Any bikes, frames, brands, parts that are above reproach?

[barry2017]

I like stuff that lasts forever, or has already been proven in production over many years.

Add Brooks saddles to that list.
If they suit your arse & you don't mind the look, you have a saddle for life.

I would have said Brooks, but the quality was just awful in the 1980s. Sometimes, you had to bend the rails to make them fit.

Now Carradice is a different story. They've never made anything bad, ever. True it wears out, but post it back and they will fix it.

Pashley made some excellent bikes, but were let down by the Pashley Moultons which had serious quality control issues in the past.

 

[suburbanreuben]

The question was "Are there any bikes, frames or brands that are above criticism?".

The question is 'Are there any bikes, frames, brands,parts that are above reproach.

So again, which bit did I miss with my list that shows the frame and parts that are above reproach in my eyes? :roll:

That is indeed true, in the title, at least.
The question in the thread poses a very different question indeed...

 

[ededwards]

The question was "Are there any bikes, frames or brands that are above criticism?".

The question is 'Are there any bikes, frames, brands,parts that are above reproach.

So again, which bit did I miss with my list that shows the frame and parts that are above reproach in my eyes? :roll:

Chaps, chill out as you are both right!

The thread title asks

Any bikes, frames, brands, parts that are above reproach?

but then in the first post itself I ask

...... I'm just wondering whether there are any bikes, frames and brands that are totally above criticism? Sort of links in with the Cool Wall but at a slight angle.

So come on, are there bikes, brands or frames that are Bradman, clearly GOAT in his field? Or is it more like a good case can be made for which is the GOAT, perhaps akin to the Federer/Laver/Sampras debates or the Pele/Maradona/Zidane argument?

Perhaps the question is whether there are those who have kept the faith and never had an aberration? An example, and people may disagree that it's a particularly relevant one, is Syncros - top class stuff until early to mid 90s but what on earth is going on now? Another slant is whether, like boxers (Hatton) or musicians (U2), do some companies keep going on and on with diminishing quality of results, even after people are clamouring "no more"? Is it almost better to go out at the top of the game so as not to damage a legacy (Fat)?

Sorry, have really broadened it out now but guess the various responses have helped to define the question!

 

[ededwards]

The question was "Are there any bikes, frames or brands that are above criticism?".

The question is 'Are there any bikes, frames, brands,parts that are above reproach.

So again, which bit did I miss with my list that shows the frame and parts that are above reproach in my eyes? :roll:

That is indeed true, in the title, at least.
The question in the thread poses a very different question indeed...

There we go!

 

[pete_mcc]

One brand that I can't fault is King then, no duds there. They have such a limited range, know what they are good at, take years to develop new products, have great after market back-up and aren't too fad based (ie their refusal to make certain parts because they are just wrong). Sure they charge a fortune but what's £100 over 10 years.

Almost all other companies stretch themselves too far and so will come a cropper. Only really niche players can apply here: King, King cages, blackburn, Chris Bell etc

 

[kaiser]

One brand that I can't fault is King then, no duds there. They have such a limited range, know what they are good at, take years to develop new products, have great after market back-up and aren't too fad based (ie their refusal to make certain parts because they are just wrong). Sure they charge a fortune but what's £100 over 10 years.

Almost all other companies stretch themselves too far and so will come a cropper. Only really niche players can apply here: King, King cages, blackburn, Chris Bell etc

I would have put King into Marmite. I love em but they do have their detracters, be it on price or top cap O ring.

 

[Wheelnut]

Hetchins!

A thing of beauty and they never made a dud in half a century of frame production. Don't think they ever tried making an MTB though...

 

[fingers]

That is beautiful...

 

[al]

I'm almost speechless! Less of the cheering at the back. :roll:

I can hardly believe some of the tat that has been named as beyond reproach.There are a few stinkers in the lists some have chosen to submit. :shock:
Now I am a nice fella that doesn't like to have a pop at people, but I do have to say....... Specialized! dear oh dear oh dear!! shakes head walks away.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I would say anything that has been ridden to a win in a world class title has shown it's worth and purpose and in that criteria cannot be fnah-fnahrd.

Of course that doesn't always translate to everyday use, where it'll probably be annoying, not so good to ride, wear quickly, the wrong colour or doesn't have a designer name to it