Reader's bikes: post your pride and joy here!

[w2zero]

I would put it all the way back to a 655 with the chromoly swing arm and no down tube gusset.  Just guessing.  I believe that bike came with elastomers in the back too. 

[rytoe]

I'd say it's a Small 656.

I'd suggest that the decals are not original (as fitted) should be "PRO~FLEX" on the downtube and "656" on the top tube.

i.e. pre K2 days or at least before they were badging them.

I don't believe that "Animal" or "Beast" were ever used for this model.

If the rear shock works OK, then I expect it'll make a nice "little" bike!

Good Luck
Col.

This bike originally was a greenish color with the oval K2 badge on the lower tube and the upper tube had paint over the decal... when I stripped it the decals got trashed. So I know for sure it was a K2. All the decals on there now are all custom done by me.

[rytoe]

Also it did have elastomers on the shock, but the guy I bought it from put a rubber handlebar grip with a coil spring over it in the place of the elastomers... it works suprisingly well! But I am retro fitting a new coil-over shock in the back

[Colin]

I would put it all the way back to a 655 with the chromoly swing arm and no down tube gusset.  Just guessing.  I believe that bike came with elastomers in the back too.  

Hmmm, yes well it's certainly not a true "xx6" year style bike, (i.e. 1996 756/856 etc nor even a '95 {x55} design) it's definitely an earlier design, akin to the x50 thorough to x54 style bikes but I've never seen a small badged as anything but a 656, but looking at the spring rate charts there do seem to have been many models (952, 852, 752, 552, 550, 352, 252)  available in 14" Size right up to 656 and Attack and Reptile.

Possibly the original Green frame colour and the Black Swing-arm implies that it's an "Attack" from as late as '97
http://idriders.com/proflex/resources/97_spcatk.pdf

What do you mean by ".......no down tube gusset"  like on the later x56's behind the steerer tube ? If so, I can see it on the frame diagram above.
Maybe that was just on the later one's of this style from experience gained on the x56's ?? seems likely that they did it on the 656 and Attack to strengthen them up , but maybe didn't bother on the Small size?

Still feel that's it's unlikely that it would have been originally badged as a K2, no disrespect meant as I love them all, but I'm sure the first bikes badged as "K2" were in '98 weren't they? unless the 656/Attack was still on sale then? 656 and Attack were in the 96 catalogue as PRO~FLEX's but not in the '98 catalogue, anyone got a full '97 catalogue? I've just got the 3 page "Hank's Ride" from '97.

What fork has it got? is it original? if not, what was on it? That might help identify it.

Good luck with it and well done for restoring what seems to be one of the rarer of the breed!

Col.

[w2zero]

Yes the reinforcement welded to the underside of down tube just behind the  head tube is what I was referring to.  I have a tiny Animal (16") frame hanging in the shop with no gusset, box-section swing arm and pivot behind the seat tube.  It has no gusset either.  Not sure of the year of it but it still has the brake  penetration in the seat tube.

You're right, there were a load of models to choose from.  I recall seeing one xx5 or xx6 new in the shop that had the forward pivot and tubular swing arm when I bought my 855 new.  Not that  I noticed much else since I was all horny for my new bike.  I had them upgrade it to Maguras and xt front der.

Is there a breakdown of serial numbers to define the model year?  Some of the bikes we had in the shop in the eighties would be bumped up to a new model when the factory sent us new decals.

[rytoe]

I dont know the original front fork... but I do recall it having a K2 "Smart Shock" badge on the seat tube as well. I did some research trying to see if you can identify it with the serial number but no luck there.

The Attack/Reptile frame drawing looks 99% the same except the frame on my proflex is different where the rear shock mounts to the seat tube. On my frame its a triangular piece thats welded to the frame as opposed to the round stem that protrudes on the Attack

One thing I am positive of is that it was originally badged from the factory as a K2. 

[rytoe]

Ok, so I got a pic of the bike from the guy who owned it before me. Im assuming hes not the original owner, I think he is just a guy who tinkers with a lot of bikes.

Notice the K2 badging and this pic has the elastomers. What frame is this??

[Colin]

The Attack/Reptile frame drawing looks 99% the same except the frame on my proflex is different where the rear shock mounts to the seat tube. On my frame its a triangular piece thats welded to the frame as opposed to the round stem that protrudes on the Attack

I think that's because it's a Small, the diagrams normally show a Medium or Large. Quite often, the Small of a particular model varies a bit in design to allow everything to work.

Col.

[purple gerbil]

Is there any trace of old paint?? Paint scheme would tell you if it's a reptile or attack....
Check the number 10 on the part's diagram list..

[rytoe]

its a darker green metalic color.. its hard to tell cause the guy I bought it from dusted it with some rattlecan black in a lot of places. But scroll up and you will see my K2 pic a few posts back. Then go back a page and you will see the same bike with my new paint job and badging

[PANZR]

Hi folks
I've just purchased a nice ProFlex Beast, which I got for my thirteen year old son
We where looking for a hard-tail for him but when I saw this groovy old thing I had to have it

It's in reasonable condition as is but, I will strip it and rebuild/replace what I can
Sadly I don't have much of a budget so it will be mostly used parts
I was wanting to have it painted white but, my son has other ideas (a dark colour with a satin or matte finish)

I'll replace the grip-shifters for sure and possibly the hydraulic brakes...I have done a bit of research and have seen a few folk have added disc brakes which I'd also like to do at some stage

I'll trawl through the forum/web for more info but, I hope you don't mind if I nag for answers around here

I'd be interested, out of curiosity, to know what year this bike might be...can anyone tell from the pictures?

[shovelon]

Welcome PANZR,

Your Beast is a 1996. It is the "World Cup Design" , and could be converted to an 856 with different parts spec.


If you replace the magura hydraulics, there may be someone here wanting to relieve you of them.

Terry

[craiga]

Nice - Maguras & Mavic rims

[The Mont]

It could be a 97, looks like it has the extra gusset on the top of the down tube , same as mine and that's a 97,
either that or a late 96 ?

http://www.bikepro.com/directions/a97_proflex/beastgdt.html

[PANZR]

It has a frame size sticker on it which states it's a 20"/50.8cm
Would this be a L or XL/way-big?