Give 3 Examples. Why Retrobikes are awesome

[Dave_Mars]

Imagine this:

You have a friend or acquaintance who has recently started riding MTB. They have no idea of the 80s/90/00s era. Maybe they are too young, or maybe they spent their formative years engaged in more noble pursuits.

Which 3 examples of bikes (or components) would you show them? Not to epitomise Retrobikes per se… But rather to educate / elucidate on just why you think Retrobikes are awesome? Convince them.


My picks:

1. Mountain goat whisky town racer.

Why? Amazing paint-jobs, beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail. Mountain bikes weren’t always so serious!

2. Pace RC100

Why? Iconic, Square tubing, proof that a tiny startup in Yorkshire could excite a California-centric industry,

3. USE S.U.B fork

Why? To show that some of the best ideas were not developed as well as they should have been. And that anti-dive forks don’t need to be the gaudy monstrosities you wince at today

 

[Antwack]

Those USE forks are ugly!

 

[Ren Rawbor]

Those USE forks are ugly!

Ugly, yet too cool IMO & nothing like as ugly as the monotonous fleet of satin black/grey out there now (not just the forks either, the whole bike from stem to stern seems to have evolved into an amorphous dark blob compared to the shapes & colours on the trails 30 years ago)

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

Those USE forks are ugly!

The Oscar Pistorius of forks, not only in appearance but also great in a straight line and under pressure, but may, at some point, just end up killing you...

 

[Markybeau]

The Oscar Pistorius of forks, not only in appearance but also great in a straight line and under pressure, but may, at some point, just end up killing you...

It sleeps with a gun?

 

[Jimmy oldskool]

It sleeps with a gun?

Always...

 

[grantoury]

Breezer 1 - A first purpose built mtb

Gazelle Off-the-Road - first mtb made in NL (1984)

Salsa Fargo - Off road becoming more than just that, combining with touring and travel

 

[DesertRyder]

Because each bike covers a different area of mountain biking, construction, and materials.
My different style 3 would be

1. GT STS DH


2. Fisher CR-7


3. The Bike Beat (Ellison) Revolution

 

[FluffyChicken]

1.
All of my bikes, because they're better than most posted above and to show them what nice bikes RetroBikes are in general

2.
A proper Trek 9500, nuff said.
Absolutely perfect in every RetroBike way, preferable with some fragile brakes, cranks, half a bodged disc* on some MAGs or XCs at the front only.

3.
Some other bike, mid-low range BOSS/Townsend/Raleigh cheapo grow into it/Kona HH-FM/... with a 'disc wheel' trying to be a Sugino/Tioga disc, bonus points for pawprints.


---
*don't need this, I just want one myself.

 

[mistermonkeywrench]

Hey!

Interesting thread...it's made me think of all my (bike!) bits in a slightly different light.
As in - which are my best 3 'things' to show off to someone who may be thinking about going retro?

1. My best bike - a Marin Team Titanium made by Litespeed at the end of their contract, so late 94'ish at best guess - until I donate $25 to their chosen charity and find out for certain.
It's still not built into its final resting build, but when finished it should have over a dozen different North American (inc Canadian) titanium manufacturers on it.

To me it's the epitome of a mid 90's strong and lightweight racing whippet.

2. One of my two 95/6? ControlTech F.S. frames built up into a singlespeed/fixie big boy's bmx. With Lawwill Leader 1's and a big wide GT bmx cockpit.

Some of the skills you need on the trail are better learned in a car park or skate/jump track...and what better way than with a big grin on your face?

3. My (NOS) IRD TL-5'S.
They look so cool, and apparently work!
If they're good enough for an Ibis Ti Bow, then they're definitely good enough for me and my other ControlTech frame.