Stick with the old or in with the new?

[Inzaman]

Modern bikes suit modern trail centres, old bikes suit oldschool mtb so have both. We wouldn't be true to this site if we told you to ditch the old bike

This imo.
If you go to trail centres then i would look to either modernising or a new bike.

If you are old school cross country then nothing wrong with retro imo. My Fisher is great for xc, Bombers are great and you dont need disc for XC, and my modernised Giant MCM is great for the likes of Cannock Chase

 

[eejoor]

i've got my '96 zaskar with a judy sl and xtr v brakes. as long as i keep passing modern full suspensions with the latest disc brakes on downhills sections i think there is no need to upgrade to modern bikes.

 

[highlandsflyer]

i've got my '96 zaskar with a judy sl and xtr v brakes. as long as i keep passing modern full suspensions with the latest disc brakes on downhills sections i think there is no need to upgrade to modern bikes.

Yeah, well, I guess those downhills are not quite long enough for the momentum to build up.

Unless they are digging tunnels.

 

[Lid]

Here is a pic of some Blokes that are not stuck in time.
Notice our own Repack Rider's (yes one of the inventors of mtb's) rig.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I don't know what the point is about being stuck in the past. I am sure Charlie would choose the right tool for the job, whatever age it was.

I don't think hard tails are quite obsolete, nor rigids which are quite the fashion at the moment for general riding.

As much as you can be guided by what the OP says, he appears to be considering selling the old steel to fund something 'modern' (more modern) with discs and front suspension, though that was edited in after as the original post was a little confusing.

I thought he was talking about moving from a hardtail to a full suspension bike.

If it is merely a move to front suspension then I would repeat my earlier advice, shove a pair of suspension forks on the steel. the geometry will not be radically altered with a short travel fork and he can find out the difference for himself.

Disc brakes versus the rest, well check out the many threads on that subject, again it really depends on what riding you are planning to do whether you would really be blown away.

 

[Blackstar]

First ride with hydraulic discs and wasn't warned:

 

[elPedro666]

Keep the old, try the new. Get 17 more. Live in the shed. Forget what the missus and your mates look like. Become feral at the mention of NOS. Never sleep for fear you miss an ebay bargain. Wage holy war on V-brakes, blackwall tyres and underbar shifters.
It's the Retro Way.
Join us

 

[elPedro666]

Good modern bikes, even the most XC biased, are bloody quick going down, totally in a different league, and with a totally different riding style. Putting even the best shock forks on a retro just won't give a fraction of the downhill performance, and potentially mess up the flats/climbs.

Keep the retro pure and give a modern a try, maybe rent one at a trail centre, faster isn't necessarily more fun. And if you do like both you can do up a retro with help from the for sale section on here for very very little cash if you're careful. As an aside, I try to make sure all my bikes are significantly different from each other to be enjoyable in different ways.

 

[Explosif Phil]

I think maybe your right. Keep it retro and enjoy that riding style and remember that the reason I wanted front suspension is because of my shoulder injury, then buy a newbike after trying out a few first. Then I will be left deciding 26 or 29" wheel?

 

[sancho]

Here is a pic of some Blokes that are not stuck in time.
Notice our own Repack Rider's (yes one of the inventors of mtb's) rig.

Chris Chance looks to be keeping it old school with the super narrow handlebar.