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I have a 1992 marin and a 1999 sunn. I ride both on bridleways and easy xc and love them both.
Do you use a retro mtb and what for?
My Marin is like this
'93 Kilauea here that I'm slowly converting into a bitsa tourer. Wouldn't take it off road anymore as it's just no fun riding around old geometry anymore. Also go a '95 Hei Hei that was retired a year ago as forks longer than 100mm travel were making it a bit chopper-like.
I have a Kuwahara Shasta early 90's that I use
My commuting bike is an early Kona Lava dome and my one and only road bike is a Peugeot Optimum .I love riding them all and prefer riding them to my more modern stuff in the right conditions.
When I pop back to Buckingham I occasionally see my late 80s Stumpjumper out and about on shopping duties.
nice. Thanks for the replies.
Have a steel Rockhopper, last year of production.
Has a P2 fork and hand me down kit.
Does a bit of everything, but now kept because it's just pure fun to ride anywhere.
A size big when I got it, great fun and comfy on mixed trails and popping around town.
Was my only bike for years, really classy to ride, great feel and feedback, still makes me smile.
Used to camp/tour on it, still gets used for one nighters. Dodgy handling (short chainstays) when overloaded on the back but fine with a bit of thought.
If it had disks I'd probably still be using it off-road a lot more.
Hopefully new wheels and possibly tubeless over the winter?!!?
Deserves a powder coat and some nicer rigid forks tbh.
Bontrager Privateer, just bought and restored for family pootle duties. Also 1997 Rockhopper for the missus and a 97 Stumpjumper M2 that I need to move on to pay for the Bontrager. They all get ridden
OP, do you live/ride Hebden way? If not, there's someone round there riding an old pre-disk era Marin the same colour scheme as yours.
I do not live Hebden way.
I was using a 92 marin eldridge until recently, but it went to the tip as it was rusted right through near the bb.
Ruined, after it got stolen and resprayed in the late 90s, I reckon it would still be ok ish if that hadn’t happened..
had some great times on that bike, did mtb, did road, toured, did 62mph on it, ****in brilliant.
I’m 50 now, I doubt i will enjoy a bike so much again as I did with that one.
Thats great!
my Marin came from the tip. It had some internal rust, not much though but I waxoiled it inside and refurbed it all. Owned the sunn from new. Got it a year old but new from Bikedock as a large Sunn clearance deal.
it’s just no fun riding around old geometry anymore. Also go a ’95 Hei Hei that was retired a year ago as forks longer than 100mm travel were making it a bit chopper-like.
Can’t quite relate to this 🙂 Surely just don’t put long forks on it? Problem solved. But if you’re not using it and it’s a really big one… I’ve always wanted a Hei Hei 🙂
I still have my 93 Kilauea (as a commuter) and my 96 Lava Dome, although I don’t get to ride MTB much these days.
https://twitter.com/mashing53/status/1001476681473896448?s=21
Would like a Pace RC 200 for bimble duties. Well out my price range though.
I still have my 1992 Scott Montana that I bought back in 1994. I never rode it much back then and, apart from new tyres and a new BB it is all original, even down to the chain! Rode it over the Gap in 2006 (photo) and did a few more rides around 2010 just when a few of us started to get into proper mountain biking. Wasn't long before I bought something with bounce though. It is still in the shed as I can't part with it and it is still a quick bike in the right conditions. Great colour too lol
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Can’t quite relate to this 🙂 Surely just don’t put long forks on it? Problem solved. But if you’re not using it and it’s a really big one… I’ve always wanted a Hei Hei
Fair enough but when my modern bike is so much better why not just ride that. Also, you will pry my Hei Hei from my cold dead hands, I had it from new, so rode it for 21 years and have too many memories to ever bear someone else on it.
80mm Bombers does me for xc.
I single speeded my Pace rc100 and have used it to cycle my kids to school for the last 6 years. The youngest will be catching the bus to High school next September but will still use it along the local bridleways and river bank. I can’t see myself not riding it unless at some point it fails from fatigue at which point it will get hung up in the man cave.
good.
I have a top end 1994 Kona. Rides beautifully - if you’re on smooth twisty single track there’s nothing to beat it.
I did put wider bars on at 600mm and a slightly shorter stem and it handles even better - don’t go any wider though as it messes up the handling. I also tried some 80mm travel forks on it and it felt terrible. Stick with what it came with and they are brilliant.
Yes of course when it gets really rough and rocky or big drops/drop offs a modern bike will beat it but that’s not the point.
what did it come with? rigid p2s?
The old Kona’s are amazing on tight sweeping singletrack and when i was offered a Charge Duster with the skiiny tubes for almost nothing i thought i might be able to build something similar. The result is very close.
what did it come with? rigid p2s?
Yes, the triple butted ones. Anything low to mid range came with the straight gauge/double butted (not sure which) P2’s which are a lot heavier and feel a lot different.
'95 Kilaeua that's still ridden, locally, for a quick blast or retro SS action. It's quick, lively, and would never get rid I think - been through much. It's ridden less and less though... as above, it's such a blast, SS makes it very quick off the mark, such a good geometry.
But riding my bigger wheels Swift much more these days.
And my '98 M2 Stumpie, that is also a quick bike but I think that's going to be the first to be retired or off loaded. SS, decent front forks - about all that's original is frame and er the cranks.. Had it from new!
Got a 1997 Indy Fab SS that still does sterling service. I did the 75km HOTs on it last year.
It has been ''modernised" to a certain extent - front disc, 120mm forks, shorter stem/wider bars. IF were quite ahead of the curve with geometry. so whilst it's not a long, low & slack modern bike, it doesn't ride like a 20 year old bike either.
Still dust off the 90's Orange for a ride now & then, usually forgetting it has no suspension, narrow flat bars, and no dropper post, and try and take it on trails I'd usually ride on my modern 29er, fail miserably, wonder how I'm still alive, then take it on trails more suited to it. My first races on it were CX and Mtb races in the 1990's, and at that it was amazing, fast, light, and handled great. But times have changed, riding has changed, I've changed... Its great to get out on it now & then, reminds me how much things have changed (and how they haven't) , but it's getting less and less frequent these days.
OH's got a 2010 Commie Meta 4X which he loves, this is as far back as I'm willing to go now though, thanks-
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1x10 and 26" is retro, right?
I commute 50 miles a week on a mid-90s Zaskar, though yer purists would be cross if they saw it
26inch would pass as a retro I like to think. Nice work.
96 Claud Butler Kylami that I use as a work hack when the weathers sh**, fitted with a rack, some mudguards and converted to 1x7.
Still use my 88/89 Hardrock. Mostly a pub bike but also round the forest single track. its rides nicely, mostly I suspect as its somewhat sharper handling than my other stuff. Wish it had better brakes though! The were fine in their day but discs have messed that up.
Fair enough but when my modern bike is so much better why not just ride that
Some of the easier trails I ride I would hate to drag up a full susser and have virtually no input on the way back down(the bike takes the fun out of the easier descents) the lack of great brakes and no suspension makes it more of a challenge= enjoyable.
Recently acquired '88 Saracen Blizzard, currently set up for winter commuting but may get a set of skinwall Nobby Nics on next summer..
Yup; out for an hour today on my 1998 Trek 930 Singletrack and had been to the pub & back yesterday on my 1988 Saracen Blizzard. Scruffy but dependable.
1×10 and 26″ is retro, right?
1x anything isn't retro! 🙂
I got a rear disk tab welded onto my old sunn, shortly after I bought it in 2000. Has a front disk tab on my bomber so I am sorted for brakes. My old Marin now has v brakes rather than the original canti ones.
I have a 90s raleigh ti bike that I still ride - indeed its my mtb ( I have a fatty and a tandem as well). Later forks etc on it and currently it also has an ebike kit on it.
here it is pressed into service as a utility bike but in the last year it has been to Glentress etc
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good work everyone. Surprised how many there are.
This is my only bike now...
My 1990 or 91 Lava Dome is still my most used bike mainly off and on road touring. All that is original is frame, forks, seatpost and bizarrely, headset.
I’ve got a 1990 team Marin, the zolatone one with the fluoro pink forks, bar and stem.
It rides beautifully and imo looks incredible but Its only used for rides with the kids, to the pub and the occasional summer commute now. I’ll never part with it though.
1x anything isn’t retro!
Maybe not for Johnny-come-latelys but I was 1x8 on my tiny 14" Giant dual slalom wannabe bike BITD!. 40mm stems are nothing new either 😉
Still ride my 1996 Stumpy fs hardtail for commute duties, it's ss now with rigid p2 fork but would happily ride it off road still, mind you all my bikes are 26"
Was my 40th present to myself so can't see me ever getting rid.
98 Hahanna I saved from a skip - pub/family pootle bike. Will be one of the kids in few years.
Another Bontrager privateer owner here as well as an old beast from the east and a f400 cannondales, a kona explosif geen with the fluted tube on frame. Can't bear to part with any of them
Two of them with proper xt thumbies
Idiotdogbrain
Spooky - that looks exactly like mine did 30 years ago! BioPace FTW!
Ride my 1998 1x1 Rat Ride regularly.
Its ability to take 3" tyres or 2.8 650B tyres or 2.35" 29er means it's pretty versatile.
Retro? I'll give you retro!
'Trusty Rusty' started like this in 1990....
Then this...
& this...
Then this...
Followed by this...
& currently this...
Triggers brush hasn't got a look in, the only two original tubes of the frame are the r/h seat & chainstays.
When/if it dies It's going on the garage wall.
∆ Now that is something!
There's a 94 Rocky Mountain Hammer frame in a random bike shop in Bordeaux, every time I pass I hope it's been sold but it's looking like I'll have to buy it...
I have a '97 Ibis Alibi in the shed.
I took it for a short spin this summer, it's unspeakably horrible.
The roadie/XC race geometry of the era was just grim.
Horrible skinny SIDs on it too. Bars must be all of 500mm wide.
I've got a '96 Kona Cinder Cone that I bought brand new. Now running 100mm travel Rockshox, 1x10, dropper post etc and it still rides well enough to do a few hundred singletrack miles a year 😄
IdiotdogbrainSpooky – that looks exactly like mine did 30 years ago! BioPace FTW!
When I picked it up a few weeks ago it was 100% original - still had 30yr old Specialized Ground Controls on, with the moulding nibs still present! Complete timewarp machine, couldn't believe my luck.
A good tip for a retro-mod bike, is that if you don't like the sound of rim brakes in the wet (and killing rims!), but on the other hand don't want to get disc tabs welded on, then modern drum brakes work surprisingly well.
The one on my IF is a for a screw on SS freewheel, but Sturmey also do Shimano compatible freewheel ones too.
ajantom
A good tip for a retro-mod bike ... modern drum brakes work surprisingly well.
Agree, I have had them on my 1x1for the last 12 years.
Still ride my 92 Kona lava dome. It’s been a singlespeed for the last 12 years with middleburn cranks hope Hubs and has still got its original bb and headset. They made stuff to last in those days!
My 1996 Orange C16R still gets ridden occasionally, other than the narrow bars it feels great.
If we're counting 26" and 2010 as retro, my 2008 mk 1 Soul is fair game I guess.
Up until it got somewhat relegated by a "more modern" 2011 Saracen Ariel it got ridden for all my riding, which is 90% local XC and natural trails. Fantastic bike 🙂
I have a 1998 Schwinn Homegrown USA, which is currently dismantled. It is really light and very agile. With a 120mm stem and 680mm bars it was quite good for winter xc riding as a single speed or with an old 8speed setup.
The thing that caused me to pack it away was not geometry or handling characteristics but an absence of a disc option for the rear brake. The rear triangle used to clog like a **** around the v brake and stopping 90+kg of me and kit was challenging in full on winter filth.
Got a 1995 Trek 970 rigid. 3x8 XT and low profile STXrc cantis. It's currently shod with slicks, but the last time I rode it was over 2 years ago. Horrible thing and it's starting to rust through paint chips.
Modern bikes are better in every way.
I loved my single speed Explosif enough that when it got destroyed by an inattentive driver, I found another one and rebuilt it. 2004 frame with a Salsa CroMoto fork, Thomson dropper, Mono Mini brakes and tubeless KOM rims.</
My previous bike was a '97 Saracen with Magura HS33 Racelight brakes, SRAM X0 9sp, Hope/D521 wheels... absurdly fast and still in use with a good friend.
Old bikes make normal trails so much fun.
What constitutes retro? I've been running my 2007 wheels and forks on this 2012 frame for almost a year, but intend swapping all the bits over onto an older Kona frame I acquired soon, just to see how it rides:
Not sure of its age, assuming mid-noughties by its sliding dropouts and both disk and V-mounts.
Still rolling on my 95 DBR Axis TT, I believe it's an ex world cup team frame. Rebuilt it 10 years ago & the only thing I'd change is a dropper.
My slop bike is an Orange Evo4 from 2004 ,does that count? It's done a couple of hundred miles this month . 🙂
That counts.
good to see so many retrobikes still in use. I think maybe some were better than others.
I was out last week in Surrey on my 1989 Marin. Amazing fun was had - such a great bike to ride once you adjust.
1x anything isn’t retro!
1x1? 🙂
Don't have any photos of my 99 Dekerf Generation from when I bought s/h in 2000 with the original paint and decals and the Bomber Z2 Fly fork.
Here it is looking a bit worse. Chas Roberts repair and reinforcement to the headtube, (dodgy) respray and new style decals
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and a bit better
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and better still. Dave Yates put a disc mount on the back, removed canti bosses,replaced cable stops with hydro guides and painted it all pretty with a Cromoto fork to match.
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Now has a 3" front tyre on a Hugo. Handles like a dream and makes me smile every time I ride it.
I ride both on bridleways and easy xc
And around fields
Nice! What are those tyres?
@tomvanhalen, Dropper post and front rack... nicely done
I've just retired my 92 Kona Cindercone and replaced it with a 2011 Sunn Modular for commuting duties
What are those tyres?
A stalwart of "What tyre...?" threads of days gone by, the Kenda Small Block 8.
Just seen the OP's question:
Do you use a retro mtb and what for?
Little green bike gets used for local ragging, mostly all the same trails, plenty of steep rooty stuff. Jumps and drops with the harsher landings get taken a bit slower or avoided. Being SS, it gets taken out when I'm really in the mood for a thrash, or when I'm not in the mood at all, but I know I need it - no choice to sit and twiddle and sulk up the hills, you have to stand up and gurn and get all the endorphins you miss out on if you take it easy.
Not the bike of choice for bikepacking and long epics, though!
I have a Fisher Celerity that has seen various guises since I bought it new in 1990.
Currently a singlespeed used for quick xc routes and towpath bimbling. It needs a bit of headset TLC soon. I have done the hub and BB so it is just getting round to it tge headset bearings next hopefully.
nice bikes. Thanks everyone for contributing.
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'88 Giant Super Sierra
Running 1x9 11-40 with a narrow-wide and a thumb shifter
The bike I ride the most for the last 12+ years
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2003 Trek Fuel. With the carbon seat stays.
Bought the frame off here years ago. Rode it, sold it, bought it back.
Thought "I'll just ride it round to check out the components then put them on Mrs imp's bike."
Never happened. Been riding it ever since. Now commuting on it (part XC).
Love it!
1992 Raleigh Dyna tech now used for errands / pub duties. Still has the original cranks and ti bars, later additions include Surly 1x1 fork for the disc mounts, rear rack and panniers. Rear disc mount brazed on by Argos cycles in Bristol, which will offend the purists.
1993 Merlin MLM here, was ridden often in the Chilterns but riding in Cheddar, Blagdon now and it's a bit scary given my skills so it's going to be retired to Bikevillage in France as a wall ornament 🙂
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90's DB Ascent - LX and XT throughout.
1995/6 Fat Chance Yo Eddy with M950 XTR, King hubs and headset. The modern width bars, decent pedals and nice grips make it a brilliant little bike and I ride it regularly when it’s dry out. Only the forks are terrible - and even then not too bad for a 20 year old product. Very flexy.
2003 Whyte prst-4 for commuting duties (not that it sees much use in that role, or any other)
2005 Trek Liquid on Weeride and Chariot duties
2007 Inbred on Weeride and shopping duties (gret big plastic box stuck onto the rear rack plus a front basket)
1989 tip find Kona Explosif thats been made to look like an ersatz Pashley Guvnor but with bigger tyres. Great fun to ride but the wheels are falling to bits.
1989 Raleigh something or other that was going to be made to look like a Bomber but languishes on my turbo trainer.
All the above bikes seen kosher near as much use as they should have over the last year. Hopefully this coming year will see some changes to that.