...and I like Treks.

from CL - mid 90's?

Maybe. But the suspension worked much better than this.

I think they were from around '95 to '99. We sold a few - not many - at the shop I worked at. This might be a 1997 Y-11. Unless someone can correct me it sold for around $1,500.00?? It was a long time ago.

I think they may have been closer to $2000. I bought my first real MTB, a '93 8000, in November '93 for exactly $1000 plus tax. Fully rigid with an LX group.

It may be ugly but it was cutting edge then and I lusted for one at the time. The pivot placement was called Sweet Spot and I forget the name of the guy who designed and licensed it. Schwinn also used it.

Gazelle had a similar design for a few years. I'm not looking for one but I'd love to build one up in all kinds of funky colors.

Gazelle Skyhawk special Y-frame

Yep - if I'd seen one in a shop back in the day I probably would have wanted it!

The first time I rode a full suspension bike was on a K2 rental bike at a lift-served downhill venue. The suspension on that K2 looked similar - just a swing-arm hanging off the back. I stood up on it to pedal and I thought the back wheel had half-collapsed because it was such a noodle. But, it was certainly better going downhill than the 1980's Trek rigid MTB I had been riding downhill up to that point - truly punishing.

This? I think the Beast was one of their first models, they bought out Proflex in '98 or so. I remember the magazine reviews raved about it, especially their electronic suspension.

That is actually post '95. The earlier stuff is like the 554 with its CroMo swingarm, before they began using aluminum swingarms. Incidentally, K2 already owned Proflex by about '95 but they changed the bike name to better unify the product line across the sporting world. I was repping for them at that time.

There a guy in Michigan who has been trying to sell a Proflex 555 @ $500 for about two years now.

https://thumb.craigslist.org/bik/d/p...717464446.html

This is the one we lusted for. Likely for the wrong reasons. Like a Hummer.

https://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/p...have-image.jpg

There were a lot of ugly bikes in the early 90's, exciting or not

I thought that the Trek Y-bikes worked pretty well, I had a Y-5 aluminum, though it seemed like most of the bikes back then had crummy front suspensions.

The bike I raced in '96 was a ProFlex 856 with elastomer springs and ODS oil dampers. The bike begged for a longer and better front suspension. As it was the bike didn't go downhill well, and put me over the bars more than once.
The ProFlex rear suspension had a high pivot, so that it's anti-squat and "chain growth" behavior depended on what chainring that you were in. Somewhere between the middle and big rings, the suspension seemed optimal, pedaling wise. Using the granny ring caused the suspension to extend with each pedal stroke, and with a fast-kicking spin it would find incredible climbing traction. Climbing while pedaling slowly would mean that if traction was broken for an instant, the entire pedal stroke was like pedaling on ice, this because of the suspension compressing in response to any sudden reduction in chain tension.
Early on, I believe Girvin/ProFlex trademarked "Dig In", which appeared on a decal on the swingarm, and which was meant to characterize the high-pivot design's anti-squat force under increased chain tension while in the smaller two rings.
The earlier, 1st-gen Cannondale, Trek and GT hi-pivot frames had even higher main pivots, and the suspension was thus set up with high enough spring-preload to effect a static zero-sag. Those bikes actually sprinted very well if the spring preload was set high enough for the rider's weight, since the suspension remained locked out by the chain's tension pulling the axle forward under the main pivot.

I think one of the Trek Y-Foil Carbon Road bikes might be cool, although I probably wouldn't keep it original.

I would nominate the Trek R200 as the ugliest Trek... and ugliest recumbent... ever. And I like recumbents.

Yes - I think this was the one. It was the late '90's, it was a yellow K2, and it had an elastomeric shock just behind the seat tube. I was thrilled to be able to fly downhill in reasonable comfort - felt like riding my couch compared to the rigid bike. My buddy was with me and we were both on well-used rental bikes - he had a little problem when he drove the rear brake pad through the worn-out rim and into the tube! After a long walk back to the bike shop in the base area he got a new(er) bike and we were off again.

Ha! You may be right about this one! But it does look comfortable.

The Dude abides.....

Actually, IMHO your bike looks pretty cool with the big tires, 3 spoke wheels, and the grey/black color scheme. That Craigslist bike with its little tires, giant bar ends, and the blue/yellow color just looked goofy to me - a bike that some poor guy was riding around around his cul de sac following his 4 year old on a tricycle..

But then again, when I saw the CL bike I had just been admiring all the bikes in the 'French Fender Day' post - more my thing and certainly a jarring comparison! Who am I to judge?!

1996 Trek ST120 for the win

Yeah, that's pretty ugly in that configuration, but a Trek y-foil is really high up on my bucket list for the nostalgic reasons mentioned. It needs a proper set of Smoke/Darts and a less phredly stem.

I had one about a year ago, they were crazy looking , it was a nice Maroon color. but it didnt really impress me so i sold it

Sorry for the fuzzy picture.


1995 Y22

I hope to own a Y-Foil someday. And also a Softride, if I can find a big one with the the beefier beam meant for heavier riders.

I suppose this makes me a terrible person, doesn't it?

Such as this example?



"Concept 2 Road Bike
Atlantic Beach, NC · 3 days ago ·
$50"

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