They first came with the chromed fork (in about 1976?), then a couple of years later with the option for carbon weave. Just in case some of you have missed the old threads about these framesets, they had the tendency to break at the fine stainless steel top of the seat stay. I bought one with an awesome titanium Campy gruppo, but with a crack in the mentioned stay attachment. I kept the group, and the frame is now wonderful wall art for my vintage minded LBS owner John Hall of Continental Bike in Hazel Park, MI. Although, I have yet to see where he is displaying it! I have a brochure showing the chromed forks, I'm pretty sure, so let me know if you would like scans of it.
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI ~ ~ ~
In a message dated 9/10/2004 5:40:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes: Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 14:05:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> To: Morgan Fletcher <morgan@hahaha.org>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] Fwd: Classic 1976 Graftek Racing Bicycle - first Carbon Fiber bike - $1200 Message-ID: <20040910210526.25254.qmail@web81005.mail.yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <87ekl9sve3.fsf@fletcher.sonic.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 9
This raises a question for me. He speaks of an upgraded carbon fork option. A while back I bought a Graftek frameset that came with a nice chromed steel fork ( though in need of a bit of polishing). I recalled having seen photos of these with carbon forks, or at least part carbon. So I thought maybe my fork wasn't orginal. Now I'm thinking maybe mine is original, just not the "upgraded carbon fork option". Anyone know what the fork options were?
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
Morgan Fletcher <morgan@hahaha.org> wrote: PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE SELLER.
http://www.craigslist.org/
Reply to: anon-42038088@craigslist.org Date: 2004-09-10, 10:11AM PDT
Classic 1976 Graftek Racing Bicycle - first Carbon Fiber bike produced in the world. This is truly a museum bike and includes Campagnolo Super Record components. I have many extra parts, including unassembled carbon fiber frame tubes and polished stainless lugs that came from the original factory when they closed many years ago. I also have a set of original frame decals, to make it as new. If you owned one, you know that the decals did not last long. I paid $1,200 for the frame only with the upgraded carbon fork option. This is a really rare bike and rarely comes up for sale on the market, and in 25 years have never seen a tube and lug kit offered for one. To top off the deal, I have the original multi-page color brochure with pictures of John Howard (Olympian & 8-time national champion) on the cover ridng one. The Cool Gear Exxon Team sponsored the bike in those days! Really neat stuff! Serious inquiries only. Again, this is a super deal for a serious collector, because I am offering the frame and fork, with Campagnolo components, and extra stuff just mentioned for only $1200, including Cinelli bar and stem. Bear in mind that I am selling you the complete bike with nice period specific components and extras for the price that I only paid for the frame by itself 25 years ago.
Posting too much today,
Morgan Fletcher
Oakland, CA