The Best And Worst Bikes We’ve Ever Ridden Pt.1

[@gmbn]

Have you owned or still own any of these bikes from our list? Let us know what you think of them!

[@floydblandston108]

While not objectively 'the worst' bike I've ridden, the 2007 specialized Enduro Comp SL was easily the most disappointing. Maybe it was just me, but I could never get that bike to ride like 'one complete bicycle'. Front and rear suspension wouldn't work together, and everything happening in the drivetrain would upset the ride. *Hated* that bike, absolutely hated it....

[@soundwavesaudio1]

Where do i send pics of my bike to be tated

[@G3LDY]

Yeah that’s my giant DH team 👌🏻 had it since 2003

[@Shawn-in-da-Canyon]

None of you guys have a Mountain Cycle San Andreas?

[@gavinbrown6046]

Yep, I rode a Kona Manomano with a bomber Z2 back in '97 for the NPS DH series. The frame now hangs on the wall in my garage 🤘

[@bullit4x]

Blur 4x. Spot on. Best bike I ever owned. Got the spectral 125 and it’s as close to it as you can get. Fell in love with riding again.

[@floydblandston108]

Peak era for 4x bikes, easily. Foes and Yeti 100mm bikes were perfect as well.

[@bullit4x]

@@floydblandston108 my brother had the Yeti. We raced against each other in DS AND 4x. We would even switch bikes when switched between courses in DS so he wouldn’t cry and say it was the bike. Hahaha. (Younger brother btw) so when I beat him he couldn’t cry equipment.

[@Verbot819]

Ive recently got into mtb with my brother's old carrera valour and now Im wanting to get a full sus, perhaps a diamondback, but gmbn has helped so much in terms of understanding the techniques and community of mtb.

[@gmbn]

That's good to hear! Now if the time to be looking, there are plenty of sales still active to have a shop around. 🤘

[@Bob_Shy_132]

You know who would be perfect for stuff like this? DODDY!

[@DNDinitials]

The random tandem was so funny. 😂 watching the bike in the air and the people on and around its reactions was priceless.

[@KevinT3141]

Nice walk through your bike histories guys, thanks!

[@gmbn]

Our pleasure! 🚶

[@ChrisHouseHobby]

Awesome video. Those orange z1 forks were so fun. Cool show. Do more of these immediately

[@dchex23]

I have Orbea Occum for over 3 years and I love it.

[@hotsky83]

Just got a 2022 model on sale. and love it!

[@tomdavison2784]

The bike that stood out for me back in the mid 2000s, despite having had a demo 8, V10, 224, was the Marin Quake. It looked like a farm gate, ugly as sin but the suspension design worked brilliantly and although shorter on travel I had my best DH results on it.

[@fishmanmtb]

I remember Neil bringing that SC nomad into where I worked to pick up his wheelset. Such a sick looking bike.

[@gmbn]

What shop did you work at? Is it still around now?

[@fishmanmtb]

@@gmbn it was saddleback the distro for ENVE.

[@chrisfontaine6221]

I'm currently riding the same 2016 Nomad, I mulleted it by adding a 29'er DVO Onyx set at 170mm... still has the rear Chris King/NOBL it came with, not rigid or chattery at all, It does everything well and is by far my favorite bike I've ridden.

[@gmbn]

Sounds like you've got your set up dialled in! 🔥

[@chrisfontaine6221]

@@gmbn and the turquoise looks so good with the blue DVO forks :P

[@savamoioe4669]

love this more "personal" content, not bike news and estinf for once.Loved it! Chears guys

[@Jakluke]

I still ride the same type of Santa Cruz Nomad at 8:21

[@wmtee2403]

Me Too 👍

[@Jakluke]

@@wmtee2403 still a great bike to

[@AlanBassano1]

Great idea this video, really like it!

[@hanstubben]

My favorite bike is the Niner RKT9RDO with 120 fork! It´s the one that´s in my shed, so I can enjoy it every time I want to! Important is to like the bike you have instead of trying to keep up with the latest, 15 years ago mountain biking also was fun for who rode only twentysixers.

[@kevincross9206]

One bike I wish I hadn’t sold was my ‘09 Stumpjumper Elite, loved that, and gave me many happy rides! Not really for GMBN, but also should have held on to my Brompton SL2, with a few pimped bits on. The benefit of hindsight 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@ApexHerbivore]

Worst - Claude Butler fully rigid 1997 Best - Mondraker Dune XR 2014 (still a classy bike with all new bits on it) Or maybe my 2021 Norco Sight, a joy to ride

[@skippylegrandgourou2069]

The 2016 Norco Sight i had was a piece of shit that cracked after 3 days in whistler

[@ApexHerbivore]

@@skippylegrandgourou2069 that's shitty luck bro. Or did it take a big fall?

[@skippylegrandgourou2069]

@@ApexHerbivore nope i was teaching mountain biking to beginners on blue trails lol.

[@ApexHerbivore]

@@skippylegrandgourou2069 Unfortunate! Mine's a weapon :)

[@Emtbtoday]

Remember Rob Warner winning the DH on that ATX 990 he's just done a great rebuild video of his original bike finding the parts he sold everything off it now its restored and looks awesome

[@danrodrigues5460]

You both ride dream bikes today.. awesome tier list

[@haydenw8691]

One I wish had not been stolen was my Coyote Dual Slalom. Rebuilt as a trail bike including Pike 426 coil with 2014 Revelation damper, 1x9 drivetrain and dropper post along with short stem and wide bars. Eventually got a replacement in the form of a Marin San Quentin.

[@chrisprysok7634]

Ive been fortunate. Sworks enduro in 2021 custom build. Still relevant. Salsa timberjack. Loved it at the time, after full squish just never used it. Its now the winter wahoo bike.

[@SHFTFerral]

I don’t know if many people really know about this but there are trails out in louisiana that have uphill and downhill trails, but they also have a lot of features that scare me to an extent I don’t ride a lot of the trails. I’ve been riding for about 2 1/2 years and the one thing I realized was I’m scared of gap jumps, but I really want to hit them someday but I figured putting it out there that there are trails in louisiana that deserve more attention the trails are in Bogue Chitto State Park, and I’d 100% recommend them if you’re ever passing through LA

[@IWASRANSOMED]

Upgraded 2022 Kona Lava Dome - nice, great XC bike. Stock 2022 Nukeproof Scout -very nice, great everywhere

[@samcourt6228]

Loved my SX Trail, I had one of the early poo brown ones. Such a great bike.

[@krisqz]

Good on you, Blake. I love my Oiz as well. For me it has the best of both worlds, speed of gravel and comfort of light trail bike. I just love remote locking the suspension on the fly. Super useful and a game changer after my last bike.

[@gmbn]

It's rare to find a bike that does both, but it sound like Orbea have hit the nail on the head with that bike!

[@albikes8484]

I had the Giant team DH in blue. I have a 34 inch inseam and am 5,10 ft tall. And i bought the small. The toptubes were very tall on them. I did really enjoy mine.

[@gmbn]

Did downsizing help with the longer top tube?

[@albikes8484]

@@gmbn At the time i was more worried about how tall the toptube was off the ground. The small helped with that. I had a Zocchi Shiver at the time. So it still sat very tall. As far as the toptube length went. I was fine with a short bike. I would ride a place called Ski Plattekill in New York state. Very Rocky ,with lots of natural drop ins. Having it short made it very maneuverable for me.

[@odinfineartcreations9898]

I've only ever really had beginner level bikes. My worst one was an Australian big box store repco bike, something (still not entirely sure what) happened with the front mechanical disk brake and I got flung off, then snapped in the crash. Best for me so far was a 2004 ish norco sasquatch, Currently have a 2015 norco storm 7.1 that I do love but parts quality has gone down a bit. Hoping to put a better fork with more travel. Been getting back into riding and want to raise awareness for a rare auto immune disease I was diagnosed with in 2016 that left me visually impaired and severe chronic pain

[@jonimakesails]

Back in the day I had a 1993 Kona Cinder Cone. I loved that bike. Steal frame, Project Two forks, made a number of upgrades including Azonic riser bars and a shorter Azonic stem and some Beartrap pedals. Then it got stolen...😢 I had it insured but the insurance company would only supply a new bike from their list which didn't include Kona's. On a whim I chose a Trek 8000. Aluminium frame with a big fat tubes, RockShox suspension forks. Surely this would be better than the Kona. I hated it...! Floppy forks and a frame so stiff I came back fro every ride feeling like my posterior had been violated. The experience put me off Trek's to this day around 30 years later.

[@briannyob7799]

Had a 2013 Cove G-Spot. Great bike.

[@CharlieBrwn8]

I started with a Mongoose full sus (crap), trek 4300 (very nice), Cannondale Trail 5 (ok), Trek Marlin 7 (nice), and currently Nukeproof Scout (very nice). But pretty standard list. Simple bikes. In and out of the sport. This time I will stay 100%

[@gmbn]

Blake will be very happy to hear this, sounds like you've landed on the best bike for you! Hope it serves you well for years to come 🤘

[@shawnsheffield7413]

As someone who is riding a Scott Gambler like Blake's, glad to see it's a favorite!

[@gmbn]

Does it live up to the hype?

[@shawnsheffield7413]

@@gmbn first and only DH bike, but for what I paid vs what it does I'll say yeah it's a bargain per performance!

[@richdyer2000]

Worst: Tomac Eli with the noodle tubes. I felt like I was perched on top of it. Fortunately the welds started failing after 2 months. Best: Gary Fisher Procaliber OCLV. Originally from ‘94, but racing till 2008. Also Best: Epic Evo.

[@philhomedog]

speaking of scaffolding, blake should have a go at building a DIY slopestyle/freeride bike! (think transition bottlerocket)

[@ajfc27]

Not a giant ATX 990 but I've still got my giant ATX 950 that I've had from new and love dearly, it's super nice! (except for actually hitting trails on it)

[@gmbn]

Sometimes it's good to keep a bike just to look at it 👀

[@LawrenceMacMacster]

Personal favs: Best hardtail: Kona stuff 2002 Best FS: most Giant Maestro bikes Worst hardtail: Marin quake 2000 (heavy n weird geo) Worst FS: almost any single pivot bike that I tried.

[@Josephgnar]

What about the Nukeproof scalp you used as the bike park bike

[@fud1376]

The GT I-Drive was the bike that got me back into biking in the 00's...Loved it...Ha !

[@gmbn]

Are you still biking now?

[@blendcreativeimaging9787]

Hi Blake... as you have ridden and tested a lot of bikes... I was wondering why the Decathlon Rockrider AM100 S never has been tested by you or your team? Is it that bad of a bike? Or doesn't Decathlon want to you to have I tested (or is it nessacary that they sponsor the video?!). I'm a beginner/semi-advanced mtb-er and looking for affordable, budget, good mtb. In what way can you or your team advice us on this bike? As I live on an island in the Caribbean (Curacao) we don't have options to test different bikes... so to order a bike online has it perks, hoping you ordered a good one right away. I would really would appreciate your help. Thanks! A big fan of the GMBN Channel!!! Regards, Sander

[@joeroche552]

The coyote was single pivot and the azoic was 4bar? Defo very different bikes, I had a coyote and I loved it at the time but was outclassed when I moved to a 222.

[@The-Jokes-on-You]

The two worst bikes I ever threw a leg over were a Pro-flex & Amp B-2. Two funnest were the Kona Stab Deluxe & Pivot less fat.

[@RetroLindsay]

Just wondering what why don't you like the lobo because I had one in 2003 and loved it even one a few trophies with it

[@munky2k]

I also had a Coyote DH2. My first proper downhill bike and loved how it could be pinged in to the air. Sadly wrote off the frame in my first proper downhill crash 🤦🏼‍♂️ (PS Blake, it’s a DH2 not a DH8 bud 😉)

[@DavidOwen-g9i]

I remember the LOBO coming into Winstanley's in Wigan when I worked there as a Kid, At the time i hadn't seen anything like it before was super nice. With hindsight its worse than me current Avalanche hard tail 🤣🤣

[@tobyehillier]

Just bought a santacruz like that for 800 quid.... Putting some money into it coz it's fun

[@FoxRob93]

My worst bike was a K2 Sidewinder FS my favorite is my current GT Aggressor Expert.

[@G3LDY]

That’s my giant DH team 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@gmbn]

Thanks for sending it in!

[@LJ_Adventure79]

Can u do another viewer bike list

[@David-bw7is]

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with my bikes....I wouldn't say Super sh*t but in the Meh bracket, probably my 1989 Carrera Quattro Comp but I also love it as it was my first MTB which I bought with my own money, and a Scott hardtail I bought off a mate in 1998, comfy and stable on the flat, all over the place on the rough stuff. Nice/SuperNice my Cherry red, GT Avalanche from 1993, probably rode like a pig, but it did look soooo good. Lastly my new bike, a 2022 Intense Primer 275, got a retro-ish paint job, even though I'm 5'7" the step over even on the small is a bit "Tight" and it feels "off" while going slow, but hit the gas and point it downhill on a trail or on the technical stuff and it totally comes to life.

[@gabe_orourke]

Some of these bikes are older than me 🤣

[@simo7321]

All the Hustlers Conventions EP's, were good, upto I Love America!

[@aberdeendeltaforce]

Totally ripped of the watch guy here 😂

[@samblenkharn8099]

Cool video boiz

[@smoothisfast6644]

It would be interesting to find out which bikes were paid for, and which were sponsors.

[@hardtailharry6812]

Niel has been riding before helmets where mandatory !

[@Paganiproductions84]

my Orbea Mx20 i got it a size to small and did sold for the half of the prize and my haibike 26er whit crap tires don't not like it and i converted it to single speed and i did no really gel whit it.

[@tomd1826]

What's the difference between an enduro and a freeride bike?

[@gmbn]

Enduro bikes are designed to ride some gnarly downhill while still being able to climb as fast as possible, freeride is more of a mix of multiple discipline like downhill/dirt jumping/bmx freestyle!

[@TherealKG22.5]

Santa Cruz Nomad 2014 💥💥

[@JeffMTBinVA]

#GMBN Really Neil, your dream build NP Giga that you did the video on isn't your favorite?

[@soundwarper]

ALL Trailstars are ALWAYS Super Nice! 🤟😎❤️

[@nukedathlonman]

Well, if I rank my bikes - the 39 year old Bianchi road bike (owned for 30 years) I do put in the super nice cat. My Kenesis frame trail bike I've owned and ridden since new for 19 years - well, I have to go by version - as I got it, super 💩. Version 2 had new hand built wheels, Marzocchi MX Comp coil forks and a generic (but functional) 4-way adjustable coil rear shock, mechanical disc brakes and mixed series components... I'd put it into the nice cat - but it only ever worked well on the trail, making me almost want to put it in the meh cat. Current version I'll also put in the the same cat - but shredded some weight with the Monarch RT3 rear shock, added some weight with the Fox F32 forks, changed it to full Deore groupset, and did up some cosmetics. It's the Fox fork (2013 F32 RTD) I'm not exactly happy with - I like the RTD, and it's smooth... Yet the flex in the stanchions and dive with braking I'm anything but happy with (I notice both) - I swear the Marzocchi's dove less and had less flex in the stanchions (and those where smaller!). But all the upgrades make the bike more rideable to the trails while keeping it playful on the trails. But it's pretty much time for a modern MTB and esp a more modern 1x setup (all versions it's a 3x8). But the problem is, it's cheaper for me to keep it nice and rolling as is (and I like how it rides).

[@andrewsiasparks]

Worst hardtail I ever owned was a Norco charger. It split in half and took some teeth. Worst DS was a Giant reign 2012. I got sent over the bars many times by this bike because it had really bad fork dive just like the giant Yukon from around the same time 😅 haven't road a giant since

[@gmbn]

That doesn't sound good, did you ever find out the reason for the fork dive or was it just bad geometry? What bike have you settled for now?

[@andrewsiasparks]

@@gmbn just bad geometry.

[@StellarForceNX]

Where is Blake’s nukeproof scout????

[@expresslux6942]

I had a scott gambler sold it cuz it got small and bought a canyon sender still miss the scott cuz it rode 10x times better😢

[@dverschoor84]

My worst bike, giant xtc full suspension. Boucy af. My best bike, Commencal Meta AM 2021

[@lkwfahrerjeff4043]

please ride a 2011 mongoose boot r apprentice i have one but i need a professionell test

[@steveherring8494]

blake what happen to the bike u won the avalanche on? i saw that one when u arrived at the place the avalanche took place. i wrote u asking how much.

[@johnsonbat77]

2019 Giant Reign Advanced 0.

[@deividas_kimontas]

Who loves stairs! 😈

[@whateverrobert]

My first mtb was a huffy it sucked plumbing pipe made heavy and sucked. My second was a specialized rock hopper. That bike I rode jump trail. Broke two rear rims. Then sold it my next was a Trek Y bike ride it in the trails for years and still have it my next was a dh bike Intense M1 04 edition. Riding that a friends dad raced a bike he gave me is a Ventanna El Matador. Nice bike I still have them all except huffy and specialized.

[@BlindingSun_]

I just want a Gt Lobo and a Karpiel Armageddon

[@ashleytombs]

The best bike I’ve ever ridden is my friends 2023 Trek session and his Scott voltage JB if you’ve never A session you must not only is it good looking for a DH bike it’s a absolute weapon it pains me to say it but The worst bike is my 2014 glory just because it’s too heavy to street ride

[@gmbn]

Not sure a DH is the best choice for street riding unless you're doing hucks to flat?

[@ashleytombs]

@@gmbn Yeah I agree what’s even worse riding my glory in 30° brutal as it so heavy i’m not the only A lot of my friends have DH bikes that ride Street also we all have JB’s as well so it’s not all bad

[@LEL7567-ABCDEF]

blake, how about your purple, orange and green orbea. do you not like that?

[@LJ_Adventure79]

I now have a 2021/2022 meriada one twenty 400 and before that had a 2022 trek Marlin 4

[@PebusGalacticus]

it hurts hearing them pronounce the orbea rallon

[@VelkePivo]

I figured you wouldn’t have the balls to criticize any new bike as the worst ever. Can’t be upsetting advertisers. I didn’t expect the commercial at the end, though.

[@ApexHerbivore]

ERIK

[@Pillokun]

the worst bike I have ever ridden is an 29" scott scale... so slow to react between the trees in the wood.... nah 26" is where it is at :)

[@Milessongs]

Would love to see Anna's list of bikes past!

[@joshuaallswang8016]

The worst bike on the list was the E bike🤮🤮

[@John3-16Clothing]

am i first