Best RIDING pre-1995 full-suspension XC frame?
- Thread starter Splatter Paint
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Thias
Klein Fan
Specialized FSR with some upgrade Dampener. 4-link suspension. Close to no pedal bob. No brake lock. Less brake bob. Feels rather modern. The only thing I dont like, is the back flexing sideways a bit. But those frames are really good (for their age...) So I would prefer them for a XC race.
What I tried other than the Spesh? Here you go:
GT RTS: Very wired suspension type. I call it a "impact suspension". If the suspension is tuned correctly to your weight, it behaves like a Hardtail under normal conditions. It does not compress under your weight. It only starts moving when hitting a large bump. No negative travel, so not a real suspension imho. Because ist does not help smoothing out the small bumps while going uphill. The other thing is, that the brakes block the suspension completely.
Cannondale V's: Complete pogo stick. If you press hard on the pedal, the rear wheel gets pulled towards the bb. I really did not like it.
GT LTS (ok, those were 96): Quite good. Very similar to the spesh. I like.
Ibis Szazbo: URT-design. But I like it very much with a modern Manitou Swinger or Fox float platform dampener. They don't go downhill as fast as the FSR, but are very good at going uphill. Because they are very soft while sitting, plus there is no pedal bob and no chain induced suspension flex. This bike ended up being my favourite.
The MC SanAndreas: I did not have the chance of riding but I know a few guys that ride them regularly in modern jump parks. So they should be quite capable.
What I tried other than the Spesh? Here you go:
GT RTS: Very wired suspension type. I call it a "impact suspension". If the suspension is tuned correctly to your weight, it behaves like a Hardtail under normal conditions. It does not compress under your weight. It only starts moving when hitting a large bump. No negative travel, so not a real suspension imho. Because ist does not help smoothing out the small bumps while going uphill. The other thing is, that the brakes block the suspension completely.
Cannondale V's: Complete pogo stick. If you press hard on the pedal, the rear wheel gets pulled towards the bb. I really did not like it.
GT LTS (ok, those were 96): Quite good. Very similar to the spesh. I like.
Ibis Szazbo: URT-design. But I like it very much with a modern Manitou Swinger or Fox float platform dampener. They don't go downhill as fast as the FSR, but are very good at going uphill. Because they are very soft while sitting, plus there is no pedal bob and no chain induced suspension flex. This bike ended up being my favourite.
The MC SanAndreas: I did not have the chance of riding but I know a few guys that ride them regularly in modern jump parks. So they should be quite capable.
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I was more than a bit surprised at how well my Pro-flex 952 rode
Stiff back end with none of the floppiness associated with some early rear suspension designs
Stiff back end with none of the floppiness associated with some early rear suspension designs
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The San An is sublime - feels so good.
GT LTS - also very good.
Amps... ride is good, but flexy as all hell (and I'm a light guy).
A bit later than you want, but the second Gen Super V with the low piviot handle well, as do the single pivot Marins.
GT LTS - also very good.
Amps... ride is good, but flexy as all hell (and I'm a light guy).
A bit later than you want, but the second Gen Super V with the low piviot handle well, as do the single pivot Marins.
thekidmalone
Old School Hero
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Re:
My vote belongs to the Ventana Marble Peak FS. I have been resisting the temptation to buy one which is too small for me for months.
Coincidentally, Sherwood Gibson of Ventana built the first Turner frames, as well. I wonder if small parts like the pivots are interchangeable?
My vote belongs to the Ventana Marble Peak FS. I have been resisting the temptation to buy one which is too small for me for months.
Coincidentally, Sherwood Gibson of Ventana built the first Turner frames, as well. I wonder if small parts like the pivots are interchangeable?
singletrackmac
Dirt Disciple
Splatter Paint
Retrobike Rider
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Re:
Thanks for all the replies chaps. A Proflex 857 frame popped up on eBay tonight and a last second bid (really) saw me win the auction for £23
It includes a few transmission bits, so I'm off to collect it tomorrow:
Wadda you reckon? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Proflex-857-e ... 7675.l2557
I think it is 1997, but at that price who cares?
Thanks for all the replies chaps. A Proflex 857 frame popped up on eBay tonight and a last second bid (really) saw me win the auction for £23
It includes a few transmission bits, so I'm off to collect it tomorrow:Wadda you reckon? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Proflex-857-e ... 7675.l2557
I think it is 1997, but at that price who cares?
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
singletrackmac
Dirt Disciple
^nice pick up! Looks like it has a Noleen Shock with pre-load and rebound adjust. The rebound was pretty cool back then. Noleen will still service it for you.
Strange thing about that bike is all the pics of the 857 I can find on the webs have a carbon fiber swing arm like the 957. I wonder if the carbon swing arm was replaced with a 757 swing arm?
Regardless, it is the same suspension design with the pivot in front of the BB on the down tube instead of the behind the bb on the seat tube like the World Cup design had it. I own both and the pivot on the down tube works much better. That is why orange, the heckler, super light and other single pivot, no linkage suspension designs put the pivot there.
Here is a video of a guy ripping on a 957 with some shit tires, a fork that is not set up right, shocks and pivots that probably haven't been serviced in over a decade and some heavy components swapped in.
(The 957 (and every Proflex) had a 71* HA (not 74*) and the 957 weighed in under 25lbs "out of the box". Not sure what is wrong with the linkage fork to cause the bike to have a 74* HA, but that is not right. No mtb ever had a 74*, that's crazy. And those tires are garbage. I seriously can't believe this guy is trying to make any kind of comparison in his videos without swapping out those old, dry, cracked disintegrating tires. You can see the tire loosing traction all over the place. Any bike new or vintage will ride like shit with tires that old and crappy *rant over*) enjoy:
[youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=APz7mt9jYw4[/youtube]
Strange thing about that bike is all the pics of the 857 I can find on the webs have a carbon fiber swing arm like the 957. I wonder if the carbon swing arm was replaced with a 757 swing arm?
Regardless, it is the same suspension design with the pivot in front of the BB on the down tube instead of the behind the bb on the seat tube like the World Cup design had it. I own both and the pivot on the down tube works much better. That is why orange, the heckler, super light and other single pivot, no linkage suspension designs put the pivot there.
Here is a video of a guy ripping on a 957 with some shit tires, a fork that is not set up right, shocks and pivots that probably haven't been serviced in over a decade and some heavy components swapped in.
(The 957 (and every Proflex) had a 71* HA (not 74*) and the 957 weighed in under 25lbs "out of the box". Not sure what is wrong with the linkage fork to cause the bike to have a 74* HA, but that is not right. No mtb ever had a 74*, that's crazy. And those tires are garbage. I seriously can't believe this guy is trying to make any kind of comparison in his videos without swapping out those old, dry, cracked disintegrating tires. You can see the tire loosing traction all over the place. Any bike new or vintage will ride like shit with tires that old and crappy *rant over*) enjoy:
[youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=APz7mt9jYw4[/youtube]
