Look KG243

Quite excited to be collecting one of these at the weekend:

Currently riding the following:

So will be good to have something different.

Any suggestions for the build? I believe this is a late 90s frame, Columbus Neuron tubing. Probably need to decide on a fork first, the original frames came with a straight blade chrome fork which i think looks pretty good. OTOH, I'm not too fussed about having everything 100% period correct.

9 Speed Record Ti.

Sounds lovely but potentially a bit pricey? Think there was a non ti version, educate me on the difference? Going for athena 11 speed would mean easy swaps with my ti bike so was thinking about that too.

only ti in the 97 record groupset was the hub axles and the rear mech bolts.

1996: record 8sp with option for ti axle rear hub

1997: record 9sp with ti axle hubs

1998: shifters go carbon and v2 shape

ah was this the one on fleabay that ended early?

Yeah, that's the one. Looked to be going for about £20 with 30s to go... I contacted the guy afterwards and was still available. Picked up today & he was a pleasure to deal with. Glad to have got this.

It looks to be the actual frame from the pic above judging by the chips on the chain stay:

Also has "Albertville" inscribed on the down tube, looks like it should be a decal but can't feel any edge. I've seen a couple of other KG243s on the forum, anyone reading this have the same?

Will probably take me a while to get it built. I have 80% of an 6800 groupset which I was (controversially?) debating using for this. I've seen it look pretty good on other 90s frames e.g.

Hi,
nice example, I think it's a sticker that was removed!
The KG243 tends to discolour quite a bit, I know that mine was stored, exposing the right side since it's faded on this side.
Another illness is that the paint pills itself under the BB.

Other than that it's a brilliant bike, mine is with campagnolo 8 speed titanium

I just build a lovely pinarello opera, steel carbon seatstays with 105 11spd.

Sorry for double post

1 Attachment

Jubo, any photos? And Thomas, have any more photos?

I will take pictures in 2 weeks, it's curently the holiday bike in my parent's house

Slight issue - tried fitting a rear wheel today & drive side dropout is struggling to accept the axle. Basically the entrance to the dropout is just a tiny bit narrow for the axle to fit in. It's not a spacing issue, frame is supposed to be 130 and seems bang on. Also the axle slides in fine directly to the top of the dropout from the outside, if that makes sense. It's just the first few mm where it's too narrow.

Looking at the photo I can't decide if the dropout looks slightly bent or not. I see the options as 1) filing it to make a bit more space, or 2) having it bent back (if indeed it is bent). Any suggestions?

there should be a rule about people embeeding images of their own bikes in project threads....

i'd say bent, so bend. obviously carefully.
reckon you could pull the wheel in with force? the back of the dropout looks wider than the entrance.

Back of dropout is definitely slightly wider, you can slide the axle in fine there approaching from the outside. So if I could get it past the "lip" at the entrance (not that there is an obvious lip) it'd probably work fine. I'll try using a bit more force.

Hopefully on the way this week

Not totally "period correct" but I'm hoping will both look good & shift well.

Is all campag 10 speed inter-compatible? Ie can I use a new 10 speed cassette & chain with with an older groupset?

Yes all Campagnolo 10 speed bits are inter compatible

Frame looks so lush.

Yes all Campagnolo 10 speed bits are inter compatible

Not the plan here but does this mean swapping older 10 speed chorus/record shifters into a recent 10 speed veloce/centaur group would give you the multiple downshifts that I think you get with the higher end groups?

here it is, I just had time to shoot this with my crappy cell phone before leaving.
Too many things to do , didn't have any time to put ksyrium on it.

beautiful from far but far from...

Well this is how it ended up

Looks (haha) great! Apart from the right brake lever but you've noticed yourself I suppose ;)

just to update how it is at the moment

best steel bike I have ever had.
by order of preference:
kg243>bianchi vento>colnago tecnos>Canelli aelle> colnago super> atala aelle

You're kicking a 5 month thread to post your own bike in someone else's project thread?

there should be a rule about people embeeding images of their own bikes in project threads....

I also don't really get why people do this. A link would be sufficient; it's their thread after all.

OT: @bjj22: That turned out nice! Like the wheels. It appears your brake quick release is open though.

just to update how it is at the moment

Too big for you and a triple.

oh man! great guys, no mercy
why update one of my bikes, because the owner thread ask me for.
I know I didn't update it 5 minutes after but 5 month later...
@Scilly.Suffolk judging by your conversation number and their contend, your trying to get a high score number?