91 Zaskar - she’s a big girl

[d8mok]

Picked this up earlier in the week as I’ve had many Zaskars but never a 91

I kind of knew it was a 20 inch by looking at the bad pics but I had a little hope it would be a 18 but alas it’s a big one.

Story goes it’s one owner bike from the guy I got it from (lovely guy) who had upgraded to a modern ride. It was 200’miles away but the seller drive 30 so it cut down my trip. Still a big drive but how often do they come up complete.

Appeal was that all the parts are present and it’s just a genuine nice thing. Initially my thoughts were to make it almost mint , but now in homage to its life I feel it’s just going to be a gentle restoration keeping all the parts it has. I’ve been here before and made the frame perfect and then the other parts show their wear more.

So here it is as collected ….

 

[d8mok]

To see how it would look with the correct stem and saddle I did a quick mock up. It’s still too big for me at 5.11 though.

Now it’s been stripped so I can carefully polish it up firstly. Trying to retain the decals and also not go crazy and make it too shiny.

Next the parts will be cleaned and touched up a little where possible.

 

[kingoffootball]

Is it a '92 then? (made late '91?)

I still miss my 1991 and feel a little bit guilty that I kept some of the originl parts (like the 2x4 forks) in case I bought another 1991.

 

[d8mok]

Weirdly it’s exactly as 92 spec but is stamped March 91. Which is very early for the next model year

 

[legrandefromage]

Is its Zask... Oh, yes, yes it is.

 

[Gtpulse]

There’s a lot to like about that!

I love a complete survivor, great that it came with the original parts too. Looks like it’s exactly the same as in the catalogue apart from the chainrings.

When I bought my 19” years ago I didn’t realise it wasn’t going to look like the 16” you see in the catalogue! I was hoping for sloping top tube look and that isn’t what you get with the larger GTs.

Well worth the journey!

 

[d8mok]

There’s a lot to like about that!

I love a complete survivor, great that it came with the original parts too. Looks like it’s exactly the same as in the catalogue apart from the chainrings.

When I bought my 19” years ago I didn’t realise it wasn’t going to look like the 16” you see in the catalogue! I was hoping for sloping top tube look and that isn’t what you get with the larger GTs.

Well worth the journey!

I didn’t even notice the chain rings being black.

I imagine it came as it is with the silver ones as the guy says he hasn’t replaced anything (stem and saddle apart).

Even the Onza bar ends are correct so maybe it sat around waiting to be built at the factory.

I’d really like to have been a 18 but hey ho. Makes it easier to polish it up as you can fit your hand in easier I guess

 

[kingoffootball]

That is interesting - I guess some of the ones made early 1991 getting built up and sold later for the 1992 range is the best explanation.

 

[kingoffootball]

Perfect size too. 20" GTs are a better fit for me, even if I have owned a few 18" too.

 

[vtwinvince]

I would have driven that far as well, been looking for one in this size. Good catch.