5 Reasons You SHOULD Buy a 90s MTB!

The reasons why I think you should buy a 90s mountain bike
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[@oldshovel]

Awesome. I love the different perspectives. “Like adult legos.” Awesome

[@robkristoff5394]

Have always described my bike/parts bin to my wife as grown up legos. :)

[@m.talley1660]

Old enough (OG retrogrouches) viewers would find adult "erector set" suits as well.

[@heathenshaunt681]

The difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys 🤣🤣🤣

[@leica842]

And I thought I had this "original" argument for my wife, Lego for adults! LoL. All I can say is that great minds think alike!

[@LordHolley]

lol, I like that.

[@noelbrown6771]

The biggest reason to get a 90s mountain bike for me is finding a great chrome moly frame. There are some outstanding steel frames out there that should be getting ridden but aren't. Not any steel frame. But those built from high quality dbl butted chrome moly by the great designers of the lost art of frame building. These frames were created with compliance and resilience that is a joy to experience. Do your homework and locate one of these special bikes with the right geometry for your purpose, maybe put on some riser bars and tinker till you have your own special ride.

[@martinkrautter8325]

Double butted is for beginners ;-) True Temper OXII for the win, triple butted! (as used in my 1996 Gary Fisher x-caliber trailworthy resto-mod)

[@noelbrown6771]

@@martinkrautter8325 True, lol.

[@kbd13-n9c]

Lost art? Man, there are frame builders out there doing amazing things now. Don’t insult them.

[@mikekrasovec6390]

Fancy tubing is great but is surprisingly over emphasized with regards to ride enjoyment, capability or durability. Appropriate design, fit and frame alignment effect riding enjoyment of a bike far more than the tubing sticker. Once upon a time the most hyped up steel tubing was round straight gauge (without the option of ovalization) named Aermet.

[@noelbrown6771]

Hey, does anybody have some 90s mountain bikes that you can recommend for those interested in getting started? Hopefully bikes that would be ridden.

[@markholm7050]

Yes! Russ is becoming a retrogrouch. Sheldon Brown’s spirit lives!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Becoming? 😀

[@Collaborator7]

@@PathLessPedaledTV Sheldon Brown left some big shoes to fill. he was always my source for 70's French bike boom info, but now that I have gotten into 80's and 90's mountain bikes and also pre war American cruisers, I see he documented those too. Keep up the good work Russ!

[@garysprojects]

Thanks for the shoutout! I think it is always great to share different opinions & discuss even if people don’t always agree - because that’s how we all learn at the end of the day, and people can weigh up both sides for themselves! nice vid cheers! 👍

[@MrSchattka]

Indeed, my 90's MTB has perfectly functioning shifters (3X7, Shimano XT) and brakes. These components are bullet proof.

[@tobygreenwood5036]

My dad's 90s Peugeot ATB (XT) shifts better than my 5 year old hybrid and the only parts he's replaced are cables, quality kit

[@kbd13-n9c]

@@tobygreenwood5036 so his bike from the 90s probably cost the same (back then) as your bike does now. It should be better.

[@tobygreenwood5036]

@@kbd13-n9c true, but I recently bought a surly and I don't expect that to be in perfect working condition in 25 years

[@michaelhaney3388]

Have a Ritchey P22, Rides great.

[@johnsheetz6639]

Yeah it kind of bothers me when some of these rebuilders take that beautiful three-piece chain ring you know the one I'm talking about the silver stainless or aluminum I'm not sure which once and make a one by out of it. Why Pay money to have less gears? I'm not going to ride that hard to slap the chain off.

[@jp93309]

The last reason is absolutely true for me. I picked up the wrenching hobby during lockdowns. Nothing has been more satisfying than getting around the parts shortages, tearing down, cleaning, lubing and rebuilding a vintage mtb to its newfound glory. Plus there’s a whole supportive community out there with Oldshovel, Gary’s Projects, monkeyShred and Toasty Rides just to name a few.

[@jayewright6359]

I bought a 90s Gary Fisher for all the above reasons. During the pandemic, I needed a frame that fit my now 4'8" elder woman height, and something I could learn to maintain on my own, since I ride solo most of the time. With the help of my bike geek brother-in-law, and my local bike shop, I have rebuilt a nice, comfortable bike for riding rail-to-trails, and can climb the hills of the paved state highways between myself and the trails. It doesn't have all the braze-ons of touring bikes, but I don't pack as much as I did in the 80s and 90s when I did week long rides. It's a solid ride, but on my lazy days it's great getting out my very first new bike purchase from 1985, my Cannondale road bike with a big ol' granny gear, and really moving out with wind in my hair (preferably at my back!)

[@ZoranRajak]

30 years old Marin Team Marin, Tange prestige with xt components, is my one and only bike last 19 years. Pure joy to ride.

[@quadrigacars2776]

I had a team Marin Nice bike

[@StaggerLee68]

I'm, collecting all of the small ones of my old fav's as possible. They must be saved and loved.

[@smoothitalianleathereater6045]

I just got an old diamondback response sport, and I'm having the time of my life seeing what fits on it, coming up with cookey ideas, and just building a bike I want to ride! It's teaching me so much about bike maintenance I never knew too!

[@bob-o9865]

That’s a good bike! I had one until some s.o.b. stole it

[@peppermintpig974]

Welcome to the diamond back club! 💪💪

[@rechuckg]

I love the old mountain bike that I bought and redid 10 years ago to this day. It is a bit heavy but bomb proof. Rides really well street or trail, on sunny days, rainy days and snowy days as well as at night. It was fun to convert it to the all rounder that it is with an internal 8 speed, front dyno - drum brake, roadster bar, B67 and the ability to carry lotsa stuff with mostly parts bin bits and pieces.

[@alexmiller1658]

I recently bought a 90s cannondale MTB, and at first I thought I hated it. After getting some more miles in the saddle though I'm absolutely head-over-heels for it. Its versatility is astounding, perfectly good for a comfortable commute thanks to the 2.3" Rene Herse tires, but nimble and capable of flattening steep hills and off-road shenanigans. Truly a do-almost-it-all bike that puts a big stupid grin on your face every time you ride it.

[@ronwhite8503]

I love 90's MTBs, I have three Konas, but have recently rediscovered 90's hybrids. I bought a Trek 750, double butted tubing, full STX groupset and 700c wheels for £40, in cracking condition. It rides a treat!

[@davetbassbos]

I was just looking at a 98 Trek catalog, so those MultiTracks are basically rugged road bikes with a flat bar and more tire clearance?

[@rickc303]

@@davetbassbos yes, I have a 1996 720 and it's such a gem

[@SMenkveld]

The early 90s hybrids were quite often that manufacturer's one-and-only touring frameset with flat bars, semi-knobby tires, and new stickers. I had a 1991ish Cannondale H300 hybrid, that I bought for under a hundred bucks, that had the same frame and fork as the T2000 full-dress touring bike from the same year. The 1990-1994 Trek MultiTrak bikes are the same, only in True Temper steel instead of aluminum.

[@davetbassbos]

@@SMenkveld Interesting, I saw the Trek 520 touring model in the 98 catalog probably not that different from the current 520 touring model aside from the disk brakes. I ignored the hybrids at the time because of the old person image, but now that I'm old, they look they would make great commuters!

[@chasemanley848]

@@davetbassbos Trek just quietly discontinued their longest running touring model - the 520. In fact they no longer make ANY steel bikes - they dropped steel from their lineup because the marketers convinced the masses that aluminum is the best. It's a damn shame. Source - I work for Trek and desperately wanted a new steel 520 frame but cannot get one.

[@StanEby1]

Alexander Pope who was my favorite poet while I was in High School, created so many quotable lines, like the couplet, "To err is human, To forgive divine," also said, "No one should be ashamed to admit he is wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." In your case, you were not really wrong, you just produced an unfinished essay that needed a sequel. You were already very wise. Now you are wiser. Your recent video scenario also illustrates that one of the most wonderful, valuable phrases in the English language is, "on the other hand." All the best.

[@JohnMFlores]

I bought a 90s mountain bike...in the 90s! And it's in my basement. Hoping to add a 650B fork with disk brake bosses and bikepack with it.

[@matthewsaunders4820]

Turned my 90s Crossroad Specialized into a touring bike. Lots of gear space, holds 700c wheels, and wide tires. Perfect touring bike for crossroad adventures

[@cuspid001]

I recently added a 1983(!) Trek 850 to my herd and I absolutely love it! It takes me back to my teenage years when I first fell in love with mountain biking. For me, there are definitely more smiles-per-mile on my old school ride than any of my newer bikes. Cheers to the joys of riding.

[@TheDecguy]

My newest bike is an old bike, my older bikes are even older. Thanks for the pep talk!

[@HistoricalWeapons]

Moms a landlord with tons of these for me…for free

[@kefkalon]

I went on a steep learning curve putting together a revamped GT tequesta in 2020. It has taught me a lot about bikes. As a project, it was worthwhile for the experience.

[@Phrancis5]

Such nostalgia for this GenX'er. I really miss my old college Trek MTB. Heavy and inferior in many ways, but had a lot of fun on that thing. Maybe my fondest memory is really just being young, invincible and with fewer responsibilities or body aches...

[@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind]

I just score a 1991 Rocky Mountain Hammer with Ritchey logic super tube set and it comes with Suntour XC ltd groupo that I never even knew existed. and here you are with a bike that has the same brakes.

[@imrevadasz4564]

There is another quite similar category of bikes from the 90s, which is the "cross/hybrid" bikes of that time. With 28" wheels, but also using all the MTB components and also often using the same kind of high-quality tubing. For example, I got myself a Panasonic CB-4000 mixte from the early/mid-90s, with Tange Infinity tubing. These tend to be much easier to get for a good price here in Germany.

[@brainrottedindividual]

i bought a frame like this for 15 quid. the owner said it takes 700c wheels but it looked like a mountainbike frame to me? anyways it's a 700c for sure but all the other measurements are like mtb standard. the guy recommended i build a gravel bike out of it. it's still laying around in parts cause i'm missing a bb and some other stuff.

[@VailSkateSupply1]

I have a ‘96 Gary Fisher and it’s great! Fully rebuilt with a 1 x 10 drivetrain and a long travel fork gets the front up. 👍

[@teaniner]

Nice job! 90’s MTB are just a fun bike to enjoy a ride.

[@shandke]

I started out on a 90s mountain bike and it was stolen! I’ve considered buying it all over again … even for the same price I paid back in 1995. But I still haven’t been able to. I really miss that bike!

[@arthurschierhoff6485]

I recently purchased a 90s mountain bike. I use it for commuting , errands and leisure riding and am enjoying it. May try bikepacking.

[@scottcopeland7457]

I still love and ride my 1999 Oryx 125 MTB. Added ATB swept back bars and planing on adding friction shifting with a clutch derailleur. Keep up the great work Russ.

[@767bob]

Thank you! On your other video I had to bite my tongue and see if there was going to be a change and you pretty much hit the good stuff on 90's mtb. My go to bike for the past 25 years is a 1992 Trek 950 set up with drop bars, bar-end friction Suntour shifters, fenders, rack, lights and bags. My true allrounder, gravel, trails, street, commuter, touring bike. I have also ridden on quite a few 100k to 200k brevets on it. Not the fastest but the most no worry bike I own. And my final say on these bike, it the easiest to maintain.

[@teodorocalalo6744]

Mtb 90s had durable bike components despite it is old and the patina of the old chromoly frame is still amazing... Great bike project for those who loves retro😍⭐⭐⭐🤙

[@knife1406]

its a great list, i would of talked about the practicality of the bike more but all your points are why I like mine. It's nice knowing you can built up a really great bike and it'll last so long that you can probably pass it on to someone else and it'll last for them as well.

[@Jacksparrow4986]

Something like long-term economics or sustainability should be included, yeah.

[@knife1406]

@@cjohnson3836 what parts? theres always going to be rim brakes and shifters by companies like microshift or sunrace

[@knife1406]

@@cjohnson3836 do you want me to also say that theres always going to be people selling wheels and tires and stems too, maybe even pedals

[@Jacksparrow4986]

@@cjohnson3836 what parts are you thinking of? I recently ordered a casette (8x) for a 90s bike and found it cheaper than a 10x would be. Friction shifters give you a lot of flexibility and you don't have to stick to period-correct parts if you just want to ride.

[@Ty-er5ok]

In 2011 I turned my 99 Specialized Hardrock mountain bike into a cargo bike with a Xtracycle FreeRadical conversion kit, Surly rigid fork to replace the RockShock, CETMA 5-Rail front rack, Stokemonkey mid-drive electric assist kit, Velo Orange swept back bars and... some other stuff I'm forgetting. It works great! I can haul tons of stuff and I can climb 20-25% grades with a passenger on the back. I I love it.

[@emhezmfe]

Love the old MTBs, save one thing: rim brakes. That would be non negotiable for me. Would have to convert to disk.

[@kem0654]

yeahh i think so!

[@yateswebb]

Lol. Love some controversy and also love you being a funny/good sport and never taking KZbin too seriously. :)

[@cdmiller51]

My wife has a Trek Antelope 800 that she doesn't ride anymore. I have fiddled with it and added a rear rack, I even put Christmas lights on it last December. I'll jump on it to go to the grocery store, post office, or any other short ride. I've thought about changing the saddle, and handlebars, but not sure what direction to go. This has been a fun debate. Thanks for stirring things up a bit. 🙂

[@uniquenamegoeshere2263]

I live on the east coast and have rescued my share of great old bikes. It’s so rewarding bringing a cast aside bike back to life. I have many rescued old steel bikes, two have Reynolds 531 frames.

[@edwardcromarty891]

Looks good. One Item I find a true luxury on rough roads, if you don't mind an extra pound, is your favorite type of suspension seatpost, along with your favorite saddle. You can change the seatpost anytime depending on your ride. You did forget one reason that is perhaps the most important. The 90's MTB is friendly. You can ride with friends in town, country roads, or on rail-trails in a social manner. A girlfriend or just a friendly comrade may want to ride with you, that is far more important than how fast you go. It is good you can ride comfortable, so your friends enjoy the ride.

[@cosmicwav]

I recently got a Schwinn Paramount 30 PDG, it's a beauty. I agree they can be adapted to mostly anything you want.

[@briw4647]

I still own my haro extreme full suspension mtb, from 1997. Its in great condition I must admit. The frame is rock solid. I recently completely slipped it down and fully upgraded it, except for crankset snd derailleurs with worked fine. Now has front air shock, full disc brakes, new rims and xc tyres, dropper post and rear air shock. Was a great project and works great

[@sean9374]

I still have the 88 Schwinn ProjectKOM I raced in the 80s/90s, the 88 Schwinn Cimarron I toured on and the 93 Zaskar I raced in the 90s. Original owner, all 3 American. Still love riding them as much as my newer bikes. I have converted a few 90s to 650b road wheels and drops for some cyclocross fun.

[@sharikmarius]

I had the 87’ Cimarron back in college. Loved that bike!

[@thomaswagner3885]

I have 3 90s mtbs. A Panasonic Team 1989 a specialized hard rock 1994 a sprick mtb 1994

[@jongeddes09]

I recently got a '93 Norco Cherokee that was in absolutely horrid condition. It suffered from several decades of neglect and abuse however... The frame set was still in good condition. I mixed and matched all the rest of the parts from my parts stash and inadvertently built the smoothest operating and rolling bicycle I've ever ridden. Everything is absolutely dialed, even the old center pull brakes, and I can't get enough of it! It started out as a 3x7. It's now a 1x8 with a Shimano 8 speed thumb and forefinger shifter (probably going to end up as a 1x10 when I'm all done) and rides on 26x1.75 road oriented tires. It's a blast and I love it.

[@nommchompsky]

Surest sign you've gone full Fred: "I'm starting to really like cantilever brakes"

[@mattyfrommacc1554]

My XT cantilevers are the late 80s versions, They cleanup and look brand new, Still and work great with decent blocks

[@davetbassbos]

Well this discussion has inspired me to look though some 90s MTB catalogs online. I will say the the dual suspension bikes look pretty weird, I'm willing to consider the current ones are better. But the steel hardtails are as cool as I remember!

[@johnbaca8692]

I too started to work on, and ride, bikes in the early 2000's. There were plenty of 80's and 90's bikes in So Cal. I started with hybrids, then Japanese road bikes, then mountain bikes. The mountain bike handlebars, shifters and brake levers worked well with the road bikes. I too think of bikes as a kind of Lego toy. I still have some frames and parts to play with when the mood strikes!

[@RyansuBike]

Amen Russ - good points. I do have some challenges with fit but I have short legs and a long torso so that is a big part of my issue. Love 90s MTB as a project bike and it is so versatile; commuter, all rounder, grocery getter, gravel grinder etc.

[@StaggerLee68]

Genesis geometry on the old Big Sur's. Might be what your after. Git one, mine has been brilliant mountain biking and bikepacking, on any terrain (for me)with some new school mods and a bigger front end. It slacks things out perfectly.

[@notanomad9320]

One of my favorite 90's mtn bike is my Breezer Lighting which is almost as light as my Salsa Warbird. Full rigid and super fast on single track courses where you don't need suspension. Right now, I have some road slicks on it and use it occasionally on pavement. Take care!

[@bsa1969]

The 93'/94' GT Zaskar with the rock shox quadra is the high water mark for 90's mtn bikes imho, that bike still shreds.

[@vtwinsrbest]

My 2000 Gary Fisher Tassajara still going strong as an all around. Changed tires to Schwalbe marathon plus, changed seat and added a riser stem. This bike can do everything! Wish I could post a pic.

[@uniquenamegoeshere2263]

I’ve got the same bike, and I bought it new in 2000. It’s a great bike that I still ride, and use for tours.

[@nakitojimo2001]

I still got my dad's 1991 Marin Bobcat Trail 3 n the ride quality hardly change. Feels like today's flat bar gravel bike 😁

[@JakeLuke308]

My first bike touring/ bikepacking rig was a '92 Giant ATX 770. Fully rigid and fun as hell. It was an easy convert back then, but now it would be a project, which is always fun if, like you said, have the time.

[@CacheCropp]

I’m a novice MTBer, but can say there is a certain swag and character with 80’s-90’s MTB’s. They can be used for casual fun, for vintage looks, as a gravel or trail bike. Especially like the Made in the USA frames. Am currently looking for a small frame to build/restore for my daughter.

[@nipon56470]

Paint jobs are so much cooler on old vs new bikes!

[@miniorek]

still riding Scott comp racing 1997 and I love it.

[@stuartroberts6272]

4:21 but fiddling with your bike is part of being an enthusist

[@schmoab]

My first bike was an early 90s discount club MTB that had some nice Suntour components on it. I rode it almost exclusively on road/paved trails. Then I got another bike with a Judy in the late 90s and did a lot of shredding around north central Kansas. I’d like to get my hands on a mid 2000’s Gary Fisher, which I’ve been lusting after for 20 years. Perfect for riding around town and locking up and forgetting.

[@bigwheelsturning]

Working on an old bike is like taking a trip. It's it's own reward.

[@ih302]

I'm still rocking my Schwinn Mesa GSX circa 1999.

[@kjgeee]

Just did a resto-mod on a 93’ GT Palomar. Switched to a 1x11 Deore but kept the original Weinmann 26ers. I had to find a modern Shimano hub that had the exact same dimension and then un-lace the freewheel and re-lace with the Shimano freehub. Also switched to new v-brakes. This thing is awesome!

[@mattdrange4219]

Some more I'd add: they make for great lockup bikes! +1 on frames - .9.6.9 tange prestige steel rides great. Also, if you pick one that's easy - i.e., 11/8th head tube and 135mm standard spacing and a 27.2mm stem - there no wild goose chases to be had. A win win :)

[@tanstaafl1960]

With all of the online resources available today, I think scavenger hunt is a more appropriate analogy than “wild goose chase”. (Another former English major here). 😄

[@davetbassbos]

Good points about simplicity and parts longevity. I had a couple mid level late 90s steel GT hardtail with I think Shimano LX? Very reliable and great on singletrack. The single track hasn't changed and I'm not sure how one of the modern 1X-carbon-29"-tubeless tire wonders would feel any better on the trail? I put 1" slicks on and commuted for a couple years, people do world tours on what are basically 90s MTBs It's possible late 90s MTB were the practical evolution of the type, who knows?

[@FrictionShifter]

I was born in 1980 and by the time I got my first bike brand new it was a 21 speed Shimano, frame was Dignity I think it was steel CrMo circa 94. Whilst my dad bought him self not one but two downhill bikes for him self. A Panasonic MC-Pro DH and a Nishiki FS3. My Dignity bike was sadly stolen long ago but both my dad's bikes were still in his house. So during the priod of the first pandemic, I took a bit of time to see my dad's bikes and surprisingly all were in good shape and as per catalogue. Even still have that Panaracer Dart and Smoke from back in the days! Since then, I try to learn what my dad used to fix his bikes him self and paddle my way until now. 90s MTB has a place in my heart, for sure.

[@Hawk-qn2zk]

My $50 craigslist MTB is what brought me back to biking in general. It was the gateway for me. Now I have 3 more specific bikes!

[@robbchastain3036]

Now hold on right there, bud! There should be no modification of triples. Triples are triples and they stay and I'm pretty sure there is a sticker about that on the frame.

[@winterwatson6437]

the sword mountain double makes switching from 3 pretty tempting

[@robbchastain3036]

@@winterwatson6437 Thanks for your reply and of course I cheer any choice a rider makes for a drive train, just that I lament 3x being out of favor for no good reason other than people started hating the aero drag of the tiny ring, I guess. I dunno, I just like having three distinct power delivery options, race pace and party pace and contemplative pace. 😀

[@andrestorres-dr5cy]

Love watching Old Shovel restoration videos! Have a 97 GT Karakoram Clydesdale fork build. It’s a fun ride! Have a 92 GT Karakoram frame I’m not sure what to do with yet, but this gives me ideas. Great stuff!!

[@deezkayx1441]

I like the early Dawes full 531 double butted frame and fork mtbs, Ranger / Countryman etc, super slack, coplient and will take 700 x 50mm knobby tyres if ya like. Pretty lugged lightweight frames that look funky as hell with 26" wheels. Cheap alternative to a 26" Surly or Roberts frame and rides like a dream loaded up.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

Nice intro shot of the bars / friction shifter / brake handle. It's like art...

[@LeaveNoTrashBehind]

Someone was throwing away a 90s Trek Mountain XC 850 bike, and I've been modifying it into a back packing bike. You're right about the cantilever brakes, they're fantastic, and very simple to work on.

[@CrossFitProject]

Looks so good with the 650b

[@jeremyabbott2829]

To me the time spent working on a 90s mtb isn’t work. I enjoy it like some people enjoy watching a movie or going out for dinner. With a 90s bike you can modify it with modern components or try to keep everything original. It reminds me of classic cars in that way.

[@hippiebits2071]

Yes. Like classic cars but still doable on a tight budget. A lot of fun actually.

[@Liam__G]

I have a 90s mtn bike, but it's an Alu frame with rockshok fork. Trek 3000 maybe the number wore off. it lives on with 5 inch riser bars racks etc. I think it was a cross country model. it's now my tour packing mostly rail trail bike.

[@AcctgCeb]

During weekends,I still ride my old mtb mid 90's GT Tange steel chromoly frame and rigid chromoly threadless fork.Fitted it with Panaracer 26x1.95 tire and mavic rims.Using groupset shimano deore xt and cat eye speedometer.I still like it riding at least 25 to 30 kilometers.

[@grtchldy6561]

I bought a 90’s Mt bike for commuting and I’ve fallen in love with it. Yep had to change a few things like new handle bars, saddle, even changed the chainrings/crank set a few times to get just what I wanted. But I love my Trek, especially the fact that my model has the chromoly double butted frame! Very responsive though ridged. I’m a fan of old racing bikes so no shock fork. But it’s my go to city bike and have even done bikepacking with it!

[@remembertheporter]

I turned my old mountain bike into an e-bike with a bafang kit, I love it now as a cargo bike. (I still have non e-bike road, gravel and touring bikes before you judge!)

[@wescheslak9408]

Another great video. I have my / your FURTHER stickers on all three of my bikes. Thank you

[@ryankennard6626]

Reliability! I bought a 1994 Cannondale M300 new (same frame as all 1994 M series with cheap components). Used to have more time than money and figured I’d replace the “cheap Alivo crap” when it wore out… I still plan to replace it when it wears out! They are Adult Legos. Recently bought a 1990 Cannondale SM500 for $60. Everything was original except the paint! I’m having fun going through each part with a toothbrush, polishing compound, etc.

[@philipkalamaros3558]

Of course a few of just never sold our 90’s mountain bikes …or our 80’s bikes….. or our 70’s bikes…. N+ 1

[@blazz573]

Proud 1997 diamonback topanga first owner here. The only part not original is a rear shifter. The bike goes strong and I hope it will last another 25 years.

[@michaelaiello9525]

Never forgiving you for the previous 5... your take was so 'non 90's' vibe! In typical, Grungy, Gen X form I will hold a grudge.... until my next beer at the Bike Co-op.

[@sunesnigel]

I don't know if you mentioned it but the looks. They can look so cool and fast.

[@CaptainShiny5000]

Well, recently I got a hold of a year 2000 Cube limited edition MTB for free. Pretty nice - Rockshox Judy Coil fork in great condition, Magura HS33, IS2000 Disk Brake Mounts on the frame which makes a potential upgrade to disk brakes possible (although the HS33 are working flawlessly and performing fantastically), A-Headset. I managed to unseize the BB, did a complete fork service, put a 780mm wide Handlebar on and successfully converted the 3x9 LX/XT shifters to 1x9 with a 40T cassette and a derailleur extender and a proper 1x chainring. It rides far better than would have expected - it has a nice, long reach, a rather slack headangle and strikes a good balance between stability and agility. At some point I gonna put an airfork and a dropper seatpost on it. Maybe disk brakes but since the HS33 are still in great working order I'll keep them as long as possible.

[@virgilfulton4426]

I think one possibly overlooked thing about 90's mtb's is that they are much like a good pair of blue jeans, that with use, the nicks, scratches, and scars, those that were their before you partnered with the bike, and those that you add yourself, tend to add to it's charm. A not "wore out" but "wore in" outlook. So, if you are of the "using every part of the buffalo" mindset, then a 90's mtb might be the best bike fit for your personality.

[@ridgewoodvarietytimelivefr9008]

I preordered the categorical imperative sticker

[@90041hood]

😂

[@DIY-DaddyO]

Fit a quill stem adapter to take modern stems and you can run all manner of setups, even BMX bars which is the future FYI. If you’re crazy tall like me a long seat stem and bmx bars makes a small mtb frame something to behold.

[@rubenrebenz1000]

For me, building period correct isn’t as fun as creating a bells and whistles functional Frankenstein.

[@davetbassbos]

Also, no offense to the sturdy burro featured in this video, but there were also some refined and gorgeous steel hardtails in the late 90s: Bontrager, Kona and many more. Also the XTR groupset from that period was perfect if you look at it scientifically!

[@ShortCycle.]

Totally agree with giving 90s mtbs some love. In the UK and have just finished refreshing a free-to-good-home '95 Ridgeback 700series. Great quality Tange tube frame and nice shimano components & wheelset. I was a teen in the mid 90s and have had a massive nostalgia trip in sourcing period correct bars, stem, brake boosters tyres etc. It rides in a way I'd forgotten about after years on modern hardtails with alloy frames and geometry. It's just a shame it's a 20in frame and I usually ride a 16-17.5... top tube clearance issues means its likely going to be for sale - and probably at a loss unless I find the right buyer.

[@BruceChastain]

"adult bike kit", I like that one

[@anielyantra1]

Right On! Right On! Right On! ...and now I hate you for driving the price of 90s MTBs up with your exposure!

[@thebillcollector]

I totally understand the last video you made. Love em, lots to do regarding them. If you like to have a project going, do it! I also learned how to maintain a bike on my 1986 Trek Antelope. Finding them for cheap is getting a bit tougher, along with them not being readily available

[@andrewshaw7857]

The 90s bicycles were so universal if you have a flat tire or break a rim and you find an abandoned bicycle on the road you can always just swap out parts.

[@peterservo4802]

Now you're talkin! Will I be doing serious trail riding with my old bikes? Nope. To me, these bikes represent a great platform for building a bike that I want to ride. Being an un-racer is also part of it. I think a lugged steel frame is a thing of beauty.

[@tinycmo]

Just picked up a great bianchi ocelot for 40 dollars. Going to make a great all around downtown mtn bike that only needs a tube and a new chain. And a seat. And get rid of the twist shifters. And a complete take apart, scrub and regrease. New grips. New break pads likely...

[@coastalhillbilly3419]

I’ve bought a couple mid 90’s MTBs for real cheap, a Specialized and Raleigh got them both road worthy for friend to choose from, he wanted an all around bike but didn’t want a piece of junk nor spend a lot of money, he chose the classic black, lugged Raleigh Took them both out on fire roads and slightly technical single track, both were very impressive for sub$100 dollar bikes, (including steel wool and wd40 😂 but compared to my favorite era bikes, early to mid 2000s not nearly as capable.

[@radioseppe]

I got 90s mtb with 26” richey rock comp rims (singlespeeded thr rear) with 2,5” big apple tires, wonderful townbike or for a bit longer trip. Fun and easy and will last after the apocalypse

[@bensieber657]

Don't forget "old-school" geometry, which some of us still prefer. Most new rigid, steel adventure MTBs have modern geometry with slack head angles, low BBs and stretched out reach. Great for high speed bombing and rough tech, but not so great for all-day riding on easier terrain. Even "curmudgeon" companies like Surly have modernized their steel MTBs, making older versions of their bikes often preferable. At least they understand the difference, and bikes like the Surly Ogre have actually gone back to older style geometry instead. Disc brakes are really the only thing that makes newer bikes preferable. I don't think I could ever go back to a non-disc bike. No more iffy braking in the wet and ground rims for me, no thank you.

[@rasmusvedel]

Bivi bikes might be interesting to you

[@davetbassbos]

Good point, slack headtubes are for beer-bellied Harley riders (no offense to beer-bellied Harley riders of course)

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

I feel like Surly has hit the sweet spot between the old and the new as far as shredability and all day comfort. But I'm weird.

[@aestheticcruise8807]

After years of modern fancy mountain bikes with air suspension and hydraulic disc brakes. With the price of bikes nowadays that outweigh some cars and motorcycles, I bought an early 90s CCM shockwave with dual suspension, all original other than a more comfortable saddle in NEAR MINT condition from an older gentleman who couldn't ride anymore due to sialis problems. It was by SHEER LUCK that I only paid $250 for a pratically brand new bike from the 90s.

[@themarinman8339]

Your second to last point is my favourite. Although I may add, no time no money.

[@DivineMisterAdVentures]

Yeah - as you know - these are platforms for modding. ChroMo steel frames are great for welding, cutting, brazing, With lots of study you can very affordably upgrade them - certainly 33 speeds doesn't hurt - friction or not. I'm looking at a first-class bargain fork next. In all cases overcoming the hurdles of too flexy, junk wheels, and whatever has to be replaced, versus what is optional. There is a certain level to aim at from the start to avoid wasting money. - it is 11 speed Deore for now, and keep the front original. It's $100 that way. They never go obsolete or wear out. I invested in Mag wheels - $200 to finally kill all issues with hubs and spokes - and decent canti's - which I'm successfully running s on powder coated brake surfaces with no issues - just get the right pads. And I'm about to break out the welding kit to buff the frame where needed. I'm also determined to get that new fork to wear the old steering tube so it's a drop-in fit. Soon this former Antelope will be licensed under M2 in California and running commuter-style at 150 MPG. Reliably and safely. I can even suck the ethanol out of the gas. Turns out that's a big-deal to running well. And all inside of 60#.. This is my third 90's mountain bike in last 10 years. I did hybrid, gravel conversion, and road bikes before that. These things used to cost over my head at the time. But they were the best and most innovative thing going, just like the ten-speeds before them. But mainly it's the frames and continued upgrade compatibility - if you know how.