Top 10 Retro Mountain Bikes

[@fransvenrooy4760]

my Cannondale super V is still active these days, bought in 1998 (brandnew) and i'm still riding him without any problems.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

+frans venrooy I interviewed with Cannondale around that time for the dirt bike factory (when they were making Motocross bikes and quads). I toured both the bicycle factory, and the Motorcycle factory 4 miles away from the bike factory. The bike factory had good management and did things well. But I am glad I turned down their offer, because the motorcycle factory, with bad management, (I personally saw a very poor judgment call from the floor manager during my interview) went out of business soon after.

[@irvsstella]

I had a Super V900 Franc Roman ltd ed, loved it, sold it, miss it. She was called Holly, after my first crash and landing area!!!

[@sebastianstormvoss8950]

And this is why you call youre bike or car "her"

[@teodelfuego]

Did you see the movie Mindhorn?

[@peterjv8748]

My Bridgestone MB-5 that I saved from the scrap pile and converted into a 650b commuter is probably the best bike in the world.

[@jlac1423]

It would be interesting to see you guys compare retro bikes to modern bikes like they did over at GCN. It'd be fun to see Marc and Neil go down some tracks on drop bars!

[@AshtonBikes]

+joseph lacanilao That is a cool idea. Like it.

[@jlac1423]

You can give them some tips on riding on the drops.

[@durrantmiller8810]

+Martyn Ashton oh... my... gosh... ITS MARTYN ASHTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dirkeickholt4684]

The Specilized Stumpjumper S-Works FSR from 1994 os the bike of my dreams!!!!

[@michaelsteven1090]

Lol..loved them! An awesome bike..

[@skiak004]

Still riding my 1994 Diamondback Axis TT XT won many a race on this bike and other than my Mongoose Tomac, it's probably my favorite older mountain bike that I still ride for fun.

[@CrazyCyclingVlogger]

I am old. I remember all those bikes and rode a few of them...

[@todokete6016]

We, Sir (or Ma’am, no hater here), are not old, we are simply “vintage” or, if you prefer, “retro”. I, too, recall lusting over these, and many not listed, flipping through magazines and then drooling over them as I went into countless bike shops to see them in person. Good times...

[@michaelsteven1090]

@@todokete6016 me too..i loved all this innovation back in the day..hell, i had one of the 1st Judy’s in my county!

[@erik7654]

Yes! always fun to see your old bike on the list. I miss my Cannondale Super V. Was pretty superb back then.

[@jasoncross6151]

My top two are the M1 and Mountain Cycles, two bikes that where ahead of their time. The MC wouldn't look out of place at a DH race today! I feel all nostalgic now 😏🚵👊🏼

[@RunnerTK]

Still in love with my blue ´94 Breezer Lightning!

[@ganimed1976]

I had a 98' GT Xizang 19" with Rock Shox SID Race Ti and XTR m950 components. One of the best bikes I'd ever had ridden on. I still have a 92' Fat Chance Yo Eddy and also their 10th Anniversary. Both build up with parts from this time period. These bikes are iconic. Another bike in this top ten ranking that I'd owned once is the Manitou FS. I had a 1994 Manitou FS 3 with blue anodized Ringle, Grafton and Cook Bros parts. But the frame later had an hairline crack under the seat clamp near the weld. So it was no longer save to drive with and a repair was too expensive and risky. The tubing in this frame section was very thin.

[@gmbn]

+ganimed1976 I would love an old Xizang. Neil

[@ganimed1976]

+Global Mountain Bike Network If you have the chance to get one....get it. It was an awesome bike. Maybe I'll buy me a Xizang again when I see one on ebay. They are still nice bikes ;)

[@keirfarnum6811]

Fat Chance Yo Eddy! That was the finest steel framed MTB available during the early 90s! Still riding mine!

[@teufellisa]

The same here since 1992! and it still goes as well as on the first day :-)

[@keirfarnum6811]

@@teufellisa 👍🏻

[@TheWeardale1]

so many lissed off, but hard to choose a top ten...pace for example... my first proper mtb was a white trek 950 from 1991 ish...loved it..! 18 inch frame which no one had really seen in newcastle around then...

[@teapeaster]

God, I longed for any of these many a year a go. I still think that the M1 is the don. Thanks for the video!

[@kilroywashere9343]

My first professionally designed bike was a Gary fisher mountain mamba my cousin gave me because he didn’t use it anymore. That was 2 years ago and now I have a specialized rockhopper and I couldn’t be happier

[@maniac0303]

I miss the Specialized Stumpjumper from the early nineties in this video! I still ride one... ;)

[@dubya8776]

Yeah I'm shocked these guys left the old M2 Stumpy off the list.

[@bruin4937]

The little Stumpjumper hardtail remains a classic, and a race-bred champ -- see Ned Overend. :-) I think I've owned, traded, sold about 7 Stumpys over the years, and still own a '98 S-Works M2 and a '97 Stumpjumper Comp. Still love this great, classic champ of a hardtail!

[@hubdeep9452]

I have a 1990 stumpjumper that I still use for bike packing. It's a great bike. I also have an M2. Great bikes that just work beautifully.

[@4mercl]

I recently aquired my '96 M2 race frame. Best bike ever. Can't wait to biuld it up the way I would've if I actually owned it back then.

[@maxsteinlechner6085]

How did it turn out

[@capitalltech]

@@maxsteinlechner6085 ^

[@superdomestiquesd]

I love the Yeti's. Always had a soft spot for the Fisher CR7 too.

[@cerisefraker1572]

Still rockin' the Schwinn KOM 10 hard tail, hard to beat back in the day, that day was along time ago.

[@bicyclist2]

You forgot the Ibis BowTi, and the Trek Y bike. I have a Schwinn Homegrown carbon I've pimped out with Thomson and King parts. The 90's and early 2000's was an exciting time to be a mountain biker. Thanks.

[@MasterOfWTF]

What no love for Tinker Juarez and his Klein Adroit?

[@123marijn321]

@@ayrtonsenna1099 What are you talking about? Pressed bearings, oversized tube frame. Also, look at the suspension on the Palomino and the frame of the Mantra.

[@indorider]

I was thinking the same thing. Had the same bike but painted Mardi Gras...

[@scottharrington6441]

Tinker needs no mentions. He is Tinker. He just rides.

[@kona6812]

Bringing back good memories :-)) Kona HeiHei ti-bike was my favorite ride back than, paired with a Mag 21 SL and Tune lightend XTR (1.gen) groupset. With Ringle Super Bubba Hubs and special lanced Campa rims. Still loving this bike!

[@superchampion5228]

Rode a super v back in those days and enjoyed every second of it! Got me hooked on cannondales for the next 20 years!

[@hubdeep9452]

Some amazing bikes there. Yes, there are many more that could be added to the list. I've always loved stumpjumpers, I have 3 of them. Square tubed Pace was iconic too. Konas could also be added. Klien, The list could be endless. It's nice to see a video which isn't just slagging old bikes off or talking about 'how much better things are now'. Many of these designs are still fast today. Our KOMs are proof of that 💪

[@thinkpadBentnoseTheBlind]

I love the Control Tech seatpost in Palmers Intense. Best strongest non bending seatpost ever made as it had the I beam in centre of inside post

[@hitachicordoba]

My first MTB was an early 80's Schwinn Mesa Runner rigid w/ caliper brakes that rubbed and squealed despite all attempts at adjustment. Fond memories.

[@ericp.]

I still ride my 1990 Raleigh Technium Peak. And I love it.

[@keirfarnum6811]

I had a technium for my first bike. Broke it and moved on to a Fat Yo Eddy, which I still ride today. Those glue joints just didn’t hold up under a full time XC racer.

[@bingomartinez3085]

haha just been doing up a old Coventry Eagle Omega, its surprisingly satisfying and therapeutic!

[@AydinProductionsLtd]

Crazy I was there during the late 1985. I had a good time meeting with Tomac, Overend, Tinker and many others as they came up to Canada one summet to Race on Ontario at Kelso Conservation area. Then saw them at man other races. Good times

[@HyLifeSociety]

What about the Gt Lts-1 ? First Horst suspensions and sexy AF

[@todokete6016]

Got a ‘98 LTS 2000-DS up & running again after finding it stashed in my uncle’s basement. It sat unridden for a good 10 years. After a complete teardown, a thorough cleaning and 5 months of searching for replacement parts to repair a neglected XTR drivetrain & many frozen/seized bolts, it is finally complete. I added quite a few modern upgrades (kept the 3x8 RaceFace cranks & XTR V brakes) along with refurbished vintage parts. Love it!

[@todokete6016]

I think these guys featured both the Zaskar & LTS in the same video in another of their 10 Most Wanted Retro MTBs. I recall seeing the RTS-1 featured in one too.

[@michaelsteven1090]

@@todokete6016 10 worst? The Zaskar was a great racing frame..harsh but fast..these new guys are snowflakes!

[@overland_adventure_nz]

I have been riding offroad a long time. . bike's have come a long way ☺

[@Aanonymous88]

That Ritchey Frame really deserves it's name on the list.

[@DwDahl]

Diamondback axis TT

[@robertkess9907]

I still have my black Gary Fisher Paragon with the yellow hippie trippy logo. Bought it in like 1997 and it's still in great shape, light, added some parts to make it my own, and it still looks like an expensive bike. One thing it ain't is made for heavy bomber trails, hard tails will kill your back on an advanced trail. But what it still does well is go from on road to off road and back again, just get those slick in the middle and nubby on the edges tires and you have the best of both worlds. When I tell people it's almost 25 years old their eyes pop out and they think I'm lying. For a casual rider it's more than enough, and it's still a super light bike, nimble and really fun to ride.

[@AndrewGibson22]

I've a pair of Gary Fisher Wahoo (Medium and Large) in burnt orange. Like brand new, never used, to my shame. Dog ate the saddles. UPDATE: now both restored like new, paint looks amazing with some compound and wax.

[@garygup]

I'd have included the AMP Research B1. The first usable fully active full suspension bike.

[@thomassmith761]

great to hear martin in some of the videos other than the dirt shed show keep up the great work gmbn i am a life long follower

[@MaNuLaToRVaDeR]

this video is nice but WTF NO SPECIALIZED M2 I PITY THE FOOL

[@eduardojose757]

The double diamond classic design is very pretty. I find this design of MTB the best all around bicycle design. Nowadays people commute a lot on road bikes, but look at Al filo de lo impossible - rodando por ti or search for the video 90's MTB masters (1992). They ride this kind of design and it fits perfectly for the commute use. I had myself to make my way through a sidewalk full of grass and rocks because the street was to busy, I could not do that on a road bike.

[@racefaceec90]

i will be buying a 1994 marin pine mountain next week in vgc (inc xt thumbshifters). i cannot wait tbh as i had a 1992 marin eldridge grade that i loved and always wanted a pine mountain (or team titanium lol).

[@SuperAudionut]

I have a '95 Marin Pine Mountain that I'm upgrading to latest XT components this weekend.

[@malibustacy3606]

I had considered buy a Yeti in 1990 but couldn't gather enough USEFUL info on the bike at the time, the people I was dealing with in Northern California weren't selling the Yeti brand back then so I ended up getting a Steve Potts Signature.

[@davidcroucher1399]

You missed out Klein!

[@jones1907]

I recon a Proflex 857 and a Klein would have been worth a shout to make into the top 10.

[@nigelsmith7366]

Agreed especially the Proflex.... I had a 957 back in the day

[@keirfarnum6811]

Just FYI, it’s “reckon” (“wreck-on”). To “recon” (“ree-con”) means to reconnoiter something.

[@bdubs1967]

No stumpjumper? Wtf

[@aslanerken6918]

still riding specialized stumpjumper M2 great bike

[@grahamreeve5209]

You are so right and no original and first real mountain bike the Breezer

[@keirfarnum6811]

They were mass produced bikes. Good bikes but nothing revolutionary. Try a Yo Eddy and you’ll discover what a steel hardtail really is.

[@anguswoods9274]

Pretty cool bikes, surprised how advanced they were in the 90s!

[@plug2e]

I used to yearn for a Klein Attitude, but had to make do with a Pulse Comp instead.

[@Nobrake71]

Still ride my 1998 GT XIZANG

[@edmundscycles1]

+Brian Van Zanten I got the 98 Zaskar LE . still with Judy SL forks and XT parallel pull brakes . A whopping 60mm travel . Love riding it . I changed to stem and bars to an I bean 120mm stem and ritchey World Pro 505mm flat bars too .

[@miksiggins1522]

+Brian Van Zanten Yep have a 96 Xizang myself, also have a (newer) ARC and used to have a Manitou FS, all great bikes

[@timkole2002]

Nice

[@Idk-ih3of]

Still ride my 1992 Scott boulder

[@kendavis8647]

My old school bike is a Schwinn homegrown, bass boat metal flake gold and black.Made in Colorado with the homegrown tomato graphics.

[@BornPedalling]

10 bikes I'd still ride now.

[@アカハラタモリ]

I really love the Klein attitude and adroit ！

[@haydenbeaverstock1627]

I really think it would be cool to start a restoration series where GMBN buy an old clattered mountain bike and refurbish it with new parts, so it would have the look of a classic MTB but the feel of a modern MTB. For example one thing you could do is find an early disc brake full suspension bike and then update the brake calipers to hydro and update the suspension and gears to give it a modern feel but a classic look.

[@antonmiller3981]

Still love my 98 Gary Fisher Genesis. Light strong simple reliable.

[@karlnorgaard6077]

Great vid! Some real gems. I just bought an oldie that likely doesn't belong in this conversation, but I need some help identifying it. Hopefully one of you can give me a clue. The "lug-less" double diamond frame features slightly o/s steel tubing with a nice seatpost stay that resembles a fork. The downtube decal reads PARAMOUNT and the model name is "Skid". The steel fork has decals identifying it as "Limited Edition". There is no headtube badge, and no evident stamps on front or rear drop-outs. Shimano Deore XT front and rear derailleurs. Shimano STI SLR brake and shift levers are mounted to EASTON MATRIX TAPERLITE bars. I assume the GIRVIN flex stem (quill style) was an aftermarket addition. The paint job suggests early 90's, being a very bright 4 color fade...pink, blue, orange and yellow.

[@mtbben11]

Ohhhh, pretty sure Joe Breeze built the first production MTB, but only by a month or so. Love how simple these old bikes were. Would also be interested in seeing a comparison to modern bikes.

[@hhova29]

What about the gary Fisher bikes? I still have the sugar team issue. Bike is a monster

[@andrewsupertramp124]

Today I bought a 2002 HOO KOO E KOO for $50 excellent condish! My new fav👍

[@stefanthegerman3575]

My favorit bike is my 96er zaskar le with 900 xtr and judy dh and syncros seatpost, stem and handlebar. But damn i wish i had a xizang frame🥰

[@otissmith8990]

Wilderness Trail Bikes Phoenix. Timeless design that still shreds (if you can find one).

[@sueneilson896]

Fisher Pro Calibre should be on this list. Very early , reasonably affordable and top quality and light.

[@davidsparling3505]

Nice...the Ritchey P-21/22 would be my choice for the most pure design.

[@keirfarnum6811]

Until you tried the Yo Eddy. Best steel hardtail ever made.

[@davidsparling3505]

@@keirfarnum6811 Nice bike…just love Tom’s filet brazed frames. He is still an iconic builder who with Joe Breeze and others invented the MTB segment.

[@alastair415]

No love for Bontrager OR? The Race and Race Lite had design features that became the standard for two decades of production hardtails; wishbone mono-stay, sloping top tube, gusseted stress points…

[@davidmatheson7391]

I owned an '06 Mtn Cycle San Andreas. The single pivot design worked well on the descents but the bobbing effect while climbing or hammering the flats was an energy waster. I had to crank the spring almost all the way out to minimize the bob & pedal feedback.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Yet, I saw a down hill pro who rode for Mt. Cycle at the time, (Brent Hendler), climb the toughest hill at Yankee Springs Michigan with that Mt. Cycle, that I have never seen a rode rider climb on his hard tail. In fact, I never saw anybody else climb it. :) I called the hill, Mount Mother Pucker.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

The GT triangle frame is a icon of the era, but a Ti frame and component company in the East won the Ti. bike shoot outs in Mountain Bike Action in the early and mid 90's. That company was Nuke Proof. I worked there at the time, and I believe, judging from the stuff I have seen on line, I may have the most complete Nuke Proof Ti. bike in existence. They did not have the big race teams of the big factories, and only a hand full of employees, but if there is a Mountain bike museum, I am sure the owner would have my bike over the GT Ti. bike. May be lay those "shoot out" articles along side of it. The old ower of Nuke Proof now owns a bike company called "616" in the same Grand Rapids, Michigan area, ("616" phone area code).

[@EarthSurferUSA]

+EarthSurferUSA I also had the San Andreas. I wish I still had that frame.

[@manueltorres6683]

no Gary Kelin?

[@bravosierra165]

I own Mountain Cycle San Andreas 1st gen purple theme in my collection.

[@suncity22001]

pace rc100. still looks fantastic

[@thetetons744]

I really love the raleigh m80!!!!

[@MsFleshgear]

The best retro bike is Specialized S-Works Epic Ultimate Carbon from 1992 with Future Shox FSX Carbon fork.

[@hammeredscout]

I own the 1994 version. Bought it new.

[@faultless97]

What about proflex?

[@thomaspallan5988]

Bought the Specialized Stumpjumper, Expert, FSR w FOX full suspension, Aluminum frame, Shimano Deore XT all around. Covered and stored away til this week...Like new...Retro Bike and rides like a dream. Been thinking about a Fat boy...Should I sell my Specialized for the Fat Boy/...Will lose lots of $ on the bike but ??worth it for a go anywhere Fat Boy? What Make ,? frame material etc? Great video, great memories!!

[@GunnarSoroos]

I wanted to see current riders riding these with a real opinion on how they rode.

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

Manitou FS was a dream bike for me back in 92, local bike shop had one in, £2500 just for the frame kit (was an Answer Manitou not the Bradbury Manitou pictured above) , huge money back then, got one about 12 years ago, was a great disappointment, stunning to look at but not great to ride, would pogo with each pedal stroke, my GT LTS DH was far better, did get my hands on a San Andreas frame, never built it and sold it on, should have kept that.

[@joku900]

I have my dad's old Wheeler 7700 from 1993!

[@resynthesizer4565]

Always appreciated and wanted a p-21/22

[@summerswinterer9247]

Still have my Ritchey P21 with the native fork XT components. Only steel bike I've ever seen that you couldn't see the weld marks.

[@slippingsnake]

P21 tubes are fillet brazed so weld marks would be strange :)

[@jonahcooke6540]

the intense m1 is a beautiful bike

[@adrianashby1033]

diamondback Axis Team and Orange clockwork? for full suspension Marin Mount vision is still the default geometry.

[@nigelsmith7366]

So many missed bikes.... Proflex.... Kona.... Marin.... Orange..... Pace.... Merlin

[@bicycleninja8039]

All great bikes! My daily rider is a fr Giant Iguana👍

[@Samps1992]

The konas were great back in the day

[@yegmtb8377]

Richie p21 look at those old school rockshox i remember my sister had a pair on her rocky mountain or was it a norco? Idk but it was orange and yellow bike with clip ins i thought that was so cool

[@heislpartie]

Very cool video!

[@sierra_bravo6388]

what about the '97 Specialized Ground Control Comp or fsr... anyone...just me

[@rong1924]

Still have my 96 ground control. The one with the little shock at the top of the seat stays. Was never a good idea.

[@deecarter1059]

What happened to the fantastic Kona Cinder Cone featured in the earlier version of this video?

[@emilemulholland7936]

Is John Tomac really a Texan? Thought he lived in Colorado and grew up in Michigan? Also, wouldn’t a low bottom bracket be better for drifting a clunker down Marin county fire roads rather than a high bottom bracket? Still, fun video definitely remember seeing some of those bikes out on the trails.

[@tomr8433]

I always remember the Xizang being quite a special bike.. I'm a little too young to know the significance of most of the others.

[@TheOliverluck]

where is the grisley? that bike deserve all an episode!

[@Romin.777]

I will never sell my San Andreas! I think it's still one of the best looking nikes ever. :))

[@Romin.777]

Bikes not nikes

[@comewarpeacecraft7927]

Is Manitou Fork that Good? Recently manitou seems forgotten, all i hear is just Fox and Rockshox

[@TheCicakfly]

It is...

[@keirfarnum6811]

Back then some people liked them. I greatly preferred Rockshox myself.

[@gregday8866]

1990 Bridgestone MB*2

[@bruin4937]

Surprised that the Foes LTS and Weasel were omitted, as well as the DBR V-Link -- I owned the 1 year they made the DBR V-Link Pro carbon fiber, which was a pretty killer bike in its time. I also think the Cannondale Beast of the East hardtail is a irreplaceable classic -- the new one is NOTHING like the original. And, hey, how about the AMP B-3, B-4, and B-5? Weren't they the first company that sported the Horst link rear suspension?

[@CiderPang27]

Old bikes are the best. Not a bloody battery in sight.

[@AndrewEbling]

Where do I click for commentary *with* Ts and Hs? ;)

[@luutschguutzje]

Nice work! But kick out Bianchi and Canondale and take a GT Zaskar and a Fat Chance Yo Eddy!

[@guillermohoffmann8417]

Or the fat Chance titanium

[@keirfarnum6811]

I still love my Yo Eddy. It was a great race bike!

[@keirfarnum6811]

@@guillermohoffmann8417 Did Chris make a Ti version? Merlin was in Somerset as well; I would assume if he made a Ti Fat Chance, it would be in collaboration with Merlin. Now THAT would have been amazing: a Ti Yo Eddy would have ROCKED back then!

[@guillermohoffmann8417]

@@keirfarnum6811 yes there was a Fat Chance titanium

[@rudypicha5689]

No Horst Leitner, AMP Research, Specialized FSR? Great video, yet a miss there methinks. Keep up the good work though. Me likies.

[@jeffreystern9699]

Had a Ritchey P21. I built up to under 20 lbs!

[@Fredk320]

They made this video already but with someone else commentating.

[@mikeshaw714]

Still got my Team Fat Chance cycling jersey. Bright Pink - awesome! The Manitou was the dogs bollocks back then. Anyone remember the Magura Hydraulic cantilever brakes? Are they still going?

[@mittdersonne]

magura hs-33, i used them until last year. but you cant find new mtb wheels for rim brakes. I was a huge fan of them, discs are also very good but if i could i would have sticked with my hs 33's

[@keirfarnum6811]

Still on my Yo Eddy! Great bike!

[@mikeshaw714]

@@keirfarnum6811 That was the bike I always wanted... Great bikes!

[@amiram3161]

Stumpjumper deserves to be here...

[@jacobelson8893]

dear cmbn can you please give me your input on a gary fish opie as i dont know if there good or strong

[@grahamreeve5209]

WTF no Joe Breezer. No Stumpy. What is it then a joke. Also the drop bars on John's bike I read it was a gimmick and he thought they were dreadful

[@Wasmachineman]

No Jamis Dakar? It was one of the first FS bikes that aren't shit and are available to a average customer. I had two and I liked them quite a lot for a winter bike.

[@MaGoe76]

Kein Klein dabei? Hätte gedacht, das ein Klein dazu gehören würde…. ❤ Trotzdem ein tolles Video