New Breezer MTB's

[Neil G]

The retro/modern "debate" is crazy. There's room for both. There are great modern bikes and crap retro bikes, and vice versa - ride the good 'uns and leave the shit in the shed.
I've got a friend who's a "retrobiker". He's 74 years old and rides a Cannondale Gemini from 2001 and a Giant Trance he bought from me in '08. That's proper! A hard as nails old guy who's moved with the times and appreciates the benefits of new technology rather than getting stuck in a rut and grumbling. Life's like riding a bike - as soon as you stop moving, you fall over.

+1

There were some really s**t bikes around BITD and lets not forget how bad suspension was in the early 90s. Easy to see things with the old rose tinted specs on!

I'm personally not bowled over by these Breezer MTBs...the market has moved on and there's so many good bikes on offer now out there.

 

[Dr S]

Probably too UK orientated to be considered, and possibly bandwagon jumping. I reckon the models shown are true to the original ethos.

The beefy long forked hardtail is catching on in other parts of the world now, it's evolution rather than a bandwagon. There are already plenty of 80/100mm XC hartails about already and most XC riders I know are opting for these new superlight short travel full sussers. The days of the short travel hardtail are numbered.

 

[Neil G]

Probably too UK orientated to be considered, and possibly bandwagon jumping. I reckon the models shown are true to the original ethos.

The beefy long forked hardtail is catching on in other parts of the world now, it's evolution rather than a bandwagon. There are already plenty of 80/100mm XC hartails about already and most XC riders I know are opting for these new superlight short travel full sussers. The days of the short travel hardtail are numbered.

What's 'short travel' though....I would consider 100mm up front perfect for an XC bike.

IMO there's not much chance a long travel hardtail can compete with a sorted full susser if ridden by someone with some skill...really don't know what manufacturers aim them at competing with full sus bikes.

Anyway...back to Breezer and that fugly rear end.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Why are we getting SO excited over modern bikes?

Better start a thread the new Kona's as they look just as good as these. Or any of the other brands that we remember BITD that are still going.

Obviously you have no interest in them; so that begs a question...

 

[kaiser]

Probably too UK orientated to be considered, and possibly bandwagon jumping. I reckon the models shown are true to the original ethos.

The beefy long forked hardtail is catching on in other parts of the world now, it's evolution rather than a bandwagon. There are already plenty of 80/100mm XC hartails about already and most XC riders I know are opting for these new superlight short travel full sussers. The days of the short travel hardtail are numbered.

What's 'short travel' though....I would consider 100mm up front perfect for an XC bike.

IMO there's not much chance a long travel hardtail can compete with a sorted full susser if ridden by someone with some skill...really don't know what manufacturers aim them at competing with full sus bikes.

Anyway...back to Breezer and that fugly rear end.

I agree with Neil I reckon 80mm might disappear but 100mm will be the standard for XC hardtails. I like the types of bike you speak of but I don't see a Breezer all gusseted up and slackassed. More Bentley than Skyline. I do like the chainstay shape if for no other reason than its different, blends with the dropout nicely imo. I see the new ragley has a similar profile(chainstay that is)

 

[sinnerman]

.......are we talking about seatstays or chainstays (shape)???

 

[Coleman]

Just been reading this thread - gotta say - I like these a lot.

Good skills Jo

I especially like the steel one, I would have seriously considered one for my modern bike had they been out then most definatley if it had 120 or 140mm of travel and some risers.

As it was I plumped for a ti456, great bike, the long travel makes it quick downhill, sure not as fast as a well ridden full sus, but equally if well ridden it's capable of taking them on, (I was only passed by properly hard core dh rigs on the passporte last year) but I was totally punished after the 75km's were up!

Why did I choose the long forked hardtail option? easy, just about every full sus, with the exception of turners, orange 5, and ellesworths, will look dated with 12 months. With a long forked hard tail you have no such worries and less maintenance.

It's a good thing we have so much choice these days - when it comes to bike choice it's a personal thing - live and let live and ride it I say.

 

[Neil G]

Orange 5 looks pretty dated IMO but does it really matter? Still quicker than any hardtail if ridden properly

 

[highlandsflyer]

Why did I choose the long forked hardtail option? easy, just about every full sus, with the exception of turners, orange 5, and ellesworths, will look dated with 12 months.

Has this really got such a big influence on your decisions?

:roll:

 

[Coleman]

Has this really got such a big influence on your decisions?

:roll:

Not the whole thinking - - I guess the main reason is that the full sus thing is a bit over complicated for me - too much to dial in and adjust so you don't end up feeling like you have a flat rear tyre, and I'm lazy so it would seize up probably as well after lack of maintenance... also i like the idea that you have to think a little more with a hard tail.

Got to be honest though I am a bit of a magpie - if something new and shiny comes along then I'd need it, so when after 6 months of specialised/trek/giant/lapiere etc full sus ownership was up and the engineers/marketeers decided to move a widget 2mm to the left (all the test reports claimed it was a leap forward as they always do), and painted a new graphic somewhere then I'd have to have it. This would also cause the value of my bike to plumet due to all the other like minded, shallow, magpies out there.... :!:

So there was an attraction in choosing something that wouldn't change that much over the years.