New here, old K2 rider in fact.

[Vouds]

Hello i'm Stephane. Glad to be here  .

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 ;
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.

[orange]

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.

[shovelon]

Oh yes, need pics.

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

Welcome,
Terry

[Vouds]

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 ^^

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 

So, after my bike life, enjoy to you a great saturday ^^.

[shovelon]

 

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

[shovelon]

Are there any serial numbers on the bottom bracket that may indicate the year?

[Vouds]

Oh, i'm really surprising   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 .

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

[Colin]

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.

[shovelon]

Logo looks spot on though.

Terry

[Vouds]

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 ? 

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

Thank you again for sharing information and ideas

Regards, Stephane

[Colin]

e.g.

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

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



Col.

[DugB]

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

[Vouds]

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.

[Akagi]

[Thunderchild]

Rear dropouts look like some of the Yeti frames.

Thunderchild