Show us your first ever full suspension bikes.

1997 Marin B17, came with RST Hi5 triple crown forks, but no pic like that on this PC.

1997 Trek Y3 . . .

Nice to see all the Marins, I've got a Shoreline Trail. Put me off full sussers for years.

Looked like this

My first full-suss was a Kona Kahuna similar to this one (can't find a scanned picture of my own one):

It was a fun bike but quite heavy and very active on the climbs. I replaced it in 2003 with an Epic (which I've still got) and the only other full-suss I've had is a 2004 S-Works Enduro, which I've also still got.

With a pro-pedal shock and some decent bits I reckon the old Kahuna would have been pretty good though.

Giant XcX DS 1

nice to see lots of them being ridden…

Just for you jambo:
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Looks like the 2003/04 Enduro is a bit of a fave

Here's another one then:

It might be getting on a bit but it's still great fun.

I still have this one, though it hasn't been ridden in at least five years. Shield your eyes…

It's a 1996 (or 1997, don't remember) Giant ATX990. Most of the parts are still original.

Chubby cheeks saddle in place because it was in "girlfriend's bike" mode at the time.

Original Cannondale Raven

Always regretted selling it, so bought another last year 😀

I always lusted after one of those Ravens. The carbon one was uber lovely at the time.

nice raven P20, still have my 1st super v in the garage rafters,bought in 1997, scary to think it was £1999 new with v brakes and stx kit!

i paid £1500 for it 2ndhand at 6 mths old…
still ride a 99 v i bought in 2001 now uberd to 150mm with a raven swingarm and 05 parts….still gets the job done…

Only realised it was too small after I bought my next bike; a Medium Meta 5.5.2#

This isn't an actual pic of my bike , but courtesy of some compo it was one of these beauties , in fact it was my first bike with any suspension at all. I went from a fully rigid M-Trax Raliegh to GT's 1999 flagship mtb 😀

Bought new for half price @£1900 in 2001

I think I just bought this off the classifieds! Well its another RM ETS-x, needed a lot of love, new bearings, bushings, shock, pivots, but hopefully it'll be good to go for the summer!

Not technically my first full sus, but the first bought with any intention of keeping for a while, the rest were all either half hearted attempts, or bought s/h and stripped for parts.

2unfit2ride – what was that bike?

Just found these pics of my RM Instinct. Other pic was posted in the "best bike ever" thread last week.

my first full suss – makes me feel quite old !

mine was back around 1979 a 20" wheel kids bike with dual crown fork, rear sus design similar to the cannondale super v DHs that came 15 years or so later, it even had a front disc brake but the forks were so ropey it pulled to one side if you used it.

first adult full sus I stumped up for was a shop deal on one of these in 1996. after racing 2 full seasons of DH on a hardtail it felt like cheating:

V. similar spec to mine.

nice, dinner plate chainring and beartrap pedals.

mate of mine still has an ally LTS in his shed, rides it now and agian…

I still miss it and wish I didn't sell it…….

Those Enduros look amazing. Probably my fav looking FS MTB ever, a classic. Wonder what they would ride like with a modern shock?

Actually, those Enduros ride quite well with a modern shock.

Mine had Pike Airs (a very popular choice for '02-04 Enduro owners, much to the chagrin of Spesh's warranty dept) and either a Romic or a PUSHed Float. Either way, the rear suspension was really, really plush.

In stock form they squat quite readily under power but a little judicious platform dampening makes the rear wheel track so much better.

epicyclo – Member

2unfit2ride – what was that bike?

Muddy Fox interactive, note the one shock for both ends 🙂

Actually, those Enduros ride quite well with a modern shock.

I've got an RP2 and a pro-pedal Vanilla R for mine and it's excellent with either.

Really liked my old 2002 Enduro … until it cracked 😯 but a secondhand frame so couldn't get warranty on it, really miss it, seeing these one's makes me want another, er, anyone got one to sell (not 2002 though as these were known for cracking :wink:)

Another Marin – bought new in '99 – shown here with lots of upgrades…

I was only thinking t'other day what a great little bike this had been to learn on. 🙂

Another Marin again purchased new in 99.

Giant VT2 which I bought as my 1st bike some 4.5yrs (?) ago.
Marins sure were popular. A pal still rides his (as above) as his only mtn bike.

GT LTS xc 1000 I loved it 🙂

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5120249/marksfotos/1.jpg

Another '99 XCR

Mark still in to She/Hes I see???

not mine as I didnt have a digi camera then, but a '95 Trek Y22 bought used in '97. A load of twonk (falling rate rear sus needed a rising rate air shock to get it to work, rear stays were flexier than wet pasta) and replaced with a '98 Spec FSR Extreme (again not my actual bike which was stolen 🙄 )

2002 Giant NRS Team

Love it to bits 🙂

Lovely thread – good to see the proflexes and original FSRs. Never owned one myself but had mates who did.

Anyone got a pic of a proflex with rigid forks and a flex stem?

Those giant NRS' have aged well!

like the gt's ( as well as the others)