with nice rims (XT rear, front is some exotic thing), 1.5" street tires. Deore LX crank, Shimano Acera 8-speed grifters, Origin8 riser bars, steel stem (from Trek 4300). One of my favorite rides for the city.
'93 (?) Cannondale M2000, it was built up by someone who knew what they were doing. Manitou SX-R (has rebound adjustment near dropout) front fork, Deore XT crank, Deore XT indexed thumb-shifter, Deore XT rear-derailleur. I swapped out the wheelset for a higher quality one..XTR in rear.
Mongoose X43, from 90's? Can't find any info on it..help? I got it for $25, it was in bad shape. BB was shot (rusted out, even ball bearings were like "rocks"), I had to replace it. Missing locknut for headset. Had nice rear wheels (Bontrager hubs, double wall), front was ordinary. I swapped out wheelset with basic single-wall wheelset. Early 2000's Shimano brifters (solid, one of my faves..not plasticky like todays grifters) Rockshox Indy front fork. I use it for going around city, love the "bent" top-tube.
Diamondback Ascent EX (90s era), got it for $30 on Craigslist. Missing Chain, front derailleur fouled up. Nice Shimano STX rear derailleur, Biopace crank, nice rims, brand-new front tire. On way back home from San Bernardino, I LEFT it on the bike-rack of bus!! Had to go back a few days later to recover it from Metro.
Got Specialized Hotrock frame (with seat-tube) for $20 off Craigslist, XL (boys bike). Was able to fit Deore V-brakes on it .. no problem (??) Took old RockShok Jett fork off '99 Specialized Rockhopper (got 2 complete bikes for $35 off Craigslist, neglected sitting outside for YEARS), plus headset. Put on Deore crankset, Forte rear-derailleur, Ritchey wheelset (from same '99 Specialized Rockhopper), 9 speed trigger shifters. Nice ride.
Cannondale F300 (90's) with Rockshox fork, got it for $50 off Craigslist. Rear shifter bad shape (later disintegrated). Swapped out wheelset for better one, put in new SRAM-attack grip-shifters (Shimano comptatible). Nice ride.
Cannondale Delta (90's), aluminum Pepperoni (suspended) fork./$100 off Craigslist..missing seatpost & seat. Came with high-end disk compatible downhill wheel & tire!! Swapped in some quality double-wall wheel set. Put in new rear grip-shifter. High-end components: crank, rear/front derailleur, cantilever brakes..the previous owner upgraded to the best parts.
Early 2000's Cannondale F300, got it for $120 off Craigslist..plus he gave me spare front disc-compatible wheelset (brand new Bontrager) Tubeless setup! Front wheel missing spoke, out of true, front brake disconnected. Rear shifter fouled up. Removed Shimano rear-derailleur, put in SRAM grip shifter set & SRAM rear derailleur. Put in new wheel set (front is high-end XT hub). Nice ride.
Trek 90's hardtail, with air fork. Can't ID it..anyone? Got it for $40 off Craigslist. rear-tire dry rot, fork has oil leak, shifters gummed up (need loosening via WD-40). Brand new front tire (foldable), Deore LX crank, Deore STX rear derailleur, Deore XT shifters. Swapped out tires, the old 90's Matrix rims are a bi**H!! (tires nearly impossible to mount). Nice ride.
late 90's Cannondale F400, bought frame for $20 off Craigslist. Rear spacing was fouled up, previous owner tried to make it into single-speed, rear-derailleur-hanger was "cut off". Had to bend rear dropouts back to 130mm spacing. Ordered new rear derailleur hanger for $20. Put on Rockshox Jett front fork & headset, Specialized crank (from '99 Specialized Rockhopper, got 2 complete bikes for $35..sitting neglected in rain for years). Crankset big chain-ring warped, had to bent it make things work. Put on nice wheel set w/tires, from my "collection". Nice ride.
90's Trek 970, $60 off Craigslist. Guy tuned everything up, except thumb-shifters are new Sunrace. Front Derailleur replaced stock ones (which had built-in "stop"), no cable lug at top..shifting kinda funny. Deore XT cranks, real solid feel. Nice ride.
Here's my Bontrager, it pretty much collects dust.... I pull Her out here and there. This bike won quite a few Norba races in it's prime. (and mine, ha ha!)
A 1998 Klien Pinnacle. This was my 3rd bike purchase and one of the only bikes I've kept for so long. It is now my wife's bike and she loves it but she only likes bike paths.
Just built up my 2nd Specialized hardrock single speed. Found one in my size (15") so I had to pick it up. Just finished painting it over the weekend and went with a gunmetal color(looks more grey though). Has some mods.
