K2 / Proflex Riders Group

General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: 34henry3w on April 07, 2011, 07:12:53 pm

Title: My new NOS condition way big 857
Post by: 34henry3w on April 07, 2011, 07:12:53 pm
After years of searching, I finally found the bike I have always wanted: a way big 857! It is 100% original down to the panaracer dusters (still showing the little hairs, reflectors, warning labels...ridiculous.

 It is in near NOS condition. It has no signs of having ever been ridden. it has never been dirty or even cleaned. All imperfections appear to be storage scuffs. The lady I bought it from had bought it new for her husband, who never rode it.

This is the rare "Test Ride" model...anyone have any additional info about what these where used for? Factory test rides?
Title: Re: My new NOS condition way big 857
Post by: mootsguy on April 07, 2011, 08:06:56 pm
What a find!!! -- I hate you.  ;D
Title: Re: My new NOS condition way big 857
Post by: 02gf74 on April 08, 2011, 03:08:54 am
nice ... at the best bit is you paid £ 20 for it  >:(
Title: Re: My new NOS condition way big 857
Post by: fyrstormer on April 10, 2011, 10:42:20 pm
Make sure to take apart the pivots and relube the bushings. After all this time the grease has most likely cured and will no longer provide proper lubrication.

Also, the strut pivot bushings benefit greatly from test-fitting and lathing them down a bit with a Dremel (to spin the bushings) and emory paper (to wear down the anodized coating). As far as I can tell, they cut the bushings to be the right size before anodizing, and then anodized them which adds a few microns of thickness to the material, so post-anodizing they fit super-tight. Lathing them down a smidge will do wonders for their performance.
Title: Re: My new NOS condition way big 857
Post by: shovelon on April 11, 2011, 10:59:40 am
Quote from: fyrstormer on April 10, 2011, 10:42:20 pm


Also, the strut pivot bushings benefit greatly from test-fitting and lathing them down a bit with a Dremel (to spin the bushings) and emory paper (to wear down the anodized coating). As far as I can tell, they cut the bushings to be the right size before anodizing, and then anodized them which adds a few microns of thickness to the material, so post-anodizing they fit super-tight. Lathing them down a smidge will do wonders for their performance.
I never have had overly tight bushings, I thought they were supposed somewhat of a press-fit into the strut.
Title: Re: My new NOS condition way big 857
Post by: Spokes on April 12, 2011, 01:09:08 pm
Welcome to the Test Ride club!
I also bought a NOS Test Ride 857 a few years ago. Mine came from USA and as the story goes it was a surplus test bike left over from when the factory was shut down. Apparently it was never used and left in storage at the factory untill they shut up shop. A local dealer then bought all the remaining stock. It stayed in stoage for a while longer and then it was sold. The guy who bought it never used it and put it on ebay. Like you I was stoked to find a new 857 after all this time as I started off on a 4000 and always wondered how a 857 would compare. The NR2's are oil tight but could probably do with a recharge of gas to be honest but I fitted Risses front and back to cure it. Then I fitted carbon crosslinks for good measure. Its an excellent bike and definately a keeper.
(http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10800/normal_my_857.JPG)

Chris