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No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

As far as iconic ‘old-school’ hardtail mountain bikes go (ie, before full-suspension was invented, son), there’s plenty to choose from, but Cannondale’s Killer V can definitely be counted among them. Prestige Cycles, a Hove, UK-based bike boutique, recently completed this deadly Killer V resto-mod.

No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

Back in those days brands like Specialized, Trek and Cannondale were the geeky kids on the block with rich parents, although it wouldn’t be long before they grew into the pockmarked behemoths they are today. They left behind a large inventory of designs that exhibited their ingenuity and passion for the sport.

No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

The Killer V was borne from the 1995 catalogue of Cannondale’s heyday — all the fat race-proven, Handmade-In-Bedford-PA aluminum tubes, a range of models stretching from the Super V and F 1000, Killer V and M 2000 mountain bikes to their Expert BMX frame and T1000 touring frames — a year of wonder and unbridled potential.

No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

A customer of Hove’s Prestige Cycles brought his old Killer V into the shop for a modern restoration, so Stephen and Jez took the situation in hand. The frame was stripped and sent off to Brighton’s DLucks Paint — master of the airbrush — for a themed coat of bloody splatters and Psycho details.

No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

Once the frame had cured, it came back for a build-up of retro-inspired parts including an eXotic carbon fork, Paul Love levers, a Klamper on the front and Motolite brake on the rear, a SRAM GX groupset, Renthal Fatbar® handlebars and Thomson hardware. Hope Pro 4 hubs laced to Halo rims, with C-X Ray spokes, ensures it’ll still Rule Britannia.

No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V

Intended for daily riding around local trails, Prestige Cycles have done a superb job of rejuvenating this legendary frame for a second life and, some twenty-odd years later, it’s now looking just as deadly as it did in 1995. Special thanks to Stephen at Prestige Cycles for the photos, shot on location in Brighton.

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No Certainty, Only Opportunity: Prestige Cycles Killer V