COOLWALL: Proflex Bikes? Are they cool?

[jez-4-bikes-max]

Had a request to see what the masses think...

I throw into the cool wall pit of destruction....

ARE PROFLEX BIKES COOL?

Do your worst people...

 

[cchris2lou]

Yes they are cool because I ve bought one .

 

[Wytze]

They were very popular, but really they had the worst suspension system!
OK, the pivot point was much better chosen (than the high point from Trek,
GT,verlicchi) But they forgot to calculate the stiffness and forgot what
damage the wobbly back would cause to the shock. They also look like the
seatstays will brake as soon as you sit on the bike

 

[jez-4-bikes-max]

They always got very good reviews though?

 

[cchris2lou]

First full sus to win a world champ .

 

[Yo Crashy]

Difficult one. When I was 14 and properly getting into MTBing I scrimped and saved and bought a £400 Trek. Friends had similar GT's, Konas and the like. Then a mate rocked up on his brand new tricked out 856, full XT, Girvins and the like... The elastomers didnt seem to move unless it was baking hot, which it never was, and the frame cracked after year.

But it looked the absolute business

Yeah, cool.

 

[gump]

no way!!

flexy, underdamped +over stiff rubber, heavy - before you start to ride the things.

ok, had the vagueness of the right idea, but so missed being cool.
How can you have a FS bike by using a Flexstem on the front?? :?

Shocking, so to speak.

uncool

 

[cchris2lou]

Well you had a flexstem for small bumps and Mag20 for big bumps .

perfect .

 

[orange71]

They are probably uncool but I personally think they are cool, if you see what I mean.

Once they hit us with the 855 they were really onto something.And they did innovate - not always in the right direction, but it was good to see some leftfield thinking.

I think I'm onto a loser with this vote, as I know the general thrust of this site is steel hardtail, but they do have a good pedigree and have stood the test of time - especially weight-wise. My 855 is 26lbs without any particularly great kit on it and has coil springs on both shocks too...

These photos are old and none of them have the same kit on now - mostly taken shortly after purchase!

 

[gump]

chris - how the hell did you remember I said that??? STALKER

Had just a flouro yellow flexstem on a flouro orange/teflon Pine Mountain too. Geez, what was I thinking :?