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I’ve been mountain biking (on bikes of varying quality) since 1991. That makes me an old fart but also means that I can remember quite a few mountain bikes that just looked right.
I offer up the 1992 ( I think) Orange P7 in nickel finish with orange decals or
The 1994 Kona Lava Dome in metallic green with bronze P2 forks.
Any others that you can think of?
Bez, Not a similar era Zaskar?
The Zaskar of course, but rigids/hardtails that look right are ten a penny; the RTS was one of very few early full-sus bikes that nailed it.
And, I mean, look at the shape made by the swingarm and the shock mount, it’s like a little mini bike frame inside a bike frame, it’s a recursive bike. It’s ace.
My youngest brother had exactly that P7, same colour and all. He saved up for so long to get it, was his pride and joy.
I nicked it for a ride without asking him and rode it flat out down a trail I didn't know straight into a barbed wire fence, completely destroyed it. I walked away with a few barbed wire gouges. Good times!
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My mate Steve had a blue steel Kona Exposif from about 2005 I think. I can’t find a good picture of one, but it was the nicest looking hardtail I’d ever seen. I think it still might be.
Not with that mudguard installed!
I thought a lot of those plus bikes that were fashionable for five minutes looked just right, how an 8 year old would draw a brilliant mountain bike if asked.
Stigheed
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I’ve been mountain biking (on bikes of varying quality) since 1991. That makes me an old fart but also means that I can remember quite a few mountain bikes that just looked right.
I offer up the 1992 ( I think) Orange P7 in nickel finish with orange decals or
The 1994 Kona Lava Dome in metallic green with bronze P2 forks.
Any others that you can think of?
These two are right up there for me. The green Lava Dome was and still is the best looking MTB. For FS bikes I reckon the winner has to be a Yeti. They pretty much always nail the aesthetics
Not with that mudguard installed
Yeah that does look shit, but the bike itself to me, does just look right.
Most of Cannondale’s original F-series hardtails (with the integrated headset/Headshok forks) Beautifully-made and balanced-looking bikes IMO. Over the years I’ve owned and ridden more of these than any other brand/model MTB
The Volvo Team ones in blue stood out. 2k was a good year:
F5000 (Note the 2x chainset)
Hmmm, Cannondale smooth welds - yes. Not sure that the headshock could be described as a timeless classic, but I'm not going to say you're wrong.
I still have nickel P7 frame in my garage attic, but it has seen better days.
I did go through a retro bike phase and spent quite a bit of money (checks to see Mrs Stigheed can't see the screen), much of it on 2 skinny steel Konas. They looked the bees knees but rode like crap. Viva la disc brakes!
The Whyte 19Ti.
Not sure that the headshock could be described as a timeless classic, but I’m not going to say you’re wrong.
It was fantastic! Buttery smooth, no flex, one twist of the stem cap and it was completely rigid. The yellow boots looked cheap tatty bollocks, though. And they had a bit of a propensity to leak.
I had one of these briefly; aesthetically it’s completely Marmite but I loved it.
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90’s Kona’s had it nailed !!
I always thought these looked perfect
It was fantastic! Buttery smooth, no flex, one twist of the stem cap and it was completely rigid. The yellow boots looked cheap tatty bollocks, though. And they had a bit of a propensity to leak.
I had one of these briefly; aesthetically it’s completely Marmite but I loved it.
Agree if there was some way of losing the headshock boot it would look perfect. It solves the worst aesthetic of any hardtail - the suspension fork.
I can't post pics but this for me....
http://www.secondspincycles.com/2017/05/1994-yeti-arc-team-replica.html?m=1
I had one of these years ago(not my pic)
Looked kind of cool but rode like shit, not may FS bikes look 'right', much easier with a HT.
Cheers.
Original turner 5spot
Looked familiar, the classic double triangle.
I loved mine. Rode it for 20 or so years. As full sus bikes go I think it’s really good looking.
LTS for me.
Mid 80s bikes also, iconic and nostalgic from adverts when I could only dream about a MTB.
Hardtails don't look that different to each other to me now.
Modern full sussers are ugly as
the RTS was one of very few early full-sus bikes that nailed it.
They were a bit shit to ride though.
These on the other hand; not only look bloody fantastic, they ride just as well as they look.
Need a picture of a pretty looking Klein. Very few bikes looked quite as purposeful.
Would have said a Pace RC200 but having looked at some pics, I don't think they've aged as well as the Kleins.
Edit: For example this beauty
Cynic Al
LTS for me
I had an STS before the turner. That was also a good looking bike.
Was that thermoplastic the first of the curvy “organic” looks??
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Always liked the Pace Rc100 with those carbon suspension forks where the brakes were on the rear of the fork, had a Trek Y22 back in the late 90’s which I thought looked ace, and always lusted after a brushed alloy Proflex 957 or whatever it was called. They looked just right in my opinion.
By modern standards they rode like turds. I like skinny step tubes so my Cotic Soul looks perfect to me.
Oh and Giant ATX 1 DH.. blew a few rear shocks on them but loved it
There are so many wrong looking bikes in this thread, considering the title.
This might be the most "right" looking bike I've owned...
It's a MK2 cotic Solaris.
LRS for me - looked like a hardtail but isn't - first full suss to win uci xc world cup.
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That's one of mine set up for 24hour "racing".
Oh, and how could I forget this one? 🙂
White, white, flowers, white, radial spokes, white, beautifully shaped fork, white, flowers, white… check.
It’s a MK2 cotic Solaris
I'd already done that! ^^^
There are so many wrong looking bikes in this thread, considering the title
Yeah, pretty much only the Klein does it for me.
Slack head angles and massive forks might ride well, but they don't look right.
The Merlin would be nice too, if they took the saddle down from low earth orbit.
@MartynS - I remember going out doing a night ride round Hope and Edale when you just bought that 5Spot. Please tell me that wasn’t 20 years ago! 😳
Anyway... I’ve always loved Curtis frames. Despite not having yet owned one. One day. This is proper bike porn..
And I thought this thread was meant to be about nice looking bikes. There’s been some absolute munters up so far, amongst the nice stuff
90s Kleins, no question.
Since getting interested in mountain bikes around 1992 nothing has ever come very close, except honourable mentions to:
Kona
Manitou (hardtail especially, softail also as in 'first FS to look right')
Yeti (with the curved chainstays, Tioga disk drive and drop bars)
On reflection the drop bar ones looked a bit wrong
HCHT
You can't beat 90's Ti. 1995 DBR Axis TT, (rebuilt in 2007 while I could still get a new fork)
Considering how terrible full suspension bikes were in 1993, I'd give the Mantis Pro Floater a nod:
Anyway… I’ve always loved Curtis frames. Despite not having yet owned one. One day. This is proper bike porn..
I do love a Curtis, I keep promising myself to rebuild my SuperX but life keeps getting in the way.
Ads678, cable rub on crown is a no no, let alone rubbing on stanchions, sort it out.🙂
A Klein for me but not that one above with horrible coloured tyres
Did any apart from Binners actually read the thread title? What a load of horrific nostalgia all in one thread
