Porsche Bike S – Craigslist find

['89cab]

Several months ago I began mountain biking. Shortly after I started riding I came across an ad for a Porsche bike. The seller purchased a house that had been foreclosed and the bike was in the back yard. All it really needed was cleaning, a new hydraulic brake hose, and pedals.

I also included new tubes and tires, shifter cable and bottom bracket cartridge in the refurbishing. At first I thought I would use it periodically on the dirt (as the original owner did), but I can’t bring myself to get it dirty. It is as close I’ll probably ever come to a road bike so I use it as one.

There isn’t a lot of info online regarding these bikes or any of the other Porsche road or mountain bikes. I remember seeing them in the dealer showroom and wondering why anyone would pay that kind of money for a bicycle. I have learned that mine is a 1997 or 98. I love the forks and general appearance of the bike. It is very light (especially in comparison to my 29er), and pretty advanced for a fourteen year old mountain bike.

Laguna Seca does a Twilight Ride once a month and I recently brought the Porsche. The Bay Area Porsche club had a track day before the bike ride and several drivers recognized the bike in the pits and hung out to talk bikes and cars.

The ride on the track was my first and it was an absolute ball. Downhill from the corkscrew is especially noteworthy.

(sorry for phone camera quality)

The chrome bar ends look a little 90ish but are very helpful climbing because of the geometry of the frame. I also want to keep it stock which some bike shops don't understand.

[white85carrera]

sweet

[Embraer]

hs-11 or hs-33 Maggies?

edit..they look like the old Tomac models. must be 33's?

[gtc]

I believe they are just red HS-11s. The longer levers and no adjusters are the giveaway.
Somewhere I have a catalog for those bikes.

Those early ones made by Votec are certainly cool looking, but not especially good bikes. I remember drooling over them in high school, but being disappointed when I saw one in person. The full suspension models in particular were very heavy and had only mediocre components (lots of sachs quartz junk IIRC) considering the MSRP. The later ones from Storck were pretty badass though.

['89cab]

Yes, mike. Maguras, but HS-22. Knowing nothing about bikes, I had never heard of them. Tubing had to be special ordered and the process of inserting the fitting into the tube is a real challenge. But worth the effort to me. There is a guy on ebay that specializes in replacement parts for them.

I'm happy with the hydraulic rim brakes, especially for the way I use the bike -- short rides into town with my wife on her 1959 Raleigh Sport that she had as a kid (another cool bike -- it has a 1960 Carmel license plate).

edit: I was pretty sure they were HS-22s. But not positive and wouldn't know the difference between models. Graham may certainly be correct. The slave and master cylinders are painted the same color as the frame.

[R K T]

Those were cool bikes....I had the FS, Full Suspension, brand new. Didn't have it long because I was offered twice what I paid for it!

[Racerbvd]

I have both the "S" & "FS", that is the first year.. Porsche offered a upgrade spring kit for the front susp. GTC is correct, for riders, they aren't that great, a lot of better bikes for 1/2 the $$$ but that being said, I still would like to find a beater one to build up and play with. I have the manuels for mine (I got both brand new) & tools... Great find for limited riding...

Here is a picture of my "S"


My "FS"

['89cab]

Byron, I love the pic of the hardtail on the 911. Were the tools provided the normal repair kit or did they have special tools (like for the forks)?

Even as a biking newbie I recognize this is not the greatest handling mountain bike. But I sure do enjoy it just the same -- especially for its limited road use.

[A930Rocket]

I think there's a yellow one on craigslist in Atlanta. About $1250 IIRC.

[gtc]

Porsche Mountain Bike Bike FS Unused

[BIG-O]

I have a porsche bike s for sale......super original and well kept.....only needs fork rebuilt

[BIG-O]

SOLD ONE TO Michael Gortz FROM CALIFORNIA.

100% ORIGINAL DOWN TO THE TIRES, AND IN IMMACULATE CONDITION

BUT HE CRIED ABOUT SOME SUPERFICIAL SCRATCH.

HE SAID HE WAS GOOD AT CLEANING.

OH WELL HE RIPPED ME OFF FOR THE 40 DOLLARS SHIPPING AND BOXING FEE.

WHAT A SCAMMER.