Unidentified / Mystery Full Suspension Early / Mid 90's

[MuchAlohaNui]

Came across this here. Messaged the seller to see in person. Some sort of soft tail with drive-side top tube cable routing and interesting rear dropouts. Assuming the drive train is original, the bike is a 3x8. The soft tail looks to be worn / sagging /tired. Any ideas? This is the only clear photo by the seller! The Unidentified thread looks to be nuked so posting here. Thank you!

 

[markoc]

Looks like a Moots YBB but not quite, and I think they were ti?

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Thanks for chiming in. I think the Moots YBB is titanium as well plus the color and seat stays are totally different. I have no idea...but also not many builders did something like this, a soft tail.

I checked the 1994 Bike Markt annual, with no luck in the frame section

 

[kingoffootball]

Show us your unidentified bikes ...

I know we get plenty of threads where frames are successfully identified, but there are also many that don't get identified. I figured it would be useful to have a thread for all those that still remain mysteries both to compare future unknown bikes to and in the hopes that it will help more of...

www.retrobike.co.uk

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Thanks. Mods can integrate this into that thread.

 

[joglo]

Looks to me like a Yoan with Columbus steel tubing.

Der "Was-ist-das-für-ein-Classic-Teil?" Thread

eher eine bastelfrage. suche neuen freilaufkörper für shimano deore lx fh-m560 hinterradnabe. man kann diverse freilaufkörper nachkaufen, nur leider gibts den für die fh-m560 wohl aktuell nicht weil ausverkauft. passt da auch ein anderer freilaufkörper - zB Shimano Freilaufkörper...

www.mtb-news.de

Not a real softail as there are bearings behind the bottom braket and at the dropouts.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Looks to me like a Yoan with Columbus steel tubing.

Der "Was-ist-das-für-ein-Classic-Teil?" Thread

eher eine bastelfrage. suche neuen freilaufkörper für shimano deore lx fh-m560 hinterradnabe. man kann diverse freilaufkörper nachkaufen, nur leider gibts den für die fh-m560 wohl aktuell nicht weil ausverkauft. passt da auch ein anderer freilaufkörper - zB Shimano Freilaufkörper...

www.mtb-news.de

Not a real softail as there are bearings behind the bottom braket and at the dropouts.

How did you find something similar so fast? I think you have found the frame and maker. Looks like the one in the link you provided is a larger size and thus slightly different in the seat stay to the one I posted above.

"Softtail"...I am not sure what this type of bike is called? Is it a dedicated rear suspension and thus a full suspension bike? Thanks for looking into this!

 

[FluffyChicken]

A soft tail uses the frame flex as 'the pivot' , not fixed pivot.
It would be a standard rear suspension otherwise.

(other industries may vary)

 

[joglo]

A soft tail uses the frame flex as 'the pivot' , not fixed pivot.
It would be a standard rear suspension otherwise.

Thanks, that's what I have meant.
This Yoan looks like Softails like the YBB, but is technically, other than the position of the damper, a typical full suspension.
Sure, it doesn't really matters how it's been called.

@MuchAlohaNui is this something you have bought or have you been interested just out of curiosity?
I would say this is an intresting bike. Personally I don't think I need one.

 

[MuchAlohaNui]

Thanks, that's what I have meant.
This Yoan looks like Softails like the YBB, but is technically, other than the position of the damper, a typical full suspension.
Sure, it doesn't really matters how it's been called.

@MuchAlohaNui is this something you have bought or have you been interested just out of curiosity?
I would say this is an intresting bike. Personally I don't think I need one.

I just realized that you posted in the above German thread regarding a similar frame, but with more information. As anyone, I am always looking for a diamond in the rough. Who knows?

I am in talks with the owner hoping to squeeze out a bit more information, maybe a serial number and better pictures. The price is cheap enough to buy for parts at the very least. Though, on the other hand he is located just far enough away that the effort may not be worth it. Hopefully he gets back to me soon. I'll update with more info if I get some!