dirttorpedo
Senior Retro Guru
When I look through the members bikes here I'm always reminded of the bikes I test road, but didn't buy for some reason or other. What bikes did you almost buy and why didn't you buy them.
My first mountain bike was an 88 Rocky Mountain Fusion. The close second was a white Kona Lavadome with the splatter paint job. I didn't go for it, but it came with Suntour components and it had these funky roller cam brakes.
My second mountain bike was a Specialized Stumpjumper FS. Probably the worst bike choice I made - they just weren't designed for the local conditions. I should have bought a Kona, but didn't even test ride one. The bikes that were a close second and third was a KHS Montana Pro and a Bridgestone MB2. I was sucked in by the crappy noodly suspension fork on the Stumpy. I wish I had that KHS today - it was a great bike. True temper tubing, sub-25 lb weight and full XT build. I could have done without the pink fork, but still great bike for the money.
I can't remember the also rans when I bought my 98 Norco Sasquatch. I really wanted a Rampage, but couldn't afford it (I had to buy an engagement ring) and got the cheaper bike. I test road some Brodies and the Rocky Soul. I liked that bike, but it couldn't handle ever increasing weight and the harsh local conditions. I really don't pine after any of the condenters back then - maybe if I'd had a half decent budget and been able to test ride a Cinder Cone or a Rocky Blizzard....
I always seemed to be test riding Marin's and not buying them either.
My first mountain bike was an 88 Rocky Mountain Fusion. The close second was a white Kona Lavadome with the splatter paint job. I didn't go for it, but it came with Suntour components and it had these funky roller cam brakes.
My second mountain bike was a Specialized Stumpjumper FS. Probably the worst bike choice I made - they just weren't designed for the local conditions. I should have bought a Kona, but didn't even test ride one. The bikes that were a close second and third was a KHS Montana Pro and a Bridgestone MB2. I was sucked in by the crappy noodly suspension fork on the Stumpy. I wish I had that KHS today - it was a great bike. True temper tubing, sub-25 lb weight and full XT build. I could have done without the pink fork, but still great bike for the money.
I can't remember the also rans when I bought my 98 Norco Sasquatch. I really wanted a Rampage, but couldn't afford it (I had to buy an engagement ring) and got the cheaper bike. I test road some Brodies and the Rocky Soul. I liked that bike, but it couldn't handle ever increasing weight and the harsh local conditions. I really don't pine after any of the condenters back then - maybe if I'd had a half decent budget and been able to test ride a Cinder Cone or a Rocky Blizzard....
I always seemed to be test riding Marin's and not buying them either.