worst designed bike ever?

[Kell]

Re: Re:

Agree with the poster that said URT was/is not pointless. I used to think it was and missed their golden period as I was drinking beer and chasing girls rather than riding bikes but having read an article in a 1998 MBUK the whole point of them was to be a full suss that didn't scare off those who were used to rigid or hard tails. They were meant as a halfway house so did their job.

The problem is with a lot of things that were designed to be the best of both worlds is that they end up being the worst of both.

Their only redeeming feature was that they didn't sap so much energy when stood on the pedals pedalling but that's only compared to a pivot design. But the real need for suspension is when you're stood on the pedals trying to absorb the bumps - in which case the rider was hit with wallops in exactly the samae way as if they were on a hardtail.

Which is where they fail massively. Who rides drop offs sat down?

And while I agree with the post above in that there should be trial and error, it should be by their own R&D departments, not on the public.

 

[FMJ]

The only URT I ever rode that didn't (noticeably) stinkbug was the Balfa Bobonvum. The location of the pivot (an inch above and forward of the BB) and the rising rate linkage had a lot to do with it. Any of the Castellano Sweet Spot design bikes were terrible. Blow through the travel sitting, and rigid standing. Worst of both worlds. The Klein Mantra was like riding something clowns in the circus would ride for comedic effect.

 

[hamster]

Re: Re:

The answer is simple: this home made POS! Never seen anything uglier!

Nailed in one! The pointless lovechild of a bike and a tuba.

 

[syncrosfan]

Re:

Here's another one for the WTF department! In sweet pink too!

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Thing is though, what did they have to base their designs on ?.
Areas like downhill and full suspension were very new so they effectively had to play trial and error till they found out what worked and what didn't

Yeah, I can't think of anything else with two wheels and full suspension.

 

[tufty]

Re: Re:

Here's another one for the WTF department! In sweet pink too!

I can't get my head around why anyone thought all the linkage and leverage aft of what's a simple leading link suspension was in some way sensible.

The back end doesn't look any better, either.

Wow.

 

[syncrosfan]

Re:

Here's another contender. I don't even know what that steering tube contraption is supposed to do... it's from Brazil that's the only thing I know.

 

[Retro Spud]

Re: Re:

Here's another one for the WTF department! In sweet pink too!

That's one fugley looking mother, but when you look at the front end its also quite intriguing to think what they smoking..

 

[andyz]

Re: Re:

Here's another contender. I don't even know what that steering tube contraption is supposed to do... it's from Brazil that's the only thing I know.

Looks comfy at least! :shock:
That's possibly the most bizarre one so far.

 

[24pouces]

Re:

I would only say modern 29" and 27,5"