[Closed] serial bike swappers..what bike do you have that you wouldnt part with?

Probably my Van Nic Amazon. I think it was 8 years ago I bought it. I still tour on it, it's my "winter" road bike and I've been fitting knobblies for some light off-road/cx style stuff. I've just bought some Nano 40Cs for a planned gravel expedition.

In many ways it was ahead of its time. Newcomers like the Tripster might have the advantage of a tapered steerer and thus a better choice of forks but I can't think of anything else about it I'd want to change.

I'll never get rid of my Kona Lava Dome frame. Circa '95/'96, steel, rides great.

Currently hanging up in my shed. Always planning to build it up again, in a similar way to how it bought it. Rigid, rim brakes, flat, narrow(ish) bars but probably 1 x 9/10/11. Keep it for long summer days on the Ridgeway or other quick but non-techy routes.

But I never get round to it!

I've constantly changed my bikes over the last 10 years. I've never actually kept one but I'm now on my third Charge Cooker (29er version) and I can't put my finger on it but it just works for me. I don't think I'd get rid of this unless I decide to go for one of the new 2017 bikes.

Have swapped bikes At least annually for the last 20 years. That is some kind of disease. If you'd ask me even 7 years ago which bike I would never change it would have been either a 90s steel Kona or a Cannondale F600.

Turned out it was a hefty (Dutch) town bike. Neglected and rusting it's still the one most reliable thing in my life and riding it always makes me smile and relax. Priceless.

There was one other, but I sold it. British Eagle Touristique 531ST. Only bike I ever really regret selling. It was rare-ish, exactly my fit, supremely comfortable ride and just looked sorted. Dammit.

I'm bad for buying hardtails...very bad, but this Production Privee Oka was and is the best I've ever ridden.

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It was made all the better for being an impulsive eBay bargain while I already had a perfectly good frame. I've since got the Shan model and swapped the bits over but the Oka is staying.
It's such a great frame but strangely, hasn't cured my addiction completely 😕

It'll return again!

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Many come and go but my merlin magia road bike (2004) and Spesh enduro sx (2003) have and will stay as part of the fleet.

Although the sx is in need of some tlc after its last bpw outing

my morning glory- still great for jaunts into the countryside.

My '92 Klein Fervour will never go. Other than that my road bike, 'only' a PX RT58 Carbon but it does everything I want and I don't get quite so passionate about the road bike as I do about mountain bikes despite actually spending more time on the road.

I don't swap and change except when necessity calls but I've still my 456Ti built up.

Was my only bike 2009 thru to 2015 and then I bought a carbon FS for more 'enduro' stuff. Before this I chopped and changed regularly.

Only rode it a couple of times last year, one been GT7 where it was perfect. Rode it just after Christmas on a slippery night ride and hated it, compared to my 29 FS.

No point getting rid as it's no worthless, but it is still built (unlike many above).

Never... never is a very long time...

But currently i can't thnk of any reason to sell my T-130.

weeksy - Member
Never... never is a very long time...

You? In this thread? With your reputation? 🙂

My 1988 Kona Explosif, which I've owned from when it was six months old and, until recently, I would also have said my Singular Hummingbird singlespeed.
It may be going soon though, although for what it's worth I might as well keep it.

Am I the only one who almost enjoys buying, building and admiring them as much as actually riding them!

This is a very difficult question.

At the moment I have no intention of selling bikes and little intention of buying one.

This doesn't mean that next week things won't change for no reason what so ever. I have owned so many I have lost track and always miss a couple when I count up.

I have an aluminium Santa Cruz Highball that could be for sale and a Spesh Singlecross in OK condition that seldom gets ridden.

I said it would be my Cotic Soul, loved my MK2, swapped it for a MK3 to future proof it, then wanted a full sus, so got a frame, swapped the bits over, then sold the soul when I hatched another hairbrained plan.

Now trying to buy another MK3 soul. Gone off 29ers for fun, they cover ground so well, but I find them too much of a handful for ragging around the woods, especially in slow stuff.

tpbiker - Member

Am I the only one who almost enjoys buying, building and admiring them as much as actually riding them!

No, I can't leave it alone, I'm always scouring the classifieds and pinkbike. I wrote a list of all the bikes/frames I've owned since my first mtb as an adult about 9 years ago, it's scary when I look at it, but there's at least 4 bikes currently on my radar...........

Surly crosscheck. Such a nice bike to ride.

Ragley Ti, but with oversized headtube and oversized curved downtube. I've thought about sticking a 650b Pike front-end on it, but it seems a bit pointless to be honest. Still a brilliant bike.

The only bikes that I don't change are the ones that I hardly use, so don't really care about.

I've got a Principia Rex road bike from around 2004, which comes out of the shed about once a year. If I rode more on the road I'm sure I'd be looking to change it, but I don't enjoy road riding enough to bother.

Similarly my Brompton (from around the same time) gets a couple of outings a year. Maybe there are better folding bikes around now (or maybe not), but I don't use it enough to care.

The mountain bikes on the other hand rarely last more that 18 months or so, although I do still have my 2013 Five.

The only bikes that I don't change are the ones that I hardly use, so don't really care about.

In a similar vein, I don't think I could part with my Cannondale CAAD3 roadbike.....on account of it sits in the turbo trainer and is so corroded by sweat it may be immovable

Also a road bike for me - Scott CR1 SL HMX.

Regretted selling mine for a Defy, was delighted when one came up secondhand at a good price. Now with Ultegra and RS81s...
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Though I also have no plans to sell this lovely beast...
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None of them.

As long as I'm out in the hills, with good company, I'm a happy bunny, the bikes are but a small part of it.

And bikes keep improving, evolving. I like this.

Think im making up for all the times I saw great bikes as a kid and could never afford them!

Im not going to even get started on how many Ive had !!

Suffice to say divorce is on the cards if I try and change again !!

No bikes tbh- but I'm keeping my Hemlock frame, it has too much history- first uplift, first dh race, first enduro, first trip abroad, first frame I broke (and 2nd 3rd and 4th), two EWS round, I pretty much learned everything I know on that bike. Being worth nothing made the decision to keep it easier 😆

I thought my Ragley Ti might be a forever bike but I got an offer I couldn't refuse.

My Mk1 Salsa Fargo - wrote my first off into the back of van at daft downhill speed. Built a new old one off a USA sourced Mk1 frame and bought a spare frame & fork when it came up on here as I've not ridden anything so suited just to me.

Not a serial swapper just been upgrading since 2003

Not so much of a swapper as a hoarder but only because I've had no reason to sell. Bought/built 8 bikes in the last 3.5 years, only just sold the eldest to free up space for the newest one. There is only one that isn't for sale, all the others could go to fund/free up space for something else, but I'll be buried with my 5010.

I also find that a great cure for upgraditis is to buy the nicest kit in the first place. That way there is no niggle in the back of your mind thinking 'it could be better/lighter/stronger'

Tough one.

I said I'd never get rid of my Nomad but that went last year. I'm stuck on my Remedy 29er at the moment but eventually that will make way for the next new thing, most likely as a frame swap out rather than complete bike.

I have a Roberts DB frame, fork and stem that I will never get rid of. One day I may even get around to fixing it and building it back up.

Not sure I'm a serial swapper but have been through a fair few bikes! The one that always stays put is a 1990 steel framed Fisher. It's a bit on the small side and doesn't get ridden often but it is a keeper.

Averaged a bike a year since 2010 so could classify myself as a serial swapper.

Never selling my 2011 Orange 5, too many memories tied up in that lump! Gave it a refresh 2 years ago with new powdercoat, forks, wheels, drivetrain and dropper post. It's starting to become dated and time to move on to something more modern, plus I'm worried about it cracking as it's had a very hard life but I'm struggling to find anything I want to change it for. A slackset and a new rear shock will keep it going for another few years I reckon, then it'll be stripped down to frame and shock then hung up to keep forever 😀

Also still hang onto my 2010 Spech FSR XC frame for some reason. No idea why as it was a good but bland bike that I quickly retired after having one too many crashes on it doing stupid stuff, the 5 above replaced it. It went on no adventures and just pounded round the local trail centres on it, no attachment to it at all! Hasn't been ridden in 6 years but it's survived 2 house moves, should get rid of it but I always hesitate for some unknown reason 😕

My Cotic 29er
My Litespeed Kitsuma.

Can't see me getting rid of either whilst I am still able to ride them

I almost fit into the serial swapper category, but after selling four bikes in the last year and adding one new one, I don't forsee my two current bikes going anywhere!
2013 Genesis Croix De Fer. Not a high spec, not particularly light but just feels great. Set up with full guards and a rear rack for utility, or stripped and used for dodging down the local lanes it's always a pleasure to ride.
2016 Orange Four. All the trail bike I'll ever need, no more no less. Fits me really well which my previous bikes didn't (longish legs, gorilla arms!). Enough travel and slack enough geo to make the most out of my lack of ability 🙂

Vinatage made in USA GT Zaskar 🙂

Is there a theme emerging here? Are most of the keepers actually not very special or high spec. workhorses?

Stands to reason, you form an attachment through time spent on the bike, accepting its flaws. Whereas blingy, next best thing bikes always end up being surpassed by the next best thing again?

When I first demoed a 5010 (on a 1500m lap of the red route at stainburn) I'd decided it was perfect after about 400m, and once finished I said that all manufacturers should stop trying, as nothing could improve on it.

I've built mine up with all the best kit and it's still just as perfect as it was 3 years ago, and I have no 'it would be better if it had...' thoughts. I have ridden similar, more up to date bikes since but I haven't been anywhere near as impressed.

The reason I have other bikes is because they are for more specific jobs/niches that are good at some things but not everything, so I can quite happily drop them if a need arises, but the 5010 is such a good all rounder that it will never be replaced. If it breaks it will be hung on a wall as a reminder of what a perfect bike looks like.

And that's before all the memorable rides I've now had on it...

My late 70s Claud Butler Cresta set up singlespeed with a dynamo front hub is a joy, looks like a skip bike but the position and ride are great and no self respecting bike thief would look twice at it.

At the minute I think I'll also keep my 456evo2 until the frame breaks like the P7 it replaced. It is rare for me to own a frame from new and I love that every mark, scratch, ding and rub on it is due to me!

Oh yeah, I have my 90s Carrera Krakatoa in the attic. It was my commuter for a decade or so but it was too small and it all just got so shagged that it made no sense to fix it up.

munro - Member
My Mk1 Salsa Fargo - wrote my first off into the back of van at daft downhill speed. Built a new old one off a USA sourced Mk1 frame and bought a spare frame & fork when it came up on here as I've not ridden anything so suited just to me.

Snap! Bought a well used Fargo a few years ago and it has become my go to bike for so many rides, been my commuter, winter road bike, bikepacking bike and happily ride for most MTB rides, when it started to look sorry for it's self with some rust spots and chain rub, i looked to buy new one to get carbon fork and alternator plates at the back, but with the price rises couldn't justify £900! So old faithful has just come back from the powdercoaters and had some fresh decals made

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^ Approved refurb! What's the deal with the raw fork-dropouts? Clear-coated?

The fork dropouts were bare metal originally anyway, but they did sandblast them and re-chrome them.

Not really a serial swapper, but my Defy SL road bike will never be replaced. Now unavailable in non-disk form, a Classics winner (Paris Roubaix) with full Dura Ace, and the lightest frame Giant ever made.

Not really a serial swapper, but my Defy SL road bike will never be replaced. Now unavailable in non-disk form, a Classics winner (Paris Roubaix) with full Dura Ace, and the lightest frame Giant ever made.

I replaced my Defy with a Roubaix disc before riding Paris - Roubaix so i could fit bigger tyres, regretted it ever since, the Defy rides so much nicer and the Roubaix is OK, but feels a bit soulless

My Solaris frame has just sold, Soul 275 on the way.........

That's funny, I just bought a Solaris.

😀

I wanted a new BMX in 2006/2007ish; I built up a "solid" spec'd Fly Pantera, and I've still got it, I doubt I'll get rid of it TBH.

And since 2006, I've had 10 road bikes, 2 CX bikes and 7 MTBs (I may have missed a couple aswell).

BMXs dont really change much, but there's always the latest and greatest MTB every six months. Road bikes have gone the same way aswell.

I have a Mk1 Soul frame that I don't want to part with. Ever. Even though getting parts to fit old standards is getting tricky.

Other than the Soul, gone through 10 bikes or frames in 14 years. 😯

I'm hoping this soul will be a long term keeper, should be able to do everything, not bothered about boost, or internal dropper routing, I like to run a normal post sometimes.

Stace, Solaris is all stripped down and cleaned up!

My BMC MC01 SS has kind of won my heart. For my flat commute and weekend road rides it is perfect. For the hilly off road stuff there will always be something better each year.

My poo brown Karate Monkey, I've had 2 since, not the same.....

'97 Lava Dome - had it from new. Resigned to summer pub duties now and sans pedals - robbbed them for my Shan. I'll probably put some semi-slicks on it and maybe some flat bars and re-find some Project 2 forks at some point...

*edit - oh and the Carbon S-Works Enduro frame behind it - can't see anyone ever buying it, so it'll go on the wall when I build my new shed

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My Titus Motolite. Best fit. most stable and confidence inspiring bike I've owned.

I have come full circle. Started with a Seven titanium road bike and a Santa Cruz Heckler back in the day. I have tried so many bikes over the years but now have a Seven Axiom road bike with ETap and Lightweights, a Seven Evergreen with SR EPS and discs and a Santa Cruz 5010 with XO1 Eagle. I have had the Sevens for a few years now (unheard of previously) and the 5010 is all the bike I can handle and is bang up to date. Finally I think that suspension design and performance has reached a more stable level of performance and design.

For me (and for the first time), I think I have the perfect horse for a given course and genuinely couldn't wish for more. The 2 Sevens are classic ti bikes with all of the modern twists and the 5010 is best in breed right now.

My serial bike swapping days are over. In searching for the perfect bike, I realise that (other than updates to modern standards), I already had them. I just enjoy riding them more now but maybe that's age and the pressures of other things in my life (such as Solarider Jnr!) that mean that finding the time and energy for anything other than riding them is frankly impossible.

I genuinely couldn't now envisage any other bike making me enjoy my riding more than these do.

Despite going through a fair few frames in the last few years, the one bike I will always keep is my mooto-x. It is great for long distance rides, which is increasingly the emphasis of my riding. Only issue is the straight head tube, which makes getting forks potentially difficult in the future. As others have said, suspension frames I see as more of a short term thing as they tend to age more quickly in terms of design than a classic hard tail frame.

My Capra is the best bike I've ever owned, but that will go in a few years

Spesh Singlecross. Brilliant bike and a perfect fit. Not many bikes like this around today and still gets ridden regularly.

I think core speaks the truth. Blingy bikes soon become outdated, but you dont have old faithful for its up to date tech or geo so less reason to update.

I also think theres a distinction between mtbs and roadies.mtbs become obselete within a few years, and there is no doubt that you can buy speed, especially on the downs, through buying the latest wonder bike and fitting it with top kit.

At no point have I ever looked at my road bike and thought buying a new one would make me any faster.