...

[GoldenEraMTB]

nothing on shop floors, and nothing like what we have. What we have is exclusive, like Muscle cars, the next few decades saw nothing for those guys. Then came the hod rodding of small import cars/ Hondas in the 90's, that had that same type of cult following, then that transcended to nothing; the new stuff doesn't inspire passion.

The same can be said for what's on show room floors today, and that's the way it has been for some time. It lacks passion. Now, the passion can be found here:
http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/

chances are that those bikes will remain collectable and desirable 20 years from now, but it will still be different than what has been in the late 70's/80's/early to mid 90's of mountain biking.

 

[Andy R]

Of the mass produced bunch, Trek's attention to colour and detail with their hydro formed frames and colour-matched cables exudes class.

Agreed - the second version (not the one with the Maverick forks) of the 69er singlespeed was a bike that stood out in a sea of bland colour schemes, with it's attention to detail and cool graphics.

I still haven't forgiven the original owner of this one (iveto1983) for selling it on fleabay (for £601 :roll: ) without putting it on the classifieds here first :twisted: . I'd have had it like a shot for that money - a bike destined to be very sought-after IMHO.

 

[Neil G]

Evil
Cotic
Dialled
Transition
Singular
Santa Cruz
Ibis
Indy fab
Dekerf(still)
Turner
Moots(most ti probably)
Surly
All the american custom guys

Maybe?:
Salsa
Commencal
Rocky Mountain
On one
Radgley

Bit of an elitist list that and very subjective

For instance I'd consider a Rocky mountain or Salsa far more desirable than a Cotic or Dialled as the first two have retro roots, the others are just far east outsourced, well marketed frames really.

 

[cannondale king]

you all forgot the genesis altitude 30 853 steel trail bike desighned with us uk users in mind

 

[Neil G]

Possibly

Still think Brands that have survived from the heyday will always be favourites.

 

[CTK]

What do 15 year old kids want now?

In 20 years time when they've got money they'll be buying the stuff that they couldn't afford.

 

[Radar]

Currently mtb-wise everything is the same recipe, just different chefs.

Road bikes are where it's at currently. The market for high end road bikes is very buoyant (middle aged men in lycra according to the BBC). Lots of radical thinking going on/new(er) materials pushing the envelope etc

What is in the glass cabinets at your lbs these days? bet it's fancy pants roadie kit -oversized jockey wheels, D2i

Only real stand out mtb bits at the moment for me - Pace fixie, paul's bling still does it (really like the rack!), Jones bars and frames

Perhaps this question should be asked of 15 year old MBUK readers - "what bikes float your boat?" Their answers will be the answer

 

[kaiser]

Evil
Cotic
Dialled
Transition
Singular
Santa Cruz
Ibis
Indy fab
Dekerf(still)
Turner
Moots(most ti probably)
Surly
All the american custom guys

Maybe?:
Salsa
Commencal
Rocky Mountain
On one
Radgley

Bit of an elitist list that and very subjective

For instance I'd consider a Rocky mountain or Salsa far more desirable than a Cotic or Dialled as the first two have retro roots, the others are just far east outsourced, well marketed frames really.

Well it wasn't meant to be the comprehensive list, of course its subjective, fee free to quote it, edit and add. As for RM and Salsa I put them in maybe as I'm not sure how two as brands they are viewed today. RM may just be another big manufacturer to this generation of mountain bikers and I'm led to believe Ross Shafer isn't too keen on the current Salsa set up so the retro roots may have died. The addition of the far eastern stuff isn't dissimilar to say Muddy Fox being considered retro today. None of these came from a crystal ball BTW just shooting the breeze

 

[The Ken]

I didn't think that list was elitest (on one etc) but I do think it should be, A Merlin is going to be more popular than my ti GT, I expect that, it cost more in the past and as an elitest brand still holds a cetain amount of Kudos now, most collecting is based on getting either the rarest thing or the best performing. "elitest" bikes can generally provide a bit of both as they can have more time spent on them during the build process for things like finishing and quality welding.

A maverick or hardrock is still collectable, but they are usually collected for nostagic reasons by a smaller market of airheaded people like me.

 

[Neil G]

Evil
Cotic
Dialled
Transition
Singular
Santa Cruz
Ibis
Indy fab
Dekerf(still)
Turner
Moots(most ti probably)
Surly
All the american custom guys

Maybe?:
Salsa
Commencal
Rocky Mountain
On one
Radgley

Bit of an elitist list that and very subjective

For instance I'd consider a Rocky mountain or Salsa far more desirable than a Cotic or Dialled as the first two have retro roots, the others are just far east outsourced, well marketed frames really.

Well it wasn't meant to be the comprehensive list, of course its subjective, fee free to quote it, edit and add. As for RM and Salsa I put them in maybe as I'm not sure how two as brands they are viewed today. RM may just be another big manufacturer to this generation of mountain bikers and I'm led to believe Ross Shafer isn't too keen on the current Salsa set up so the retro roots may have died. The addition of the far eastern stuff isn't dissimilar to say Muddy Fox being considered retro today. None of these came from a crystal ball BTW just shooting the breeze

Indeed, pure speculation and I'm sure we'll find out.

I know Cotics and Dialled bikes ride well but I just don't find them that desirable now so probably won't in 10/15 years time (probably have gone soft by then anyway and be riding road bikes) lol