Dennis Howe

Hello all OBRA folk. This is a long post, but gives a full description. :)

This 15.2 lb (without pedals), sweet, fully loaded 2009 Kestrel RT900 SL with ALL SRAM Red gruppo was my dream bike but I need to sell it because it's too light, racy, and fast for me. I also would like to sell to use the $ to buy a touring bicycle for my new wife since my riding style (as well as my lifestyle) has changed since I've gotten married recently.

Specs are as follows. It is all top-end stuff and is FAST!!! It's all stock, except for I changed out the SRAM Red original crankset for a SRAM Red compact double 50/34 and the SRAM Red 12-25 cassette for a SRAM Red 11-28, upgraded to a nicer and lighter Terry carbon seat with a cutout, added Shimano SPD pedals, added Lizard Skins tape, added Jagwire racer cables and housing, and changed out the Wipperman chain for a quieter SRAM PC-1071 chain.

Frame Construction Monocoque
Frame Tubing Material Carbon fiber
Fork Brand & Model RT EMS SL
Fork Material Carbon w/carbon steerer, aero crown
Component Group SRAM Red
Brakeset SRAM Red brakes, SRAM Red Double Tap levers
Shift Levers SRAM Red Double Tap
Cables/housing Jagwire Racer
Front Derailleur SRAM Red
Rear Derailleur SRAM Red, ceramic bearings
Crankset SRAM Red compact double 50/34
Pedals Shimano M520
Bottom Bracket SRAM Red ceramic GXP
Rear Cogs SRAM Red OG-1090 10-speed, 11-28
Chain SRAM PC-1071
Seatpost Kestrel RT EMS aero
Saddle Terry Flx Carbon Men's Race
Handlebar Kestrel EMS Pro carbon
Handlebar tape Lizard Skins
Handlebar Stem FSA OS-99 carbon
Headset 1 1/8" FSA Orbit Z Carbon
Hubs Mavic Ksyrium SL
Rims Mavic Ksyrium SL
Tires 700c Vittoria Open Corsa CX
Spoke Brand Mavic aluminum, bladed
Spoke Nipples Unspecified

The story behind the bike is this. I bought it direct from the Kestrel factory in late 2009. I received it in the box and took it to Athlete's Direct for assembly. I literally rode it around the block 3-4 times, parked it outside a coffee shop, thought I was watching it closely but apparently wasn't and it was stolen within 5 minutes. Police report taken. A couple of months later, I got a call. Bike recovered! Got it back, pristine condition of all parts, but I found what looked like a hairline crack in the non-driveside chainstay. Took it to CyclePath who confirmed the crack and told me not to ride it...that it could last forever, or could fail on the first speedbump. I shelved the bike (always inside my house) for a couple of years while I saved up for a frame replacement. Then, before I bought a new frame, I found the fellows at Ruckus Components in Portland. They fix mangled carbon bikes and turn them back into perfect race machines, so this hairline crack was an EASY fix for the
m. Th
ey fixed it, gave me a 5 year guarantee, which is transferable to a new owner. They fixed, repainted, and touched up the chainstay so beautifully that you'd never know it was fixed if I didn't point it out to you. But I am pointing it out to you because I want to sell the bike with full disclosure.

After I got the frame back from the great guys over at Ruckus, I took it to a professional mechanic at Western Bikeworks on Lovejoy and he detailed it from top to bottom. He disassembled the entire bike and serviced all hubs, bottom bracket, derailleurs, brakes, everything! Took them off the bike, degreased and regreased them, cleaned the threads, and reinstalled everything. New tape, new chain, new cables and housing, new saddle. I did all of this even though the stolen bike was returned in pristine condition, just so that there would be no question about if there was an underlying problem that wasn't detected.

So, now this beautiful bike is dialed in and ready to ride/race...but since my lifestyle has changed and I want to buy my wife a touring bike so we can ride leisurely and camp, I no longer need it.

I'd love it if you'd buy it from me. Email me for photographs.

Asking $2100, prefer not to haggle a lot on price but willing to listen to reasonable offers. :) Please use contact info below.

Cheers,
Dennis
SE Portland
call: 5 oh three 8 0 seven 5 six 5 five
email: stratopt2002@yahoo.com