Retro Bikes.....what age???

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What age does a bike have to be to be a retro bike? Any ideas?

I was riding with SPESHMIKE after first discovering Retrobike, and talking about the age of our rigs. Now, my RTS is 1997, which I am of the opinion qualifies it as a retro steed; hell its 10 years old. Mike's S-Works is 1999, and he thinks this is borderline retro/newish. I say retro as its pre-2000.

Whats the general opinion guys?? I think anything pre-2000 is retro, but will throw it open to comments......
 
aha the $64,000 question...

Wu will tell you it's a state of mind...

Personally, I reckon 97 is a fairly good cut off point.....

for now......
 
Retro to me, is cantilevers, thumbshifters (or very early STI/Gripshift) and rigid forks. If a bike can't run cantis or has suspension specific geometry then IMO its probably not that retro. Generally, this dates bikes to around pre '94, there are obviously some exceptions but normally I wouldn't consider a bike made after '95 to be really worthy of the description 'retro'.
 
The era, for me was 1991 - 1995; before serious injury then theft kept me off a bike.

Retro, however, is a state of mind.
 
Russell":1zaykveq said:
Retro to me, is cantilevers, thumbshifters (or very early STI/Gripshift) and rigid forks. If a bike can't run cantis or has suspension specific geometry then IMO its probably not that retro. Generally, this dates bikes to around pre '94, there are obviously some exceptions but normally I wouldn't consider a bike made after '95 to be really worthy of the description 'retro'.
Click to expand...

But that would make it period imo, as it will only be for those years and i would of thought retro to be an ongoing thing, bit like the classic car scenario, when a car reaches a certain age it becomes eligable for classic status.
 
Hmm, i know people have been riding home made rigs in the states since the 70's, but by and large it's been about 20/25 yrs (correct me if i'm wrong..) since MTB's have been largely manufactured. So if cars have been around for 100 yrs, and if they're over 25/30 yrs are classed as classic/retro, i'd say 10 yrs is equivalent to 1950's retro indeed, as are 8 yr old'uns.. That makes my '94 Kona the equivalent of, erm, something in 1958 ( :? :!: )

I'm probably getting the complete wrong end of the stick and was always crap at maths but hay-ho!! I just wanted to get my pennysworth..! ;)

(p.s, does this make my '03 ride the equivalent of a 1970's mk1 Escort RS 2000? I can but dream.. :roll: )
 
:eek: I don't think age comes into it that much. More important that a bike has 'retro influences :? .

I would say... a brand new dekerf, steel frame, rigid forks & with rim brakes is pretty retro.

But what would I know :oops: they're only bikes at the end of the day.
If you like it go ride & enjoy.

:D
 
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