It’s been about a decade since I’ve done any serious mountain biking, and I’m looking to get back into the hobby, but didn’t have a ton of money to spend on a new bike. I’m terms of gear and bike construction, I’m a complete newbie.
When I was looking at the thrift store this week, I encountered this bike for $30, and decided on impulse to grab it. I’m not familiar with Bontrager (before my time), but it seemed to be in solid condition for its age. Replaced the tubes and lubed everything up, and it handled pretty well on its test ride.
However, I would appreciate some information on this brand, and opinions on whether it’s worth keeping. I don’t want to pour a bunch of money into a rebuild if it wouldn’t be worth it to do.
Thank you so much!
by Left_Delay_1
14 Comments
As far as mountain bikes go, this is super outdated. That said, it’s no less capable now than it was when it was new. While I wouldn’t take it on advanced trails, it’s perfectly fine for fire roads and green (beginner) trails. I wouldn’t suggest investing a ton of money in to it. If you’re comfortable with basic mechanics, I suggest you start with lubricating everything you can and replacing the brake pads. The tires may also be old and it would be best to replace them. Check out a video [like this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-P0fOWkCoE) for a process to tune the bike up. Oh, and don’t forget to plug those bar ends. Then ride the shit out of it.
As you improve, you’ll likely want to upgrade the bike. Mountain bikes have come a long way. Innovations like air suspension made forks lighter and more adjustable. Disc brakes, especially hydraulic disc brakes, stop so much faster. Dropper seat posts get the saddle down and out of the way with the press of a button. Larger wheel sizes roll over small bumps much easier. Changes to bike geometry leave them climbing better and inspiring more confidence on descents. But all this means you could easily spend thousands on a new bike, so start with this one, but understand the limits of what it’s capable of.
You could clean it up and do some minor maintenance that probably needs getting done. Think replacing cables, chain, and brake pads. It would be a fine bike to do some chill dirt/trail but I personally wouldn’t take it on anything that crazy. It really depends on what you’re willing to ride.
At the end of the day, any bike is better than none.
Nope, terrible. I’ll take it off your hands free of charge and dispose of it properly
$30 is a legit score for that. Mid level race bike from reputable brand tho obsolete. Still bikes are fun even old ones
Have fun with it, unless you want a cookie cutter bike.
That’s asking to be an ATB comfort bike. Shorter riser stem, sweep handlebars like Velo Orange Granola bars, and maybe swap out the fork for something rigid. Then put the fattest tires on it that will fit.
Also loving that chainring.
https://preview.redd.it/pep4fcu63s9f1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b5878938bd344558dfd36eb0d0a6b6303788a80
Inspiration. Modern air fork, converted to V-brakes which you don’t have to do. 2.3 tires was the latest upgrade. New handlebars and stem.
This was a major score. Ride it as is, as long as it’s your size. If you’re a newbie put those pedals aside, they’re for clipless and kinda heavy. Everything else is good. The bike is very clean. As a crusty old mechanic, those tires are fine and do not need replacing unless you want something that gives a slightly smoother ride.
Outdated, I think not. It does what it’s supposed to, and it’s going to do what you want and need it to do.
Keith Bontrager is a major player/ excellent designer/ innovator in mountain biking. ( trek now) ( easy google) It depends where you live and what you want to do. That bike is not shit in any way. Do stem conversion to shorter. Put on riser bars ( linked to stem length and reach) straight bars are honestly not as useable as risers as the angle and reach does not change…and you’ll be good to go. Personally I’d say looking good to go too. Nice bike.
Edit: from comments I suspect that the hard tail gang have crept in here a bit. Just shorten the stem and put on risers. You might need new cables for the risers. But that’s just what I’d do. If I had the cash. If not. It’s still a steal of a bike.
I see that there is a comment with a photo of a bike with a shorter stem and risers. Do that. What you have now is more stretched flat back racer style. A shorter stem will sharpen the handling and rotating the riser bar will/ can change the reach to put you more upright. There was a time when cross country and in fact most folk cut straight bars to be as narrow as possible. Those days are sensibly gone for us non red bull sponsored punters.
That Bontrager is a rare score. Deore XT components are icing on the cake!
Nice Privateer. That’s a steal for $30. Bontrager bikes are good frames, even the made in Wisconsin frames, which were still made to a high standard from True Temper tubing. They feel really good to ride. All of the Bontrager mountain bikes had very similar geometry (early on there were differences depending on whether the frame was suspension corrected or not). They have relatively short top tubes as far as 90s MTBs go. They did that to distribute more of the rider’s weight over the front wheel. These bikes have really excellent front wheel traction, but you have to be on your toes and be a very active rider because the sweet spot for weight distribution is pretty small. Very easy to get out over the front.
I have a 99 Privateer and ride it regularly on trails up to blues. One advantage of the later Privateers is the 1 1/8 headtube, so you have more fork options. The Bomber on that bike is a good fork (for the time); Marzocchis were much better than the Rock Shox of the time in terms of performance.
I agree with everyone else – put on new brake pads and tires and replace the chain if needed. Lube and adjust everything, and have fun. Make sure the fork is working well if you want to take it on something more than green trails. The groupset and finishing kit on that bike are all pretty high quality, long-lasting items. If you really enjoy trail riding you will likely want to get something more modern with more forgiving geometry, larger wheels, and a dropper post. There are no droppers made in a size for this bike any more (Gravity Dropper is the only one I know of, and I think they are now defunct).
Just buy some new tyres & tubes, a helmet, pump, puncture repair kit, spare tube, seat wedge & a pair of spd shoes & start riding. Great bike for the price & worth splashing $100 on……
Redo things that spin.
Replace the wheel bearings and regrease. Total cost will be about $10 and the friction loss will be greatly reduced. It’s an hour per wheel the first time you do them and 20 minutes thereafter. Should be done about once a year.
Replace the brake pads with kool stop brand pads for about $15 per pair. Replace the chain for $15 plus $20 in tools but don’t discard it. If things start skipping when going uphill, restore the old chain until you replace the gears. Replace the tubes if they won’t hold air for about $10 each.
Replace the pedals for about $30. Then replace the bottom bracket, which is a major job that will take two hours the first time you do it and requires a number of special tools. Parts are about $30 but tools are more like $20.
That takes care of all the moving parts that spin. When you replace the bottom bracket, replace the front gears for about $45 and then replace the back for about $35 plus $35 in tools. Then all the cables and cable housings for about $20 plus $20 in tools. And now you pretty much have a new bike and the tools to do just about anything.
If it feels good, ride it! LBS will help you out.