just idle thoughts about this but my immediate list would be:
Marin Attack Trail 2007 - (the burnt orange one - ahead of its time with lovely reinforced gussets at the HT junction. Aggro trail bike before they had been invented/devised in a product meeting. Nowadays, the BB ground clearance would be visible from space)
Lapierre DH720 circa 2007 (the chrome one. Just gorgeous - I remember Danny Hart on one of these when he rode for them. The last of the nice looking Lapierre bikes before they got beaten into submission with an ugly stick)
Intense 951. For me the best looking DH bike ever. Obviously by today's standards its like a BMX but I remember coveting the blue/black one. Like buying a Ferrari in blue.
Santa Cruz V10 - the obvious choice. The 2010 syndicate edition in particular when the hydroforming was at its peak before the redesign
Sold lots, had one on loan for a while. Want.
Klein Adriot - Gatorfade. Cost more now for a good one than new, probably ride like shit, but I still want one!
Whyte PRST1 - Just to try!
I still want a Cannondale. The ultimate bike when I was a kid and I used to lust over the touring model a teacher had at school - easily 30 years ago now but I still look at ‘dales and think the same thoughts.
Never did get round to buying a Cotic Soul, they were just such nicely designed hardtails. Bought a Pace RC305 instead which was cack.
+1 on the Intense 951 - and some of their other alu frames from that era
This was top of the wish list BITD...
An early nineties Orange Clockwork. Even in my twenties, I was far to fat for one of those. I always lusted after a Cannondale... V-frame or something...as well. Ugly looking bikes, but they just looked so crazy different at the time.
2004-2008 Epic FSR.
Dont know why except it looked ffing fast!
Pace HT, never rode one just wanted one.
http://retro-pace-mtb.wikifoundry.com/page/The+Bikes+-+Pace+RC+300%27s
I always coveted the 1999 era Specialized FSR Comp (bought a Proflex instead 'cause it was cheaper - weighed a tonne too). It just looked so totally different to anything else at the time - not sure what it rode like though! I did end up with a Stumpjumper FSR Pro in 2004, a good bike (that I still have in pieces)!
Always wanted a Cotic Soda too - but that's just because it was shiny and lighter than the Soul - the original FSR changed the way I thought about bikes and what you could do with them I think...
Proflex 956
Pace F2 hardtail
GT Zasker (from mid nineties)
Anything by Moots
Cannondale Fat CAAD. Outrageous fat wheel on a Lefty fork.
Moots YBB. I've been convinced of the benefits of a Softtail for years but not so much I'd spend that sort of money.
Yeti ARC-X. Just for the looks.
Sotello CRS - Mental
Manitou FRS - Fragile
Someone at uni had one of those scotts with the elevated stay, looked awesome at the time.
For me, the 4rg gen Spesh Enduro, the one that came with Fox 36's circa 2007.
And an Intense M3, although i just googled it and it looks unrideably short these days!
Proflex 956
Had one of those, actually not as bad as i anticipated. Paid £100 in cash converters, sold the frame for a proffit a few months later, kept the mavic wheels, hope brakes and marzocchi z4's for several years of cheep mtbing through uni
Fat Chance Yo Eddy in that half blue/green fade
AMP Research Amplifier
Mountain Cycle San Andreas
Current stuff, not sure but anything that Nicolai make because they're so beautifully put together, I'd also love to try out something with a gearbox
Those Pace HTs were apparently brutally stiff - makes sense given they seemed to be made from girders. Still wanted one though...
Also, GT STS 
And more recently an Ibis Mojo has always looked lush.
Another one on the Pace bandwagon. I had a very quick spin BITD on an RC200 F4, and it was soooooo fast.
Before we go all anodised purple with cantilever brakes I'm going to go bang up to date. My current, relatively achievable (without the use of a time machine), dream bike.
I'd buy one but it would be the most expensive dust collector I'd ever had. I'd only use it for a 3 weeks a year max as I love the Alps but I hate doing UK uplift days.
edit, it was a 957
Always wanted a GT LTS DH (Peaty era with the boomerang seat tube). Having ridden one recently it really is a case of never meet your heros. Same with the Endorphin above, used to own one and it was like riding a wet noodle.
Cotic Soda. Rode the original prototype round the car park at Pines.
There's a frame on eBay in my size going for silly money. So tempted....
Wanted a Rocky Mountain Slayer the year my dad bought his Element circa 2005/2006, the Slayer (top tube shock version) was very similar just longer travel, also lusted after a Blur 4X around the same time. Couldn't afford a Cotic Soul when I built my Kinesis Maxlight, and same again when I replaced the Maxlight with a BFe so glad I know finally have one! I would have an Element if they made them a bit longer and ditched the PF bb!
I had an RC-300, stiff? Yes! Fast? Absolutely! I've owned a LOT of bikes over the years and it is the only one I've regretted selling (bought a Sub-5 to replace it, probably my biggest Mtb related mistake).
My first decent bike was a GT Karakoram which I got instead of a Kona Cinder cone. I still regret that decision!
Since then, the list of bikes I wanted and never owned includes GT Lobo and Zaskar, Intense M1, and a Foes DH mono.
GT Xizang - either era
Muddy Fox Interactive
Whyte PRST1
Orange Prestige
Cannondale Jekyll with 160mm Lefty
There can be only one.
Ibis Bow Ti.
A kind owner let me ride one at Swinley once. It was awful. But never let that get in the way of desire.
Original Ibis Mojo, just an absolutely thing of curvy beauty.
But as a young teenager, seeing Tinker Juarez race John Tomac in Aviemore, on what was basically a peat bog of a course, riding one of these? Priceless
Giant Trance.
Maybe I didn’t have much ambition, but I always wanted one of those white Marin B-17’s with the red RST Hi5 triple clamp forks from the late 90’s / early 2000’s!
+1 for the San Andreas
I did get a Tremor FR1 (2001), and a Shockwave 9point5 (2003) though.
Still got both frames
Yep, Pace RC200.
Got a 1995 GT Zaskar LE in the garage.
Loads, the 2005/6/7 era Spesh Demo 8 and 9, you couldn't buy them from Spesh in the UK, but they were in Roam and Seasons and that double seat-stay thing they had looked amazing.
2007/8 Spesh SX Trail they made a white one with orange and yellow bits which I thought looked amazing, I had a 2006 Enduro at the time which was basically the same thing, but shorter travel and a bit Plain Jane in comparison.
2014 Evil Uprising, I wanted one so badly, it looked amazing and was partly designed by the guy who designed my Cove Shocker 66 degree head angle - wow! I was *this* close to buying one, I was less than week away from strolling into the shop and paying for it when my Wife told me we were expecting. Worked out for the best I suppose, they weren't all that great, they broke a lot, Evil support wasn't quite at Sick! levels but not much better and if they broke after 2 years Evil would shrug their sholder and say "sorry, we don't support that frame anymore". My Daughter is pretty cool too I suppose.
Intense SOCOM, they had a raw frame with purple graphics on the wall of our LBS for months and it looked amazing, would have been a good bike for me too, I was always a nervy DH rider so I chose bigger more 'capable' bikes, but in hindsight the lighter SOCOM might have been a bit easier to ride.
I'm not really lusting over anything at the moment, I'd have an E-Bike (the YT one probably) but I'm worried I'd never want to ride anything else and they really expensive.
I had a 856 with a Noleen shock and Pace RC35 forks. The forks are now on the ‘95 GT Zaskar LE that’s still in my Garage.
I always wanted a Klein in Sunburst, a San Andreas and an Intense M2. Oh, and one of those Cannondale DH bikes with the double chain that Missy rode.
Not exactly coveting, but I wouldn't mind one of these if they were giving them away...
Yes Yes that Manitou FRS - Marin did a copy I think for their pro team - was super gorgeous
...and almost forgot...that Pace square tubed frame - also very nice
SingleBe 29+
Genesis Tarntanium
Better had stop there before heading back in time... 😋
GT LTS from the mid/late 90's.
Intense M1.
Pro-Flex 956.
And more recently the original Orange Alpine.
a 1994 Marin Nail Trail - dripping in early 90's anodized purple
Early 90s Orange P7 in nickel finish
1994 Kona Lava Dome in green with Marzocchi XC-51 forks (probably rode terribly)
Basically my nostalgia stems from when I was at university and had no money, leaving me the only option of vicariously enjoying other peoples bikes as they rode by....... I did go through a retro-phase and built up 2 x Lava Domes and a Klein Pulse. I stopped when I realised that they handled like a chicken on speed.
A few GTs from the mid-90's - Zaskar, LTS, STS.
Klein Mantra (the one without a downtube)
Orange Patriot
But as others have said they are likely all horrible to ride compared to almost anything modern.
The lovely boxy framed Orange Sub5 - nearly bought one, but there was a 2 week wait on it & the spesh Enduro that had just came out was ready to go...… Still regret that decision !
Spesh Epic - Again,nearly bought one, but got a slightly better deal on Giant's newly released Trance & it's Maestro suspension. Regret that too ! !
Had a Proflex Animal, wasn't the worst bike in the world, but was far from brilliant, haha.
A guy on here used to have a brown and cream custom built 853 MTB frame - just lovely it was with really clean and simple lugs.
Made by a one-man band frame builder who for the life of me I can't remember!
A kid round our way had a raleigh Lizard, I was well gel!
Also always wanted a Mongoose Californian but OP says mtb.
😥
Always* wanted a 650b Five, despite many many people thinking they are ugly, I love the lines.
*Well, since they added the seat tube brace and profiled the swing arm - 2016 I think.
Impractical for my local riding (no bottle), expensive new and warranty-less cracking fears second hand has meant its not to be.
Still give an admiring glance whenever I see one, my preference is for a brightly coloured frame with all black components.
A friend had a Cannondale Raven in that pearlescent green with Spinergy wheels and Magura brakes - it was a lovely piece of kit. And I've always liked the way the seatpost is clamped on these, a very neat bit of design!
Looked similar to this...
[img] 
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Speaking of Orange, the 322 with the shock mounted through the downtube.
Surprised Orange arent making DH bikes at the moment, the trends towards longer wheelbases and lower weight should be suiting the.
God, that pic of the Raven takes me back. Can't say I ever really lusted after it, but I wish there were more of them around these days.
I used to have a weird fascination with the K2 Razorback and its pull shock
At the time it seemed to make sense. But check out how narrow those bars are!
Spooky Metalhead
If I knew then what I know now I should have bought a Kona Cinder Cone as my first MTB. As it was I bought a cheaper Muddy Fox Courier in the sale. No real regrets on that though, I loved the paint job and a MF was a rite of passage for many in the 80s.
Raleigh Maverick circa 1985
Muddy Fox Explorer circa 1998
Trek 69er single speed
Subscriber
Speaking of Orange, the 322 with the shock mounted through the downtube.Surprised Orange arent making DH bikes at the moment, the trends towards longer wheelbases and lower weight should be suiting the.
In no particular order, these were what I fell in love with when I started biking-
Cannondale Raven 2000
Specialized DH Team FSR
A late Klein Mantra
The Trek VRX with Boxxers.
Now, I really hanker after an Evil Offering but doubt I'll be able to afford one.
Brooklyn Machine Works, either the Racelink or some of the more mental stuff.
Evil imperial, double top tube huck hardtail.
Would love a go on a PRST-1 too
Karate Monkey (the rust coloured Ops one)
Ti Hardtail (Kingdom, Nordest or Stanton)
Swarf Contour
/high fives reggiegasket
GT Zasker (from mid nineties)
Been there, done that (recently with a 1996 Zaskar LE). It's a nice bike but there's no way I'd choose to ride it over my Switchback!
Hmm... bikes I covet but never owned... Probably a Standard Shorty BMX. Waaay too expensive for me at the time (mid to late 90s) and still waaay too expensive now if you can find one. Oh, and the Orange MsIsle, in raw ally please. When it came out I was into the whole dual slalom thing and I think Missy is awesome.
AMP Research Amplifier
If by that you mean the Amp Research B4 (with the funky F4 fork) then +1. I was seriously tempted but heard they were, er, a little fragile...
https://images.app.goo.gl/ZvzmLzz13BVPHCeh6
Back in the late 90’s (when they didn’t have an Uk importer) I tried to order a Lynskey something or other (Pisgah?) from them direct but they would only send it to a bike shop...
When I started out I lusted after a Marin, the ones with the gritty Matt grey frame and dayglo forks... Indian Trail Pine Mountain mebbes?
The only thing I’m covering at the moment is some chunky tyred gravel bike for a planned Camino tour next year...
I could write a book on the Retrobikes I fancy, I've owned a considerable amount mind you so I don't feel I'm missing anything.
Modern bike wise it'd be a Jones and a Stooge. They both transcend the need and fall into the want category. I'd probably never fork out for a Jones but I regret not buying a Stooge. I remember the thread on mtbr where Mr Stooge set out his stall. Really won me over but in the end I plumped for a Singular Rooster. Really wish I'd jumped on the the Stooge bandwagon. Liked everything he's done since too. Too many rigid bikes (that I'm not riding) to buy another but I do keep and eye on developments.
A mate used to be the importer for Fat Chance so rode them all. I could never afford them though, but I still love them.
Trek Sawyer Singlespeed
Maybe I'll hunt one down, when I can spare the cash
Klein 2 tone paint jobs....
Always wanted one of these, but my sensible head overruled my heart.
Dekerf
Fat chance
Moots softtail
Turner stinger
Schwinn straight eight
Chromag...surface but any really
Knolly...
Pole evolink
So many that I bought but sold on almost immediately, Pace/ Cannondale raven/ Nicolai/ santa Cruz blur as someone made a offer and I went yeah ok, choices eh.
Ellsworth Epiphany for me. Lust(Ed) after one for an age
the K2 Razorback and its pull shock
IIRC, that was based on a Turner.
Also...
I came dangerously close to buying one of these when I worked in a bike shop.
[img] 
[/img]
(not my picture, found on Google Images)
Thankfully never did but as it was I ended up being given an S-Works FSR XC on a part-sponsorship deal a couple of years later which was much more my style which was very much a coveted bike, never thought I'd be lucky enough to own one!
[img] 
[/img]
And in my early days of MTBing, I always wanted one of those Manitou full sus:
[img] 
[/img]
Orange P7 nickel finish, any of the Pace square tubed bikes, Scott Endorphin, Mountain Cycles San Andreas, Amp Research B4, one of the last Intense Al frames in candy red but can't remember the model, any of the original Cannondale V frames, Klien Mantra, Independent Fabrication Tungsten Electrode (not sure on the model but it was a DW-link Ti Full Suss). Pretty certain most of them except the IF and Intense would be awful to ride but would still love them in the garage.
Dekerf. First ever internal cable routing?
Then probably some Kleins.
Hmm… bikes I covet but never owned… Probably a Standard Shorty BMX.
Ooooh now you are talking!
I had a series of BMX’s trying to replicate a shorty - Dragonfly Double Dynamite, KHE premium lagger, WTP Pony but all I really wanted was a full Chad DeGroot spec Shorty - baby blue with chrome parts - Standard 4 piece bars etc, skinwall Primo V-Monsters, Graveyard rear freecoaster etc etc.
I really should not open my eBay app now.
Looking at them now, the geometry of some of these bikes is... eye-opening.
Ellsworth Epiphany for me. Lust(Ed) after one for an age
Whatever happened to Ellsworth? They were everywhere in the bike mags for a while.
I read an article in the last year or so about riding a Klein Mantra now. Apparently it's absolutely lethal, in terms of the suspension movement and what it does to your riding...
I only ever coveted one bike and I owned the frame for a day until I realised when building it up that the seat tube was not round, so swapped it for arguably the much better paint job anyway.
My bike…
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The frame I wanted. (Not my pic)
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Would still buy one now if I could.
1995 Kona Hot in bright red.
I went to Whistler with two great mates in the summer of 95 with my Kona Cinder Cone. My parents had given me a credit card for emergencies.
One of the bike shops had a Hot behind the counter on the wall. It was exactly the same amount as the credit card limit...I’d have been in trouble but it was sooooo tempting.
I walked away and still have the Cinder Cone so it’s not all bad. But still...😟
Anchilotti..... I need clean pants!!!
Anchilotti, Brooklyn machine works and a early Klein would be my dream garage.
My dad had one of those (it was a burgundy red) so it was the first bike I rode a lot off road as a hand me down. The stem on his was almost vertical over the steered.
Why did it take 30 years for bikes to get back to short stems and slack angles?
Spooky Metalhead
Yea!!!!!!
Whatever happened to Ellsworth? They were everywhere in the bike mags for a while.
Still falling from the ugly tree, but now in carbon.
Reggie gaskets Kona and the manitous winning for me so far.
A Trimble with a disk drive?
https://images.app.goo.gl/65ZbQE4VwDe3C7F7 7" alt="" />
