DW-1
26-04-2007, 09:12 AM
a story worthy of telling...
In 1994, Dirt Works was started when Poncho and I started importing Mantis frames into Australia. I had (and still have) a nice metallic green Mantis Pro Floater. He had a rich purple Pro Floater. His bike was so cool. Syncros cockpit, Kooka cranks in a purple/blue/black anno' fade. Pulstar hubs laced to Sun CR18 rims, Critical racing brakes, King headset and XTR shifting. (those with early issues of Australian Mountain Bike magazine might remember it, as it was tested in 1994)
Poncho sold his Mantis to another friend of ours in 1996. He rode it and loved it. After a few years it was looking the worse for wear and in 1999 he had it reconditioned by a local frame restorer. New paint, new decals, and they even customised the main swingarm pivot and machined it to accept cartridge bearings!
When it was finished it looked beautiful. One week later it was stolen.
A few weeks ago I get a call from a local retailer asking if I can repair a blown Noleen shock in a Mantis. The mechanic tells me that it's in good condition. Purple with a silver swingarm. I bite my lip and explain that I need to see it to tell if we can repair the old shock or not...
Two days later I get a call... the bike is in the store. I jump in the car and race over to see. Sure enough. Custom pivot, blue Critical canti brakes, Pulstar hubs... it's the one. 5 minutes later it's locked in the back of my car, just as the current "owner" walks up. He asked me if I think that it would be worth $400 as he's trying to sell it.
With the recovered bike back at Dirt Works HQ. The police are called. They take details… and the bike. They indicate that it may take months to sort it all out… three police areas spread all over Sydney involved etc etc… Ahhhh but common sense prevails. Once they get it back to the station, the senior sergeant on duty decides that it’s a waste of time to spend months and countless public dollars investigating a “pushy theft”. He decides to call the original owner and get him to pick it up as it’s “in the way”.
The current “owner” is called and for some strange reason decides to not challenge the ownership of the bike.
Short version. Stolen in 2000, recovered in 2007.
Will wonders never cease.
Elvis.
In 1994, Dirt Works was started when Poncho and I started importing Mantis frames into Australia. I had (and still have) a nice metallic green Mantis Pro Floater. He had a rich purple Pro Floater. His bike was so cool. Syncros cockpit, Kooka cranks in a purple/blue/black anno' fade. Pulstar hubs laced to Sun CR18 rims, Critical racing brakes, King headset and XTR shifting. (those with early issues of Australian Mountain Bike magazine might remember it, as it was tested in 1994)
Poncho sold his Mantis to another friend of ours in 1996. He rode it and loved it. After a few years it was looking the worse for wear and in 1999 he had it reconditioned by a local frame restorer. New paint, new decals, and they even customised the main swingarm pivot and machined it to accept cartridge bearings!
When it was finished it looked beautiful. One week later it was stolen.
A few weeks ago I get a call from a local retailer asking if I can repair a blown Noleen shock in a Mantis. The mechanic tells me that it's in good condition. Purple with a silver swingarm. I bite my lip and explain that I need to see it to tell if we can repair the old shock or not...
Two days later I get a call... the bike is in the store. I jump in the car and race over to see. Sure enough. Custom pivot, blue Critical canti brakes, Pulstar hubs... it's the one. 5 minutes later it's locked in the back of my car, just as the current "owner" walks up. He asked me if I think that it would be worth $400 as he's trying to sell it.
With the recovered bike back at Dirt Works HQ. The police are called. They take details… and the bike. They indicate that it may take months to sort it all out… three police areas spread all over Sydney involved etc etc… Ahhhh but common sense prevails. Once they get it back to the station, the senior sergeant on duty decides that it’s a waste of time to spend months and countless public dollars investigating a “pushy theft”. He decides to call the original owner and get him to pick it up as it’s “in the way”.
The current “owner” is called and for some strange reason decides to not challenge the ownership of the bike.
Short version. Stolen in 2000, recovered in 2007.
Will wonders never cease.
Elvis.