Forum menu
I grew to hate my first proper mountain bike - 2003 Cannondale Scalpel.
I bought it mainly because it was on sale, but also because I was new to mountain biking and thought I wanted a racey XC bike. It was great for the first few rides, even quite enjoyed it at Afan and other Welsh trail centres. Then I took it to Aston Hill and the steep rooty downhills highlighted just how sketchy the handling was and my lack of skills. I sailed over the bars on the first steep descent and I never forgave it after that! Later I discovered that beefy long travel trail bikes are more my thing.
Ditto Moshimonster with the Scalpel. My first FS, which worked well for it's intended purpose, which was not the way my riding was going at that stage.
Blew the fork, broke the back end, went back to a HT. DMR Switchback which I still have.
kiwi - oh yeah I also bent the rear shock mount too when I blew through the 0.5" of bottomless travel. Nice bike, wrong application for me too!
I'll add another Heckler to the list. Stupid geometry and too little standover for a medium meant it just had to go. At least I didn't loose too much money on it as I'd bought it 2nd hand.
Oh so many
Santa Cruz Bullit Mk 1 with Z1 orange forks, climbed like a elephant shining up a drain pipe...............
Intense Tracer tall the wrong angles
Gary Fisher Cake.bought instead of a Turner 5 Spot on STW review WHY oh WHY
Nicolai CC too short so really my fault
Turner Six pack non HL just wrong after so many turners HL
SCOTT SPARK, light oh so light and able to bend and flex like nothing else.
Hmm, just about every full susser I've owned.
I had a Proflex XP8 which I upgraded to Noleen coils. The rear shock snapped at the top of the Firmounth leaving me a two hour walk back to the car (in shimano spd shoes). That's certainly enough time to develop a pathological hatred. Got warranty for the shock but never rode it again.
Never really got my Heckler, pedal strike agogo. Might've been the 5th element shock.
Chumba Vf2, the shock was just not matched to the frame, rebound was either tooooo ssssslllooowwww or too****ingfast in just one click.
Last but not least Cove Handjob. Got it to replace a nicked Kona Explosif (and sold a Klien Race Attitude to get it, duh). A piece of shit with a coke can top tube. Still can't believe I managed to trade it in against my soul!
I also have never had a bike I actually 'hated'. The only one I really didn't get on with was an Alpine Stars ChroMega (elevated chainstay job) & that was probably cos it was 2 sizes too big. (cheap though). Climbed like a mountain goat but was a nightmare on descents. (cos it was too big)
Ride a 2010 5 now & It's a better bike than I'll ever be a rider & I've ridden stuff & thought 'how TF did I do that?'
Ton even said to me, 'Orange 5, best bike out there' or words to that effect. (may have been trying to make me feel good though) 😉
I bought a cx frame a few years ago and very soon realised that I hated riding it off road (properly, not gravel roads, though only in the new forest). My own fault, and it's made a nice winter road bike so no big loss
Orange Sub 5.
Mk1 Blur LT. It rode great but the bearings would wear out wheeling it out to the car. Not a bike designed with Scottish riding in mind
Still for 5 days in the summer it was brilliant.
There's some real gold in this thread, especially that Ellsworth (What were you thinking?)
Most hated, that I've owned, from me:
Cotic Roadrat - by a country mile. It's the only bike I've thrown at a wall in rage after getting a second rear wheel puncture about 8 miles from home. Ended up riding it home on the rim, smashing it off kerbs and generally trying to break it. Stupid dropouts, mudguard nonsense. I was even unlucky enough to have someone try to nick it and fail.
Inbred - tick (for all the reasons people mention) except I was on the same boat as everyone else, buying into the 'hype' of the ultimate do-it-all hardtail for peanuts stuff.
Giant XTC 26er, just not for me, really hated it.
Didn't own it, and didnt really hate it, but "biggest disappointment ever" award goes to the Kona Explosif I borrowed. I wanted so much to love it's skinny steel tubes, but it was just a bit average, lifeless, and dull.
The Original Cotic Soul. I'm in between sizes (which for a 5'10" bloke is pretty bloody impressive) medium is too small, large is too big, and the whole thing was too steep at the front.
oh, and the Nicolia Helius FS that I had for a bit, was OK to ride, but I didn't ride it enough, and it always had something wrong with it, because I didn't ride it enough, so it sat there, until I fixed it, which meant that I didn't ride it. and the anodizing was so hard to keep looking nice.
A bench mark for this might be...what bikes have you willingly sold on.........
I bought second hand, one of the first steel 456s that came out, and while you couldn't use superlatives, I was reasonably impressed with it, so I've kept it.
On the strength of that I bought the Lynskey Ti 456 and I tried various different builds with it but I could never gell with it...then it broke. They gave me a replacement frame but I kind of figured, how many fork/stem/bar/combos does it take before you surrender and sell it...so I did.
I had a Pace 325.5 which I liked but I kept getting chain suck once the C/Rs were part worn, so I've given up on that and when I can be arsed the frame will be sold for £50 ono.
I had a Trek 2.3 road bike and I was sure that was going to kill me so that got sold within 2 months.
I had a Kinesis T5 cross frame made up as a hybrid commuter, and, on a good day I enjoyed it...but mostly not. When I can be arsed that will be sold.
All the rest I have kept.
I loved my 456
I still do love my BFe ...
Ho Hum, horses for course ....
I hated my Roberts Genesis - over sized, the bottom bracket would never fit properly, and the paint chipped like cheap nail varnish
while i didnt hate it, i just didnt like My 2008 SX trail II, it was too steep and too heavy, basically like they gone for a compromise of dh bike and xc bike and got the bad bits of both. (id come from a demo 8 which was the best bike ever) lasted 14 months (and maybe 6 proper rides) before I sold it one to buy the next one....
[img] 
[/img]
A GT1 IT1 DH bike which was a love hate relationship
Loves:
it had a gearbox
it had 2 chains
it had bottomless travel
change gear without pedaling
hates:
it weighed more than the moon. (50+ lbs)
there was a good 4 BHP worth of resistance from the drivetrain.
the chain was always moving, great in a crash
drivetrain was a PITA to keep working
oil for servicing said drivetrain was £90 a litre.
prety much every part was proprietary, and super rare.
Hated my 2010 Spesh Enduro.
Ponderous in tight techy stuff, it did hammer on down anything fast though to be fair.
[img] http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/11638943/ [/img] [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/11638943/ ]OnOne Scandal V2 29er[/url]
Built this OnOne Scandal 29er from parts. It was fast but really boring to ride. Sold it a couple of weeks ago and replaced it with a 26" carbon hardtail (also built up from parts) - this one is way more fun to ride. [img] http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/11638352/ [/img][url= http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/11638352/ ]SAB Carbon 26[/url]
Scandal 29er is probrably my fav bike!!
If it helps Tom, I also hated it. Took it to antur for an uplift day and couldn't get the chain back on. It then snapped one of those special parts and got thrown in the garage never to be ridden again.
Those forks were amazing though ...
Cotic Soul, same as nickc above, stuck between sizes.
Original Specialized Epic, heavy and a disappointment.
I have an Inbred which I like, it's simple and heavy like me 😀
Dialled pa lasted 2 maybe 3 rides before I stripped it and sold it on to replace with another 456.
Top of the tree: Specialized Pitch.
I demo'd an enduro and thought it ws OK. It wasn't as good as the Trance, and I really wanted a Cannondale Prophet, but by then the bandwagon had rolled in and they weren't £1100 anymore, the pitch was on sale briefly back down to about £1400 so I bought it. Every single ****ing component had been cost cut to the point it was 6 months before I managed consecutive trouble free rides. Every single component either failed or was replaced due to being s***. It was also a size too small for me. A large Prophet would have been perfect.
2nd, there've been a few that weren't great and were replaced with better bikes, but I didn't actively hate them at the time. My first Carrera Fury arround 2003 was way too short for a 21" frame (the later Carrera's were great bargains this on just suffered with almost CX geometry), the DMR switchback was ahead of the game but not as developed geometry as the 456 that replaced it, it did ride nicer though. My medium Swift was a bit small, my large El-mariachi isn't as nice a ride (but takes a tapered fork). And my chumba HX1 is still in it's box never been ridden, I don't know why, I think I resent it for the number of times I broke my arm on other bikes after buying it and now never want to ride it! Planning on selling it any maybe getting something similar just becasue I don't 'want' to ride it.
Airborne Lucky Strike
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/192/505674568_ed82474253_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/192/505674568_ed82474253_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LFHr3 ]Airborne Lucky Strike Sep 03 - May 04[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Sold my Santa Cruz Superlight because this would be a better all rounder. Yes, I realise that rationale is a bit odd. Anyway never got on with it, felt twitchy and nervous. Tried it with a longer fork. Made it worse
Ellsworth ISIS
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/209/505669956_ddd4b24d84_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/209/505669956_ddd4b24d84_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LFG4w ]Ellsworth ISIS - April 04 - June 05[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Tried that with a longer fork as well (a pattern emerges) as it always felt a bit undergunned. It didn't improve it.
Voodo Wanga
[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2104/2111101008_e3a4b3b7bb_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2104/2111101008_e3a4b3b7bb_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4dxWMf ]Voodoo Wanga[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/60876362@N00/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
Lasted one ride. TT too short but mainly it was the day i decided I hated singlespeeding.
I kind of agree with NickC on the soul (although my M solaris fits way better) and I loved my 2009 SX trail.
A few years ago I bought a Specialized Epic FSR, principally to try and enter events held on fire roads with other like-minded lycra devotees.
The bike was possessed by a malevolent entity. Spokes repeatedly punctured inner tubes but this was nothing compared to the evil handling. You know how a good bike will seemingly respond to the rider's thoughts, well this thing would punish you just as fast if not quicker.
Eventually I gifted it to Mrs Digga, thinking she should be safe enough on it riding the fairly easy trails we ride together, but it developed a hatred for her too and spat her over the bars hard enough to crack (I should mention at this point that Specialized helmet crash repair program is excellent) her helmet and suffer several hours of headache.
We're I blessed with a conscience or any shred of social responsibility, I should have burned the bike with fire, but instead I sold it to its next poor, unsuspecting victim.
I've been really surprised reading this thread.
There have been bikes I've loved more than others but each has had enough positive points to make it enjoyable in its own right.
I've learnt in 20 years of mtb'ing that there's no allrounder (although modern tech is getting us closer). Get an XC bike that'll batter the hell out of you on the way down or a full sus that'll a pig going up but worth it when the trails head down.
Having said that, the bike I loved least was a Cannondale F3000SL. An ex-team bike. Carbon lefty, absolutely dripping in bling but it felt like it was trying to shorten my spine. Ridiculously stiff. The stiffness though translated into an absolute speed-machine on the 'soft' 90's XC courses.
I have great memories from rides on that bike, as with every bike I've owned. There are better bikes and worse bikes in the world but, [b]two wheels good[/b]
[img] 
[/img]
Another vote for Giant xtc 26"
heavy, short top tube (my fault I suppose) and would not go round a corner without throwing me off. tried everything to remedy - bars, stem, tyres but no use. Finish was crap. a ride on an Anthem and Trance restored my faith in Giant to make a decent bike
Apart from the Genius these are perhaps better described as bikes I didn't get on with rather than hate.
Lapierre Zesty - As with one of the first posters I had issue with the seat angle putting me to far back making steep climbs a pain. Fast going down at trail centres, didn't like tight twisty stuff. Several warranty issues culminating in getting at 2011 version which wasn't any better performance wise.
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3613/3625951652_9fb50bef36_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3613/3625951652_9fb50bef36_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/6wpX6N ]Lapierre Afan[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/27678965@N00/ ]Cheers Drive[/url], on Flickr
Dialled PA - Unresponsive and harsh, OK at trail centres but boring in the woods.
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3530/3258336956_ffb79ea1a2_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3530/3258336956_ffb79ea1a2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/5XVQ4o ]PA on snowy trail[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/27678965@N00/ ]Cheers Drive[/url], on Flickr
Croix De Fer - Actually not too bad in the woods but on the road it was wooden and unresponsive. Looked lovely though.
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8459211084_9c96509c9f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8459211084_9c96509c9f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dTvEJY ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/27678965@N00/ ]Cheers Drive[/url], on Flickr
But the worse one was definitely a 2004 Scott Genius, that will teach me for buying a WMB bike of the rear. Unresponsive suspension, stupid seat angle, bearings that last a few months, propriety shock that never gave up it's travel and often broke. So bad that I haven't even got a photo of it.
Having said that, the bike I loved least was a Cannondale F3000SL. An ex-team bike. Carbon lefty, absolutely dripping in bling but it felt like it was trying to shorten my spine. Ridiculously stiff. The stiffness though translated into an absolute speed-machine on the 'soft' 90's XC courses.
Wierdly, I liked 'dale for precicely that reason. Paid £300 for it 2nd hand with some continental supersonic tyres and V-brakes. Weighed almost nothing once I;d removed to thworst of the OEM kit and went like a rocketship due to that stiffness. It was so stiff it gave the impression it was actualy trying to push me forewards!
I'd love a new F29 or similar if it was that good but I suspect they'll have tamed it down.
My vote goes to a Jones Spaceframe, I couldn't get on with it. One size does not fit all. Def didn't hate it, you could tell it was an awesome bit of kit, but kept reaching for the Inbred or fixed Karate Monkey.
Also didn't get on with Genesis IO (wooden)', Scandle, 853 On One, 16" Overbury, although the 18" is brill......
Yeti asr 5.
Just didn't get on with it at all.
So bad it must b me!