Best Era / Best Bike

[2manyoranges]

One more vote for 1990-1995. Huge innovation and development of the geometry which actually worked off road - The Halifax gang, Joe Murray, Keith B, Gary F.

Within that - the bike I remember best for stonking performance was the Nickel Team Marin with Manitou 1s. Just faster, more secure, more comfortable, more precise, up like a whippet down like an arrow.

 

[Matttymm]

It’s utter filth.

 

[Lhatch4]

96-97 Santa Cruz Heckler. There isn't anything better before or since.

 

[Matttymm]

Picture please !?

 

[georgeorwell]

each era has its own charm

 

[Matttymm]

each era has its own charm

Yep. That’s true. This thread is building nicely.

 

[Chill]

1990-1995 Gt psyclone

I owned a couple of these, sold one last year. They were outstanding as was the xizang. People far and wide seemed to be Uber keen to get them. But was it any better than having a custom created in good tubes? The bike did have a good rate of acceleration, triple triangle and short stays were effective.

 

[M-Power]

For me 89-93 and the FAT CHANCE Team Comp. The model before the Yo which debuted in 1990 and a total game changer for me.

 

[Raumer]

Another vote for 1990-1995. Huge changes in what bikes were made of and suspension designs. MMC frames coming out and suspension going from being very unusual to common place. And downhill changing from hard tails to long travel suspension frames.

The bike I'd pick out is the Foes Fab LTS. Aluminium monocoque frame and 6" rear wheel travel when the longest travel fork was a modified Mag 21 with 2.5". A bike that was a long way ahead of it's time and probably helped force the development of longer travel suspension. Honourable mention also to the Mountain Cycle San Andreas for similar reasons plus upside down front forks and all round disc brakes.

 

[pw_pw_la]

The Team Comp in that photo might be one of the nicest bikes I've ever seen.

Someone tell me more about it...