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^ My second best was an M500 in grey, looked amazing with anodized purple bits and weighed about 23lbs with pace forks, back in 1996.
Beast of the east was still the best name for a bike ever! Think it was an M800?
It's not my dream bike by any stretch - that would be a toss up between a Dekerf and a Curtis - but because it's rejuvenated my love for riding in the last six months I choose my Bird Zero. It's just so much fun.
Ragley's balance is ridiculous, I didn't think you could build a big slack bike that descends this well but still be such a brilliant technical climber, in the same year I bounced it down fort william then raced the glentress seven on it. Wish it was a wee bit "softer" and had a more dropped toptube, and let's have a tapered headtube while we're at it but still, superb.
Think the geometry on the mmmBop is about perfect for me. Would really a fancy a go on a Ragley Ti, think that would be even better (surely it must be less harsh than the mmmBop?)
If they made one I reckon a new Ragley Ti in a fashionable wheel size would be in with a good chance of being my favourite. Or maybe an up to date Blue Pig out of 853.
my 2002 cannondale F800 in matt black.
first bike i owned with both discs and suspension (lefty fork).
sold it in a moment of stupidity and have regretted it ever since.
my charge duster in kawasaki green though is also great (current bike).
1998 kona explosif 853. Still ride it occasionally and amazingly it still has the original bottom bracket. I can't imagine how many thousands of miles it has done.
Until I had my Cove a Stiffee it was my 456 Inbred but the Cove really is a keeper...such fun to ride and seems to encourage me to ride faster and over/off stuff that I probably would only ever attempt otherwise on the full suss with a full face on....that's how it feels to me.
I'm trying to think of the ultimate 140mm travel forks with nice thick stanchions 20mm axle but lightweight to plug in the front of it for when I explode the Revs that are on it at the moment.
I'm with you there Suggsey - I'll never sell my 2010 Stiffee. Running it with 55ATAs set to 150mm. In about 8 years time, both my boys will be big enough to ride my bikes (with the saddles down a bit) and I know for sure there won't be anything as good as the Stiffee any time in the future. So why sell it !
This did a lot of miles and trips away. Great bike at the time, bought a frame (Rock Lobster) a few years ago, but things have moved on since!
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Got to be my 93 Kona Fire Mountain. I rode it until the head tube came off a couple of years ago. Rest in pieces my trusty steed.
Vc
Sunn xircuit, loved that bike. Many a great days out on my Cove Handjob. Both sadly sold. Hopefully they are still being used.
My Coyote Dual. Still going strong after 10 years. Paint work is looking a bit tired now so am in the process of "rawing" the frame. Excited, kinda like getting a new bike. 🙂
Salsa El Mariachi. Granted I've only had it for a few weeks so it could just be the honeymoon period but I really love it. Already think that my full sus is going to be neglected this year
DMR Trailstar or Charge Blender for sure!
Kona Pahoehoe - first "proper" mountain bike, after a GT. Excellent geometry, pretty good spec, and rode it in a variety of awesome locations in the States.
Cotic Soda Mk1 (I think) - similar geometry, and was able to build it up as I wanted.
There is no finer thread than a "great hardtails we have loved" thread.
Chapeau, everyone. 🙂
I really liked my Cove Handjob, it was built up pretty light and ride really well, even if it was a bit short.
Fave current one would be my FF29, it was really stable on the descents and climbed well too, but of a shame I 'had' to sell it
I replied back on page 1 but just dug out a picture. I miss this bike.
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Cannondale Beast of the East '97 , still ride it now, it is light stiff and a joy ,Rode a 44mile sportive a couple of years ago on it . Love it
I have an even older Beast of the East that is in a very slow process of being reborn as a single speed. It's got a 1 1/4 inch steerer. I inherited it from an uncle who past away...back then I thought it was the tits covered in ano purple, Pace RC35's with an early Hope mechanical disc brake. I'm sure it won't ride that well when it's rebuilt, but it'll still be ace to me, just because.
Dialled love/hate. Built it up as a winter snotter when my good bike was waiting for a replacement frame and it turned out to be beautiful.
Whyte 19, I liked the first one so much I've got two more now.
Love my Sov and still use it.
I did W2 on it a few weeks back and it was tough going but fantastic.
Running big 650b tyres with a set of 36s... have it!!
2002 Explosif was good but not as capable as my 29er Mk1 Scandal
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chromag stylus
[i]Love my Sov and still use it.
Running big 650b tyres with a set of 36s... have it!! [/i]
Jeebus - What BB height does that come out at??
My stumpjumper m4 i built in 04 .... loved it and still miss it 🙁 .... still have the forks on a hack bike
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pic was end of first day build, still needs grips and setting up
Loved my old '91 Fisher Supercal.
I'd stayed retro for years with that bike and a rigid steel Fisher too. When I finally gave in to modern bikes (the Supercal died) I spent the next few years on various HTs and a FS looking for that 'just right' feeling.
However my current HT, a Cotic Solaris, has finally ticked that box for me. I love it.
Right now: close win to my old Chameleon with 36's over my mk2 Soul on 32's. The Soul is a lovely springy, fun and playful companion, but the Chameleon is just an all-conquering monster of a bike.
I'm really hoping my soon to be Soul 275 will honestly take the honours, especially as I plan to let the 26ers go once the new bike is Fact...
Currently this:
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Yes the hoses need tidying up and yes the brake discs are too small, there's no dropper, the forks are old coil spring items, it's still running 2 x 10, it's on obsolete 26 inch wheels etc etc...
....but i love it!
It's bombproof, nothing ever goes wrong, i can ride it through the worst of winter and just put it away and not get precious about it...i have larger rotors to go on in the summer, i'm not riding fast enough at the moment for the small 160mm rotors to be a problem anyway....
....its so good that i have the frame, wheels, bars, brakes and forks for a 2015 Giant Trance build currently sat around the house and i have no great urge to get it built...i can see the full suss still being in pieces in the summer such is the pleasure i get from this hardtail! 😯
My Airborne Black Widow on day 1 (2003).
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And last weekend still running the same Pace RC31 forks (2015).
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I've nearly let go of this bike frame so many times on the classifieds but thankfully no biters. I think its found its perfect owner.
pics because everyone else is! The old trailstar, bike I learned to jump on and rode everywhere before I tried a full sus and can no longer go back.
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My first Blender with Pikes, perfect match
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No Fatbikes yet?
Surly Pugsley(s) for me
Perfect bike for myself and my local back yard of Beach, sandy singletrack, regular xc trails. I got 3 built up now over 7 years,
All similar but all quite differant with wheel/drive chain (Gears,IGH. SS)and tyre sizes 🙂
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15722893013_df4fe83313_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7476/15722893013_df4fe83313_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pXnWji ]18th Jan; 014[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/33319577@N03/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
ECR style KramPug 29+
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/16341956062_24d96020c2_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/16341956062_24d96020c2_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qU5Nc9 ]18th Jan; 008[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/33319577@N03/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
Alfine 8 spd ratbike for commuting,shop,pub fat loaner bike,
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/16342821575_6c98e6836e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/16342821575_6c98e6836e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qUaetM ]18th Jan; 012[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/33319577@N03/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
And ridgid 29er hardtail, 29+, and 4" fat with a wheel swap...
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/16121762949_268b86e309_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/16121762949_268b86e309_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qyCfsa ]17th Jan 023[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/33319577@N03/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/15685501424_f6e1a97827_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/15685501424_f6e1a97827_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/pU5i6J ]17th Jan 020[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/33319577@N03/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
Rorschach - MemberYelli
This.
No Surly 1x1 love?
Might be the cheapest bike in my house but one I couldn't ever sell on.
First bike I built up for/by myself.
My Dekerf Generation, bought a year old and mint in 2000.
Bought to replace a nicked Cannondale Beast of the East, loved it straight away. I probably had some journo's words ringing in my ears about it being a "loveable fountain pen in a world of bic biros.
It's always handled beautifully, and always feels like it rewards and magnifies pedaling effort. some bikes seem to suck the energy and dump it somewhere else and you end up sitting and twiddling, because what's the point? I always try on the dekerf, because it's always worth it.
Been through the original Z2 flys, some marz comps, a respray (blue again) and headtube reinforcing rings at Roberts, some Reba teams, and now another respray (green) disc mounts and Cromoto forks and a drastic reduction in gears.
It was my only bike for 10 years, now it's got some company, but it's still the favourite.
dp.
But while I'm on, the Dialled PA Classic is pretty nice too.
Another vote for the DMR Trailstar here, here's my LT
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My cromo Sunn Tzar is the nicest bike to ride I've ever owned but my DMR Exalt is more fun to mess about on cos it's easier to hop and manual-
Tzar-
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Exalt-
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I did have a steel GT Chucker a few years ago which was quite good fun, and this (although rigid) is also a hoot-
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Definitely the Stiffee. Sold cos I wanted a decent a dropper on it and later got a Brodie Holeshot. Reckon I prefer the Stiffee though 😕
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Cannondale Taurine (Team colours of the day - white / black / orange) with matching mango CK Iso hubs on Olympic rims and Magura forks - 6 years old and still brings a big smile to my face every time I take it out - brilliant bike!
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I didn't really own it. All the kit was mine, but the frame was on loan for a while.
I'd say it was the best hardtail I ever rode, as it was absolutely unreal. Did XC races on it, and took it to BPW for a day, and it took it all. Then I rode the new one a few weeks later, and it blew me away. Should have bought one. Might still...
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1998 DeKerf Team SL, Pace RC36s, XTR & RaceFace Turbines
My '95 Kona Lavadome - this was its final iteration as a mountain bike - now a rigid commuter (with P2 fork) - must have done more miles than any other bike I've ever owned. Currently enjoying my 18 month old Soul. At some point I'll probably get on this new fangled full-sus bandwagon... only been riding mountain bikes for 28 years....
[img][url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/59/180979330_3980090085_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/59/180979330_3980090085_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/gZyRh ]Kona Lavadome[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/67057512@N00/ ]drjbscott[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/54/180979331_d486fbb287_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/54/180979331_d486fbb287_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/gZyRi ]Kona Lavadome[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/67057512@N00/ ]drjbscott[/url], on Flickr[/img]
had a few on-one variations over the years, but recently just can't
stop riding this one. i know old skool geometry, old skool wheel sizes
and old skool straight steerer but so much fun ... 🙂
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