Retro MTBs

[Simes205]

MC Bodge said:

Simes205 said:

Both my full suss and hard tail are modern slack bikes. You sit in them, once you’ve ridden one you won’t go back. They climb very well. The stability is unreal.

It will be interesting to try one. I understand what you mean about sitting in, rather than on. I have a 2015 Boardman Pro 29er like that (albeit without the slack head angle), which is an XC machine with only a 100mm Reba (it works well after cleaning the factory waxy grease, some volume tuning and bushing changes) fork that rides and handles rough terrain surprisingly well and much better than an XC hardtail from 10-15 years earlier would.

Having said that, I had a 2003 Kona Stuff on Bombers and 26er 2.5" tyres that was extremely nimble, chuckable, fun to ride and climbed well -I even rode it at on a trip Les Gets, Morzine & Les Houches a few years back. I do still have an old Kona Dawg, which does feel ancient now, although still fun to ride downhill. It wants to flip over on climbs.

My Marin is 80mm travel and 26 x 2.1.
It used to fly downhill!
My Whyte (q140 travel) runs 27.5 x 2.6 and is so much faster although weighs 4kgs more!
My Santa Cruz (120 travel)is 29 x 2.3 and although a hard tail rides over everything.
Running much lower tyre pressures typically between 16 and 24 psi depending on bike, loads more grip and confidence.

I’ve kept my Marin it’s been everywhere, still works but needs some tlc especially the forks. Hope brakes and hope hubs.....same on my new bikes!!

[MC Bodge]

Simes205 said:

My Marin is 80mm travel and 26 x 2.1.
It used to fly downhill!
My Whyte (q140 travel) runs 27.5 x 2.6 and is so much faster although weighs 4kgs more!
My Santa Cruz (120 travel)is 29 x 2.3 and although a hard tail rides over everything.
Running much lower tyre pressures typically between 16 and 24 psi depending on bike, loads more grip and confidence.

Yes, I have tubeless 2.3" tyres on my bikes at low pressures -terrain dependent.

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 1st April 12:11

[Louis Balfour]

V1nce Fox said:

V1nce Fox said:

gtidriver said:

Ive got a black 1991 Kona cinder cone 14" frame with a girvinflex stem hanging in my garage, its been there for 8yrs, id say 7/10 on condition. ill drag to down and take some photos, it needs to be gone but I can't be bothered to sell it, it'll probably end up In landfill..

Someone on here needs to save that!

If no one else wants it, i’d be happy to cover postage plus a tenner to your charity of choice.

Same here, but I'll send £15.

Do I hear twenty? Twenty anyone? You madam with the handlebar moustache?

[V1nce Fox]

Louis Balfour said:

Same here, but I'll send £15.

Do I hear twenty? Twenty anyone? You madam with the handlebar moustache?

As long as it doesn't get skipped I'm not fussed who gets it. They were an excellent frame.

[Louis Balfour]

V1nce Fox said:

Louis Balfour said:

Same here, but I'll send £15.

Do I hear twenty? Twenty anyone? You madam with the handlebar moustache?

As long as it doesn't get skipped I'm not fussed who gets it. They were an excellent frame.

Kidding obv.

[Louis Balfour]

I built this nearly 23 years ago. It has never been serviced properly and did not miss a beat this evening over a swift 20 miles. The best bike I have ever ridden.

[alfa phil]

[alfa phil]

alfa phil said:

Been using my GT LTS1 going out with the grandson , tried to sell it before lockdown ,glad I didn't had it since 1994, replaced it with Cannondale lefty , can't see it lasting half the years I've had the GT.

[cml24]

Zippee said:

Retro pace and my new 21 model pace

This is a great comparison picture! Same rider, 'same' bike, but old Vs new.

[Sisu9]

I have to ride one of these modern mountain bikes and see how things have improved. Is this also true of road bikes? The changes to road bikes don't seem to be quite so radical (at least aesthetically). My reference point for road bikes is even further back as my last road bike was a Peugeot Ventoux!

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Zippee said:

red997 said:

How does the new one ride in comparison to the retro one?

Totally different. I can do a long ride and not come home with a shattered spine for one
The old one I love, it's hard work though, incredibly stiff. However, it climbs like a scolded cat!
The new one is faster, more comfortable, easier to throw around but the old one I still feel is more special.

Great to have the comparison. I agree, my Pace RC200 F6 is hard work if you want to get the best out of it but I absolutely love it. With bigger wheels, your RC529 should be faster along straight, flat trails but what's it like on twisty single track? My F6 is great on the climbs and whilst I find it quite 'twitchy' (which I like) on trails, it is very fast through the forests where I ride. I absolutely love it and will never sell it.

Last year, I treated it to a full strip-down, clean and service, replacing the old Velociraptor tyres with Scwhalbe Racing Ray up front and a Scwhalbe Nobby Nic on the rear. It's faster than ever and climbs even better.

[emicen]

20 year old vs. 2 year old

[Omaruk]

My old 2004 Yeti 575

[Simes205]

Omaruk said:

My old 2004 Yeti 575

I rode with someone last weekend who Was riding a Yeti of a similar vintage. Great bikes.

[Pilotguy]

During lockdown last year I discovered the Old Shovel YouTube channel. Does absolutely brilliant and addictive, while being sublimely relaxing, old MTB rebuilds. Really like the ones he does to give to his family and community.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSELOX9_Z0XdN0r...

[DailyHack]

Omaruk said:

My old 2004 Yeti 575

Lovely! Always pined for a Yeti of this vintage, use to see them on the trails back around 2004/5 and thought one day I will have one, use to see them a mile off in their distinctive "teal" colour frames.

Never did get one in the end ended up with a 2005 Speccy Epic - which I still have, but now runs as a singlespeed...

[DailyHack]

My 2005 Specialized Epic, new lease of life as a singlespeed! Such a fun bike to chuck about, still one of my fave bikes I have, weighs very little!

Gave it a run tonight, it's a proper fun workout, new cranks and BB this week, so good as new.

[Greendubber]

Saw a lad riding a Kirk Revolution earlier on, who remembers them?!

[Bonefish Blues]

Magnesium weren't they?

[Zippee]

Greendubber said:

Saw a lad riding a Kirk Revolution earlier on, who remembers them?!

Hateful things....