Show us your vintage carbon fiber
#301
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I've built several of those neat Kestrel 200 series bikes, from a "straight" 200 to the 200SCi, and I've not always been able to determine the year, other than by BikePedia and colors, etc.
Recently, I was offered one of those red frames, with the crankset pretty much stuck in it. It's an Octalink and the mounting bolt on the R side is reamed out to where a lot of work would be needed. The owner had taken it to a paint shop, and they gave him a price almost double what he could buy one for on eBay.
Anyway, we left the crankset in the red 200SCi and built it with spare parts, sold it at cost to a friend of the original owner. Here it is.

I've had the privilege of riding my friend Kirk's 200SCi build (featured elsewhere here, in all black) and it was amazing.

The original owner decided to build the eBay frameset. I lost track of it over time, but he came by yesterday to have some work done...Wow.
I have no doubt this, (my friend Roger's) 200SCi is a not ride, as he's "abandoned" his carbon Specialized Roubaix, and rides this one.


Pretty sure QuangVuong would appreciate this one... I may have to start looking for another one.
Recently, I was offered one of those red frames, with the crankset pretty much stuck in it. It's an Octalink and the mounting bolt on the R side is reamed out to where a lot of work would be needed. The owner had taken it to a paint shop, and they gave him a price almost double what he could buy one for on eBay.
Anyway, we left the crankset in the red 200SCi and built it with spare parts, sold it at cost to a friend of the original owner. Here it is.

I've had the privilege of riding my friend Kirk's 200SCi build (featured elsewhere here, in all black) and it was amazing.

The original owner decided to build the eBay frameset. I lost track of it over time, but he came by yesterday to have some work done...Wow.
I have no doubt this, (my friend Roger's) 200SCi is a not ride, as he's "abandoned" his carbon Specialized Roubaix, and rides this one.


Pretty sure QuangVuong would appreciate this one... I may have to start looking for another one.
Last edited by RobbieTunes; 06-29-15 at 06:46 PM.
#302
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Edmund Polchlopek built conventional-looking frames from these tubes, mine is shown below.
I don't know about randyjawa's Cyclops, whether it is built with that particular tube set, but it is possible.
I remember arguing with the seller about the frame on the bike he was selling, I snipped my finger at the tubes to show him the metallic ring, but there was no metallic ring, since the main tubes were MacSteel, internally reinforced with carbon (likely applied using some internal pressurized bladder).
Diamondback also used similar tubing, the ends of which were welded into conventional-looking "steel" mtb frames. They called theirs "WCF" or welded carbon fiber.



#303
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#304
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I guess I'll post my newly finished Peugeot.PY10FC on this thread too:






Test rode it this weekend and it rides like a dream. Quite a bit stiffer overall than my Vitus Carbone, maybe because of the oversized CF tubing and the aluminum rear stays. but I'll need to do a comparison ride next weekend to feel out the difference a bit more.....






Test rode it this weekend and it rides like a dream. Quite a bit stiffer overall than my Vitus Carbone, maybe because of the oversized CF tubing and the aluminum rear stays. but I'll need to do a comparison ride next weekend to feel out the difference a bit more.....
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^^ We've been waiting for this to show up, Chombi.... Beautiful. Classic. Vintage.
Reminds me a lot of the Trek 2500 Composite, in looks. If it's that stiff and light, boy, it's a nice one.
Reminds me a lot of the Trek 2500 Composite, in looks. If it's that stiff and light, boy, it's a nice one.
#306
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Kestrel 4000
Finally finished this vintage carbonfiber beauty!!!
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Hi all. Just curious if anyone can shed light on riding a 1989 centurion carbon-r ironman? Road bike? I'm mid 80kg range so don't want to buy a noodle of a bike. Have no experience with these vintage roadies so just putting it out there. Thanks
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Not sure I'd race competitive criteriums on it, or go mountain biking. It has carbon tubes inserted into aluminum inner/outer sleeves.
The aluminum doesn't flex much, but the carbon might. A lot depends on frame size. A 52-54cm frame would flex less than a 59cm frame.
I've had the 56cm Ironman Carbon, and two 59cm Ironman Carbons. The seat tubes ran about 1cm smaller than labeled.
I found them fine, but they're not something you want to ride in competition, or if you're a powerful climber.
Those years were a different time. They make great long-distance bikes, as they're very comfortable.
The Carbon-R was not an Ironman; it shared the frame and simply had different components.
The aluminum doesn't flex much, but the carbon might. A lot depends on frame size. A 52-54cm frame would flex less than a 59cm frame.
I've had the 56cm Ironman Carbon, and two 59cm Ironman Carbons. The seat tubes ran about 1cm smaller than labeled.
I found them fine, but they're not something you want to ride in competition, or if you're a powerful climber.
Those years were a different time. They make great long-distance bikes, as they're very comfortable.
The Carbon-R was not an Ironman; it shared the frame and simply had different components.
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Thanks Robbie. Its a 56cm frame and i am want it for the vintage history of this sport that i love. would only be used for mostly flat fun day rides - not anything more. i want it just to look at it and appreciate where this sport has evolved from. Its going for a good price and has been redone nicely but i am not sure if it will gain any value in the future? I also just dont want a noodle to ride. comfy sure.. flexing all over the place hmm not really my thing
#313
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Thanks Robbie. Its a 56cm frame and i am want it for the vintage history of this sport that i love. would only be used for mostly flat fun day rides - not anything more. i want it just to look at it and appreciate where this sport has evolved from. Its going for a good price and has been redone nicely but i am not sure if it will gain any value in the future? I also just dont want a noodle to ride. comfy sure.. flexing all over the place hmm not really my thing
I don't reckon it's a noodle. Others have described the ride to be close to Reynolds 531. In any case, they overbuilt these frames with thick carbon tubing, so you won't go wrong.
#314
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I guess I'll post my newly finished Peugeot.PY10FC on this thread too:

Test rode it this weekend and it rides like a dream. Quite a bit stiffer overall than my Vitus Carbone, maybe because of the oversized CF tubing and the aluminum rear stays. but I'll need to do a comparison ride next weekend to feel out the difference a bit more.....

Test rode it this weekend and it rides like a dream. Quite a bit stiffer overall than my Vitus Carbone, maybe because of the oversized CF tubing and the aluminum rear stays. but I'll need to do a comparison ride next weekend to feel out the difference a bit more.....
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I completely agree.
It won't lose too much value so it'll be right. It's a good bike, but it doesn't have the same name as European steel. That being the case, you're getting good value out of what you're paying for, and you're certainly not paying for a brand name.
I don't reckon it's a noodle. Others have described the ride to be close to Reynolds 531. In any case, they overbuilt these frames with thick carbon tubing, so you won't go wrong.
I don't reckon it's a noodle. Others have described the ride to be close to Reynolds 531. In any case, they overbuilt these frames with thick carbon tubing, so you won't go wrong.
#318
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This should be on spotted in the wild, but here you go..

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Latest version of this bike, as I continue to streamline, and I ride this more and more often.
It's actually no lighter than the full 6400 version (17.77 lbs vs. 17.75, so it's a wash).
However, day in/day out, this is my ride. I'm slowly working on another, but this is my go-to, for now. If it fatigues and fails, well, there's always steel Ironman bikes....







It's actually no lighter than the full 6400 version (17.77 lbs vs. 17.75, so it's a wash).
However, day in/day out, this is my ride. I'm slowly working on another, but this is my go-to, for now. If it fatigues and fails, well, there's always steel Ironman bikes....

Last edited by RobbieTunes; 09-24-20 at 10:19 AM.
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another addition to the herd . My first carbon fibre . very light ! 7.60 kg as pictured
Last edited by 1simplexnut; 06-09-16 at 07:04 PM. Reason: duh
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#321
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@RobbieTunes that Centurion is looking pretty sweet! I wish WSI made a carbon mtb around that time.. here's my latest vintage carbon.. 1990 Trek 8900 Composite











#324
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I'm sure everyone knows what this is. I've had for a couple months now. You can see why I sold the Centurion Carbon R to you Robbietunes. I have a full Mavic Zap group for it. Just need to find a Look Ergo stem and some original forks(or at least something similar) for it before I start building it.

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#325
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1996 Colnago C40
Search of this thread returned only one other Colnago. I'm not sure that this counts a vintage but a classic IMO. Franco Ballerini won the '94 Paris Roubaix on this model. Steel fork isn't original and not quite a perfect match but pretty close. I replaced the threadless carbon fork that came with the bike when I got it. This is probably the nicest rider of all the bikes I own.


