2003 VS 2023 MTB - 20 Years Of Change On Mountain Bikes

[@PhiLIdahoTaco]

You're a one brave person riding that bike on those trail, lol. This video got me thinking what would be the mountain bike look like 20 years from now.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Phil! It was so much fun, very scary to try and push my limits though haha. Yeah I think 20 years more will just keep seeing better and better refinements. It was trippy to see how all the little things added up to a different experience on trail, narrow wide chainring, clutch derailleur, cooling technology on the brakes, dropper seatpost, air suspension, cartridge damping, tubeless tires, tire inserts, wider rims, wider bars, 12 speed, shorter fork offset, carbon frame. Its so many little things when you think about it and im sure we will keep seeing more and more stuff like that moving forward! If anyone has any ideas on what the future holds throw them down below!

[@yodapig]

@@AprilRideMTB excellent comparison - although I wonder if it might be worth making a few changes to the older bike and re-running that trail to see if more modern component spec makes much difference or not? Obviously you can't change the wheelbase or wheel size - which are likely to be the two main things which limit the outright performance - but I think you could easily fit wider bars and bigger brakes, a modern [clutch mech/narrow wide] transmission and perhaps a dropper post too (and tubeless wheels together with more modern tyres) - and see if those elements make any appreciable difference or not? for info. I upgraded my 2001 San Andres in a similar way last year (including a 2016 Boxxer fork), and certainly I feel far more confident on my 'retro' DH bike now than before - although whether that actually translates into an appreciable difference in the overall speed over a run like that would remain to be seen?

[@Lyl321]

Question is, how much.😂

[@TwowheeledadventureVT]

I think that in 20 MORE years the improvements will be more nuance and much less improvement on decreasing the overall time. Kind of like iPhone, they can't get THAT much better is this point right? lol

[@joriz5869]

It will all be electric with internet 🤣😂🤣. And bikers will be fat and too lazy pedal 😁😅🤣

[@ScubaSteveCanada]

I started downhilling in 2001. Each year the trails improved making the need for a better bike. By 2005 I bought a Giant Faith 3. Started with the stock So1e brakes and quickly upgraded to Hayes 9" and added a chain guard (to prevent chain suck). 8" rear, 7" front suspension. I still have the bike along with full gear. I'm 60 now and no longer downhill. At least I could do the double black diamond runs with it. Cheers, Steve

[@drmoynihan]

It doesn't seem that long ago I was riding 26" tires with mechanical brakes, three front gears and 7 rear gears. Now, at 71 years I am riding a full suspension Commenencal. What a dream come true. Thank you for the fun - and I'm glad you came out of it uninjured. :)

[@TheCycle2300]

I rode a 26" DH bike for years, and I can tell you, you learn some very good bike handling skills on those old school set ups. It definitely helped me when I transitioned to a 27.5/29" bike.

[@LoneWanderer905]

I always rode a hardtail with a DH front sus (double crown and all) for more than 6 years, I think and ended up fucking loving this hobbie. To this day never had any crashes riding (while stopped, I did have someone crash on me, lol), and while I'm terrible at wheelies, I'm one of the few that I know that can bike for miles without touching the handlebars, with curves and all. Never ever went to a 27.5/29, though. Liked riding them, but nothing special; nowadays, I ride a "modern" 26 setup but still with some elevated handlebars and RST suspension (I don't do many mountains nowadays, but with some care and love, she gets by). Last year I had a knee injury and put together a motorized bike on an old heavy as f- steel frame so I didn't lose the pleasure of pedaling. Those things are fun as hell too.

[@mjasz4341]

I still ride 26" DH bikes and I love them. Basically indestructible and just fun to ride, even if a bit dated

[@mosaclipz6549]

Old Kona helped me so much

[@nasonguy]

Grew up absolutely thrashing on a Trek Y5. Put a Bomber on the front. Heavier spring in the rear. Absolutely abused the thing. That poor thing took it like a champ. Eventually cracked the BB and the rear shock pivot on a pretty dang bad wreck back in like 2006. Got married. Bad car wreck jacked my knees. Had kids. Another bad wreck jacked my back. Got fat. You know the story. Got back on a bike (a craiglist Trek 800) during covid and immediately knew I needed more bike. Saved up and bought a craigslist Spec. Rumor 29. It is absolutely insane how much more capable that bike feels. I know it's only a "trail" bike from 2016, and a women's frame at that, but my goodness that thing shreds compared to my old Y5. I feel so much more confident on jumps, downhill, rock gardens, drops, tech, climbing is a dream. I felt good enough on that thing to take a biking vacation to Durango and shred the blues and blacks up there, something I've wanted to do for 20 years. No doubt learning to ride hard on an old school bike in the 90's taught me a lot, but bikes these days (even a 6 year old women's bike that's too small for me) are so far beyond what the old school shredders used to be, that it is just such a dream to ride them, even if I do miss the "KLUUNNGGGGG" of bottoming a springer fork.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hey everyone! Hope you are having a good day and enjoyed the video! This was one we have been wanting to do for a while and honestly it was such a blast. Just for anyone wondering the brakes on the banshee did have new pads but old oil, and the fork had the stock springs but I would love to track down a stiffer spring and test it out again. Even though the technology has changed so much, its pretty amazing how well these bikes have aged and i would say the fun factor was just as high, even if the speed may not have been haha. Biking is such a blast and honestly this video made me feel like a kid again, thanks so much for watching! Kyle

[@ianmangham4570]

Sick vid 😎🙏🇬🇧

[@IndyPop24]

I’ll be on my 15 year old Cannondale for a while longer, considering the price of new bikes these days! Gotta buy my son and daughter cars first. I ride at Bogus and Eagle and it’s a ton of fun, which is all I care about. Loved the vid and I’m glad to see how much better bikes have gotten but my key takeaway was that you actually seemed to be having more fun in the Banshee. Once you got on the WFO, it seems like it got serious!

[@drumandbassking12345]

You need the 03 monster to really get the scream feeling nice, the early monsters are way too small for a scream frame.

[@Das_Ginger]

The trick with the open-bath Marzocchi forks is oil height and oil weight. I'd usually switch it to 10wt to gain some compression support (and then open the rebound adjusters to compensate for the heavier oil). Most important is volume or 'height' of oil. With the top caps off, compress the fork fully and measure the distance from the top of the oil to the top of the stanchion. I'd start at around 100mm, and then add oil from there until its hard to compress the last inch/1.5". To test your ramp you can reassemble the fork with no springs and cycle it through the travel. If its still easy to bottom just keep adding 10cc of oil at a time (think volume spacers but fluid). If you can't bottom it fully (with a firm push) then you have too much oil and will blow the seals. It can take some trial and error, but once you find the sweet spot it should rarely have that hard metal clank you experienced.

[@drumandbassking12345]

@@Das_Ginger that is a bad idea on gen 1 monsters. Gen 2 can handle 10w fine but gen 1s can’t, you need stiffer springs before messing with the oil weight on gen 1 monsters and shivers.. changing oil will just give a slower rebound and nothing else. Please don’t spread false info!

[@jasonlind6790]

My Banshee weighed in at 45 pounds. 2.8" tire on the rear and a 3.0" Gazzalodi on the front. It was the first "big bike" frame that I never broke. BEAST!!

[@ianfurqueron5850]

Fun video. I used to have one of those Monster T forks. That is actually a 2002 model fork. The 2003 model was beefed up a bit more and had 200mm of travel. The easiest visual difference is the 2003 model has the lower extend below the axle clamps. The Scream was a beast of a frame, although it wasn't really intended to be a race bike. It was more of a North Shore free ride bike and was built heavier to take the added abuse. I definitely agree - the big difference between the bikes I rode back then and my bikes today are the brakes. I still have my Yeti Lawwill DH-6 from 1998 and occasionally ponder making it ridable again. The big change I'd make would be to replace the old Hayes 22mm mount caliper with a modern flat-mount caliper and somehow squeeze in a 180mm rotor. Maybe someday when I'm not already buried in projects.

[@timothybrown1189]

20 year old bikes in need of service VS modern bike would be more accurate. Also rider confidence in his machine is a much bigger factor than age. You should do a test with a modern bike that you've never ridden to get a more accurate comparison. Also make sure the vintage ride is ready to compete.

[@Zeezu70]

100%!

[@chrisw5837]

Agree. Old bike needs to be tuned properly and adjusted so brakes work and suspension doesn’t bottom out etc. and the pit a bunch of seat time on it.

[@Vayth]

@@devfishe 100% agree! Back in the day, people like Tyler Klassen, Mike Kinrade, Darren Berrecloth, or Cameron McCaul come to mind, just to name a few. Those guys did insane stunts with their "old" bikes!

[@drewstreet4178]

100% I not too long ago got a steel frame 1998 GT Timberline All terra with rockshox indy s forks (48mm travel) took a week of constant riding to get used to but now I've got confidence in both the bike and myself and the fact I've full serviced and made sure it's spot on makes me feel good about riding it, I actually ride it more than my 2018 100mm travel xc hardtail, and I take the GT to same natural trails that alot of locals take 140mm+ travel full sus bikes to and I do the loops etc in similar times or just a hair longer

[@deeppurplefan]

Yeah that Monster-T is mad low on oil, the oil height keeps it from bottoming out. Springs are also probably too soft.

[@abrahamgarnica8264]

Change the settings of the rear shock, put it on the last bolt eyelet so you have more travel and twist the preload knobs on the fork. Ride quality will change a lot.

[@bkxc]

This was so much fun!! Glad there were no big crashes and you got to show off both bikes.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks, we're glad there were no crashes either haha

[@brendamyers4689]

I didn't stop smiling the entire time. Kyle and April, you are so much fun. I love your videos.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you!

[@Anthony74te27]

Amazing and funny to watch Kyle with the Banshee with his narration while bombing down on the back trail. It's also amazing how fast new bikes has evolved over 20 years. The Banshee and Iron Horse Sunday were legends of it's time. Great video Kyle & April!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah they are such awesome bikes! I would love to build up an iron horse Sunday at somepoint!

[@27lacuna27]

Evolution over the past 20 years has actually been relatively slow compared to the preceding 20 years. Comparing a 1983 bike with the Banshee would be a much greater contrast

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

@@27lacuna27 was thinking the exact same thing. Once we got to moto style forks, coil over rear shocks (Noleen and Fox) and disc brakes (properly set up) the evolution has been much slower in 20 years vs just 10 years prior to that era.

[@nrmlmtber]

Was on the edge of my seat watching that 2nd run. This video really puts in perspective just how much better bikes have gotten over time😮

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha its pretty crazy man! I honestly didn't expect the difference to be so much. It would be funny to have you throw down a run in the future!

[@5gvaccinator343]

Not really. The bike is in a bad shape. Suspension doesn't work properly. No way you could bottom out this fork with a parking lot test. Unless it has no oil in it. And brakes should not be overheating after 2 minutes. He was clearly afraid when riding the banshee. Santacruz did similar test with old vs new and the difference was nowhere near as big.

[@Dharbourbc]

@@5gvaccinator343 I agree, He was also breathing alot harder during the second run, not able to speak properly. the first run he was just cruising on an unfamiliar ride

[@AprilRideMTB]

@@5gvaccinator343 the fork had fresh oil, just the stock springs were too soft for a 180 pound rider. I think we are gonna give the banshee another shot and update a few parts and re film.

[@AprilRideMTB]

@@Dharbourbc yeah it was weird because I couldn’t actually push the banshee to the point that I had to have full focus without feeling like I was gonna wreck but on the modern bike I had nothing to hold me back aside from myself, I think testing the banshee with a few updated parts will be a good comparison to see the difference

[@kelvinhelmholtz]

This is my favorite video of yours. I've got a modern stump jumper, a 7 year old rocky instinct, and a 15 year old Kona dawg, the differences in how they all feel brings me loads of joy. As a total novice I find the biggest differences are from the wheelbase and the head tube angle. The wheel size makes a difference but not as much as the length. So, yes, more retro comparisons

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad you liked it, Kyle said he had a blast on the Banshee!

[@mylifeoliverking]

Best thing about this video was to see you flying again. Great to see you healthy and doing your thing. Thanks for the videos - inspirational but more importantly educational. Great work you guys.

[@zeyuzhao2520]

Great video! Actually would love to see the comparison between these two bikes after fitting a longer handle bar and better brake on the old bike. I am really curious to see how much of the improvement is made by the new geometry and how much is just better brakes & longer bar

[@justincutler5193]

Kyle's ride on the Banshee is exactly how all my down hill rides go: "This is terrifying!" "I'm gonna die!"

[@adrian_veidt]

Kyle, Rob dis willis, Jordan Boostmaster, Sam Pilgrim, Neil and Blake Samson doing a great job showcasing the abilities of these old school bikes

[@een_schildpad]

I'm still riding and loving the same 26" hardtail with rim brakes I bought almost 20 years ago. It's been funny watching all the trends come and go in the years since. The riders have changed too... it used to feel a lot more chill; people riding in a t shirt and shorts... stopping to drink water and chat with each other on the trail. Now most the riders out there seem almost too serious or at least not as chill. They just come flying through with their Lycra and expensive sounding freewheel, often not even saying hello in passing. Not to say that's all bad or good, just interesting to see how it's changed. When I started riding around here we didn't really have proper trails yet; we just rode dirt bike paths, hiking trails, and fire roads. Now we have custom built mountain bike trails all over! That's been a pretty sweet improvement :⁠-⁠)

[@Johny40Se7en]

There's a local bike track where majority of people are the same. They go up there, often using an uplift system because they're too lazy to ride to the top, and then just come bombing down the trail to get their quick thrill, then bugger off. Sad acts. There used to be a much nicer community with cycling, now it's a lot more toxic feeling, especially when you get the ones saying that you gotta have certain gear or a particular bike brand to be a "real cyclist". LOL. Snobby f*ckers 😆😅🤣

[@een_schildpad]

@@Johny40Se7en Arg yeah, the equipment snobbery turns me off big time. We get it y'all, you have lots of disposable income! I say, do you have a bike and do the wheels turn? You're good to go!! Have fun!!! Some of my funnest rides were on crappy department store bikes just wearing old shorts and with some water bottles in an old backpack. I've actually never owned anything that would be considered a "serious" bike... the stuff I ride is typically disparaged as "beginner models". If you need such nice equipment to ride maybe you need to work on improving your skills a bit haha. I've nothing against those that have money and want to spend it in that way, but what really ticks me off is when it's held up as stuff you need to be considered "serious". Sorry, I'll get off the soapbox lol

[@layspeed]

I just finished a '95 Kona Kilauea with a Marzochhi Bomber SL fork to ride my local trails with. It's no where near what my '21 Kona Big Honzo is capable of but the fun factor and versatility is still surprisingly high!

[@AprilRideMTB]

thats so awesome! yeah it totally changes the experience on the trail, its fun though, almost like you are trying to manage the bikes limits instead of your own haha.

[@layspeed]

@@AprilRideMTB definitely will make you a better rider in the long run as it forces you to utilize skills or learn new ones to keep from dying haha!

[@joneldelapena3959]

After giving the old bike a nice quick run and pushing yourself to the limit. That alone gave you more confidence with the new bike and made you quicker than you thought you will be. Nice vid, dude.

[@Ferrari255GTO]

"gotta start slow to go fast"

[@TheVTRainMan]

I wonder how much better it would be with updated suspension, brakes, and bars. I have an older mtb that I feel just needs some love in this direction. The frame and geos have obviously changed for the better as well (especially on DH bikes). But, it's hard to say goodbye to a perfectly good and solidly built bike that I love.

[@Spacepilot616]

Great video! Bikes have come so far. Love seeing your channel grow.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much!!

[@letsgo_inc]

Now that I have finished the vid...you guys rock. So good to see Kyle shredding and shout out to April behind the scenes.

[@gordonwalker8247]

good to see you back in good health and ridng as fast as before. love the classic vs new stuff too.

[@ls66]

That was fun props to April on her teleportation skills always being ahead of you as you rode the trail….. or maybe just good editing! What was it like pedaling in blue jeans that looked uncomfortable. I’m glad I’m riding new tech. Great job guys and I’m glad to see you so fit Kyle doing good!

[@SomeAngryGuy1997]

There are many great improvements you can make to the older bike. Brakes, dropper post, fork, tubeless, drivetrain etc. I wonder how that would do.

[@kevinclark9176]

Also sizing up on the frame for longer reach (and wider bars).

[@snowbunny1001]

It's soooo good to see you back on the bike Kyle. 8)

[@russmoore167]

Would love to see a comparison with an early 1990’s bike. I built a Yeti in 1992 with all first line components.

[@AprilRideMTB]

That would be super fun! I have a 98 Intense DH bike but it would be even cooler to try something from early 90's!

[@wb3213]

How much did it come out to?

[@KosmicHRTRacingTeam]

@@AprilRideMTB ok. Take that Intense (FSR copy) and build it with properly tuned Monster Ts, Brakes that actually work from that era and using discs with larger rotors, etc. chain tensioner (less ghost shifting), etc…basically let’s set it up like you are at the DH world championships and actually give a crap about it being in top top shape and ready to race the worlds. Then let’s compare.

[@DuPlessisHome]

Nice!!! That was arguably as much fun to watch qs is was for you filming it. Got my heart racing there for a bit. Thanx for blessing us with this video. Loved it!!

[@Getoutside2day]

Awesome comparisons between now and then on these two bikes. Todays bikes and suspension / frame design , with the amazing engineering has come a long way. Thanks for sharing your content.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much! Yeah its changed a lot, its pretty crazy how much the actual manufacturing processes have changed!

[@jcam4071]

Soooo cool this sort of comparison. Please do more. I remember when I was a teenager seeing pro guys dressed up in heavy protection and riding super gnarly trails and features in these monstruous bikes, for me they looked like futuristic gladiators and I aspired to become one of them, and now I´ve becomed one of them. I guess that dreams do become true, so never give up people, follow your dreams.

[@bicyclist2]

I'm old enough to remember when the Banshee was new. I used to go to MTB races in northern Michigan in the 90's. I still prefer 26" wheels over 29". Very interesting. Thanks.

[@Yuksta89]

Great vid. It would be interesting to see a comparison between a 20 year old top bike back in the day versus a budget bike such as a Polygon T8 which is a trail bike with less travel. This would confirm how much the current bike technology has moved on and improved.👍

[@NallePu83]

Maybe in future. Upgrade the 2003 Banshee Scream and see if it is possible to make it faster

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats a great idea!!

[@gymratt88]

agree.. prob need a bigger frame and it def needs sprung for you. .. those forks though.. sexy 40 mm bombers

[@joggadoggy]

Nice to see you fit and healthy again, and you need to be riding that monster! Reminds me of the 1997 GT STS I had.

[@BenBike]

Great video! Haha the old school outfit was so funny 🤣🤣

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Ben! glad you enjoyed! I was stoked to find that stuff on ebay!

[@kevinmontgomery9475]

This was cool to watch for me because I just resurrected my 15+ year old diamondback only to realize I needed a new bike. I am a beginner level rider and have found a ton of useful info in your video and can't wait to start using my newfound knowledge to improve my skills. thanks for all the great content.

[@mountainmoments]

I still ride a 2001 Magura Gustav M Brake in the front in the Alps for trails and enduro use 3 times a week :). Heavy, but very durable and an awesome system. In around 2000 the bikeark trails were much different to the ones today. Less wide, more rocky, less fast, so it fitted a lot more to these bikes with a way too short geometry.

[@AprilRideMTB]

That's awesome! Yeah, modern trails are definitely built for modern bikes.

[@maxxwedgemann]

A 2003 scream was my first dh bike. I rode it for about 4 summers with 720mm bars, fox 40 and totem forks, and more modern avid brakes from 2014-2018 when i treated myself to a brand new Banshee Darkside. I just have to say putting decent parts on that old frame made it absolutely amazing. Definitely recommend trying it

[@johnwarren9993]

Those Hayes brakes are actually pretty bad ass, even today. You just need to service them. I still run them on a hard tail that I use to commute and to goof around on.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah I had new pads but I think the 6 inch rotor in the back really held them back. I want to get updates done to the banshee and then try again!!

[@XR694]

Awesome video, would love to see more of this format. Great to see you riding again.

[@jimread2354]

The banshee timed run was hilarious! It reminded me of the scene from Tangled when Rapunzel first leaves the tower. "Whoo! This is a good run! "OMG I almost died" "Awesome line!" "AHH I almost went over the bars" "This is so fun" "This is terrifying"

[@AprilRideMTB]

hahaha

[@christopheravery1300]

I love you guys and your tutorial videos. Especially being a Boise native. I go out and use your tips on tricks on the same features you guys produce your videos with. Well I should say I try and use Aprils bravery and riding abilities, and Kyle’s tricks and tips. But these videos are just so much fun. Cool to see you to both grow and expand your videos across the entertainment platform! Kudos! Hope I see you guys on the trail sometime soon!

[@waynecallister2236]

Great video! More retro bike videos would be awesome.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Wayne! It was a blast! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@workshybum]

You could tell instantly how much quicker the new one was by how quiet you got on the run. Pure concentration. Really enjoyed this, especially seeing you pushing so hard, something you must have thought might not be possible again during the darker days. Proper happy for you, great to see you guys having so much fun.

[@mattbarca5399]

Brilliant video, I have a 98 Specialized FSR comp and love the bike! New bikes are a touch quicker but I still love the bike! Regarding the times, I do think the ppe would also play a part in this too as it wasn't as restrictive on your second run, therefore I reckon it could have helped with a second or two. Just my personal opinion on that. Definitely subbing to you and would love to see some different bikes compared to modern, maybe do a showdown of the best retro bikes.

[@micheandmikey]

This was fun Kyle!!! Makes me miss my 2008 Transition Dirt Bag with the Totem fork....I'd love to ride it and my Ripmo V2 to compare. LOL Thanks for this, and YES, more retro!

[@ron556x45]

Admittedly, it’s kinda fun to listen to Kyle actually be terrified on a DH run. 😂 Great stuff, y’all!

[@julianc.5545]

I did a somewhat similar comparison to this in real-time with a 30 year gap in the middle. Rode a late 80’s fixed-fork Specialized Rockhopper Comp hardtail until I was 14 yrs old. Then ignored mountain-biking completely for 30 years. Two years ago I rode a full-sus bike for the first time. Completely blew my mind. Fell in love with mountain-biking all over again. Great video. Shows the limits of old technology but a truly talented rider can still slay it on a retro horse!

[@mbeothy]

both runs are f*cking insane 😳

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks so much! I was pushing my limits! So much fun though

[@stevedesantolo6794]

So much talent! What a fun video for a Sunday morning! I can't even ride off a curb LOL😋 Thanks for posting it you two! More retro bike videos PLEASE!

[@paulm9340]

This is more of a comparison between a badly setup 20 year old bike and a modern dialed one. Your suspension is badly setup, you seemingly are blowing through the travel. I ride both a Banshee & several modern enduros (Ripmo/Slash/Spartan), and despite the weight and agility loss of the Scream, it feels as if you're riding on a sofa at bike parks rougher than the one you're at.

[@PatrickPecoraro]

Serious take it to a mechanic

[@gnmatsu]

Thanks!

[@VelkePivo]

You still see guys at the bike park who look exactly like this…

[@AprilRideMTB]

haha yeah! It was awesome getting to try out the gear i used to drool over as a kid, its cool to see it out and about today, i always wanted those old 661 pads and the banshee haha, maybe in the future ill just rock the retro bike at the park for fun 😂

[@manykeymk]

What’s wrong with this gear btw? I mean, it protects you. Last season I bought a pair of plastic shin guards and have never looked back, no more shinners!

@@manykeymk Soccer shin guards, bought for around 10$, are also my daily companion. One visit on ER and 11 stitches on my shin is enough for me ;-)

[@AprilRideMTB]

@@manykeymk nothing wrong with it at all really! The newer d30 technology has just made the older body armour kits seem a lot thicker and bulkier, i used to race with a nice g form under shirt and nike football padded underwear for the protection.

[@AprilRideMTB]

@ haha yeah i used to run soccer shin guards under my jeans all the time!

[@pedalstrkrmtb7716]

Such a great video! You had me cracking up with your full run commentary!

[@malcolmmulholland8671]

Kyle you have balls of steel my friend... taking that museum piece down a black diamond run!! I can relate as I just sold my 2004 Kona Stinky after almost 20 years...built like a tank but a rough ride. My new bike feels and runs a million times better. Such a great video my friend. A fun change from the classic "How To" videos. Yet still informative eg: clutch, fork rebound etc. Keep up the great work !

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Malcolm, glad you like your new bike! We plan to have more informative videos on how to work on your bike soon 😊

[@kosmoman54]

Love the video. It is great watching a MTB video that is not all POV. It would be cool to see the old bike get some upgrades.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad you liked it!

[@yukey2587]

Hi Kyle! Just over from Dr. John's channel. So happy to watch you kick butt on the bike!

[@jasonschubert6828]

Great to see you out on the bike again! An interesting (but maybe impossible) comparison would be to see how someone used to an old bike did on a new bike they had never ridden before.

[@ASha780]

Super cool video. Way to rip Kyle. Saw an interesting article about this yesterday, actually - some folks are saying the big innovations are done and now we're going to enter a time of incremental changes - i.e., good time to buy a bike without feeling like you're missing out in two years. Please more of these!

[@19kaneje]

Awesome! What a fun video. I love that you went full retro with the outfit too - jeans - really?! Would love to learn more about the differences in geometry over the years in a future video.

[@oldschooldude3500]

Awesome to check out the different in the bike world. This is also why I keep my old bikes. Just for fun and still ride them. Makes you appreciate the new stuff that much better.

[@arealcruz]

That little rock garden at 15:41 you easily cleared in this newer bike. Going so fast compared to all the older bikes.

[@garyanger3141]

Loved this video!!! Great topic and well produced. Please do more. My ride is a 2004 DH bike with a few modernized upgrades and I love it. This video has me curious to try a modern bike now.

[@benjamingass1688]

Glad that you are feeling stronger and back in the saddle!! Love the retro vs new concept - especially as they do LOOK so similar (as you point out yourself!)

[@JohnnyHMG]

Through those harder times, I somehow knew you would be back to this 😁 Stoked! 🤟

[@MrAnimal1971]

This was so fun! We had a Banshee come through the shop years ago, I wanted it so bad but it wasn't meant to be. It's important to remind us how far we've come. Thank you guys!!!

[@timmyreeves4546]

Amazing skill. I love watching your videos. I first saw you on Berm Peak and was glad I did thanks for the content. Great work, Kyle and April.

[@familyandfriendsadventures5782]

I really liked the pre-ride, sections being filmed by April, then the timed runs right after gopro style! It really helped mitigate the gopro effect and let me appreciate that trail a lot more! Great video! Would be a fun series!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad to hear!

[@claudiuluca2672]

Glad to see you back on the bike!👍

[@Wds__99]

Great to see you active and happy Kyle.

[@JustPeaceLoveAndKindness]

So happy to see you feeling well enough to be back at this!! Looking forward to seeing you and April back to living your lives again.

[@JB50713]

Knew it was going to be epic when you could hear Kyle in the intro "Ohhh my god"!! Lol

[@douglaskiloh7336]

GREAT JOB! As I age your comparison is reason enough to upgrade from my old bike even though it has been 'fine' for many years... awesome job you two!

[@07k20si]

I just wanted to thank both of you, my girlfriend and I watch your videos as she's just getting in to MTB. You've helped both of us improve our riding skills and made it fun along the way, appreciate both of you! Ride safe!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Great to hear, thanks for sharing!

[@evanstakyi6322]

Please I need one

[@dadventuretv2538]

Jeez man you were rippin’. As a guy who stopped riding in ‘99 and then picked it back up again in 2016, I love these kind of vids. Awesome vid- more retro please. Btw- I found make and model of my 90s mtb on Facebook marketplace and bought it. Was a Mongoose Hilltopper. Plan on doing some vids like these (at my speed tho) soon as I can get some time from work.

[@richards6065]

nice video! It's good to see stuf like this so we can appreciate what we have now.

[@AprilRideMTB]

It is a great perspective!

[@joriz5869]

My favorite couple on KZbin, thanks for the infotainment and si happy you have fully recovered from the clotshot...

[@peterwor]

So cool to see you both out and the video wag fantastic. Way to go you two!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Peter!!

[@2Old2Mtb]

Y'all are the best. Love that you don't swear and are so positive. Good to see April progress as she's my Mtb role model. I had back surgery in Feb 21 and back riding Mtbs in Feb 23 after a severe crash 30 years ago. Thank you Kyle for being such a competitive person, but also gentle and humble. Someone taught you well. Also, check out Ski Biking... It's wild...

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much! Glad to hear that you are back riding mtb as well 😊

[@faithg9766]

Brilliant, loved the commentary on the Banshee Scream descent!

[@GaryDonosti]

Great video, it's amazing how different the two rides went. I had a 2006 Scott Ransom and I remember thinking how fast it was compared to my old Stumpy. I'm not 100% sure I'd be able to take off 25 seconds on a trail with it against my current bike though. Wish I still had it, to try.

[@chinlomane]

that was super fun to watch! And wow you are fast on both bikes, but that last run had me on the edge of my seat lol.

[@joshuaziel6509]

Great video guys! I stepped up from a 2003 Specialized Hardrock to a 2021 Trek Fuel EX 8. It was hard to even describe the difference between the two it was so huge. It was great to see the side by side comparison. So much fun!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the comparison!

[@thanksandrew]

This has to be one of the best MTB channels on youtube. Love the effort you put into each and every video. Keep it up! :)

[@MartinMartinezOnline]

Been a long time since I have seen your videos. Glad to see that you are riding again.

[@akidna14]

amazing fluidity on niner wfo! very nice ride kyle. salute!

[@ericb4608]

Loved this. I started out on the first Specialized full suspension bike, the Ground control A1 from 1996. we used to bomb down mountains and get beat all to hell. the new bikes are plush and dreamy compared to the old ones. but the skill it took to ride the old ones helps tone when transitioning to a new one. we told a guy at the bike shop to try riding an old rigid and get good on that before riding a new full suspension. the skills would be through the roof.

[@kevinbaker9535]

Fun stuff. Started riding mtn bikes in the 80s. A lot of it was just about survival. Sooo much more fun now many bikes later. At 63, a lot my age have gone e-assist but I can't bring myself to ditch my 2016 Intense Tracer. It was "new" to me about a year ago and amazes me how each step in technology my riding has improved and speed increases. Fun vid. Great to see you riding and having fun.

[@austinado16]

59 here. Love my aluminum 2012 Intense Tracer 2, and 2016 Intense Carbon Spider. No interest in the e-bikes either. Part of the fun for me is the techy climbs. It does crack me up to see the modern 29s outclimb me when ridden by a really fit rider, and how they iron out the worst the trails have to offer, as seen in this video.

[@sthompsonsk]

Good to see you riding strong. You were flying over those gardens… wow!!!

[@cgriggsiv]

Nice to see that you two are still out and about on the trails and Kyle I keep saying it you did a fantastic job I'm picking April you two are fantastic pair I see such love between you two awesome excellent video take care both of you

[@jameshealey293]

Really enjoyed watching this mate , good test and really impressive riding

[@bnara1975]

Kyle, glad to see you healthy again. Fun video!

[@mrsmith4662]

Absolutely a great video guys - love these comparison challenges. You are a complete hero Kyle, how you stayed on that beast through the rocky sections, I'll never know and at that weight, it didn't like being peddled up hill much. You looked so much more fluid and nimble on the new bike, poetry in motion. The old footage of guys riding them off virtually cliffs was crazy (don't you try that). Thanks again, look forward to your next retro visit. Keep up the good work.

[@DrumguyCiv]

This is one of the most interesting videos you’ve done. Also, it showed just how good of a rider you are. Well done!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much!

[@chaleowin7732]

I fee like I broke bones watching this video, nice runs!I can't fathom doing this type of riding anymore. Gone are the days of weekend downhill blasts down the mountains trails of Colorado. I converted one of my MTB to electric for giggles, it's but 20lbs heavier now. I typically do some flowy trails on my fat bike which is loads of fun.

[@bigmikeshooter]

Really very interesting guys. Bravo from Greece.

[@MonkeyShred]

Nice ride! This is what I love to see - old bikes still being sent down the trails. I've got a '93 "full sus" you should try it on. ;) Elastomer suspension... 3x7... canti brakes. I feel fine sending them round my local XC trails but that trail... oh boy haha. For real though - great ride. Loved it.

[@birdman5jh]

Great video! Amazing to watch you ride Kyle! Just stunned at how fast you reacted and changed your line through the rocks. Also very glad to see you be able to exert yourself a lot more than even just recently. God Bless you two!