Information on frame kastle randonnee pro

[Obi-Juan]

I recently got a beautiful Kastle XC-F900, which I've always liked, with its characteristic apple green/red color combination, very Benetton-esque.
Anyway, I asked for help (https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/kastle-xc-f-900-help.495123/) and they gave me some photos of a beautiful saddle for that bike. I started looking for it: Fizik Kastle; Fizik Nisene green; Kastle saddle... and suddenly, Randenee appeared.
I searched for information and found this great thread!

It arrived today, and with its handlebar, which is theoretically important for the bike's geometry. I'm happy.

 

[DR_TRM]

I found an abandoned 1991 Kastle Tour Randonee Pro frame in Seattle half submerged in a lake. It has Tange tubing and is white w/ two shades of orange, so IM assuming 1991. It has a flex-stem with rubber puck for shock absorption. I'm trying to rebuild it to original specs. I already bought wheels with XT Hubs, and can get F&R XT Derailleurs. Then all I need is a seatpost and seat. Can anyone tell me the SP diameter? The opening measures ~29.85mm. Was the original SP silver or black? (The 1990 has a black SP.) Thanks!

 

[joglo]

I found an abandoned 1991 Kastle Tour Randonee Pro frame in Seattle half submerged in a lake. It has Tange tubing and is white w/ two shades of orange, so IM assuming 1991. It has a flex-stem with rubber puck for shock absorption. I'm trying to rebuild it to original specs. I already bought wheels with XT Hubs, and can get F&R XT Derailleurs. Then all I need is a seatpost and seat. Can anyone tell me the SP diameter? The opening measures ~29.85mm. Was the original SP silver or black? (The 1990 has a black SP.) Thanks!

Hi,
nice bike, I do like this Randonee series.
No clue about seatpost size, but originally it came with a black post.

Please find below some pictures of a brochure, released end of 1990. Sorry for the bad quality, unfortunately I have nothing better.

 

[Obi-Juan]

I found an abandoned 1991 Kastle Tour Randonee Pro frame in Seattle half submerged in a lake. It has Tange tubing and is white w/ two shades of orange, so IM assuming 1991. It has a flex-stem with rubber puck for shock absorption. I'm trying to rebuild it to original specs. I already bought wheels with XT Hubs, and can get F&R XT Derailleurs. Then all I need is a seatpost and seat. Can anyone tell me the SP diameter? The opening measures ~29.85mm. Was the original SP silver or black? (The 1990 has a black SP.) Thanks!

I think it's a very nice bike; that orange and white combination suits it very well.
My frame came with a 27.2 silver Ritchey seatpost, and it may be the original, since in the image of Michael Schumacher with the Kastle model that corresponds to mine, the seatpost looks like the classic Ritchey "cane".
You'll keep us informed about how that "submarine" bike progresses.

 

[Obi-Juan]

Hi,
nice bike, I do like this Randonee series.
No clue about seatpost size, but originally it came with a black post.

Please find below some pictures of a brochure, released end of 1990. Sorry for the bad quality, unfortunately I have nothing better.
View attachment 987544View attachment 987545

Thank you for sharing these images with the catalog of the time.This information is certainly much better than nothing.

 

[Obi-Juan]

Mine's on the waiting list; there are other bikes I need to finish first.I've been looking for the original fork, but I think it'll be mission impossible.On the other hand, I read the original Polish post, and I don't know where it said that they were pleased that a suspension fork had been installed on a frame of that model, since that frame was designed for front suspension.I saw that Kastle had a close relationship with Marzocchi; they even had their own model from that brand.

 

[joglo]

@Obi-Juan this is nice too, a 1993 model

as I didn't come across of an 93er brochure yet, let me share two pages of an German buyers guide



They didn't come at this time with an suspension fork, but the year later, 1994, when Kästle changed the naming of the bike series from Radonnee to Degree, some selected models came with Marzocchi supsension fork. There had been even Marzocchi forks shipped as OEM model with Kästle stickes from Kästle e.g. https://retroforksbike.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/kastle-hd-B-01.jpg
And Kästle kept on using Marzocchi forks for a while.

 

[Obi-Juan]

Wow,
That's certainly very valuable information, thank you very much.
I see the forks are spinners, and that would make finding them relatively easy. The bad thing is the color; it's very special. It's a very light pearl gray, very specific. I'd have to use a black one so it doesn't clash, as matching the color would be complicated. But honestly, I like how that Marzocchi looks, even though I know it's from '96, but not too far off (I actually got it because it was in perfect condition, which is somewhat "complicated" with this brand).
The worst thing is the cable hanger if you want to install a cantilever (and I think I'm going to install them), but I'll find something.
I've also ordered some new Kastle vinyls, as they're the ones I see in the worst condition, and just replacing those should improve things.