1990 Klein Pinnacle Elite

[Jaytrue]

1st time posting up about anything I am starting to work on.
Having just recently finished a Dynatech Encounter for my weekend hack, I was on the look out for a new 'Project'
Something to tease me with cleaning, stripping down and putting back together......as good as I can possibly can do with some fresh parts and on a budget
I love the excitement of visualising and then trying to creating the look you're gunning for and seeing how close you can get to nailing it.
I had thoughts on going for a dead standard and straight from the factory/bike shop look.....but I love a bit of unnecessary bling. :facepalm: anyway....

So, it materialised, I spotted the telltale signs of a backfire paintjob on a bike frame that was stored on top of a portakabin inside a factory unit very close to where I work - you can't help but notice the Hot pink fading into orange red into yellow!
It's at this point I'd like to give a massive thanks to Jon Smith (your man for new Panaracer Smoke tyres at the right price ) for giving me the opportunity at getting my hands on a fantastic base, for a really awesome retro ride.

So my journey starts with a frame still rocking some well baked on dirt and mud......



https://www.dropbox.com/sh/05ipgrexn6t4 ... eu57a?dl=0

 

[xxnick1975]

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Great find, looks like a lovely example

 

[Vinevo]

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That was lying on top of a Portacabin?, what's the chances of that?!

Some nice parts fitted to it too, signing up to follow.

 

[Jaytrue]

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I'm removing the 'upgraded' brakes as I strip down and clean.
But I'll be keeping the 1st gen Syncros seat post and Stem, along with the Mavic headset, Answer hyperlite handle bar, XT thumbies and the XT front mech.... I happen to have a nicely polished spare XT RD735 derailleur, which worked out nice as that is one of the parts missing.

The bottom bracket is still really smooth.....which I'm more than happy to leave in there!

The Cooks cranks, Campagnolo chainrings, HG chain and XT pedals are staying put (well removed, cleaned, polished, lubed and remounted!)

Gil_m has sorted me out with a set of decals for the frame and Syncros parts....they are seriously good quality, highly recommended

I am slowly but surely picking up some nice parts through RB and online.

So far:

NOS and 'as new' Brake parts consisting of: M733 XT 2 finger brake levers, with proper 2mm cabling, mated to some M734 XT canti's (which I am swapping off my Dynatech with some used Black DX Cantis that I have recently come across - thx scant)

I am searching for some Black Chill Pills with yellow writing on to complete my brake setup.

Theres also

A nice new set of Panaracer Smoke Tyres,

The shiny parts on the horizon are a sprinkling of H2 faux, ODi, Xlite, Controltech and SRP.

I'll get some pictures up of those bits as and when they arrive and also of the frame clean down and decal replacement so far.

I'm trying not to rush it.... :facepalm:

 

[Vinevo]

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Nice shopping list, you'll struggle to use the 2mm brake cables on it though, too thick to pass freely through the cable guides.

 

[Jaytrue]

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Thanks for the info on the Brake cables....I'll keep them for a future build
So, just a case of getting some 1.6mm then?

 

[Crus]

Nice find! And great build. I'd use proper xt brake set from 1990, like a nice 732 black set
Very nice the syncros early stem...
Love old Kleins!

Very nicealso the cranks, does anybody know what year are they? Those are not very common.

Ill stay tuned

 

[Jaytrue]

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From what little information that I have dragged up so far (Mombat etc)....89-90 seems very plausable, this is during the Cooks bros/Cooks/CQP's most turmoil filled period! ;-) So I'm assuming that explains the decals.

They are really light and well machined....I wonder if the BB is a Cooks Ti unit.....right, I'm off to the kitchen....which is where the frame is now living!

 

[Jaytrue]

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Quick update on the work so far.

I've managed to pretty much rub down with a combination of thinners and a solvent degreaser, all the frame in preparation for touching up the few marks and scratches there are.
Most of the blemishes are being 'touched up' by a small artists brush, first a layer of yellow on the yellow areas and on the orange areas, with the hot pink being used on the pink areas and being used over the top of the yellow, where needed to make up the orange colour.....sounds confusing...but does make sense when you see the pictures.
I am currently at a point where I need to attack the heavy chain suck damage to the rear of the drive side bottom bracket. This needs more than a paint brush to sort it out!
So I decided to source some quality paint from www.kleinspainted.com and use a little in a recently aquired airbrush kit.
My plan is to rub down the effected area with abrasive paper, clean down with solvent to remove dust, mask off the surrounding parts and then spray primer the area. I will then airbrush (after gently warming the chainstay area with a hair dryer!), blowing on a few layers of yellow and blend the pink layers over the top to obtain the right shade of orange. I may then finish with a little laquer if needed to gloss it up.
It seems a lot of effort for an area that will remain mostly covered by the chainrings......but I'll know its sorted!
I am then going to be covering this area with a replica clear 'klein' chainstay protector, so I hopefully won't have to 'go there' again for a while.
Not sure if its going to turn out as I hope....but, got to have a go.

After lots of searching and a few let downs I have finally been lucky enough to source some Black Onza chill pills after I put up a 'Wanted' advert on here!
A big thanks to Wadsy for getting these sorted.

The only other things to report are the imminent arrival of a few trick pieces: Some Black Ringle bits, an interestingly coloured Selle italia saddle and new internal tubing....these last bits meaning that the new 1.6mm brake cables and gear cables will soon be able to be installed. Thanks again Vinevo for pointing out the 1.6mm cable issue I would of been well miffed :facepalm:
Definately a few busy nights ahead in the coming weeks and some great opportunities to photograph and spend time labouring on my next retro ride!

 

[Vinevo]

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Well done kept it up!, nice to see some projects moving on.