Differences between 1991 Zaskar and Pantera

[Blackstar]

Well,

Here's some close-up pictures of the headtube portion... I see what Kult Friction means, but mine is a bit more crescent shaped than the Zaskar in his picture (a nice one btw!!):



And here's the cable-stop, my 1992 had just one rivet to hold it to the frame:

nice work. Fairly confident it's a Pantera frame

hopefully didn't pay Zaskar price..

 

[Kult Friction]

Well,

Here's some close-up pictures of the headtube portion... I see what Kult Friction means, but mine is a bit more crescent shaped than the Zaskar in his picture (a nice one btw!!):



And here's the cable-stop, my 1992 had just one rivet to hold it to the frame:

nice work. Fairly confident it's a Pantera frame

hopefully didn't pay Zaskar price..

Think I'm going to have to concede to you there and retract my original early certainty of it being a Zaskar, I agree it's looking more like a Pantera especially taking into account my rational of distinguishing the difference between the two, Which I do still stand by. The angle of the original image made the gusset look squared at the back, However the close up says otherwise.

Add to this the quality of welding is quite crude and inconsistent compared to a Zaskar, Conversely the welds on my Pantera where nigh on indistinguishable from the Zaskar's, Certainly not too dissimilar to raise question! I guess a possible explanation could be that yours is a very early model with welders getting to grips working with alu or possibly a Friday afternoon frame, Who knows...

With the '92 Zaskar being a 'Tech Shop' product it is very well constructed, Subsequently has very clean fish scale welds that look neat and uniform. The close up pic's look a bit 'blobby' and 'workmanlike' if I'm honest, and look to have been done in lots of short stages along the straight when it should be one continuous bead up to intersections, not something I'd expect from a top end U.S built frame. Sorry to do a complete U-turn on this one.

 

[Void(EN12-82)]

No problem, thanks for the help guys... I'll be on the lookout for 16" 1991 Zaskar frame then

Do this one is going up for sale as a Pantera frame... Hopefully I should be able to get my 85 quid back

 

[longun]

does the zaskar not have a shorter chainstay?

 

[Blackstar]

^ don't know. I'd imagine they'd be similar.

 

[Lord_fowl]

Re:

I have two '91 zaskars and both have single rivets on the down tube cablestops. the welds are very consistent and the gussets are more square shaped than crescent shaped. Both have their 0391 serial numbers and the 20'' frame has two gussets where as the 18'' model has just a single gusset.
Cheers from Canada
LF

 

[mtbdave]

I would say a pathera, as the welding on the head tube is rough as a badgers Arse, (unless it's been repaired at some stage)

There is no way that was welded in the usa (Zaskar)

 

[legrandefromage]

Forgive me for skip reading but I dont think anyone has mentioned materials? The Pantera is 7000 (5?)series whereas the Zaskar is 6061 series. I cant remember if the original Zaskar was ever ball burnished but certainly when polishing either, the zaskar is a different shade and shinier. Plus, in the absence of serial numbers, many Panteras were painted so should show some signs of media blasting or other paint removal.

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

So is the OP saying that there is no serial number or 7005 or 6061 stamped on the inside of the rear dropouts? That's the easiest dead give away right there in identifying what it is.

 

[garethfj]

Re:

sorry to dig this up, butI've no doubt that is a pantera frame. I've 2, a 14.5 and a 16.



The driveside chainstay is dented in to allow chainring clearence. The zakars don't have this.

Plus it il be a lot heavier.

I think I prefer a pantera, the reason is it is over engineered and the thicker tubing means it cant fatigue as easily! the 14.5 looks great! ws

if anyone out there has another 14.5 I will gladly take it!