Smokinapankake

Bought this a few weeks ago. Full Deore XT with mid 1989 date codes. Full fillet brazed frame is really pretty, albeit a bit heavy. Frame, fork, headset & bottom bracket weigh a whopping 9.5 pounds! Don’t know anything about it other than what you see in the pics. No frame tubing decal, no serial number, nothing. But it sure is pretty aside from the crack in the seatstay at the seat tube junction. Sigh...








K2 TNC Comp Oversized on the top tube. Anybody know anything?

madpogue 

You sure that's a crack, and not just the paint? And I reckon that's the braze/weld that's cracked, and not the stay itself. I wouldn't be surprised if that were a pretty straightforward repair, and this being a very primary non-metallic paint, refinishing shouldn't be a big deal.

Then again, given the weight, maybe the wall is its most appropriate forever home.

stardognine

It is a pretty cool color scheme. I think I’d be happy with the XT stuff though, especially that headset. 👍

2old

Beautiful frame if a little heavy as filet brazed can be prone to exhibit. Not an expert on repairs, but should be easy and in an area which could be repainted, then "covered" with a seat bag or **********????

Smokinapankake

It’s a crack in the joint, not the tubing. Sorry for any misunderstanding. It goes almost all the way around. I bought it without noticing the crack, but that’s okay; I’ll use the group set on another interesting MTB I have been holding on to for 10 years now...


Here you can see the crack on the right side. This is looking up from the bottom. Also check out the rear dropouts; they’re drilled and tapped for screws even though they’re vertical drops.

coolkat

Only one set of water bottle mounts?? What a cool frame though, can you actually see the crack in the joint? Could just be paint from someone over tightening on a too-small seatpost.

Smokinapankake

You know, I’m not so sure now that it is cracked. Can’t get the tip of an exacto knife in at all. Further digging is in order I think.
FWIW, it has 135 spacing on the rear dropouts, which are stamped Gipiemme...

madpogue 

^^^^^ That might explain the paint crack (knock wood, maybe it is just the paint). I'll bet it was born with 130mm spacing and was spread / cold set.

Smokinapankake

It’s possible it was a left over frame from the era of 130 rear spacing and then built using a later group set. The entire bike was kitted with M732 XT stuff. Guy I bought it from said it was his grandpa’s who used to ride it around town and whatnot. Grandpa died and they were clearing out so that’s all he knew about it. I didn’t know K2 was involved in the MTB scene until the mid 90’s. Not much info out there, either. Not that I could find, anyway.

Smokinapankake

yes, I have a very reasonable estimate from a local framebuilder to have it rebrazed. Frame doesn’t really fit me though so I don’t know what I want to do with it. Wall art?

2old

AIR, K2, an outdoor sports company, purchased Girvin, a progressive bike company, in order to have a presence in bicycling. Although they had great (IMO) bikes, their products didn't resonate with buyers and they resold their "name" and are relegated to Wally bikes now. The frame should be worth whatever a premium vintage steel frame goes for in your area. I don't need another, but would still pay about $150 for the frame set as shown if the crack were repaired.

2old

SP, where are you located; I can't imagine why individuals don't provide at least a general area where they reside.

madpogue 

....

2old

That's pretty funny; used to say socal in my avatar or wherever. I'll change it. Thanks.