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In a Jeremy Clarkson "every petrol head should have owned one Alfa at least" kinda way... What brands are there that every MTB (or even road for that matter) nut should own at least once in their lives? I'm not talking about flash of the pan stuff, or the current in trend. I'm talking about brands that have been there for a long time, at least as long as you've been cycling, and are as cool now as they have ever been. Brands with that certain X factor, that a mainstream brand will never achieve, but at the same time the small uber niche brands are a bit too specialist.
So here's one that I've never owned, but would dearly love to and feel that I should... Rocky Mountain. I genuinely can't remember an ugly Rocky Mountain! Sure, the early 00's ETS-X's were a bit different, but they were still superb looking bikes.
On the road? Colnago... Lucky enough to own one right now (albeit not a C series), not as obvious as a Pinarello or a Bianchi and much much cooler. Helped I think by Wesley Snipes wearing a Colnago cap in White Men Can't Jump no end in my mind! 😂
Others I've considered but ultimately fell short... Yeti, though I'm a massive fan of the brand, they've certainly made a few ugly bikes in their past! I love my Evil, and the previous two I've had, but they're too new, too niche, and I also get why a lot of people don't like the way they look too so easy to rule out.
What other brands should any self respecting cycling nut own, or have owned at some point?
Raleigh.
Had a Yeti; a 2012 ASR5C, holy **** what a fast bike...cracked the seatstay eventually (they all did that) Every one should own one (A Yeti not an ASR5C)
Should have had a least a ride on a lefty, and have had a ride on really nicely made skinny tubed steel hardtail.
Marin.
Depends on the era, once upon a time I would have said Saracen.
I'll settle for Klein from their halcyon period, early to mid 90's. I did have a retrobike phase, my Klein Pulse was a load of fun if scary on descents.
Yeti and Bianchi are the 2 that spring to mind.
Colnago are bit higher end, Marin are like Ford (they may have been first but they’re not a drivers car/riders bike)
Both have heritage though it’s been diluted now, but prone to the odd unexpected problems, both raves about for their handling even though there’s little difference between them and others now.
Purely based on the premise that the list should include those I have owned in the past:
Claud Butler
Viscount Aerospace
Woodrup
Giant
Orange
Trek
Litespeed
Cotic
I had a Rocky Mountain ETS-X many years ago. Never had a Colnago as they were out of my price range, even when I worked for the distributor. I did have a couple of Cervelos though, they were nice but a complete waste for commuting on.
Kona
X-Lite
Pace
Cotic
USE
Marzocchi - specifically Bombers
Agree on Marin & Raleigh
Marin just for to say you like overpriced tatty poorly specced bikes
Yes I have been there, got the t-shirt
😜
An Orange single pivot bike.
Well maybe not everyone should have owned one, but they shouldn't slag them off unless they've tried one of the good ones.
Cove. Just for the names.
Marin just for to say you like overpriced tatty poorly specced bikesYes I have been there, got the t-shirt
😜
How far back are we talking? Their Whyte-designed full suss bikes in the late 90s/early 2000s were game changing (and great value IIRC). And no-one could accuse the Team hardtails of not being riders' bikes a few years before.
I'm going to say Cannondale and Trek - but only if the frame was made in the USA.
Raleigh
Marin
Kona
Orange
Cotic
I can tick them all off bar Orange (sometimes more than once)
I think I would have loved to have owned a Klein. Some of the paint was just amazing.
Gary Fisher
Specialized Rockhopper
Muddy Fox Courier
Cannondale with a Lefty or Headshock. I was fortunate to once own an F400 in that Blue. It was lovely.
But Cannondale can stick their Coda Disc Brakes up their hoops....
Im going to say On-One, specifically a steel one of some description.
Saying everyone should have had a Colnago or Yeti is like saying everyone should have a Ferrari or Range Rover.
On the other hand everyone could/should have spent some time on a cheap rigid singlespeed.
Carrera?? 😀
I had a cheap Carrera MTB in the early 90's as kid. Was heavy as ****, probably the frame was made of welded drain pipe. Drive train was some non-branded crap with the chrome so thin it would develop rust spots on the chainrings and cranks.
Over the years have owned frames/bikes from:
Raleigh < shit kids bike and a 'racer' in early 90's. Also repainted 'ATB' in about 1989 with non-index thumb shifters that was stolen, then a second hand Raleigh Mirage early 90's with SIS shifters which was a brilliant bike at the time and I rode it until 2001 when it basically fell apart after Uni.
BMX < late 80's
Carerra < utter crap MTB about 1991. Criminally bad. Someone stole it. Jokes on them.
Giant < carbon road bike mid 00's.
Specialised < mid 00's XC full sus I forget the name.
Time < carbon frame. Majestic bike, wish I didn't sell it.
On One < steel single speed. Ok but cheaply made.
Cannondale < XC hardtail bike with a lefty around 2008. Wish I kept it. Love the lefty.
Nicholai full sus frame > Beautiful frame, again wich I kept it but for 26" and QR, so dated now.
Willier Trestina steel gravel bike < 2018 great bike.
Orange < 29er hardtail 2018.
A Kona of some description
GT Zaskar
Raleigh Burner
Agreed about Cove just for the names!
Maybe not ‘should own’ but ‘has owned’
On One?
Edit, note to self, post comment before going to make a drink...
@finbar - was a jump bike ht that I bought top end model with like 17mm external diameter rims running Tioga tyres which would roll of rims
Chainsuck galore too and wrapped chains round square stays
Qr forks too
The wheels were shocking crap and dodgily built in house
I knew I should have got the famcier Klein at £100 or so more but that was xc focused
This is a terrible admission, but I set out many years ago to own and ride EVERY brand I fancied - I've managed to do that by trading up and sideways very often over the years, usually by eBay and forum secondhand purchases - I genuinely can't think of a bike that I wish I'd owned, but haven't!!
You might think that involves spending loads of money - and it does - but then I get it back again when I sell, so in overall terms, I'm pretty much back where I started given some of the upsides of selling bikes on. The shorter the length of time you keep them, the less likely you are to lose money, that's my philosophy. Lucky me, eh!
Anyway, to answer the question, some of the bikes I've owned which I shouldn't have sold, so fall into my recommendations for what everyone else should try (!).....
MTBs:
DeKerf Solitaire steel singlespeed
Airborne TiHag titanium singlespeed (I had a thing for singlespeeds a while ago!)
Independent Fabrication
Yeti
Orange 5 (I've had 4 and never fallen in love, but everyone should try one before they start slagging them off on here!)
Cannondale - especially a classic F2000 in Viper Red
Klein
Road:
Any classic 531 from the 50's-70's
Woodrup
Reilly
Brian Rourke
Ritte
Saying everyone should have had a Colnago or Yeti is like saying everyone should have a Ferrari or Range Rover.
I was alluding to Alfa Romeo as per Jeremy Clarkson's quote... Most people won't have owned an Alfa new! You are allowed to benefit from someone else's heavy first hand depreciation here... 😉
I’m going to say Cannondale and Trek – but only if the frame was made in the USA.
Anyone who says Trek isn't an enthusiast, and therefore their vote is null and void! Made in USA Cannondales...? I could be swayed... Been a long time since that has happened though? Besides, if we have to qualify a specific period of time, then the brand isn't cool enough any more, and surely that defeats the whole object? 🤷🏻♂️
Should have had a least a ride on a lefty, and have had a ride on really nicely made skinny tubed steel hardtail.
Definitely experiences that every enthusiast should have had, agreed...
Cove. Just for the names.
They were of their time for sure... Haven't actually produced any bikes for some time though, so their time has passed for sure.
Iconic Stuff:
Mavic, get them while you can.
Thompson stem and seatpost.
Hope brakes
Easton bars (monkeylites)
and of course Bombers
Iconic Bike brands:
my first proper MTB was a Gary Fisher
other ones I have owned: Specialized, Santa Cruz and Turner
Never had a Kona, Yeti or Rocky Mountain though
BMX - any make not important
Cotic
Santa Cruz
That is all.
Breezer? Always wanted one.
Chater Lea
Mafac
Stronglight
Look them up 😉
and Klein or Kona
I still have bikes from many iconic to me names.however I have never owned a kona. To me the most iconic was a kuwahara bmx in the 80s.wish I still had it.i would also say diamond back which I have and hutch which were and are mega expensive which I will never own as they do not make bikes any more.
Isn't the Clarkson / Alfa reference to something which is high maintenance but worth it.
I'd say Intense.
First ever drop handlebar bike was a 5 speed Puch Pacemaker and it was fab. Followed by a team colours Peugeot 10 speed. I've also had a Spesh Stumpy HT. Nothing else comes close to really exotic stuff but I loved them all the same.
Sick - lots of people should have owned those.
@finbar – was a jump bike ht that I bought top end model with like 17mm external diameter rims running Tioga tyres which would roll of rimsChainsuck galore too and wrapped chains round square stays
Qr forks too
The wheels were shocking crap and dodgily built in house
Sounds like a yr 2000 Marin Quake 9.0. TBF almost all forks were QR back then. 17mm external rims do sound a bit sketchy though 😀
Maybe an S-Works money pit??
Definitely agree with Yeti. Great comparison to Alfa, too. Expensive, unreliable, the older ones are the best.
The problem with bikes is that many older bikes are just pretty rubbish by modern standards. I loved my Yeti ASR-5 and I'm glad I owned it but wouldn't own one now. The older ones are old and the new ones are ridiculously overpriced and not all that special.
Actually on reflection, I'd go categories. You're not a proper bike person until you've spent time on a:
Steel hardtail
Lightweight racy thing that's a terrible choice for 90% of your riding
Carbon road bike
Something niche / cool / compromised
Something from a bargain-basement brand (On one springs to mind)
Some sort of internet fad that everyone later realises is rubbish
Emelle or Townsend!
Surprised FTW hasn't been brought up, a lot of good frames have been built by him over the years.
Intense for the M1, likewise Spec FSR. Never owned a Kona hardtail but I know I should, I do however own a DMR Trailstar. Nicolai are definitely on the list. Brooklyns weigh as much as a small country but are definitely cool.
Treks aren't cool but VRXs were. Mr Big ST10 was a URT but built properly. Not sure what to do with them.
The only cool Raleigh was the DHO.
I genuinely can’t remember an ugly Rocky Mountain!
Sure?
Trying to nail who is the Alfa of the bike world is pretty tricky.
Flawed but interesting.
Desirable but risky.
Have flare.
I reckon out of the big brands that have been around for a long time, I would say maybe Kona, but overall I reckon Transition are closer now. I'm already second-guessing my choices.
GT - surely everyone's first bike was a GT?!
If Yeti made a modern, reasonably priced 29in ASR-5 I might be interested in owning one.
Orange could be a good equivalent for Alfa?
Great fun, highly engaging rider's bikes, classic design, might well break.
Awwww the illustrious wonder of riding an orange frame though what makes them break?
Single pivots are odd feeling to sit in and ride ime
Though I'm sure they are lovely & cussshy
On the road? A Bianchi in celeste
I raced on a Bianchi in my teens, but it was candy apple red. I even had the first generation of Look clipless pedals!
In MTB terms it would have to be a GT, and probably an Outpost specifically (only because it was their affordable model back when most of us on here were first starting to buy). Or, if you were more aspirational, a Marin.
Brooklyn Machine Works TMX or Racelink (I had #113) and a Park Bike for street hooning.
BMX wise first issue S&M Maddog/Dirt Bike/Holmes
Dawes - Because of the Galaxy and the Ranger (first UK mass produced ATB?)
Peugeot - cos "everybody" had a a cheap Peugeot ATB/ 10 speed racer.
Raleigh - Maverick - what you bought if you could afford something better than the Peugeot ATB
Specialised - for hardrock/rockhopper/stumpjumper
Orange - when they made proper bikes
Colnago - but only when they were really hand made in Italy
Chas Roberts
and purely because I've owned one
Fondriest
Bianchi
Pat Rohan
Thorn (SJS Cycles)
Moulton.
Rogers, Higgins or Longstaff
Common as muck TiRed. How about Galli? Resilion if you want something a bit more common.
Ohhh, fun, kinda flawed but brilliant?
Mondraker!
Brompton
The Fiat 500 of bicycles
Chater Lea
Mafac
Stronglight
If your looking at components
Specialites TA
Brooks (I know they're overpriced retro chique now)
Sturmey Archer
BMX - burner or GT
early HT - Kona or Bonty
full sus - Enduro or Orange
road - Giant TCR or ...
Peugeot – cos “everybody” had a a cheap Peugeot ATB/ 10 speed racer.
Once again the generation gap rears it's head. 20 years before my time.
My first proper MTB was a GT Timberline in candy apple green with RS Jett C's, I can count in one hand how many times I ever saw them move. Still did a Red Bull race on it before upgrading to a Planet X Bommer (On One Gimp with vertical dropouts).
Thought I had a Galaxy but it turns out its a Mirage so betterer.
Once again the generation gap rears it’s head. 20 years before my time.
Probably why no one on here seems to remember the Dawes Ranger from 1984/5 (I think). Full Reynolds 531st, built in UK and way out of my price range. Massively long and slack - so I think the geometry is back in fashion again!
Thought I had a Galaxy but it turns out its a Mirage so betterer
I had a Mirage. Used it off road too often and bent the frame. Definitely not betterer than a Galaxy.
Sick – lots of people should have owned those.
Just quoting this as it made me laugh and is sadly very true.
Back to the OP I would say Cotic, On One, Ragley, Raleigh, Orange, Pace and Whyte if you’re a mountain biker and live in the UK. All are or were iconic brands in my opinion
Puch
Raleigh
Peugeot
Diamond Back.
Vaguely surprised Bontrager hasn't had a shout yet...
As someone who was into DH back in the day, an Intense M1. I was lucky enough to have owned one and it was everything I ever hoped.
Amongst others I’ve also had Orange (original Clockwork, 222 and 5), Turner (5 spot) and Santa Cruz (Bullit, Bronson v2 & 3).
Mostly acquired 2nd hand.
Can’t say I’ve ever had the desire to own an On One, the aesthetics / graphics are generally awful.
Other historic brands I’ve also owned include Peugeot (early atb), Raleigh (team burner) and GT.
I’m only just getting into road, not sure what my aspiration is there yet.
Vaguely surprised Bontrager hasn’t had a shout yet…
And Fat Chance and early Salsa.
Never meet your heroes
Sick – lots of people should have owned those.
*applauds*
Well done.
Raleigh Maverick
Muddy Fox Courier
GT Zaskar
Pace
Orange single pivot
(The last 3 on that list are still in my garage.)
If your looking at components
Specialites TA
Brooks (I know they’re overpriced retro chique now)
Sturmey Archer
Simplex gear levers
Mavic SSC gears and rims
Campag Super record anything
Original steel Kona
Merlin Titanium
Fir Impes rim Just so you can experience how quickly a rim can crack.
Vaguely surprised Bontrager hasn’t had a shout yet…
I mentioned it, a few posts above yours.
You could swap it out for a Fat Chance/Merlin ti/DeKerf/Klein/early Yeti but I never knew anyone with one of those...
I had a Mirage. Used it off road too often and bent the frame. Definitely not betterer than a Galaxy.
Same frame is it not? Both 531 and naff all difference between the two, Mirage just has sportier components. So I assumed anyway.
Brooklyn Machine Works TMX or Racelink (I had #113) and a Park Bike for street hooning.BMX wise first issue S&M Maddog/Dirt Bike/Holmes
That is setting the bar rather high (though my schoolfriend had a Holmes and it was and probably still is one of the coolest bikes I can think of)
No one mentioned Fat Chance? Ultimate old school want that can still be had.
After that:
Orange.
Yeti.
Santa Cruz just to say yes or no.
Jones.
For Parts;
Bomber Z1 in orange
Mavic D521 Rims
Magura HS33 Raceline
Azonic Stem - the machined one with all the holes
Grifter
Suntour XC-Pro groupset.
Had a Raleigh Avanti in c1987, with Deore XT , which got stolen. Then managed to get a Team Dynatech Pro (the one the team actually rode) which had the Suntour XC Pro groupset, it was a revelation compared to the Shimano.
Chris King headset (got one on my used latest frame which was lucky)
Colnago (had a Colnago Pista 10 years ago and is on my "why did I sell that list")
Also had an Alfa Romeo 4 years ago, it was okay and didn't break down.
A lot of brands have changed a lot over the years. Whereas a GT BMX was typically nice, GT MTBs (post Zaskar) have never really had it so wouldn't want to own a modern GT
Anything with Campagnolo on it.
Can’t believe someone hasn’t mentioned...
Curtis
I think some of you are looking back with too much nostalgia and not enough reality with some of your 'should have owned'.... HAlf of them were crap, some of them really really crap.
For me, Santa Cruz. Why, because well, it's essentially one of the best out there in terms of riding, development, technolgy and componenty.... I've never owned one and only ridden one once (and hated it) but i do still want to own one in my future.
Definitely Yeti.
Loved my 575 to bits.
Turner
Pace rc200
Gary Fisher Supercalibre
Ballistic
I’ve had both a yeti and a bianchi and they both snapped at the seatstay. I’m lucky to have owned an intense, and original Marzocchi Z1 and a Cove Stiffee. I got given a GT frame once, built it up with spares and gave it to charity. I had an on-one inbred 29er for three months and let it go quite quickly as it beat me senseless.
I gained an Orange (Clockwork Evo) last year, and feel I should own a Cotic at some point.
My 50yo / race retirement ambition includes:
Specilaized - likely a Roubaix 2020 onward, the later aero design
Turner - I’ve always wanted one since I marvelled at a friends XCE, so I might like to spend my old man off road days pootling on a Flux.
Same frame is it not? Both 531 and naff all difference between the two, Mirage just has sportier components. So I assumed anyway.
The Mirage I had was Reynolds 500 and about the third the price of a Galaxy. They may have re-used the name though.
Most expensive bike in the shop at the time was one of those s****y new Moulton AM7s at about £750. I wish I had one of those.
For MTB it has to be a stumpjumper, any era, doesn’t matter, they are always good bikes for the day. Not fancy, not niche, never crap.
Ah, mine is a '76, that's a shame.
Can’t believe someone hasn’t mentioned…
Curtis
Good shout, they've always been a quality brand made for racing.
Moulton is a good shout. I'd love an old moulton to do up clean and cherish.
Brooks and Tubus are both brands that say 'proper cyclist' to me when I see on a bike.
In my shed I've got 3 Giant TCR framesets - one was the actual bike that was reviewed by Cycling Weekly and introduced compact geometry to the road community for the first time (if you ignore the bespoke Roberts frameset that did the rounds the year before!); a spare aluminium bike made for Jalabert as a climbing bike (idea was he'd jump off his standard tcr on to one of these at the bottom of the final climb for a tour mountain top finish) that has been acid dipped within an inch of its life and you can press in with your fingers on the main tubes and had a predicted lifespan of 120 miles. It was given to Mike Burrows as a present and somehow I ended up with it; and a 2002 spare from the Once team the year they rode the new carbon frameset the year before it was available to the public. It's got a couple of nice features like a race number boss that never made it to the production bikes. There was a helsion period for just a few years when Giant went from random manufacturer of bog standard frames to crazy innovators before dropping back into the mainstream again. I keep them because they were significant in their own ways but also because I raced all three extensively (the crazy acid dipped one lasted 2 seasons as a 2nd and 1st cat roadie but I winced every time I hit a bump in the road) and have had most of my most memorable cycling moments on those 3 frames.