1987/88 YETI F.R.O. (Used)

Listing the crown jewel of my bicycle collection for sale- an early Yeti For Racing Only. The frame set was built in Agoura Hills (Los Angeles) most likely in 1987 or 88- Simplex dropout in rear, Campy dropout in front, single-hole cantilever studs, pre BB gusset. Frame is a 17.5 size and is wearing the original powder coat in the only metallic black color I have ever seen on an early Yeti, last couple pics show the metallic.

I bought this bike in 2013 off a Craigslist ad in Santa Barbara, from a fellow named Rex who at the time was producing reproduction Cook Brothers cruiser frames. He told me that he had purchased it from the estate of a deceased jeweler who had reportedly received the bike as a gift from THE Cook brothers after making both of their wedding rings. I have no way to corroborate this anecdote but then I have no reason to believe this odd provenance isnt true. At the time I acquired it, it was equipped with a first generation Rockshox RS-1 fork and a classic old-man riser-bar/stem setup. Crucially, I already had the correct fork and was able to get Frank The Welder to make me a steel 120mm stem to original spec out of N.O.S. parts. The once-mighty Spectrum Powder Works coated the stem and fork in Yeti Day-glo Pink.

Parts include; Answer Taperlite handlebar is restored to stock 530mm width. M730 6-speed Shifters, M732 Brake Levers. Tange BMX 125 headset, early Phil sealed bottom bracket. Black I.R.D. 26.8mm seatpost, Selle Italia Turbo Bio saddle. Late 1980s Cook Brothers Racing crank with M730 chainrings. Ringlé Cam Twist skewers (earliest version). Build is almost entirely correct for the late 1980s though I think the Grafton Speed Controllers came out in 1990 and the Campagnolo rims are from 1992. 7-speed cassette in rear came out in 1989 I believe but works with the previous generation 6-speed shifter thanks to the ghost click. I will include a black M730 6-speed cassette (one year only) rear hub in case the new owner wants to build an earlier wheel set. Tires pictured are late 1980s Panaracer Timbuk II from a small reproduction batch done years ago by MOMBAT and are still rideable.

In the decade I have owned it, it has been ridden and enjoyed and even raced a couple of times in the vintage class at the Keyesville Classic in California! It isnt a show-condition bicycle by any measure- it has some typical paint loss and surface rust showing but no significant damage. It never fails to draw attention at the trail head and has always been well-received by serious vintage MTB collectors. As a side-note, I am a professional bicycle mechanic with more than 2 decades of experience and I grew up riding and racing XC in the foothills of Denver, you can rest-assured this old Yeti has been properly dialed and doted over in the time I have had it. $4K plus insured shipping unless you intend to pick it up here in Denver.