COOLWALL: Proflex Bikes? Are they cool?

[kingroon]

Hmm.. Never owned a Pro Flex, but had a coupla Flexstems.. Fluo yellow steel one on a Green Trekker Comp and then silver alu one on an SM1000..

Was it Henrik Djernis [sp??] who raced on one?

It was always a surprise to see one out on the trail, and it was a "different" choice for sure.. But that don't make 'em cool..

 

[scant]

errr.... do I admit this? in bike shop days once destroyed a proflex frame in a frenzied after hours hitting it with every big/ heavy work shop tool to hand :roll:

 

[gump]

pics scant?

 

[pete_mcc]

First full sus to win a world champ

except for the fact that the rear bumper was replaced with a chunk of wood so that the 'suspension' didn't work!

 

[Ziggy]

Definately retro, definately different (always gets the looks!), has lasted since '96 just fine, weighs 2/3 of naff all, rides great, climbs even better...

Cool in my book

 

[kingroon]

First full sus to win a world champ

except for the fact that the rear bumper was replaced with a chunk of wood so that the 'suspension' didn't work!

Seems the block of wood worked better than the elastomer..

Henrik Djernis is still today the only mountain bike racer who has won the Cross Country World Champion title three years in a row!

 

[andrewl]

A mate of mine who used to race them back in the mid 90s had one that he collected in his shop recently and got more offers for that than any other bike as well as many "that's so cool" comments from pimply dirt jumping teenager types so I'd say on that basis they are cool.

Personally I also think they are very cool, and would love to eventually have one in my collection of bikes.

 

[Thunderchild]

Are you kidding, Cool! I remember seeing the first Off Road Rear suspension in 88 or 89. Offroad became ProFlex. They were way ahead. I have owned five. If you haven't owned one, you be lacking in experience. The elastomers were limited, but were light and maintenance free. Then Manitous and some Rock Shox also used elastomers. The elastomers had their problems. firmed up in cold weather,but no oil or air to leak. I test road a 983 on a very rocky washed out road. I road the same hill on my hard tail. THe 983 easily outclimbed the hard tail and that sold me on my first one. The swingarm on the 98 and later EVO models is simple, works well and durable. This carbon swingarms are also upgradeable to rear disc brakes. Go to the following site operated by Proflex Devotees
http://idriders.com/cgi-bin/YaBB_K2/YaBB.pl?board=news
See this picture for one sweet elastomer replacement.
http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/t ... _shock.JPG
My first Proflex riding in Oregon, USA.
http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/t ... heelie.jpg
Check out Old Proflexors pictures for the numerous modifications
http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/Old_Proflexer/

The main gallery: http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries

The Girvin fork was different. You have to ride it different too. One positive was the lateral stiffness when turning. You could also compress the elastomers before a jump for added lift. The damping was performed by a rubber washer inside the shaft above the elastomers and the friction created by it. Once they wore out or if you accidently greased them the damping was very limited. The last versions had more travel and better damping with a coil/oil shock. I admittedly prefer Marzocchis now.

I have had great luck with my 5000 and my Oz. Lots of miles of hard riding and low maintenance. Durability is very high on my list.


Night all
Thunderchild
www.urmb.org

 

[retrobikeguy]

Nowt wrong with proflex,
I bought a 550 in 1991, they were well cool then and I stuffed maguras and white porcs on it making even cooler, I now have a 750 that is in bits and awaiting some new decals that I bought for like 35 quid, all original

and got a really cool nos titanium flexstem (my 1st titanium piece ever) for £20 last week, these bikes still turns heads as far as suspension goes so still cool by my books.

 

[jez-4-bikes-max]

Ooh this is a debate alright...close call so far...