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1993 Saracen Traverse Elite
This bike has been a long time coming. Too long really, considering I've had practically all the parts collected and ready for several months.
The 1993 Traverse was originally offered with a the 'new' M560 Deore LX groupset, which introduced low profile cranks, Rapidfire Plus combined shift and brake levers, M-System brakes and a black painted finish.
This was however the one and only year that 'black LX' still had 110 BCD chainrings with 'Compact Drive' introduced a year later.
I've always wanted to build a 1993 black LX bike and when I got hold of this frame, I knew it would be perfect for the project.
The Traverse Elite variant included suspension forks instead of rigid. However I wasn't happy to find the poor quality Tange based but Saracen branded forks for this bike.
Instead I looked further up the range to the Kili XTR Elite, which came with the same 'Flamboyant Ultra Violet' powder coated frame but with Pace RC-35 forks; a much better option.
So I was lucky enough to get a freshly refurbished fork from bhill22, and the frame came from Spencer13 via LGF. The LX components have been gathered together over a period of about five years, and I got my hands on some very nice Ritchey Z-Max tyres too.
More details on the spec along with some pictures.
One piece combined bar and stem made by Kalloy. Ritchey Trugrips and onZa bar ends and headset.
Seven speed Shimano M560 Deore LX STI brake and shift levers.
Pace RC-35 'Atmosphere Balanced' forks, with rear mounted M560 Deore LX brakes.
Shimano M560/M561 Deore LX front and rear mechs along with the M560 chainset with original chainrings and chainring bolts. M737 pedals fitted.
Selle Italia Flite Trans Alpes.
Mavic M231 rims.
Ritchey Megabite Z-Max tires.
Ritchey Megabite Z-Max tires. Pretty good condition...
1993 Saracen catalogue page.
1993 Saracen Kili XTR and Kili XTR Elite.
Just finished building this up today. Test ride so far has been a few laps of my workshop. Hopefully it will get a proper test ride soon.
This bike has been a long time coming. Too long really, considering I've had practically all the parts collected and ready for several months.
The 1993 Traverse was originally offered with a the 'new' M560 Deore LX groupset, which introduced low profile cranks, Rapidfire Plus combined shift and brake levers, M-System brakes and a black painted finish.
This was however the one and only year that 'black LX' still had 110 BCD chainrings with 'Compact Drive' introduced a year later.
I've always wanted to build a 1993 black LX bike and when I got hold of this frame, I knew it would be perfect for the project.
The Traverse Elite variant included suspension forks instead of rigid. However I wasn't happy to find the poor quality Tange based but Saracen branded forks for this bike.
Instead I looked further up the range to the Kili XTR Elite, which came with the same 'Flamboyant Ultra Violet' powder coated frame but with Pace RC-35 forks; a much better option.
So I was lucky enough to get a freshly refurbished fork from bhill22, and the frame came from Spencer13 via LGF. The LX components have been gathered together over a period of about five years, and I got my hands on some very nice Ritchey Z-Max tyres too.
More details on the spec along with some pictures.
One piece combined bar and stem made by Kalloy. Ritchey Trugrips and onZa bar ends and headset.
Seven speed Shimano M560 Deore LX STI brake and shift levers.
Pace RC-35 'Atmosphere Balanced' forks, with rear mounted M560 Deore LX brakes.
Shimano M560/M561 Deore LX front and rear mechs along with the M560 chainset with original chainrings and chainring bolts. M737 pedals fitted.
Selle Italia Flite Trans Alpes.
Mavic M231 rims.
Ritchey Megabite Z-Max tires.
Ritchey Megabite Z-Max tires. Pretty good condition...
1993 Saracen catalogue page.
1993 Saracen Kili XTR and Kili XTR Elite.
Just finished building this up today. Test ride so far has been a few laps of my workshop. Hopefully it will get a proper test ride soon.
