'91 Karakoram

[BlackCat]

GT

Cheers Crayon, I might end up going down that route... I love Flites but they don't feel "quite" right on the Kara, and I think Turbos are ugly

 

[guysbikes]

Latest incarnation

I'm settled with it as shown here - not really period but I like it...

 

[mikee]

not a lot wrong with that m8

have a look out for wtb saddles the ssk is a good retro shape and GT
compatable

 

[GT-Steve]

A friend of mine used to have one of these BITD. I remember it weighing an absolute ton, but in saying that it always rode nice.

 

[D_XZ]

A friend of mine used to have one of these BITD. I remember it weighing an absolute ton, but in saying that it always rode nice.

You sure it wasn't an Outpost? They did that in the same paint scheme one year

 

[GT-Steve]

nope Definitely 100% a Karakoram identcal paint scheme and everything - my memory aint that bad, yet!!

T'was the back-end (with the u-brake) that was pretty hefty this led to amazing levels of grip in boggy conditions

 

[guysbikes]

Thanks Mikee

the saddles a Selle San Marco Titanio - just so damn comfy & lighter than a flite too - I figure I'll run with it.

GT-Steve ref the weight - I had a 20in one of these in '92 which I raced every week - as I'm only 5'8" it was clearly a poor decision & i remember when I bought my '93 Kona Explosif that I reckoned the Kara must have weighed twice as much. Maybe not quite but it certainly was damn heavy you are right. I'll get it on the scales & post a figure in due course. But I just love the colour & still think the triple triangle looks cool!

 

[trickylad]

gotta love a karakoram

sure, they're a touch on the heavier steel side but they take some knocks and when you point them somewhere, they get going, no messing

 

[the great roberto]

Did they change the karakoram frame as the years went on ? My 97 yellow one is currrently running at 26lbs.

Ok so it has a set of slicks on, but currrently is is getting equal use between it and the Zaskar. And I reckon the karakoram is more comfy as well

 

[guysbikes]

yeah i guess the tubesets would have changed over the years - along with wider use of butting and suspension geometry / groove tube mods etc. I just weighed it & it's 27lb - not as bad as I'd thought actually. I also just weighed my 93 Explosif - it's 21.8lb which is more than I'd thought. I'm clearly just an appalling judge of weight!