Bontrager Overview

Keith Bontrager started in 1965 building lawnmower engine powered mini-bikes, motocross, road racing and drag racing motorcycles. ¹⁾ Early on, he worked at Fox Racing in Santa Cruz, commuting by bike 15 miles each way and thereby getting into cycling. ²⁾ He later worked with Paul Turner to develop the original Rock Shox. ³⁾

He switched to building his own bike frames in 1979, “as he was [unwilling] to part ways with the wad of cash the Italian road frames of the era demanded.” ⁴⁾

Designed the first full suspension mt. bike in 1988 for Kestrel. ⁵⁾

“Not many of our frames broke. Our reputation spread. That was the core of our business. We made bikes for people who broke other bikes.” youtube, Ask a Founder: A Talk with Keith Bontrager

Keith's cramped garage adventure-journal.com

1980 Bontrager

His first mountain bike was built in 1980. ⁶⁾ The only picture we have of it is under construction. ⁷⁾

Bontrager's famous maxim: Strong, Light, Cheap… Pick Two

1980 Bontrager bikeradar

1982 Bontrager

It's very hard to find pictures of old Bontrager mountain bikes. Super rare?

1982 Bontrager bikemag

1983 Bontrager

1983 Bontrager mtbr

1984 Bontrager

1984 Bontrager clamped BB shell facebook

1984 Bontrager facebook

1985

SunTour MounTech 4900 (1982-84), TA cranks, unicrown fork

1985 facebook

1986

Shimano Deore XT v2 rear (1985-86), Campy C-Record front & shifters (1985-88), bullmoose bars, standard BB, Specialized black flag crank arms (1985?-91). It could be a 1985.

1986 facebook

1987 Bontrager

1987 Bontrager mtbr

1989 Bontrager

Aluminum? Shimano XT M732 derailleur (1989), LX cranks (1989), Phil Wood hubs. Frame gussets at head tube and bottom bracket. Wishbone seat stays.

1989 Bontrager craigslist

Trek Acquisition

Bontrager bicycles ever increased in reputation and popularity until he sold the company to Trek in 1995. The Bontrager brand continues to exist in Trek components and apparel but the last frame to bear Keith's name was made in 1999. ⁸⁾

I hadn't understood the nature of the business as it was changing and becoming a fashion business. … We did all this without realizing that within a year you wouldn't be able to sell a steel hardtail. So, we sold the company. I didn't sell my soul, I sold my company. youtube, Ask a Founder: A Talk with Keith Bontrager

Keith, today, living with his ghosts
trekbikes.com