proflex beast 1997 how big is too big?

[clockworkgazz]

Just bought a proflex beast circa 1997 at a great price .

Will pick up next week. Looks in great nick and pretty orig., wondered if anyone has ever owned one of these.

However may have to get rid of it or indeed the trusty 656 as I am ment to be reducing the number of bikes I have :roll:

which one would you sell?

 

[Kneedowndean]

Untill recently I rode a Proflex Beast 1996, with Noleen shock upgrade. It was a great bike, I owned it from new. A great cross country machine that can hold its own still. But after 12 years of perfect service I have retired it and will put it on the wall in my house..... ..keep it in other words.

Proflexes are not only quite rare but they started the whole ball rolling with full suspension bikes. I will be keeping my piece of history.

 

[Geoff]

I prefer the 656. It's all about the Girvins. So if they were mine, the Beast would have to go. Your call though!

 

[Kneedowndean]

Beast has the better frame, swap the Girvins to the beast and get the best of both.

 

[orange71]

I was just going to say that - swap the Girvins to the Beast. However you've got the 656 set up nicely too. Very tricky question. I like both...although I have only owned a Beast of the two you have there...

 

[Will Palmer]

Love the 656 - Geoff's right - it's all about those big, shiny Girvins...

 

[clockworkgazz]

Swapping the girvin vectors is a good call from an aesthetic viewpoint- I still think they look great but even thou' the chubbies are not ment to be great (on the beast), they should give me a lot more boing :?

Think I will have to give the beast a blast round carron valley to see if it is as direct as the girvin vector's and decide based on the ride.

 

[orange71]

it's not about the quantity of boing it's about the quality

 

[Corduroyboy]

Those Girvins don't belong on the Beast - they are the earlier ones with integrated stem. Keep 'em both I say (although I voted to lose the 656 given the choice)

 

[kaiser]

I've voted to keep the 656, looks great, but tell me are those barends on risers? :roll: The beast does look quite standard though and the personnal touches you've added to the 656 probably push it to the front, which doesn't mean to say that you could'nt do that with the beast. So keep both and hide one if you have too P.S I'm sure I saw a couple of pairs of neglected girvans on ebay if you want the option for the beast and you were handy enough to restore them.