Riding The 12 Inch Travel Armageddon! - This Bike Is Insane!

[@JordanBoostmaster]

That is sooooo SICK!! I am jealous you got an Armageddon there! And you had a good timed run with that bike too, I know you could really improve that with upgrades, but it's just so sick as it is though! There really is potential with these big travel bikes. I have been getting my Boostmonster more and more dialed, and it would be amazing to do a collab with these bikes!

[@blackmetalgoat9060]

*DO IT GUYS*

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah I can’t wait!! I was so stoked when you got the boostmonster, it’s been fun to watch people learn about and get excited about that early 2000s free ride era. We definitely need to do something in 2023!!

[@seagull5368]

How much would you sell it for?

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

I'd love to see you guys meet up at Silver Mountain in northern Idaho. Part way in between you guys, and a killer techy bike park.

[@kerianhalcon3557]

YES, I was thinking this the second I seen what Kyle had in store for us today.

[@bowlock9901]

Josh Bender. The name that instantly came into my mind upon seeing the thumbnail. He had a huge impact on MTB riding, more than anyone imo. He was the first to really 'send it'.

[@tarnad1]

100%

[@rogermorse_]

I thought the same !! I remember seeing those suspension travels and pictures on the magazines...

[@bowlock9901]

He defined free-riding to us all. We were in awe of his bravery, we did some stupid stuff but when we saw the Jah drop.......We all cried 'No freakin way!' To this day no-one has ever attempted, or landed it. And then you think, he did it all on heavy experimental tech.

[@bethanyking9920]

Should msg bender ask him show you how ride lol 😝

[@andreak4280]

i had same thought, Josh Bender…Is that crazy little dude even still alive!!?? some of the $h💩*T he was doing way back when 😳😵😱 one of his hucks of some crazy rock wall ended jn an ambulance ride (many hucks i would think) can not recall the name of the mt bike vid i saw it in but the landing didn’t even appear to be a good choice😆😅 dang that goes back quite awhile

[@TheDadventures]

You know this is gnarly when you can hear April's concern in the background haha. Great series guys!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha she thought i was not making it back home that day for sure 😂

[@TheDadventures]

@@AprilRideMTB 🤣🤣🤣.

[@davidjohnston9652]

This was my dream bike! After riding Karpiel at North Star in 2000 this is all I would dream about. Love the series!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thats awesome! I really wanted to ride this bike on Karpiel trail, that waterfall is so gnarly!

[@malcolmmulholland8671]

First is all, I am delighted to see Kyle riding again and more importantly being healthy. This bike reminded me of my 2004 Kona Stinky with 26" wheels that was an indistructable BEAST. Finally great camera work by April and her words of caution to Kyle! Keep up the amazing work guys!! Malcolm.The.Aussie

[@philso7872]

It's great to see you back in the saddle again. Looking forward to more great videos from you and April

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Phil!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hope you enjoyed the video! If you have any questions about the bike, how it felt, or parts spec let us know below! This was such a fun video to make and we can't wait to see how April does on the Armageddon once the trails thaw out up here in Idaho haha. Thanks so much for all of your support and for watching the videos. We are really excited for 2023 and we hope you have a great end to 2022!

[@SuperClown1979]

Next... Santa Cruz super 8

[@MrKeefy]

Great video and series, needs more bikes in the list :)

[@pedalpoonces]

So fun K&A! I just did a video showing your channel as a “can’t miss mtb” bc of this series. Sooo thrilled you did another video! Oh, as another video, let’s see April try to ride that beast. Even if just on an easy trail. Would love to hear what she thinks of it too! Keep on rocking you two! 🎉😊🎉

[@K4YZZZ_]

Hey guys I think you should pick up a Sur-Ron X it is a very nice and quick electric bike

[@AprilRideMTB]

@@SuperClown1979 That is such a legendary bike!!

[@azrwilkinson]

Crazy cool bike! Great to see the older versions and how far everything has come as far as components to geometry to thought processes.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah it is so cool where the bikes are at in todays age, i feel like the geometry and travel of modern bikes is pretty dialed in, it seems like most of the advances will now come with tuning and material technology. These old bikes definitely set the bar for beefieness though haha

[@chuckdavis572]

This series is really great, Kyle. Fun to watch you on the old bikes. To be fair, I don't think you've yet tried the best of the OG race bikes, yet. A properly set up M1 is still competitive with todays enduro bikes. If you're ever in Norcal I can prolly get you set up with some cool OG race bikes.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Hey Chuck that would be awesome! Yeah i have my eye on a few more that i would really like to test out. I actually got my hands on an original Canfield Formula 1 frame as well that i have a buddy painting right now. I was hoping this would spear head a few more people to make some similar content because I love all the older bikes!

[@mangoshake]

@@AprilRideMTB considering that thought, how about comparing your modern enduro bike to the Marin Attack Trail that you won your first enduro races with? That would be a cool comparison.

[@jonenglish6617]

@@AprilRideMTB if you get to Ontario you can check out my Rocky Mountain Speed.

[@bensonCP]

It's like old two stroke mx bikes, half the fun is being slightly out of control all the time! Good to see you're shredding Kyle ✌️

[@sans_2031]

Absolutely the video I wanted to see today. May the freeride live forever!!!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha i am hoping this will expose a few more newer riders to that era! It was such a cool time! The early 2000's bikes are insane haha

[@sans_2031]

@@AprilRideMTB So stoked on the arma. Dream bike for me. Make as many as possible fall in love with freeride!!

[@mrsmith4662]

You're a brave man Kyle. 'Sketchy', euphemism for 'Dangerous'. The safest place for that beast is on the video game, so if you crash at full speed, you just restart rather than be hospitalised.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha i wish real life had the restart button!

[@gnmatsu]

Another fun one! Yeah! I still have so much fun getting on my 80's era HT and riding trails. Blows my mind that I used to ride that on everything. Ridding is about having fun so no matter the bike, it's all about having fun. Thanks for another fun video. April - "No, Please don't" @6:02 Haha.

[@williamdistasio9358]

I loved Downhill Domination!! Had the game on the xbox 360. Many hours of fun hucking massive air. So cool to see this bike! And your skills are truly epic to be able to handle it the way you did! Good to see you healthy!

[@fairlyfunctional2236]

wow! totally insane bike and and sick shreds. great video guys. glad to see you are feeling better, Kyle.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks so much! Yeah feeling better everyday, hoping this winter will be full of a lot of healing. Its been really nice to be back out on the bikes again :)

[@Elim_84]

Instant memories of Josh Bender video sections and him absolutely hucking 30ft + drops

[@THESEGMENTPR]

Man you can tell you were having a blast out there. Thank you for sharing the stoke and I could hear your inner child enjoying the experience. So dope !!!!

[@jimmyr3591]

This series is awesome. Such a cool bike. It’s a tank. Soooo much suspension. So much fun to watch.

[@-Tokay-]

Those older DH bikes still look so much cooler than most modern MTB's. It's a shame they moved away from the moto style look and went back into generic designs.

[@tas9rock28]

This is awesome! I used to dream about Karpiel bikes too from Downhill Domination. So jealous and stoked that you got to ride one of these beasts!

[@th3gughy]

Wow mate this is on the limit of safe riding 😂 it shows how much trails and riding style have changed over the years! And yet how much fun one can always get out of these machines!!

[@johnwest3001]

Man that thing brings back some memories! They were never meant to ride fast...they were meant for huge hucks. Josh Bender literally used to ride one off cliffs in dirt bike boots! The 24" wheels were stronger for the big drops. Cool video! ~jw

[@floppy_fingers]

I love that you talked about down hill Domination. I spent a week in the hospital and was aloud to play that game none stop. I'm now addicted to the game Riders Republic because of that.

[@mtbville]

I used to love that game 🤩🤘🔥 Great stuff guys, once again 🙏

[@AprilRideMTB]

So many hours of my life have been spent on MT Middule haha

[@andyhill7794]

Oh man I was literally LOL, love hearing your in the moment reactions to the sketchiness! 😂

[@AprilRideMTB]

haha thanks Andy! I'm really glad people enjoyed it! It was a fun video to make!

[@nslcap]

Glad you are doing better Kyle. You are an inspiration man!

[@danthedude0231]

Downhill domination is one of my most favourite games of all time and I’m so glad you mentioned it

[@chrisaldred6030]

This is one of best videos I've seen, the laughs from Kyle and concern from April. Brilliant, it reminds me of riding back in the day, with a great bunch of mates, done of whom are no longer with us.

[@blackmetalgoat9060]

*life's to short not to go big, gotta go big*

[@AprilRideMTB]

#Bender

[@EvansMTBSaga]

I remember those fenders, some BMXers ran them. I love the old school kit too 😂

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha yeah its so hard to google or ebay for "the" Fender 😂. Thanks man! Hope you have been good, would love to ride sometime this coming year!

[@trailmonster]

I think April nailed at the end, it looks so much like a dirt bike, which she should feel right at home on lol. Kyle you got some crazy skills brother.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you!! Yeah the fake dirtbike part was funny, i can't wait to see what she does on it haha

[@stevedesantolo6794]

I absolutely love your content, you two. Great video once again. So very fun to see older bikes still sending it! When I watch Kyle fly down the trail I just see myself crashing over and over and over LOL! Much more fun to live it vicariously!! 😋

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Steve! Yeah i thought there would be a few things that turned into wrecks haha. Glad you enjoyed!

[@kaedeschulz5422]

This is absolutely mental! Makes me want a modern geo bike with this much travel just for the hell of it

[@AprilRideMTB]

So many sends haha!!

[@kaedeschulz5422]

@@AprilRideMTB Yea such a "thing" could fly down very chunky terrain at very high speed🤣🤣🤣 Like i said in the other comment. Basically a trophy truck on 2wheels. Especially if bigger wheels are used.

[@samsherwoodrides]

😂 that thing is crazy. Impressed with your ability to adapt and send on any bike.

[@Todd66]

Kyle looks great in that gear. 3” tires look badass. I LOVE those forks and that front fender. Yeah that bike looks badass.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you so much Todd! I tried to play up the video game character kit a little bit 😂. Thank you so much for watching!!

[@Todd66]

@@AprilRideMTB I think you nailed it. Cool part is, you really do look good in that gear. Helmet is on point too. Merry Christmas to you and April

[@HFXDF]

06:47 April: "how the brakes feel?" and your answer is like the same as when you don't want to share a good tasting meal with some other personen 😄

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah the brakes felt really solid but man the tires would not bite at all, it was impossible to slow down but maybe not the brakes fault haha

[@connorcampbell144]

Nice 🔥 I got downhill domination in 2020 on my PlayStation 2 and that’s what got me into retro bikes and I still play it!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Awesome!

[@andrewapotheosis]

I love this series! No other old bike channel rides these like you do! I would love it if you did a top gear style leader board!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much for watching! Yeah I would love to ride more bikes and put together a leader board! I think it would be fun if more bike reviews had quantifiable data like that!

[@ninjazzrhythm400]

This is proof it's all about the rider and not the bike!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks! It was so fun riding that beast!

[@donspradley6912]

Dude I was worried the hole time that you where going to get hurt! You are extremely talented because there is. I doubt that I would have lost it!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Don! I think the armor gave me a false sense of confidence haha

[@shaneraymer5147]

This game got me obsessed with Karpiel bikes also. I finally got my Karpiel Disco Volante built this year.

[@AprilRideMTB]

So awesome!

[@kellysmith8985]

You guys are so awesome! It would be sweet to see you ride whistler with Jordan Boostmaster and other youtube bikers! Battle of the O.G. bikes would be epic in a place like that. Thank you for the great content. I'm proud that you are living in Boise.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah thats definitely the plan! We can't wait to travel a bit more in 2023!! Thanks for the kind words!

[@DirtyWabbit]

The **clanks**coming out of this bike on slomo are epic

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha so much chain slap!

[@br9760]

DOWNHILL DOMINATION!!!!!! My childhood game! Glad to see it get exposure. The frame rates make it so it still holds up for a PS2 game. It NEEDS a remake already.

[@JDMc2.0]

Loved Downhill Domination! I still have my THE fender too. Are the 24 inch tires Gazzaloddis? Remember them?🤘🤘

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah you nailed it on the tires! They were Gazzas front and rear!

[@davidnicholson6680]

Great video! Super fun to watch. That bike is insane. I'd love to see what one of the old Honda downhill bikes rides like.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Oh man that would literally be the #1 bike i could ever think of riding. Rumor is most of them got melted down after the program ended but there are 1 or 2 floating somewhere!

[@twowheelsondirt]

Such a fun series... and I loved Downhill Domination!!! So glad to see you out there and smiling Kyle, I've been pulling for ya'!

[@nickmassey9104]

That bike is a weapon ,great video I built a full sus with kawasaki kx 125 front forks and a honda cr 80 rear .it weight 55 lbs .and I fitted 26 inch wheels and single speed rear .it fell out of the sky and landed like a pillow .the time before geometry was an issue You guys rock Season greetings to you both

[@zahari_s_stoyanov]

Ooh, you're that guy! Glad to see you've recovered!

[@destinhook3826]

Love to see y’all upload. Production quality is insane in this!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Destin! We are hoping to be much more consistent through 2023 now that we are a little more caught up with life on the back end!

[@ianfurqueron5850]

Great video series! Now April should do runs on each of them!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats definitely on the list!

[@MrRandomhero07]

I have never heard anyone else talking about, Downhill Domination. That’s what got me into mountain biking, too. For the longest time, I thought mountain bike racing consisted of throwing glass bottles and whipping people with tree limbs, just to get ahead. Do you remember how sore your thumbs got from holding the sprint joystick, on the PS2 controller?

[@AboutMyBikes]

Dude, this bike is epic! Awesome video!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thanks so much Max! It was so cool to finally get to ride it!!

[@julianc.5545]

I think I saw Kyle do a manual double landual over the rock garden at 9:20

[@thhorwitz1]

I love the nostalgia happening in this. Brings me right back to highschool

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad to hear!

[@allanridesbikes5856]

That bike looks like a dirt bike. What a sketchy rock garden and manual!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Allan! Yeah it looks like one for sure!

[@MyFaithShines]

dude i want to thank you as a polish guy - i was like "karpiel" bikes? wait a second - karpiel that sounds polish asf! Then i googled it and it is! I learned about this awesome bikes made by polish highlander that emigranted to usa! such a cool story! thanks dude!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@daflostr44]

I started Mtn biking in 1989 and I remember seeing the OG Mountain Cycle San Andreas, and always wanted one of those. I had 3 other Mtn Cycles in the 90s but never a San Andreas. Search for pictures of the MC Shockwave frame. I had the original Monster T on it. Definitely a heavy bike! Enjoyed seeing this video and I’ll have to watch the other OG videos.

[@jcreeker5581]

Great video. Not sure how anyone rides a bike w/24" wheels through those rock gardens. Well done!

[@RobbisTV]

BRO!!! Downhill Domination! The Karpiel Armageddon was my pick every time in that game too hahaha, sick video! Cheers :D \m/

[@diegovillacrez8349]

Yesss Downhill domination. it's so wild seeing that bike look so mint today.

[@BigBearSteve333]

I first saw a karpiel army at Northstar in Tahoe. Half the trails were named after Jan Karpiels creations. It put my 6-inch travel San Andreas with a hannabrink fork to shame.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thats so awesome!

[@TimMillernapavalleyfilmworks]

Basically a motorbike without a large motor in the frame. 😅 love it!

[@OktaFierce]

"Feel like im on the edge of washing out the whole time"... that's me on the best modern tires money can buy :(

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha yeah, I have been spoiled with the Magic Mary Super Softs, its almost like cheating compared to the harder rubber older tires!

[@krazyjey]

Excellent review of a legend. Must have been fun and intimidating at the time. The bike looks A+ conditions

[@555Gear]

Best video ever!!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks for watching! it was super fun to share with everyone!

[@Thematty635]

Man a series where you and Jordan can go test these bikes out at some big bike parks or different trails Would be sick ✌️. Some timed laps or some jump challenges or something for some fun would be soo rad, and the retro fit is 👌👌

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Matty! Yeah i think we need to make that happen in 2023 for sure!!

[@WatchDanReviews]

Great video guys. I really like watching this trail with different bikes! I just picked up a new Giant Fathom 2 and would love to see how that bike handles that course vicariously through you. Thanks for making your videos!

[@apatriotofhopedanjohn4781]

I’m so happy seeing you be able to have fun again after your v deal. Stay away from crap Brother, they want us ALL dead. KYLE IS BACK !!!!!!! Thank GOD for April and her total Love and Support…. Thank you April 😊

[@almierhunter]

what happened to him?

[@apatriotofhopedanjohn4781]

@@almierhunter Poisoned by the 🎯 dart, jacked up his nervous system and heart. Was really messed up for a while. Quite scary times for both of them. I just kept Praying 🙏 for GOD to heal him. ALL Praise, Power and Glory to our Mighty YAHSHUA ha’ MASHIAH

[@jenniferdanbury8419]

Looks like fun. Thanks both, a happy watch.

[@Ninjaturtlemadness]

Oooohhh soooo sweet!!! My two dream frames were a Karpiel or a Brooklyn Machine Works!!! :-) I was always more than happy with what I had and LOVED my heavy bike!!!!

[@jamesameldrum9984]

That was an awesome video those old bikes is so cool

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you so much James! It was so much fun to live out the childhood fantasy!

[@3BrothersExtreme]

I dig the throw back. Not sure how you held onto half of those sections! Skills!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks! I think the suspension just eats everything 😂

[@JimCockerham]

So fun to watch!! The rocks on that trail are just crazy!

[@DarthBane555]

That was sick! Very cool stuff! I feel like a collab with Remy Metailler would be incredible... 😬 Plus you have the exact same sketchy situation laugh 😲

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha that would be really cool! We would love to do something with him!

[@Treacherous_One]

a few people were experimenting with 24" wheels back then. a couple key advantages were that they spun up faster, had lighter/faster steering characteristics, and they allowed you to maximize wheel travel without making the bike 4 feet tall at the handle bars. One of the major shortcomings was tire selection options were limited. Another, As I'm sure you well know is that they didnt roll over obstacles as well. A common configuration change was to swap out a 26" tire to the front end. back then, they were still working out the optimum geometry and desirable traits for dedicated DH bikes. Excessive weight was actually considered a positive benefit as it made them more stable at speed. with some people actually adding ballast below the bottom brackets. DH races back in the 80s/90s was a different animal entirely. they weren't technical trails, they were wide open access paths and roads where speeds got up into something akin to being on a freeway on ramp. these bikes were built to go like hell on gravel paths that were wide enough for an ATV at MX like speeds. It was a different game back then.

[@MAECTPOua]

This bike is a real legend. Glad that you took it for a good ride. Would it be better, if it had 26" wheels?

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah possibly aside from the BB height getting taller, i will definitely try sometime though!

[@1911Zoey]

Lol the hike a bike is a real workout with this bike. 😂

[@AprilRideMTB]

For real! That was the hardest part of the whole day!

[@Emz_Jhaye]

Wow!!! Sick bike!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Love the Karpiel w/Super Monsters!!! My dream bike!!! Feels like im watching 'New world disorder' videos way back 2000, Josh Bender ride one. Love to see old school dh/fr rigs in your videos. 😊😊😊

[@bwatt1383]

That loose dry dirt is killer, when i went up to breckenridge i was sliding and barely able to brake the whole time, this was one of my dream bikes too btw! This, the bmw racelink, and trek session 10 all were awesome to look at

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah those are such beautiful bikes!

[@g-money9648]

Such a Cool video Kyle! One of my favorite videos on KZbin.

[@mountaingoat8788]

lol Nice!! I Love these Videos man!! dam 1st thing I Noticed was how High that BB is must feel strange in corners.. would be a good one for diy e bike build Mid drive motor would have good clearance..

[@AprilRideMTB]

Thats true haha! Yeah it felt so crazy!

[@ditallow1618]

bruh!!! This was also my dream bike in 2006. I wish karpiel kept on going even after the hand injury he went through

[@misfits-of-war9970]

One of three 1. Nico's BOS suspended SUNN like the last year he raced it 2. A functioning Honda R1 with either SHOWA or Kayaba suspension 3. Sam Hill SUNDAY

[@abuckcat]

Awesome, when you're pedaling it looks like your knees get higher than the bars

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah the standover / seat height on this bike is crazy haha

[@bushnut8305]

Those old Gazzi tires need to be run at around 11psi. the side walls are so stiff.

[@c.t.r.l6551]

there should be a Retro DH Leage/Race with such old bikes :D would be funny

[@pirate_duck4985]

You sir are AMAZING! I saw the pic of this on Instagram, had a quick look & saved the video for later. Here I am & you start with Downhill Domination!? Awesome! That Karpiel is STACKED! 24" Double Wides with 3" Gazza's, Marzocchi's, Profile Cranks, what Hubs is it running? You should do a full bike check on that beast if you haven't already.

[@EMD_Ski]

I’ve watched a few of your videos but didn’t know where you were from, then saw this and said hey, that’s Bogus! Hasn’t been home for years, but I’ve skied every inch of that mountain as a kid, and we were riding mountain bikes pretty much exactly there back in like 1985. Not like that though! Really fun to watch for me, thanks

[@timothydubber549]

Jealous. Always wanted to ride one of these as a kid. See if you can find a Brooklyn Machine Works next. Absolute dream bike as an 11 year old.

[@AprilRideMTB]

The race link bike is so rad!

[@isaacturner7805]

Downhill domination is awesome! It's Pretty much the only reason I still have my ps2... Love this series, and I'm glad the Karpiel lived up to expectations - it's always been a bit of a dream bike of mine too. Have you thought about trying it with a 26 on the front? A couple of bike suggestions for future videos - Rocky Mountain Switch, Yeti ASX, Iron Horse Sunday and the Nicolai Nucleon - I'd be really curious to see how that compared to the Karpiel actually. No idea where you'd find one though...

[@PedalingDave]

I have been SOOOO entertained, lol!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks so much Dave! This was a fun one to make for sure!!

[@alexsurh1472]

Damn that's awesome! So stoked for you!

[@nynomadfjc3907]

that bike is a monster, the Bender special. made for 1 purpose, BIG drops!

[@knutwalfisch477]

This is soooo sick! Like everything. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO SICK!

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@ritchebalahadia3956]

That's Josh Bender's bike🤩🔥🔥🔥

[@AprilRideMTB]

Yeah definitely inspired by Bender!!

[@chrisa.s.7450]

DUDE! That’s some OG Kamloops josh bender shit right there. I always wished I could ride one. The closest I ever got was walking into full boar bike store and seeing his bike in there with the wierd double seats zip tied onto it! I think the trick is to ride it like an mx bike. Cheers and thanks for the nostalgia!

[@rogermorse_]

Those "The" fenders....bring back memories...

[@JasonFoxLCB]

That was awesome. The weight! Reminds me of my last non-BMX bike as a kid - a Sears special that was either steel or lead and chrome-plated. Looked sweet, but gave my 7-year-old legs a workout. Not unlike my 34 lb. bike does now at 50. 😂 That rock garden manual was terrifying-yet-awesome.

[@AprilRideMTB]

Haha thanks Jason!! It was such a fun video to make!

[@brysonmartin5405]

Great to see the Super Monster back in action!