KATARGA xt

[GAB13]

Hi everyone-
Does anyone know if Katarga frames are any good?
Looking for a good quality mtb frame and found one.Its the right size, I like the look and it's nice light 7005 ali.Its pearlescent red and just says 'Katarga xt'
Discovered they were Austrian but cant find any other info cos it's all in German!
Just want to check before I take the plunge.

 

[magas]

My first bike was a Katarga STX Race from 1994 - which I still have. My best friend bought one or two years later also one which he still use.

As you allready mentioned Katarga was an Austrian bike company from Vienna, which had been distributed BITD mostly through the Intersport dealership, at least in Austria.

In the German BIKE mag Katarga had been rated quite well, because of their good handling and the selected no-nonsense parts. Frames came from Taiwan - as usual. In 1994 f.e. the bikes had been equipped with full Shimano groupsets. No XT rear der. for "bling-bling", but cheapo BB and noname hubs on that bike - everything was STX RC. That impressed the BIKE mag people.

Katarga was in business till the end of the 90's, I would say, and then disapeared.

 

[GAB13]

Re: Katarga?

Thanks for that.
I have all my own bits to donate so it's purely the quality of the frame I'm interested in.
The guy wants 60 quid- I might go for it.

 

[GAB13]

Re:

The reason is my frame (which I love) has a hairline cracking in headstock.
Don't know what make it is (got it second hand and it's been sprayed) but reckon it's a good one cos all the brakes, gears etc were quite high end in their day.
I darent ride it much longer-Gutted!

 

[magas]

OK, I see - have you checked if all the parts of the donor bike will fit to the Katarga ?

Quality of frame depends of the used tube material. Any decal on the frame telling you more about the manfucturer ?

 

[GAB13]

Re:

No, just 'Katarga xt' decal and a plaque saying '7005 heat treated aluminium'.
Obviously original paint which can only be a good thing cos there's no cracks hidden by paint.
I took a photo but it's too large to post here.

 

[GAB13]

Re:

And yeah I'm pretty sure all the bits will fit.