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On the drive in this morning I was pondering whether to replace my ageing Heckler (idle dreaming admittedly). Whilst doing so I started to think about how bikes have developed from my first NORBA geometry Rockhopper back in ~1990.
So my question is: What interesting bike or component designs exist (past and current) and what makes them interesting if it isn't apparent?
So......
Pugsleys and Moonlanders (very "now" it would appear)
Banshee Spitfire (and similar) - Short rear travel, slack HA, pedal powered missile. When it was first proposed a few years ago it was fairly radical. Now it's design seems to be becoming a bit more mainstream.
O-O 456 and all it's descendants and cousins. I guess for much the same reason as the Spitfire.
Delta 7 Arantix - Carbon fibre cobweb bike.
Jones bikes - geometry and implementation
Salsa Fargo
Shimano airlines - would have been nice if they worked and were cheaper!
Pro flex stems - interesting idea but......
USE Sub forks
Gearbox transmissions (a la Nicolai)
There was a FS bike bike in the late 80's/early 90's called the Monolith. The designer then went to work for Specialized before setting up his own motorcycle parts business.
He also designed the Rebound fork that was used with it. Pretty amazingly looking bike.
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ibis bowTi - 5 inches of rear wheel travel in the ti frame, no actual pivots
O-O 456 and all it's descendants and cousins. I guess for much the same reason as the Spitfire
Which were descendants of the Trailstar and Trailstar LT I reckon.
The Ibis Bo-ti is definately an interesting / weird design. Not my cup of tea anyway
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Also these two fit that category i think. The Kleins generally had sweet paint jobs though.
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There was a FS bike bike in the late 80's/early 90's called the Monolith. The designer then went to work for Specialized before setting up his own motorcycle parts business.He also designed the Rebound fork that was used with it. Pretty amazingly looking bike.
Also looks like a lot of metal for a tiny bit of rear travel. I suppose it was back in the day though.
rode a charity event on one of these.....very comfy.
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Girvin Vector & AMP Forks
Also looks like a lot of metal for a tiny bit of rear travel. I suppose it was back in the day though.
Not really - the standard off the shelf bike was only 25lbs - the one pictured is fair bit lighter still.
2.75" rear travel
1.75" front travel
Not too bad then.. looks like there wouldn't be much movement there. Surpisingly light.
A simple to solution to a complex problem in the days before bike suspension was really understood [img] 
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rode a charity event on one of these.....very comfy
The Dursley Pedersen is a design classic, although it does tend to attract [s]loonies[/s] eccentrics.
Can also be used off road
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Or for racing
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Mountain Cycle San Andreas - Pin-up bike of the nineties, yes, but also ahead of it's time technically.