[Neuromancer]

I have a Bontrager Privateer I bought new in 1997. Its in great condition and hasn't been used for about 10 years. Original paint, seat, all original components, including Rock Shox elastomer suspension fork. I believe I paid about $1200 for it brand new. I know its rare and possibly a collectible because Bontrager no longer makes frames. I'm wondering what the entire bike is worth. I want to sell it locally on Uncle Henry's.

 

[trboxman]

Bontrager didn't make frames then either, that was after the acquisition by Trek.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

This Bontrager was made by Trek in Waterloo Wisconsin.

It holds no value past that of a mass produced Hardtail c.1997. They will go for $400-$600.

FWIW, unless you need the money, there is no reason to sell it. You would be hard pressed to find a bike as nice at the price. Actually, as you own it......

 

[Neuromancer]

Bontrager didn't make frames then either, that was after the acquisition by Trek.

True, they were acquired by Trek then but I'm almost positive the frame was still made by Bontrager back then. The welds on the head-tube joints are very distinct. This is not a Trek frame.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

Google-Wikipedia

"In 1995 Bontrager's business partner, Hans Heim, left to join Santa Cruz Cycles, and put his share of Bontrager Cycles up for sale. Trek acquired Bontrager Cycles and hired Bontrager as president.

Bontrager production split in two. The frameshop in Santa Cruz continued to manufacture the high-end mountain bike frames (the Race and Race Lite models), the Road Lite (road race), the cyclo-cross frames, and later a BMX frame. At this same time, Bontrager stopped using two-piece seat stays on mountain frames in favor of a single tapered tube. The Ti Lite, a titanium version of the mountain bike frame, was made by tubing manufacturer Sandvik. At the same time, the Privateer, an entry-level frame, was designed using the same True Temper tubing as the Santa Cruz-made-frames but made at Trek's plant in Waterloo, Wisconsin with small design changes."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Bontrager

I have one of the Race Lite models with the tapered tube.

Also, here an article/interview with Keith, where he appears to speak about your bike:

https://www.mombat.org/795Bontrager.jpg

Unless you have a Privateer that was rattling around a bike shop for 2-3 years it is a Trek. If your seat- stays are a telescoped combination of two sizes of tubing, though, you may have something. Look here for a picture of the seat-stays:

https://www.eandsweb.com/me/bontrager/

 

[mtnbiker72]

True, they were acquired by Trek then but I'm almost positive the frame was still made by Bontrager back then. The welds on the head-tube joints are very distinct. This is not a Trek frame.

Yes it is, I owned a Privateer too...they were all made by Trek in Wisconsin. Only the Race and Race Lite frames were made in Santa Cruz.

It's still a good frame, I loved mine...but it holds no collector value