Never owned a retro bike before what do you advise ?

[Trojan]

what was your first nice mountain bike? Where did or do you ride? What bike did you once drool over? Or what inspired you to pedal into the woods?

My first nice bike was and still is a Trek 4700 Alpha a great bike as far as i am concerned.

 

[Trojan]

It's an interesting question - I guess 99% of us rode and owned these bikes originally BITD when they were current rather than retro so have a nostalgic love for them.

What is your biking background? What was your first MTB?

A Trek 4700 Alpha but i am a 80's / 90's kid i do a lot of xc and really enjoy DH.

 

[Trojan]

same as above .................................. but I would buy 5 or 6 nice retrobikes with a grand off ebay

As i said though i don't want to run before i can walk. :?

 

[Trojan]

to end up with a stable of 25 rigs a couple of years later, like I did

Yikes :shock: where would i put them ????? thanks for that advise do people on here sell there bikes ? and would it be possible to come on a ride one day with my Trek just to have a look and chat with you guys :?: .

 

[Russell]

You know what, if you don't yearn for a certain bike from years ago and you don't have a sentimental attachment to a particular brand or model, then maybe you would be better off spending your money on a nice simple modern steel hardtail? Retro in spirit.

 

[Elev12k]

"It's just that i have always loved the full sus bikes like the Manitou FS and the Cannondale Raven's but never having owned one"

Hi,

Yes, they are nice, but I do indeed think it is good you're asking us now, as I feel I have to tell you vintage FS bikes offer interesting, but complicating constructions often made out (early) aluminium. Not really the recepy for a long lasting construction.

On the Manitou for example: Beware of cracks

 

[haggis]

Retro Bikes

If i was you i'd scan through the readers bikes section and that might refresh your memory as to some of the bikes that you lusted after during the '90's and also check out the gallery and archives as there are plenty of bikes in there from manufactureres that you might have forgotten even existed that might float your boat, and then do what the rest of us do all day and that is hang over this website looking for that one frame/r.mech/chainring/seatpost/hub until you find it and build yourself up a nice retro machine

 

[ededwards]

to end up with a stable of 25 rigs a couple of years later, like I did

Yikes :shock: where would i put them ????? thanks for that advise do people on here sell there bikes ? and would it be possible to come on a ride one day with my Trek just to have a look and chat with you guys :?: .

Coming on a ride is a great way of getting inspiration/ideas, the range of bikes and riders is very interesting. Look in the Rides section for details of what is coming up

 

[Wold Ranger]

Choices

Hi Trojan, if you prefer full Suss then stick with that, which will at least cut the choices down somewhat. Some of the early single pivot designs have never really been beaten, just be sure you can still get pivot bearings etc for your choice of steed. I wouldn't go for a Raven if you want to ride it, they fall to bits! But a Super V, would be a good choice or an Early Yeti would cost a few bucks. I had one of the early hand built AS 3 XC frames a few years back and loved it(They were originally £1400 frame only and hand built)
The choice is always down to personal preference though. Some of the Early Rocky Mountains would be a rare choice and were well made to boot.

 

[neilll]

£1000 will get you pretty much anything, unless you happen to lust over one of those Bacofoil Kleins (only joking people ).

With that kind of cash, follow your heart