Innovations that weren't...

[bikeworkshop]

Here's a few collected here from a decade ago...
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/15-worst-ever-mtb-inventions.285045/

 

[Suprachrgd82]

 

[NWisGooderest!]

The dropper post ... in the 90s and early 00s they were disappear.

Don’t forget the IRD offering of a stock thumb lever to special seat pin cam that allowed to adjust while riding.
We had a few in a shop - crazy $$.

 

[NWisGooderest!]

Have to disagree with you on the flexstem. It was what you might call nowadays a 'marginal gain' compared to rigid forks before the widespread adoption of front suspension forks from the RS1 onwards. It really helped to take the buzz from the bars on long hardpack but gravelly trails for sure. A winner, albeit for a short time in my book!

In fact I've fairly recently grabbed a bargain softride stem from the US to go on a planned build in the coming months as something a bit different. If these were good enough to win the world champs in '93 then good enough for me.

Had a friend with the titanium (one piece bar/stem body) - muy fancy.
Don’t forget the parallelogram design with the metal spring and hydraulic damping!

 

[NWisGooderest!]

TBF Forks had to start somewhere, and they got better fast - but without the xc600 we wouldn't have got to bombers.

now how about all those non-telescopic numbers:
View attachment 877098

That Control Tech made Leader 2 is worth some coin.
Had the version 1 (air can on mount did not rotate). Stand up to climb and fork would instantly bottom out.
Control Tech was a Seattle brand so a lot of us shop rays were proto testers.

 

[NWisGooderest!]

Damn, I'd have that Kirk. Anyone want to post?

Heavy but rides nice.
Complete SunTour GPX group.

 

[NWisGooderest!]

Not “useless” but well loved as a small touch was the toe strap button.
Pre SPD so required some extra “talent” when riding your ATB.
Pedals are Specialized Direct Drive 3’s.
MKS made, alloy cage, carbon body and ti spindle.
One of the few bought new items I never let go.

 

[jimo746]

View attachment 910578

I tried one of those out. Once.
The worst of both worlds....

A true evolutionary dead end, thank God.

 

[Suprachrgd82]

I tried one of those out. Once.
The worst of both worlds....

A true evolutionary dead end, thank God.

No kiddin’? It looks so over engineered and flimsy, but I’d love to see what it’s all about. The angle of the canti mounts shows some thought. Added chainstay length is quite appealing. Not 500 bucks appealing, but a definite curiosity.

 

[24pouces]

1985 mullet bicycles. I don´t see many future on this idea ... This bicycle (the prototype) was design in 1982 (photo of the final product in 1985)and has 6" of travel. And if you wonder why they don´t have front suspension fork it is easy: In that era they haven´t invented yet.

PD it reminds me the RMX7 but you have to have very dirty glasses

View attachment 877250

Mullet bike with a little rear wheel was a funny idea on old Cannondale, Fat Chance or Ibis. it was a solution for small sizes and trial bike.
But for the MCR Descender (and SE Hanebrink Shocker), the 24" rear wheel was necessary for keeping a standard wheelbase, due to the very very long stay ans suspension spacing. Same thing on first Cannondale, as John Olsen, one of the designer, told to me).
On other hand, the Unitrak suspension is still use on modern bikes…