A lot of what look like heavy and horrible to ride bikes here.
But I think that misses the point of the early hardcore hardtails, they were mostly meant for hucking steps to flat or massive dirt jumps!
You also need to remember that 'hardcore hardtail' used to mean 'a hardtail with more than 100mm forks'...
But I think that misses the point of the early hardcore hardtails, they were mostly meant for hucking steps to flat or massive dirt jumps!
Some played heavily on the North Shore origins as well.
In much the same way as a Land Rover advert shows it being driven across dunes and tundra whereas the reality is it will never encounter anything more dramatic than the kerb outside the primary school, you can sell overbuilt bikes to mincers by persuading them that it's capable of dropping out of a tree.
(disclaimer: I still own a Cove... 😉 )
I always wanted a 'Beast of The East'. Then after that, an Intense Tazer. But only the one with a Y shape front triangle.
Thought someone might have said Evil Sovereign.
Cove Stiffee, I remember vividly buying mine and building it up, taking it out only to be bitterly disappointed with it. Took it home and left it in the garage for a month. Needless to say I tried it again and eventually I improved enough to ride it. That was 2001 and I still have it, Fabulous bike. Also the .243 DH was such a fun bike to ride, set of Marz Super T's up front and a 24" x3" in the back was a real hooligan of a bike. Ah the good old days 🙂
I had a hankering for a Rotwild which never went further. Ended up with a different brainfart, dropping a small fortune on a brand spanking new superlight Rocky Mountain XC bike which lasted one ride before the chainstay snapped.
So, Rotwild? RDS?
In the early 90's Zasker LE though the mech hangers were made of soft cheese.
On One 456 Summer Season, many a happy hour spent on this, sold on a couple of years ago. Should have kept it!
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Just finished throwing this together with some C.2005 parts.
Thought someone might have said Evil Sovereign.
I thought I had when someone brought up Imperials. Oh well. Yes, the Sov is a definite contender.
@wysiwyg that is utter filth!
The most hardcore hardtail from 92 to 2020.
I would nominate a Whyte 19.
Said nobody ever. Not slating the bike, but it's hardly the definitive hardcore hardtail. I doubt most could pick it out a lineup.
This is my alpinestars cro-mega hardtail. It's hardcore due to the rigid fork and old school geometry including 1990's 130mm stem. 🙂
Great bike for fast singletrack though.
