I just got the N+1th bike for myself -- as a bad weather/unpaved road alternative to a road bike. 200? K2 Enemy cyclocross bike. I was very good deal (I guess) - $250 for a ready-to-ride bike with a 2 sets of tires - slicker and knobbier. I am trying to learn more about the bike and figure out what year it is. It was bought in REI (see the sticker) but the only model I could find on their website https://www.rei.com/product/730696/k2-enemy-bike-2007 does not quite match the components. Mine is also 9-speed but with 105 (5500?) shifters and rear derailleur. Front derailleur is Tiagra and the crankset is 48-39 FSA, wheels are AKX R1.0. I rode it last night for 20-mile group ride and it handles very well. My only complaint are the cantilever breaks which feel sloppy (perhaps compared to hydraulic disks on my diamondback road bike) but it does not look like any upgrades are possible there.

Anyway, does anyone know more about this bike or its series? Very little info out there.

I saw one in a REI showroom, the one I saw had an adjustable stem if I remember correctly.

Use these brake pads: Kool Stop International - High Performance Bicycle Brake Pads Since 1977

K2 (A name of a mountain in the Himalaya) Brand is being discontinued along with 'Novara' by REI.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2]

made, they say of 7005 aluminum alloy

The alloy composition of 7005 is:

Aluminium 91.0% - 94.7%
Chromium 0.06% - 0.20%
Copper <=0.10 %
Iron <=0.40 %
Magnesium 1.0% - 1.80%
Manganese 0.20% - 0.70%
Silicon <=0.35%
Titanium 0.010% - 0.060%
Zinc 4.0% - 5.0% (7000 series indicates a Zn content)
Zirconium 0.080% - 0.20%
Other, total <= 0.15%


other than that its just another frame , The parts pick is what it is, they can always be replaced if you desire different..


Within the V brake cantilever type category, since I see (REI Link ) that is the brake type on it.

K2 brand is being discontinued? Havent read that.

Do you think just upgrading the pads to koolpads will be a noticeable improvement or should I replace the whole break setup with BR-CX70 or something?

Cantilever brakes can be tricky to set up well. Here's a good article on them.
New straddle cables and a fork-mount cable hanger can make improvements.

Or, you could swap the cantilevers for mini-V brakes, which:
1) work with road brake levers, unlike full-size MTB v-brakes
2) are easy to set up
3) are powerful

Kool stop pads are always an upgrade from any stock pad.

+1 for mini v's, I ran them on my gravel bike with brifters and they stop well. My only complain is that they're kinda hard to open up for taking the wheels off.

So no issues with clearance? Any specific brands? How hard is it to swipe?

[MENTION=436178]riceowls[/MENTION] I run the Tektro RX3, cheap but reliable. I'm currently running 35mm tires no problem. I can't open the brake arms myself, usually loose the cable bolt a bit and then re-tighten, I've heard this can be fixed with an adjustable cable noodle.

Mini-Vs have plenty of clearance for up to a 38 mm tire. For a wider tire, stick with cantilevers (or full-size V-brakes with a travel agent).

Tektro Mini-Vs are good for the low price. Google.

They're easy to "swap".

Can you post some photos? Might help to identify the model year.

Its Just another Brand.. No K2 Factory anyhow , its just another customer Contract name ..

REI is re Branding all their Bikes Going to be CoOp brand .. they'll get them from Taipei too . or Shanghai.







...

Ok, so k2 isnt being discontinued as a brand.

Yes, we get it we get it- you have issues with the globalization of manufacturing. Its abundantly clear. But at this point you are just sayin stuff that isnt accurate.


Yup, rei rebranded novara to COOP. That has nothing to do with the thread, but you are accurate.

K2 never was an REI brand.

I am not sure what K2 has to do with REI. Novara was REI's in house bike brand and they are changing the name to Co-op. K2 bikes might have been sold at REI briefly, but not when I worked there.

K2 is an American alpine ski company. The K2 Enemy ski was a popular twin-tip freestyle and all-mountain ski.

K2 branched out into the cycling business. I don't think they ever achieved wide distribution. K2 is not a REI house brand, but REI may have sold more K2 bikes than any other vendor.

K2 bicycles used to be sold in the USA in Sports Authority stores also, before Sports Authority closed its doors. I believe a company called Iron Horse was the vendor/importer.

K2 bought Proflex back in the 90s and carried on. They did OK for a while but was never a big player. K2 was sold at bike shops until the mid 00's, then they started showing up directly online.

I don't think they were ever owned by Iron Horse, but they may have been owned by Dorel that owns Iron Horse. And yes, some models were sold at Sports Authority.