What's your personal take on what makes a Retrobike for you?

[MisterGrizzly]

Hi guys

I know there's the distinction on here within the up to 97 and then 98 onwards, and it's a perfectly good one, but do any of you have any personal takes on what you consider to be a retrobike amongst your collections?

For me, besides age it seems to be braking... I just don't see a retrobike as having discs.....?! Has to be rim brakes of some kind, whether hydraulic, canti or v! So if I'm riding retro, I'm riding without discs!

Not saying anyone's wrong at all, it's just my own inner retro zen. Do you have any?

What's your take?!

Cheers

 

[matt24777]

I agree with you except I'd go for just canti's.

But basically for me it's got to be:

Rim brakes
8 speed max
Square taper BB
5 Arm cranks

in that order.

 

[MisterGrizzly]

I agree with you except I'd go for just canti's.

But basically for me it's got to be:

Rim brakes
8 speed max
Square taper BB
5 Arm cranks

in that order.

Great post...! Great points too! 5 arm, sqbb, and I take the point on the 8 spd too... Though I wish we could still easily get new higher end cassettes when they run out! :roll:

Cheers buddy, very valid!!!

 

[brocklanders023]

No more then about 50mm travel on sus forks.

Flat bars.

Amber walled tyres.

Canti's.

No later then M900 or M735 groupo.

 

[FluffyChicken]

A retrobike to me is the bike I used to ride back then and other around back them.

Everything else is either Vintage (older than then) or Modern (newer than then)
My 1997 Kona in my eyes is Modern and I call it as such.
My other bikes are Retro, they may have been updated with newer bits, but they are retro to me.
I don't have any Vintage bikes though, but plenty I ride with ride Vintage bikes... late 80's and before.

 

[daj]

If about an hour into the ride your thinking

1. wish my teeth were not rattling
2. I cannot feel the bottom of my back
3. didnt want brakes anyway
4. oh god what just fell off
5. I am sure these tyres gripped better in memory

 

[xerxes]

Steel frame.
No suspension.

 

[MisterGrizzly]

No more then about 50mm travel on sus forks.

Flat bars.

Amber walled tyres.

Canti's.

No later then M900 or M735 groupo.

Ah, agreed!!!

Though I do go to m950...

Building a good picture now....!

 

[MisterGrizzly]

If about an hour into the ride your thinking

1. wish my teeth were not rattling
2. I cannot feel the bottom of my back
3. didnt want brakes anyway
4. oh god what just fell off
5. I am sure these tyres gripped better in memory

Aside from 4.... All that was true of my last ride around carding mill valley

 

[Grockel]

When it's about the riding (Both up and downhill)not the technology on the bike. That's a retro bike and a retro attitude.