Classic steel

[Elev12k]

Juchem
Earlier in the topic I saw Juchem included in the list of steel builders. Juchem is an aluminum specialist and does explicitely not do steel.

That was me, and I stand corrected, I had the image of Wiesmann and Noll connected to Juchem somehow, but apparently mistaken.

BTW I'm surprised you haven't brought up the Japanese steel frames from Miyata, Panasonic or Bridgestone while you are here.

I read a lot of German Bike Mags in my early MTB days as they were a wealth of information on all things MTB compared to the Dutch offerings. Always struck me the large number of "national" MTB brands, Germany, UK or France focused, and some of them make very nice bikes never seen on these shores.

Enjoy!!

Yes, sorry for not contibuting to the steel bike sum up The Japanese did some decent to very decent frames. Panasonic a pure race chassis with their MC Team and some full hard core ready with MC Comp and MC Expert. Miyata and Kuwahara mainly with neat but more traditional offerings. Bridgestone a little quirky. Of coure the little Toyo production shop with their frames for Ritchey, Rocky, BikeTech and so on.

I read a lot German mags back than. From the quality surveys by the Germans it always seemed makes like Juchem, Müsing and Nöll were tough to beat. Loyal to their own makes or exponent of their history of engineering excellence?

 

[GearlessinSeattle]

regarding the hot and the prestige - they may be better than the lower models, but they're nowhere near as iconic.

I disagree, the TET "Hot" is a rare breed and really should be up there on the list. It is a true Hand Made in the USA frame. As far as iconic, it depends on who you ask I guess. The Explosif is more well known but I don't think more sought after then the "Hot".
BTW, did anyone mention the "Brave Warrior"?

 

[kaiser]

Salsa a la Carte
Bontrager Race Lite
Mountain Goat WTR
Ibis Mojo
Real Paul Sadoff Rock Lobster
Brodie
RM Blizzard
Kona Explosif
Chas Roberts DB
Stumpjumper (the proper ones)
Fat Chance Yo Eddy
Ritchey P21
Hetchins
One of the Raleigh "All Steel Bicycles"
Yeti FRO
steve potts
breezer
serotta
Curtlo?
Raliegh White Lightning
On-One Inbred (maybe not classic but certainly iconic)
Orange Clockwork
A Schwinn ridden by Ned Overend from way BITD I cant remember.
DeKerf
Saracen Kili team from mid - late 90's
Breezer
Eastern Woods Research
Sunn
Wiesmann
Noll
Zinn
Gary Fisher HKEK
Off road toad
GT PSYCLONE
Fuquay
Surly
Roberts Dogs Bolx
Scapin
Dave lloyd
Alves
DiamondBack Axis TR.
Fat Chance Wicked
Parkpre Pro825 Tange Ultimate Ultralight
Retrotec
Kona Hot


Possibly got everything mentioned in anything else? anything missed?

 

[al]

You missed R.M Altitude, sweet ride! knocks the Blizzard off top spot surely?

Al.

 

[RockyMountainHigh]

Nice list...but I'd add the Bridgestone MB Zip and MB-1. A poor man's Ritchey. These bikes rode very different with the zip being like a spring and tig welded (good one for lighter riders)...where th MB-1 was much stiffer and was lugged/brazed for the bigger dudes and folks that could not afford the zip.

Another one is Ted Wojcik's custom race bikes from the 90's.

Another pair of Fats should be on that list too - Fat Chance Buck Shaver & Monster Fat (very different rides) both handle like Yo's, Monster Fat's are burly as hell (fitting name) and the Buck is more compliant and IMO underrated as the ride is incredible. Monostay Fats are cool.

 

[justbackdated]

93 Kona Explosif
Original[USA made] Voodoo Bizango

 

[hamster]

I know nobody likes Marin around here but what about the Team Issue? Seemed to be the rig of choice for the Polaris Challenge.
Maybe nobody considers that "proper" racing...

 

[Mick D]

Everybody seems to hate marin's but i have fallen in love with bikes again since getting my pine mountain,Better than the scott expert racing i had before.
Also to add to the list what about one of the first steel full suspension bikes Offroad Proflexx 550. Truely iconic when released.
Mick D
STEEL RULES

 

[al]

You see Mick, it was going really well! The Pine was a great frame. I rode a 96 for ages, and loved it.

Then you go and spoil it by adding the pro flex 550 thing! :shock:

Big cuddly Al,

 

[Huntso]

I mentioned Marin a couple of pages back, definitely deserves to be in there