1998 DH Bike Vs Modern Hardtail - 25 Years Of Change

[@BlackPixxelDE]

These old bikes sound like a toolbox falling down a set of stairs :D

[@snarkygnome619]

Open bath forks, chain bashing around no clutch derailleurs, bottoming out the suspension with a frame full of big clunky parts, tires hitting the flexy frame. :D

[@IdrisFashan]

I might sample it. I need some new percussion for my tracks… groovy… 😅

[@rikstar.]

They both do

[@freestyle88]

Yeah the chain is at full flap.. 😮 just trusting some little guide wheels to keep it on the ring…. Look at the coil on that thing… 😂

[@TAGSlays]

How can you even hear it with so much dialog over the top. I just don't get it. Do you really have to vocalize the run just to do well?

[@augenmaugen]

OH MAN. I’m 41 and seeing that Intense bike brought back memories of all my daydreaming as a teenager.

[@andrewburkholder3842]

bit younger than you but same. I've got an old iron horse DH bike this makes me want to dust off and try out again.

[@lukefreelandwillard]

I still ride an old giant. Still does me.

[@Fred_Clements]

@@lukefreelandwillard i run a 2011 ghost trail bike it runs like a dream ive put it on new slx brakes

[@pcvrx670]

I've been riding since 1993 and remember lusting after the Intense bikes. Thanks for a really fun video that brought back a lot of memories for me. I rode Toads in South Lake Tahoe on my Titus Switchblade around 25 years ago and came back last weekend on my 2022 Norco Range. Anyone who has ridden Toads knows that the upper section offers some really fun rocky tech. Even though that first ride happened a 1/4 century ago and memory is fogged by the passage of time, the difference in the bikes' abilities was pretty apparent. We live in a good time to be mountain bikers!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats so awesome! Glad it brought back some memories, yeah it's really cool to see all the incremental gain that has added up. The level of fun is always pegged near 100 but the capability definitely changes based on the bike haha.

[@kaluuuc]

Toads is great

[@BBurton1231]

I heard Toads had been burned. I haven't been down there in a few years. Is it all good?

[@wg2060]

Are you me? Titus Switchblade on Toads but around 99. Loving current bikes

[@jokermtb]

I actually ran a Shaun Palmer green manitou fork on my AMP bike back then….

[@Hfd678vcdg]

In 1998 I was doing DH on a Giant ATX 890, the Intense was m y dream. Incredible that it is now slower than a modern hardtail!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hey Everyone! Hope you enjoy this video, we tried to take a lot of the feedback from the first video and do a better job with this one. For anyone wondering the complete spec on the bikes in this video is lined out below. This one was actually pretty scary to make haha, the hardtail run tested my limits a little bit more than i anticipated. Also to try and make the comparison a little more fair, the day before we filmed, i switched the hardtail from full 29 inch wheels to a mullet setup, installed a different fork, and put on a fresh front tire ( eddy current) that i was not used to running. I just wanted to make the familiarity of the bikes a little more equal. Again this is just a fun series that I've wanted to try for over a year, and April has been really supportive in helping film it and get it done, its by no means a hard take on what bike is better or not. I am just genuinely curious on what it would feel like to ride the older bikes and what major improvements have been made! Bike Spec: Fork: 1998 Rockshox Boxxer Fork, 32mm Stanchion, 6 inch travel Shock: 1998 Fox Vanilla Shock , 6 inch travel in rear of bike Wheels: Mavic 321 wheels Tires: 26 x 2.35 Kenda Nevegal - 25psi front - 30 psi rear Handlebar: Easton Monkey Bar 25.4 clamp Stem: Kore 75mm Stem Drivetrain: Shimano XT Brakes: Hayes Comp Chainguide: MRP Dual Guide Grips: Oury Slip on Frame: Niner Air 9 Size Large Fork: SR Suntour Durolux, 140mm travel, 36mm stanchion Shock: NA Wheels: 27.5" Stans Baron Rear, 29" Flow Front Tires: Schwalbe Big Betty Rear 27.5x2.6 W Cuchcore XC , Schwalbe Eddy Current Front 29x2.4 Handlebar: PNW Range Stem: Pnw 35mm Drivetrain: Shimano SLX Brakes: Shimano SLX Chainguide: NA Grips: PNW Loam

[@PJSinohin]

Will slapping a durolux 160 27.5 fork with a 27.5 front wheel, short stem, wide bars revive this old DH machine?

[@PaulO-ew3hd]

The Niner frame aluminum?

[@stoney98]

The Uzzi was never a race bike. The only Intense rider that ever used one was Leigh Donovan and even then, it was on buff terrain like Sea Otter. I know this because I bought her bike from Stickman for my girlfriend, and pitted out of the Yeti/RPM tent that was usually next to them. The Intense M1 was the race bike from 1996 until the M3 was made in 2004. While they both are FSR suspension designs, the M1 had a bolt through 12mm rear axle because of how flexy they were. The Uzzi was the closest thing Intense ever made to a freeride bike, in a time when freeride bikes had geometry for riding bridges in Canada and big travel trail bikes (Turner, Intense) had race derived geometry for fast, loose SoCal trails. Get an older M1, Yeti DH9, Specialized FSR Palmer, GT DHi, or Turner DHR if you want to compare vintage DH bikes.

[@tonnyloor4449]

Saludos dsd Ecuador

[@JaySkydiverDad]

God! Back when Tomac and Overend were competing is when I was racing a Kona Kilauea, downhill, WITHOUT EVEN A FRONT SUSPENSION!!! I remember my brother, through a contest in a biking mag in Spain, was lent Ned's actual 1998 FSR XC, fresh off some race, probably in Arizona or Cali. I remember grabbing the red dust off the bike... We drooled over that bike and ripped the sickest lines I've ever done in my life... Awesome video, Kyle & April!

[@RomanMoroniesFargingWall]

The time made up in that last flat drag by the 9er was insane! Every split was slower until it was hammer time.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah i could't believe it either! If you look close, i make up about 3 seconds from spilt 2 to where the trail pops out onto that open flat, and then about 3 seconds on the open flat, I even tried to just tuck at the end on the hardtail to make up for the Intense not pedaling the best. I seriously thought the Intense was going to win haha, it was nerve wracking on the hardtail!

[@floydblandston108]

Those Hayes Comps on the Intense are a problem- if you had something like the Magura Gustav's we had back then you'd be much happier.

[@Noondog]

That’s the first full suspension bike I saw in 98/99 at Torker jumps in Orcutt, CA. It blew my mind

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah its such a beautiful bike even by todays standards, the welding and cnc is so rad!

[@roflKartofflel]

One thing a lot of people aslo seem to notice is the sound. These bikes were "loud" while modern bikes float silent over trails, just rubber on the surface...

[@scarpa12]

Love these vintage bike comparisons, and can’t wait to see more! This format would also be good for a “budget” vs “high end” spec on same bike comparison as well. I’d love to see what the real performance envelope is of a budget spec and what your thoughts are on what you give up vs high end.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats a really great idea, it would be cool to do a bike with full deore vs a bike with full XTR. I definitely think there is a point of diminishing returns. Thank you for the idea!!

[@TyBaumMTB]

That would be awesome, I think the main thing we'd see on this course is suspension quality though. There is a point where good quality suspension feels remarkably similar with small differences between brands. It's amazing how good a Deore 4 pot brake feels now.

[@robertstocks3507]

I bet the Deore would be just as good 👍👊👊

[@squarehead1]

Watching the evolution of XC and downhill bikes in the 90s was an interesting journey, and then being away from mountain biking for some time to come back to see what bikes are today is mind-blowing. My old retro grouchy XC rides share almost nothing in common with today's bikes, with the exception of my seatpost and saddle. EVERYTHING is soooooo different today than it was even in the early 2000s, not to mention the 90s. These videos really underscore how good today's bikes have gotten with improved frame, tire and shock technology. I can't give up my old bikes, but I'm surely looking more at a contemporary ride next spring, even if my old bones aren't coming anywhere close to today's freeride trails or those Volkswagen -sized rocks (good god, those are frightening). Keep these videos coming!

[@JP-hh9oc]

I'm still riding my 2001 Kona Stinky. Bought used in 2003 for $500! Still love it. But getting harder and harder to find 26" tires and parts that still fit

[@Chris199300]

Hey i ride with my Stinky in 2024 and its a full Tank. Heavy , hard and indestructible. One of my cube has a broken Frame, an the other Cube Stereo has an damage on Wheel Hub, and the Cube Attention has an problem with loose Screws again and again. But the Kona Stinky what i has buy for 300€ runs and runs and runs. I have more that one accident with them and i can with Stinky jump over Stairs and INTO Stairs. I love this bike so much, but is heavy for uphill! greeting from Germany

[@vehicle-stuff]

A bit late to the show, but man I love it. Riding such different bikes is a dream. You can really appreciate what you have now. Those runs just show how technology is effecting. So what you gained was speed, because of the bigger tires, speed when pedaling, no fade on the brakes and less flex. You lost on the rear suspension.

[@69Tonyro]

Man, Kyle is so fast on that old bike🔥

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Tony! It was a fun feeling riding that old bike, its crazy how much of a different body position it forces you into! The older riders were legends for sure!!

[@stefslyfe]

As a 43 year old whose been riding my whole life I can tell you that you had to be a stronger rider on the older bikes. You couldn’t depend on all of the modern technologies and having the bike do a lot of the work for you.

[@dereinzigwahreRichi]

That's absolutely true! Only MTB I have is a Wheeler from the early 1990ies (I believe) with no suspension at all besides 2,5" tyres and a slightly flexible steel frame. It's absolutely amazing what you cal still ride with that when you a) trust your bike and b) know halfway what you're doing. Every shock does go into your body, you kind of need to let the bike go where it needs to go and lift your butt sometimes. On the other hand this thing is so incredibly nimble, mostly I'm just driving around obstacles while hardly thinking about it. But it takes way more strength and skill to ride like this. I'm careful making changes to this little treasure but one thing it will get is some (old) Magura HS 33 hydraulic rim brakes I've got around here, to make longer downward rides a bit easier.

[@dylantech]

As a 32-year-old who’s been riding since I got my first bike for my fifth birthday but only started MTBing after moving to Bentonville two and a half years ago, I’m thankful for how much innovation has crescendoed in the modern era of MTB to allow me to skip all the growing pains required to get us to this point. Thank you for being one of the many guinea pigs that made this possible! 😂 If only I could have put it off just a bit longer so I wouldn’t have sunk so much cost into my entry level hardtail I quickly outgrew and my nice full-suspension just before the market began to recede from peak price insanity. 😢

[@hwangsome]

The Intense sounds like you're riding a box of pots and pans. Was a fun video

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thats so true! Thanks for watching Philip!

[@DMan-it5tq]

I love these videos. I rode DH from the late 90s to mid 00s. Brings back so many good and bad memories!

[@elPedro666]

Seen a few old vs new type videos and have to say this is the first I've properly enjoyed, mainly because you gave both bikes a fair opportunity to show their best in relatively even circumstances. Swapping to an unfamiliar wheel/tyre on the HT was an especially smart move I thought. Thanks for taking the effort to really do a proper job - not to mention fully putting your neck on the line by giving it 100%!

[@wisemanwoz]

Kyle, you belong on a bike dude! That’s your best self. LOVE seeing you back in full swing on a bike ❤

[@chrisridesbicycles]

Of all things, I wouldn‘t have expected the stiffness to be a thing. No surprise on the brakes. They got so much better even since my 2013 bike. Great riding Kyle.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah i honestly didn't expect that to be the limiting factor either, it was so noticeable though, especially the 32mm stanchions on the fork. The flex made it hard to pick a line in the rocks as well. Thanks for watching Christian!!

[@devononair]

I think you can combine eras to great effect. I got a c.2001 frame and fork with a modern front disc and a few other components. It's really nice to ride. Some people put modern clutch derailleurs on old bikes too and I imagine that improves them further. No modern bike looks as sweet as an old hardtail!

[@Todd66]

The commentary as you ride is gold. Shocking to watch you go thru the rocks. Crazy how fast it looks in POV mode. Another cool video, I see a different look in Kyle’s eyes…similar to pre poke….very good to see. April doing the editing? She’s good, real good. Have a great weekend you two

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hey Todd thank you so much! Yeah i am feeling pretty much back to normal health wise and just am trying to work through the mental trauma of the whole past year a little bit still. I feel like getting back to doing videos and riding again is definitely the key to feeling 100% again. The light is coming back and i really appreciate April helping me put together this series. Its something i have wanted to do for years just to pay homage to all the people i looked up to in the sport coming up and to see what it was like to ride those bikes. April has been doing the bulk of the editing up front too and has been getting really good, i usually just come in and finish up some of the edges. definitely a team effort!

[@Todd66]

@@AprilRideMTB You are very welcome. As I said, you are looking like Kyle again. The bicycle community needs you more now than ever, it’s fantastic you are feeling like you again and can finally focus on what you love to do instead of your health and getting back what was taken from you. A lot of valuable lessons you have been forced to learn over the last 2 years. Good on you for making it through.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

It's so funny how you can feel like you're flying through a section in 1st person and then it looks like you're crawling when viewed from a few feet away.

[@Todd66]

@@ianfurqueron5850 that’s so true. I recognized when Kyle said April said “Slow” thru that section and from the POV I thought he was going so fast it was borderline out of control. LOL however I am betting if I was there in person and watched Kyle go thru a sketching section, I would think he was going fast even if he was in fact going slow. LOL I think the POV view is so stabilized that fools the eyes of the viewer on some sections. I really like watching the POV shots on Black trails with a better than average rider…it’s intense. With someone like Kyle, it’s crazy intense. He goes so fast and is so smooth and he’s vocal so it really puts in me in there on the trail. Good stuff!

[@pedalstrkrmtb7716]

Your commentary as you flew down the hill was pretty funny 🤣 Bikes have come a long way!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you! Its been a blast doing these, i seriously thought i was gonna eat it on the hardtail a couple times haha. Thanks for watching!!

[@ianbrade7754]

I used to have a bike called a Crestone Peak something or other. It was early to mid nineties dual suspension but the front end was damped by thick "rubber bands" that ran laterally, anchored above and below the telescoping fork. I can't imagine one of those getting past the first rock. Great to see you two back doing what you love.

[@TrailFeatures]

"But you should have done 10 runs on each bike and take into account the gravitational pull the moon's shadow had on the larger chainring." - Some guy probably ;D

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha so true, ill try again when mercury is in retrograde, maybe that will make the difference!

[@JordanBoostmaster]

I love that you could get your hands on a mint condition '98 Intense Uzzi! That is so epic, but was it really only 38 lbs?! That's the same as my modern DH bike!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah! it was surprising to me too, i think the 32mm stanchions, and QR hubs made the bike pretty light!

[@KarstRats]

Heres the thing though. That sounds impressive until you realize. Weve achieved keeping the weight the sake and lighter while making the bikes bigger and stronger to handle more. These old bikes are great fun but i doubt you could throw a whole season of hardline road gaps at it and have it survive.

[@charlieharper4975]

I still have my 96 Proflex (now owned by Scott). It has 50mm of travel front and rear. That was very typical of trail bikes back then. You simply cannot catch big air with it or you would break the front Girvin fork. But for casual weekend riding it was one of the best bikes you could get then.

[@Babybeamergirl]

No more pokes , I road an intense slope style for a summer race series at North Star Cal many moons ago , loved that bike. Good to see you back😊

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much Amber!

[@jeanettewarner3962]

It’s a joy just watching you ride ANYTHING!!❤️

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you! Its been so fun to do this series and play on the bikes i drooled at as a kid haha.

[@christophlindinger2267]

Saw you the first time on KZbin when you were talking about myocarditis. It's awesome to see you in these videos, what a great recovery! You are a mad man, going down these hills like this, but very exciting content for us couch potatoes 😂

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Christoph, yeah its been a crazy journey the last year. This is all i ever wanted to do and get back to. It's really fun and makes me so happy. I appreciate you watching and sticking around 😊

[@misteraxeman2680]

Medachlorians?

[@YongPark-g3h]

I really like this series so far. You should do more of old top of shelf vs. modern budget line.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you! Its been really fun to do them so far!

[@ericjones7983]

Cool video. I just made the jump from my 10 year old 26" hardtail to a full suspension 29er and feel a lot of pros and cons with both bikes. I definitely still enjoy the 26 inch, and it's cool to see the pro perspective. Also fun to hear how other people talk to themselves on the trail and awesome to see you up and running. Cheers!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much Eric!!

[@nmstan3619]

Interesting. Every once in a while, I’ll bust out my old mid-90s Trek 26” hardtail, no suspension just for fun and to compare my rides between old and new bikes. Enjoyed and thanks.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much for watching! yeah its fun testing out the old bikes!

[@faithg9766]

Bless you for committing even as your life is flashing before your eyes! It is so good to see you back out doing what you love.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you so much Faith 😊

[@jasonharris3873]

I have an intense 6*6 from 2009 and it definitely twists under tight turn loads. I have a GT from 2001 with that boxer fork and Hayes brakes. It’s great how much better bikes have gotten. Fun to see these bikes out to compare times.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Jason! Yeah its crazy how different the bikes are!

[@waynecallister2236]

This is s great series, looking forward to more. It is so good to see you healthy again!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Wayne!! Yeah it feels great to be back!

[@rayfrazier8783]

Super good to see you back on the bike shredding I’m so happy that your recovery went well best wishes to y’all

[@adbailey78]

Awesome video! A few years after moving to Boise, I took my 1998 specialized rock hopper with cantilever rim brakes up sidewinder/fat tire and down Freestone. I lived (and the bike survived) but I bought a modern full squish bike soon after. Amazing how much more capable (and fun) modern bikes are.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha cantilever brakes are soooo sketchy!!! Yeah the newer technology is so awesome!

[@douglaskaye1395]

Your riding ability is absolutely intense. Scares me just watching you. So good!!! Thanks you DK

[@hyperslow556gungamer]

A video covering seven years of change in this industry would be an eye opener!

[@gnmatsu]

Another great, fun video. I remember as a kid seeing how much faster my 10 spd bike was compared to my BMX bike (70's) and noticing how much slower the hub turned on the 10 spd showing how much less the hub had to turn for the same or more speed. I still take out my mid 80's Klein Pinnacle Elite to ride trails sometimes and still can't believe I used to ride that on everything. Good stuff. Fun video! Thanks. Look forward to hooking up and riding with you guys some day.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much Grant! We can't wait to connect with you sometime too!

[@jasonbucher5622]

Man - wild seeing how much side to side flex that DH bike had. Crazy how far development has come

[@Jmort93]

Thanks this was a super fun video! I picked up a Niner Air 9 last year in Bend as my first new hardtail and had no idea whether it would be a good bike or not. Thanks for showing off what a pro can do with it!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats awesome! I love the Air 9, its a really stiff frame but that also makes it very precise. I actually run a wheels mfg eccentric bottom bracket in mine to push the cranks back and down a little bit. I have had mine for two years and it shreds!!

[@Jmort93]

@@AprilRideMTB that’s a great idea, I’ll look into this! The BB does creak a lot so I’ve been thinking of upgrading. I’ve still got the stock 29 but it’s already gotten a bend from an impact, do you prefer the mullet setup? My Triumph Scrambler has a 21” front and 17” rear and I’ve always loved the mullet feel on motorcycles.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hey Jon, if you can afford it a wheels mfg threaded press fit bottom bracket will completely take away that creak, also as a cheaper alternative, coat the outside of the bb in blue locktight before pressing into the frame, thats what the owner of pivot told me to do to reduce creaking!

[@Jmort93]

@@AprilRideMTB do you have an affiliate link to order one so you can get a commish?

[@JasonFoxLCB]

"This is a terrible idea!" Well, maybe for you, but it's gold for us. :-)

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Jason! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@barkingmadman1169]

Like the comparison series! The only feedback I have is don't risk serious injury just so I have a video to watch. Much rather you stay healthy. Glad you refitted the 1998 bike and went into all the detail of what you did to make it safe. I'd suggest keep going with that for your next bike comparison, even more certain about the safety factor.

[@rebekahtucker9201]

One thing I really appreciate about the newer bike in your video is it does not sound like a Tool Box falling down the stairs. You can really hear that front fork working as you made it down the hill on the 2003.

[@joshuabear7735]

I knew I recognized you from your heartfelt van video some time ago. May you continue to heal and thrive.

[@derekbrotherton3462]

So glad y’all are back to making videos, this is sick!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much Derek! We are stoked too!

[@TPHotChips]

"This is a terrible idea"....funniest thing I've heard in a long time. Really enjoyed it

[@Dwaynefreeman]

It’s crazy how good bikes have become. The hardtail is like a xc/downcountry/trail bike you could commute to work with or getting groceries, and it plays along well with the dh bike. I would love to see the dh bike stack against a proper hardcore hardtail like a Honzo ESD.

[@niklaswejedal463]

"This was a terrible idea!" - 😅 Really enjoy these comparisons!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you so much Niklas!!

[@ericgelders]

I appreciate the commitment you put into this comparison - and to see the evolution MTB's made over 25 years, it's crazy!

[@stevedesantolo6794]

You two ROCK! This is SO MUCH FUN to watch 😁 I will share this observation: how you ride those trails and not swear is just amazing to me. The few times I have attempted to ride those types of trails (though much easier) I was so overwhelmed / over stimulated that those around me must have thought I had Tourette syndrome I was swearing so much! Thanks for a great video!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thats an awesome observation! There is a little kid around here that always swears on his way down the trail, you are definitely not alone!

[@ericbudoryu5716]

This was a blast from the past! I was an avid rider in the late 90s and early 2k. I am just getting back on a bike now and what you said about riding styles is absolutely spot on! I am amazed how different and awesome the experience is. It’s taking me a lot to trust that front suspension as much as riders do now.

[@matthewgraham9411]

The Intense M1 frame set was the best bike I ever had built, owned and raced on back in the 1990s.

[@AprilRideMTB]

yeah its such a beauty!!

[@johntanchin2545]

Kyle, i'm loving these comparison videos. from a person who owns both a vintage full rigid mtb, and a modern hardtail, i can definitely agree the huge difference between the two. more of this! before i forget, video editing is topnotch!

[@starsky8351]

You nailed something right on the head. I had an 18 year gap in mountain biking. I went from a late 90s downhill/freeride bike to a 2020 Norco Sight and the difference is HUGE about where your body is. Im so used to hanging off the back. But the Norco (the first bike that I feel actually fits me, XL) I still even after 3 odd years of riding it still finding myself hanging off the back and the front end getting light and sliding.

[@IliaFomin-k2s]

great vid this time! I really was wandering if 2000s short travel enduro full sus bike will be faster than modern 29r hardtail and you gave me almost what I wanted. like! Waiting for a Monster update 😉

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much, i really wanted to make the bike dialed for this one! Next video will have a Super "monster" update haha 😁

[@thejohnson9204]

Fantastic comparison brother. I once blasted around on an Intense, not quiet as old school, cracked 2 frames... oh the memories...... Great video Sir. Thanks bud.

[@dubvalver]

i have a mint condition trek y50 that i know i could put a smile on peoples faces down at my local trails but i think it would just explode. but this video has made me consider taking it at least once. nice job bringing the old skool back.

[@nathanabbe383]

one of those clips from that Palmer video was a trail from my old home trails! such a sick trail. I'm really enjoying these videos you guys! Great work!

[@AprilRideMTB]

That's awesome! Such a legendary era!

[@unityblue]

rad! Love the audio catching the bike noise. I'm on a 2002 Kona Stinky DH w BBSHD 🤪 & Marc DO-II. It's fun but heavy as a tank and easy to chew thru drivetrain. Thx for the notes on consistency and improvements over time - extra motivation to u/g. Cheers

[@nickmassey9104]

Great comparison video .having owned a few older dh and freeride bikes I love the danger of the old tech and the new bikes give you more confidence 😀

[@KestrelYI]

Enjoyed the showdown! Thanks for posting.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks for watching!!

[@NP-th1mo]

Love these vids. Especially being an older rider and getting to see bikes from my days going flat out.

[@irvmtb1422]

Wow awesome full send on mechanical rim brakes, quick release skewers, and old suspension tech!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much! It was so fun!

[@donovandiaz5370]

Kick ass video Kyle. That trail looked pretty intense.

[@skech4290]

this guy has such a chill voice and his videos are so good and full of content ly

[@derekmccray9332]

Oh man, Kyle, you killed it hahaha!!! My 2 thoughts while watching were 1) Man that bike is going to explode lol, and 2) So awesome to see you give it your all after the long recovery...that part always makes me smile 🤘🤘

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Daryl!! Its been a long year and half but things are back on track and we can't wait to start moving forward again! Thank you so much for watching!!

[@dinguskhan9969]

That side by side on the downhill rock is amazing well done i love it!

[@garyanger3141]

Another stellar old vs new video. I loved it. This is a really fun series and produced nicely by you two. Keep these coming, please! 🤞

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you! The next video will be the most fun yet!

[@danharvey3096]

This was epic! I'm continually amazed by the advancement in newer bikes to older ones.. Like even the difference between my old bike, a 2014 Kona Entourage, an aggressive enduro bike with 180mm rear travel, (upgraded from a single crown fork to a Fox 40, to make it a DH/FR bike), with 26 inch wheels. To that of my new bike bought 2nd hand but rebuilt, a 2016 YT Tues DH bike with 27.5 wheels. The difference in geometry & advancement in just 2 years, in terms of stability, & being able to hit gnarlier terrain easier, is huge. Even though the reach of both is very similar, the YT is longer & lower slung & feels more planted. But your comparison is a 25 year difference, to where an old "downhill" bike, is comparable to a new hard tail in terms of its ability to hit features.. Crazy! And what a retro bike you have there! What an awesome piece of history.. I would love to see Aaron Gwin or Dakotah Norton ride it down a modern UCI DH World Cup trail as a special test haha! Also super awesome to see you recovered, back out riding, shredding, & doing what you love.. Any chance we'll see you in the EWS in 2023? Being a kiwi I'll obviously cheer on the Kiwi riders, who killed it this year. But ill be rooting for you too if you do, as the person i would most want to see do well.. Take care & look after yourself. Peace :)

[@jzoott]

it would be fun to see how the older bike would do with a modern drive train, modern brakes, and modern cockpit!

[@Ricom69]

Loved this video, especially the commentary while riding! "I saw my life flash"...LOL! I was biting my nails for you. You remind me of me when I was your age. I grew up in Morgan Hill where the original Specialized headquarters started and was abdicated to downhill thrill riding on the hardtail rockhopper with zero suspension. When specialized introduced the first front fork suspension it was a game changer for hardtails riding. This video just flooded some old 80's/90's memories for me. Now I enjoy riding my new Carbon Levo, what a night and day difference in tech Thank you.

[@RideYearRound]

Amazing riding! I know you made the Air 9 a little more aggressive with the mullet set up, but I’d be interested to see how it would’ve gone on a hardtail with more aggressive geometry.

[@AprilRideMTB]

yeah the air 9 is definitely more of a trail hardtail, it would be cool to see an aggressive one for sure, i really like the bike with a mullet setup, it made it feel much more enduro.

[@headspacej]

I was thinking the same -- a more agressive hardtail with a 160mm fork, slacker angles and wider tires would be way less scary and more fun.

[@drumerboy456sx]

Bro I’m so happy to see you doing your thing again !!!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much Jorge!!

[@thomasshigoka5004]

Great video y’all! Love the old school bike comparisons, so thank you.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Thomas! Glad you enjoy them! They have been really fun to make!

[@andyhill7794]

These are awesome comparisons! Super fun to watch!🤘🏼

[@HeintjeMTB]

The modern hardtail is gonna win. Now let's watch the video to see if I'm right.

[@Husk2280]

So were you right?

[@evemaniac]

Last time i rode a zero suspension bike I felt like I competed in a rodeo and I didnt even made it downhill. Only fullys for me

[@MisterCOM]

​@@evemaniachardtails still have suspension

[@DIDDYS838h]

​@@MisterCOMyeah but for ppl who like going down stairs it's better to have full as it keeps you in control

[@RiderBlitz1.0]

Hardtail lose

[@tenkararodco]

This series is so fun to watch please make more of these!

[@strawdog336]

Those Hayes Comps were the lower end ones, too bad you couldn't find some Purples. The comps were really flexy, and an Uzzi wouldn't have had them in my view. Thanks for this video, I like seeing this bike, it was a grail bike for so many back then!

[@magnuslagerstrom515]

+1 on that, the comps was pure shit compared to Purple Hayes And no one that rode Downhill those days would have such a small disc in the back. Everyone i knew rode with 200mm front and back. Makes a huge difference

[@johnwest3001]

Cool video. I miss the ole days. The uzzi was more of an all mountain/trail kind of bike that usually had 3 rings up front. I had a later model of it. Most DH guys rode the M1 with 7" Boxer on the front and 8" travel in the rear. They were a lot stiffer laterally. I rode the Foes Mono back then. The big wheels really do make a difference on todays bikes though. 🤘🤪

[@gershonhopster]

Great video! Currently rehabbing an old GT Ruckus I-drive…good bones never die

[@yo_marc]

I had been riding a 2005 Transition freeride bike as my do-it-all machine all but the last handful of years. Last year I went shopping for a new FS bike and came home with a hardtail - a Roscoe. Wow have bikes changed. It literally feels twice as fast, everywhere. And I don’t ‘need’ a FS bike with the low/long platform and a dropper. Huge fan of modern hardtails now.

[@ivanrybkin9384]

Thanks for getting it done properly this time, great stuff!!!

[@jimmyr3591]

Awesome video. I love these old bike comparisons. Looking forward to seeing more. Great work.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Jimmy! Its been fun to make them 😊

[@hardtailparty]

Such a great video! Killer riding, as always, on both bikes.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

As someone who owned a couple of M-1 bikes back in the day (a 1997 and then a 2000 ) I can totally relate to this video. Part of me wants to get my old '98 Lawwill DH-6 running again... but part of me is terrified to ride it again knowing how different it will feel compared to my current bikes. It's been changed a bit, running a 180mm travel Boxxer instead of the original 151 model and it also runs UST tubeless wheels. Brakes are the big challenge. I really don't trust the original Hayes brakes on it (which were a huge improvement over the Hope C2 brakes that it came with).

[@AprilRideMTB]

Ahh, i'm so jealous of the Lawwill! Always wanted to ride one of those! definitely get it going!!!

[@SuperClown1979]

Giant - ATX DH or a Santa Cruz - Super 8.. or a Karpiel - Disco Volante might be cool to see this guys today.. back then, they were the top of the food chain

[@AprilRideMTB]

I think you will really like the next video!!

[@arnauddechamps855]

really cool video. indeed, maybe on the frame the progress hasn't that noticeable, but on the RD, brakes, wheel sets and tires, definitely over the last 25 years a major step up has been made. Really nice a creative content, super fun to watch the B2B ride with 1/4 of a century of Bike tech ≠ between the legs

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much Arnaud!!

[@DuPlessisHome]

So awesome to 1stly see you back out there crushing it, run after run! 2ndly as a hardtail owner to see how it compares to full suspension albeit an amazing vintage bike. Love the way you guys do things. Keep it up!!

[@DuPlessisHome]

Did I just call '98 vintage 🤔😋🙈

[@kymbellett8439]

Love this. The niner smashed it! Impressive how much better the tech is now. I have a Banshee Paradox as my main rig now (after being on full susses for ages), can definitely relate to some of your reactions 😅

[@PanaehaliTut]

Good job! I was critisizing you after the first vid! But now i have no complaints! Job well done! PS Idea for a third video. Older frame + modern components. To get an idea how much speed is new geometry giving you and how much is just better components. If it is reasonable ofc. Spending this much money just for a video might not be viable. And finding upgraded old frame could also be impossible.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks Igor! We tried to take into account all of the feedback! I think you will really like the next video! Definitely my favorite so far, also we had a few sponsors reach out and offer parts to upgrade the banshee so that should be a really fun project in the future!

[@thomaswilding8818]

Got my first mountain bike in 1986. The 90’s started that terrible trend of those super skinny rims, quick release, tin can tubing. All added up to bike squirm. Got a 2022 hard tail now and it’s the most confidence inspiring bike I’ve ever ridden. Back to 80’s spec wheels and loving it

[@stevenrogers7917]

As a "vintage newbie " myself I really appreciate the comparison between the vintage bikes to modern day especially when it's full suspension vs hardtail where I lean toward hardtail but I like that you seem to give a equally opinionated view of both. Thank you and please continue

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thank you so much and I'm glad that you appreciate the comparison!

[@viperdemonz-jenkins]

that old bike I remember drooling over it as a kid.

[@matyaskrejci2436]

the hardtail ride is extremely enjoyable to watch. You were really flying out there

[@nomvonglismerced4311]

😅Dude rides it so easy but adds excited commentary to make the run sound much more challenging...for him. Nice! One day I will downhill just like him...

[@mat2ca578]

Really enjoyed this and the previous comparison video. Glad to see you are able to ride hard again. I know what you are saying about the difference from the 26" wheels a to 29". I did this abrupt change just 2 years ago. what a difference. even my riding buddies noticed the increase in my speed.

[@walrusinanus]

LOL the metal clanking sounds during the slow motion sections, almost sounds like a huge train passing by. Kinda scary and hillarious at the same time :D

[@heathr2072]

That was awesome. That first practice on the hard tail in the rock section I thought you were going OTB. The part I love the most, apart from your amazing skill, is the commentary as you ride. I would love you to do a few runs on different bikes and give a commentary on when your braking, which brake and what line you are doing. Love this channel. It is the best on KZbin!

[@dmsmikhail]

I think this video is a good explanation for why XC racers waited so long to switch to full squishy. The OG squishy bikes, well may have been more capable, were not as fast as a hardtail on your typical XC or DH course. Wheel size matters, but having a solid bike that doesn't wiggle helps you go fast too. edit: please do a black trail on 90s huffy "mountain bike"