K2 / Proflex Riders Group

General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: Vouds on August 14, 2009, 02:18:38 pm

Title: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Vouds on August 14, 2009, 02:18:38 pm: Hello i'm Stephane. Glad to be here 8) 8) 8).

I'm from France, and i would like first excuse myself for my english langage : it's not really the better you'll read.

So i have a K2 comp 71 ultralight (bought used) since 1997. Many small parts were remplacing last year (saddle, cassette, brake paddles, chains, front derailleur, cables, and wheels), i made a big revision and in fact it's riding very well.

A little description of the bike .

No suspension (criminal for a proflex/k2 oldschool, isn't it ?)
Frame : k2 comp71 ultralight aluminium ;
Fork : Tange steel ;
Transmission : LX 1993 white recent cassette hg 70 (combo shifters and brake levers) ;
Chains : Sram with magic attach ;
Crankset : lx 93 too, 22,34,48 ;
Brake : canti lx front and rear ;
Wheels : crossmax enduro (since last year) lx 93 hub and sun rims before (I broke the hub : too old and used). I know i will rebuilt a new "vintage" pair this winter ;D ;D ;D ;
Saddle : italia trans am
Headset : ??? 1"
Stem : alu flat k2.

I will post tomorow some photos of it ^^.

I would like to know if somebody have information about this frame.

Thank you and good ride.
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: orange on August 14, 2009, 03:24:51 pm: hi and welcome - not heard of that model - but I'm more from the Proflex end of the spectrum than the K2 end ;)

Pics will help.
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: shovelon on August 14, 2009, 03:42:08 pm: Oh yes, need pics. ;D

I would like to see it, as it must be one of the first hardtails from K2.

Welcome,
Terry
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Vouds on August 15, 2009, 02:44:04 am: Thank you.

I'm thinking too this is an old and first frame when k2 was born, or a proflex frame which is rebadged. (proflex made hardtail ?)

I contacted k2 compagnies last year (to have technical data and torque) but they couldn't help me.

So the pics ^^

(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/1639/k2ensemble.jpg)

(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8849/k2potence.jpg)

(http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/6858/k2cintre.jpg)

(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/6853/k2derailleur.jpg)

(http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/976/k2detail.jpg)

(http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7231/k2devant.jpg)

(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1429/k2pedalier.jpg)

This bike has 20 000 kilometers (12 400 miles) with me, minimum. I was commuting for job with it during 8 years (a collector gitane corsa remplace it now). Chains, tyres and cassettes are consumables for me. It seems old, the look is old and in France, that's a security when you want find your bike at the end of a workday : thief like beautiful and esthetic bikes. But transmission and brakes are in perfect conditions. And i prefer NOS old parts. And Aluminum does not rust.

I use it now only as a mtb, which is fast when necessary, lighty, easy o drive. I sold my full suspension cannondale scalpel, because i haven't pleasure in final to ride it. Too much maintenance too is a big default. And that's funny to win a run against a modern bike. My practice is light and fast, with trial moments. Have a look to the slyding tyres :D :D :D :D :D

So, after my bike life, enjoy to you a great saturday ^^. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: shovelon on August 15, 2009, 09:42:13 am: :o :o :o

Hi Vouds. I have never seen the like. I would have to believe your is pre-Proflex. The frame style puts in the range of 1990 to 1993. But in the 1990s K2/Proflex was all about full suspension bikes. Really the K2 brand did not become official until 1998.

I think you have a very, very rare K2 marketing or race team bike of some sort.

That is quite a gem. Take good care of it. ;)

Terry
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: shovelon on August 15, 2009, 10:55:46 am: Are there any serial numbers on the bottom bracket that may indicate the year?
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Vouds on August 15, 2009, 11:14:36 am: Oh, i'm really surprising :o :o :o :o :o ??? I always take care of it. (i made 40 km this afternoon). Nos only (except consumables)

A gem or an imitation, i don't know.

I know only one thing, it bought in Germany by its first owner (who sold it to me in 1997). Maybe I've got the bill but i don't know where it is, with the shop adress.

The second thing I found last year, that's k2 was at the origin a brand for skiing (since 1970), and the activity were diversifying in other moutains or fun sports with this brand name (roller, bike, clothes ...).

See here (http://www.answers.com/topic/k2-inc).

The next thing I can say, the paint : the frame was painting with stickers under the lacquer painting. Very sophicasted job. Bu this job/finition is not rare on this 90's year (like gary fisher's or klein bike) . Nothing special.

The third thing is the geometry : confortable and light to pilot. But the bike become agressive and easy to guide with speed. Not as a road bike. And lighty at all speeds ^^.

Somebody has information on k2 before they has beiing mtb ? Were there team model's before they made bike ? Maybe k2 was simple sponsor ?

Thank you again and regards

oups :serial 6900 or 0069
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Colin on August 16, 2009, 07:47:49 am: IMHO, I don't think that's one of "our" K2/PRO~FLEX bikes................

There's a few other bikes that use the K2 Name, mainly as a model name rather than a manufacturer.

e,g, there was an Emmelle K2 and also there is an electric K2 bike, I think Raleigh may have done a K2 model as well.

Or maybe just someone with aspirations to own a "K2" and a set of stickers...............

Have fun with it!
Col.
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: shovelon on August 16, 2009, 09:40:26 am: (http://idriders.com/proflex/images/k2prg_logo.gif)

Logo looks spot on though.

Terry
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Vouds on August 16, 2009, 11:39:43 am: Thank you again.

This frame is a mystery. I search by time information since last year.

I understand "your" proflex/k2 conception. And i don't know. Fake ? Prototype ? Test style ? Demo bike ? Team bike where k2 was sponsoring ? Rename frame for race ? I don't find. :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

The logo is the same as yours, but the brand name has been used between 88 and 95, as Colin said. And that's a hardtail. A gran-father of yours ? ;D ;D ;D ;D

So no important for my life, i will contact Sherlock Holmes maybe.

Thank you again for sharing information and ideas

Regards, Stephane
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Colin on August 19, 2009, 03:56:36 am: e.g.

Here's a "K2" for sale..........

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110425621312 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110425621312)

(http://i.ebayimg.com/18/!BYpW,Vw!2k~$(KGrHgoH-DYEjlLl4)iEBKiscwWc9!~~_12.JPG)

Col.
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: DugB on August 19, 2009, 09:13:49 am: Given the components I'd put it in the '90 - '92 timeframe...decals certainly look to be designed for a bike frame, given the dimensions and such. Maybe they rebranded some other manufacturer's bikes back then, possibly only being distributed in certain countries?

- Doug
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Vouds on August 20, 2009, 07:01:59 am: Oh thank you for this ebay page. i will ask to the customer many pictures. And many informatons too. The rear of his frames looks like differents. Maybe ...

I forgot to talk about the original sadle. Sticked k2 too. Like an 1990's italia models.
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Akagi on August 20, 2009, 09:55:31 am: (http://paczison0.republika.pl/kona1.jpg)
(http://paczison0.republika.pl/kona3.jpg)
(http://paczison0.republika.pl/kona4.jpg)
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Thunderchild on August 20, 2009, 12:24:17 pm: Rear dropouts look like some of the Yeti frames.

Thunderchild
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Vouds on August 21, 2009, 05:21:07 am: Oh :o :o :o :o :o your kona looks like the same frame indeed ! Could you give me (us) its name/reference ?

Made by yeti ? I'm not sur but iI don't think :

(http://fstatic1.mtb-news.de/img/photos/1/0/6/4/0/6/_/large/yeti-arc-a337-1.jpg)

I'm going to search a kona reference frame so.
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Stumpjumper1990 on January 05, 2010, 12:40:08 pm: Hi Stephane,

I'm also new here and I found out I asked the same question as you did! I also have an unidentified old K2 bike. Mine is a Comp 91 Ultralight! See pics!

Did you find out anythin about your bike? I'm very interested!!

http://idriders.com/proflex/smf/index.php?topic=3487.0
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: gert on January 01, 2012, 12:40:24 pm: I have done mountainbike racing in 1991 with a K2 comp 71
I have bought the K2 Comp 71 from my mountainbikedealer who's was the first owner
The model Comp 71,81 and 91 are made in the year 1990
It was a original name frome an ski companie that brougt mtb on the market from about 1989 I guess till sommewhere about 1994
The comp 71 was with Deore LX
The comp 81 was with Deore DX
and the Comp 91 was with Deore XT
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: gert on January 02, 2012, 12:40:09 am: Quote from: Akagi on August 20, 2009, 09:55:31 am
([url]http://paczison0.republika.pl/kona1.jpg[/url])
([url]http://paczison0.republika.pl/kona3.jpg[/url])
([url]http://paczison0.republika.pl/kona4.jpg[/url])

That's not a Kona
they have never had those Yetistyle rearstay
That is a K2 from 1990-1994 repaint with kona grafic's
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: orange on January 03, 2012, 12:33:37 pm: very useful information, thanks :)
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: Thunderchild on January 03, 2012, 07:49:08 pm: I never knew that K2 designed in a curved section at the dropouts like Yetis on any bikes.

Thunderchild
Title: Re: New here, old K2 rider in fact.
Post by: gert on January 04, 2012, 07:19:52 am: Quote from: Thunderchild on January 03, 2012, 07:49:08 pm
I never knew that K2 designed in a curved section at the dropouts like Yetis on any bikes.

Thunderchild

Yeps, they have that drop-out style like a Yeti with those early bike's
but not the same cable routing like a Yeti, K2 did the routing on top of the toptube
Yeti did the routing sideways of the toptube