How old does it have to be to qualify as antique? 35 is pretty good for carbon fiber! Although there were a few earlier lugged carbon bikes, and a few concepts/one-offs, the 1987 Kestrel 4000 is (ATMO) the first modern construction mass-production carbon fiber bicycle.
The story behind this frame is that a shop owner from Freewheeling bikes in Austin, TX was flown out to the Bay Area to see the presentation of this new brand/model with Bevil Hogg and Brent Trimble. Apparently, he purchased this frame while he was there, so it ought to be one of the very first ones used to seed into major markets. It was later raced by Kristian House when he was a junior in ATX, before he became the UK national champion.
In that first run with this particular paint job, only 56 and 58 were produced. 52, 54, and 60 came the next year. This one is the 56cm with a 56.5 CTT seat tube and a 56 CTC top tube. Standover is approx 81cm.
Built up with full Dura Ace 7400 7 speed in fantastic shape, including the aero seat post. Rims are Matrix Iso. Cockpit is Modolo with a nifty white Modolo SLK stem. Period correct and also looks awesome. Seat is the Avocet Racing II in white because Avocet was based a few miles from Kestrel back then.
There are a few small blemishes in the paint, including some small lines on the top tube and small chips on the bottom of the drive side seat stay. The Imron paint was very brittle and tended to crack pretty easily on these carbon frames in particular, but the bike has no structural issues that I have seen, and I've looked pretty hard.
Asking $2800 obo, and very open to trades. I love American frame builders (hence this bike) and would be interested any notable builders. Eisentraut, Merz, Appel, Baylis, etc.
The story behind this frame is that a shop owner from Freewheeling bikes in Austin, TX was flown out to the Bay Area to see the presentation of this new brand/model with Bevil Hogg and Brent Trimble. Apparently, he purchased this frame while he was there, so it ought to be one of the very first ones used to seed into major markets. It was later raced by Kristian House when he was a junior in ATX, before he became the UK national champion.
In that first run with this particular paint job, only 56 and 58 were produced. 52, 54, and 60 came the next year. This one is the 56cm with a 56.5 CTT seat tube and a 56 CTC top tube. Standover is approx 81cm.
Built up with full Dura Ace 7400 7 speed in fantastic shape, including the aero seat post. Rims are Matrix Iso. Cockpit is Modolo with a nifty white Modolo SLK stem. Period correct and also looks awesome. Seat is the Avocet Racing II in white because Avocet was based a few miles from Kestrel back then.
There are a few small blemishes in the paint, including some small lines on the top tube and small chips on the bottom of the drive side seat stay. The Imron paint was very brittle and tended to crack pretty easily on these carbon frames in particular, but the bike has no structural issues that I have seen, and I've looked pretty hard.
Asking $2800 obo, and very open to trades. I love American frame builders (hence this bike) and would be interested any notable builders. Eisentraut, Merz, Appel, Baylis, etc.
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