Thorn Raven MkII vs Raven MkI frames

[DavidH]

As I wait, impatiently, whilst I gather the funds to order a Raven Tour, I noticed that SJS have some MkI frames going for a song (£125 against £499 for a MkII frame). Can anyone tell me the difference in practical terms between the two framesets? By my reckoning, buying this and the rest of the parts will be £150 cheaper than an assembled bike with a mark II frame.

[PH]

I noticed that SJS have some MkI frames going for a song (£125 against £499 for a MkII frame). 

The £125 is for a frame only.  The £499 is frame, fork (£99) and headset (£22ish).  If you're only saving £150 it's not worth it unless you can make savings elsewhere. 

Can anyone tell me the difference in practical terms between the two framesets?

I can't with any certainty.  I bought one of the first shipment of MK2 Ravens, though as I was getting the pennies together it was the MK1 I was looking at.  I know the differences between the Tour and the Sport were narrower on the MK1s, but I don't know if all the changes were to the Sport or if the Tour also changed.  One material difference is the chainstays used to be Reynolds and are now Thorns tubing, though I doubt that's a practical difference.
The MK1 was also available in fewer sizes, had more colour choice (some of it fragile paint) garish graphics and only black forks.  The earliest two reviews on the Thorn website (Cycling + and Cycle) are for the MK1.
If you see one you like in your size, why not ring Thorn and get a quote for having it built up into a complete bike?  If they'll do that and all else is equal you should still get a decent saving.

[geocycle]

Interesting topic.  I must have got one of the last MK1 bikes in september 2006.  I hadn't realise I had bought a MK1 until quite recently when I needed a new eccentric shell.  The MK1 is adjusted by teeth and a ring spanner whereas the mk2 has a couple of holes and a 2 pronged spanner.  This probably suggests a difference in the bottom bracket area but I am not aware of other differences. 

Maybe it is down to colour as PH suggests, since mine is black with black reynolds forks.  Anyway I am not in anyway disappointed with not having the latest model!

[Robin Thorn]

Hi, i think you've got a SPORT Tour perhaps, these have 2 holes now and changed from the mk1. Email me directly (robin@sjscycles.com) and i'll check that an error of some kind has not occurred.
The main problem with the remaining mk1 frames is that there are no popular sizes left hence the reduced price. If we build them into a bike there is no saving for you as the COST to us is the same as the mk2, so the complete bike ends up the same retail, but it would be neat if we didn't still own them, hence the reduced price of the frames!
Clearer?

[geocycle]

My mistake guys, please ignore bottom bracket comments above.  The confusion began when I was sent the two pronged spanner for the EBB that fits the MK2 sports tour instead of the one for the raven tour (SJS exchanged immediately in their usual fashion!).  I therefore thought that the raven tour EBB had changed between MK1 and MK2 varieties but in fact I'd misread the caption of the EBB on the web site.  Sorry for posting any misleading info.