Mountain Biking - who rides older mt bikes

Let us all know if you ride an older mt bike, like anything maybe from the 1990's and earlier as your primary mt bike riding.

Tell us why you like it or ride it and what you have.

Fors starters 1992 specialized Rockhopper, with a Rock Shox quad 21 fork

and i have a 1996 Maxam Lightweight heavy weight,
Shimano XT components
and Manitou fork from 2003.

Reason i have not got new ones.
As these are still in good shape. Plus i have 3 bikes already, so a forth one would take up space.
frame size is perfect

plus really, can't really sell an old bike, even if they are in good shape for anything worthwhile.

Who is going to pay 400 bucks for a bike 20 years old when u can brand new one for less etc.

So like to hear from all of you out there. What your older rides are and the story.

oh ya the rockhopper is my first serious bike i bought when i was in high school
so lots of good memories on that one.

I have a stock Specialized Hard Rock, that I have citified.

Does that count?

80's rigid Raleigh Pointe
1998 Jamis Komodo

this Haro (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/754019-Identifying-an-Old-Haro...) which I'm pretty sure is late 80's since it has the old company name which changed, iirc, in 1988

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5965710998_bceba00bec_z_d.jpg

I ride an '01 Rocky Mountain Blizzard and am building up a 1988 Kona Explosif... should be no reason to explain why I ride a Blizzard as it is one of the sweetest hard tails ever made.

1997 Fuji MX-200 atb. Ride it because it was cheap at Sports Authority and the bike just won't die. The rear hub finally broke & wore out a month ago, but it was only $ 40 for an entire replacement wheel, so why pay $ 300+ for a new mtb when this one still rides ? A new Weinman rear wheel, hope to get 13-14 more years out of it ?

You need to go to the c&v forum for some elderly bike porn, like wrinkly-butt stuff.

Oldest I have ever had is 2007 Jamis ranger

I like steel MTBs and think they peaked in the mid 90s when you could get a 25 lb. rigid one for $700 or so.

My favorite is the 1996 IBOC - The Grey Goose:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5681158364_2b9a10acd6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterofpuppets/5681158364/)

Currently building up a '92 Haro Extreme!

I would still be riding my 1990ish GT Karakoram K2 if some dirt bag hadn't swiped it from a friend's house many years back. It was a great ride. Now, I ride the bike in my signature that I bought new from REI almost 10 years ago.

plus really, can't really sell an old bike, even if they are in good shape for anything worthwhile.

Who is going to pay 400 bucks for a bike 20 years old when u can brand new one for less etc.

You would be surprised. Depending on year, model and condition an old mtb can bring well over $400. Fat Chances in good shape will get over $800.

I still ride my '98 Stumpy, but no longer on the trails. It's my commuter I ride daily to work. It's gone through a paint make over, several parts changes and chain/cassette/ring replacements over the years. The only part that's show room floor original is the front Shimano Deore LX derailleur. That thing is bomb proof and the iron man of derailleurs. 13 years of continuous service, not bad for a $1100 (in 1998 dollars) investment.

Alas, I no longer have my first ever mountain bike. A '90 Giant Sedona ATX that was $350 (damn, that was a lot of money back then LOL!) at the local bike shop that no longer exists. It was rigid, steel, heavy, 7 speed and had a god awful Shimano Bio Pace crankset that I absolutely abhorred. On a side note - wanting to rid myself of that crankset introduced me to the wonderful world of bike wrenching. I loved that bike and rode the heck out of it. I still regret giving it away to my buddy many years ago.

Ya, I ride an older bike time to time - - '03 Diamondback XTS Moto. Agreeable dinosaur.

The only bike I have is a 1995 Raliegh M-50. Great bike,just had it tuned up and added a new chain.I use it for general purposes.

Mine is a 97 Schwinn Homegrown. Main reason I don't have a new one is there is nothing wrong with the one I have. Sure disk brakes would be nice, but I don't have the money to spend on a new bike that is as good.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/5586327690_fcf6ff242a_b.jpg

I just got a trek 820 hardtail no suspension as my first mtb , friend gave it to me . needed some parts.
I am currently looking for front suspension , but it has the 1" steer tube so.... lots of looking .
I do plan on upgrading some stuff , shifters and fork mostly , but it suits my needs atm

oh he said its about 6 yrs old or so , but I think to him it was 6 yrs old , it appears to be a 1998 or so

89 Fat Chance Wicked
89 Bridgestone MB1
95 Prestige Stumpjumper
93 Trek 930 full TT OX11
90 GT Avalanche, again Prestige
94 Stumpjumper FSR
Affording first class bikes at a fraction of the cost of the latest greatest just makes sense. The local shops probably wish I would buy something from them other than tubes, cables and bearings or a occasional headset....Am I missing out ? I guess I will find out in 10 years.

I ride a 1996 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo. Just had a new front fork and new brakes put on.

Am I missing out ?The 21st century called . . . they want to know if they should continue holding space for you.

211965211966

1989 Miyata. My brother is now riding it.

1995 GT Outpost Trail. I ride it because it's faithful and has never failed on me. Over the years, almost everything has been replaced except the frame/fork/wheels, though. Probably spent more upgrading it than the original price of the bike, heh.

I am considering retiring it after this year though, I think it may be time to go with something more modern. We'll see when next year rolls around.

The 21st century called . . . they want to know if they should continue holding space for you.

:lol: Indeed.

I can drive to work in my crapped out 1996 Nissan Sentra, but I wouldn't take it to a rally course and expect it to put a smile on my face. It's all in what you want do to with it. I can't fathom doing some of the crap on my 1998 Komodo that I do on my '10 Parker...but I expect different things from each bike. I have more fun on an XC trail on the Komodo...but more fun downtown on the Parker.

:lol: Indeed.

I can drive to work in my crapped out 1996 Nissan Sentra, but I wouldn't take it to a rally course and expect it to put a smile on my face. It's all in what you want do to with it. I can't fathom doing some of the crap on my 1998 Komodo that I do on my '10 Parker...but I expect different things from each bike. I have more fun on an XC trail on the Komodo...but more fun downtown on the Parker.

If you can't get a smile on your face from a quality vintage bike, it's not the bike.

If you can't get giddy about obsolete hardware you will have no fun at Retro-Grouch Summer Camp.Fixed.

Fixed.

Like I said , it's the rider not the bike, by the late eighties frame geometry had arrived as well as light quality frame materials ,steel or Al. Sure you might be faster with the latest suspension........or not. If you can't have fun without it I would suggest not.

I have a 1999 Norco Sasquatch. Original parts except for fork and shifters. Still going strong!

. . . by the late eighties frame geometry had arrived . . . .http://cdn1.knowyourmeme.com/system/profile/icon/24233/big/o_rly.jpg?1281859150

If you can't get a smile on your face from a quality vintage bike, it's not the bike.
Fun isn't an on/off switch...it's on a dimmer switch.

I ride a 1996 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo.

Thats my ride as well ( blue ) I''ve changed out it shifters, break levers are original, I've gone through two rear rims. It's a great bike, I'll be keeping it for many more years I believe.

I like steel MTBs and think they peaked in the mid 90s when you could get a 25 lb. rigid one for $700 or so.

My favorite is the 1996 IBOC - The Grey Goose:


Beautiful, man.

Thats my ride as well ( blue ) I''ve changed out it shifters, break levers are original, I've gone through two rear rims. It's a great bike, I'll be keeping it for many more years I believe.

Yep. It's still a fun bike. I've gone through two rims also (front and rear) and had the rear derailleur replaced. Mine is green.

1997 Trek 6500ZX ...

http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac137/jjking54/IMG_20110526_164433.jpg

Been recently engaged in a "Do I overhaul it and update it or just buy new?" debate in my head, and I'm thinking overhaul/update has won.

I love this bike ... one of those bikes that just "feels" right to me ... contemplated selling it, almost gave it away, but didn't ... so glad I didn't.

Fun isn't an on/off switch...it's on a dimmer switch.

Wut?

1985 Diamondback apex , Red with all original parts except tires & tubes. bought at a thrift store for 75 bucks. I love it.
bike is in mint condition.

I'm still riding my '99 Fat Chance Ti.

Still riding 2 older 90's Giant Iguana MTBs. both are outfitted for street. Can't imagine wanting anything more, they do it all so well and they just seem to "fit" so well. Love em.

I've got a rigid Saracen MTB from some time in the mid-'90s. I put v-brakes on it a few months back, and fitted it with bar-ends, but apart from that it's stock, although I have ordered a set of "dirt drop" handlebars and all the compatible bits for them, just to see if I like them. I do have a set of slick road tyres for it as well, but I still put the original MTB ones on it for trail use. It's the only MTB I've been riding recently, out of the 3 I own.

If you can't get a smile on your face from a quality vintage bike, it's not the bike.

:lol:A true retro grouch...I guess you're right, I would have a smile on my face watching the rigid retro bike explode as I blast down the stairs or off a loading dock.

Most people with your opinion ride slow or smooth XC, Fred. Not even interested in putting yourself in someone elses shoes to understand what they may be sharing.

A rigid 13y.o. bike can only take so much abuse under a 200# rider.

If you can't get a smile on your face from shooting heroin, it's not the drug.

Fun isn't an on/off switch...it's on a dimmer switch.

...and for some people it's kinda like this:

http://www.tpimagazine.com/siteimage/scale/800/600/34912.png

1994 Norco Nitro, sits a ton, but still take a few rides to keep the cobwebs off. I still prefer the twistee shifters.

1990 Rockhopper is all the bike I need for our fairly tame conditions:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7tFGOh7G024/ThnJGJo3J7I/AAAAAAAAByU/IoAlEnho2LI/s800/rh_22.jpg

I've recently picked up a 91 Stumpjumper that's too big for me, hoping to trade (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/703286-The-frame-doesn-t-fit-pass-around-game?p=12908700&viewfull=1#post12908700) the frame/fork for something smaller from the mid-80s

Here's a Raleigh MTB that I've asked over in the Vintage area what year it is. I bought it off of a women who brought it into the bike shop I was working at several years ago. She didn't want to pay more than $20 to get it fixed and the bill was going to be about $100 so I offered her $25 and she accepted.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/azteca911/RaleighRightSide.jpg

My guess is 1983 Trail Rider.

Here's the 1982. (http://mombat.org/MOMBAT/Bikes/1982_Raleigh_Trail_Rider.html)

Kinda vague overview of stock parts on the 1983 on this page. (http://mombat.org/Raleigh.htm)

No pimp gold rims on your specimen but 19 years is a lot of opportunity for parts swaps :(

1999 Specialized Stumpjumper. Light and indestructible. We don't need no stinking disc brakes!

The 21st century called . . . they want to know if they should continue holding space for you.

They can keep my space, I'm fine where I am.
Except for my iPhone. I've gotta have my apps.

1998 S-Works. Rebuilt the SID fork and she is ready to go. Tried a lot of newer bikes and just can't find one I like as much as the old S-Works.

WOW, all your bikes are so new.

1986 Specialized Rockhopper
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj396/cs1sales/img_1812.jpg

1989 Raleigh Technium soon to donate it's group to Stumpjumper
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj396/cs1sales/IMG_0113.jpg

1986 Specialized Stumpjumper
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj396/cs1sales/IMG_0111.jpg

1983 Specialized Stumpjumper awaiting parts to become whole again.
http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj396/cs1sales/IMG_0003.jpg

There's also a 1985 Stumpjumper complete and a 1989 Rockhopper Comp plus a 1985, 1991and 2007 Re-Issue Stumpjumper framesets and a 1986 Rockhopper frameset in the garage. Maybe a 1992 Stumpjumper on it's way God willing.

If I had not sold my '93 OEM Stumpjumper hardtail (think this was pre-dualie anyway), I would definitely still be riding it. Moved to the big city and left it behind in Denver at the time. LOVED IT!