Retro Bikes of Quality

[hollister]

If you have to ask yourself is it quality?, chances are it’s not (like that green homemade thing).

After weighing it up and reviewing the posts on its own thread, I decided yes, it is of sufficient 'quality' going by the previous posts and the other homemade bicycles featured in the 'quality' bike thread.

rare, elegant, hard to build, well executed - and it is unlikely to crack through normal use

my favourite part:

what?

this place needs a skeptical smiley

 

[StanleyButterfly]

oh, I think he was joking.

 

[hollister]

oh, I think he was joking.

needs more washers

 

[Tazio]

oh, I think he was joking.

needs more washers

And a nylock nut.

 

[RichieB]

This is a great thread! It's so nice to see on RetroBike!

I have to admit, my temptation to frequent the site/Forum is now limited to posting or voting for BOTM. I've had my fill of Mid-Level bikes for a lifetime, and, sadly, that seems to be what the majority of threads have become in Retrobike.

I'll be posting something noteworthy after I get home, and hopefull adding to the conversation in a positive way.

While there are some mass-produced bikes that represent significant steps forward in mountain bike design function and technology, it's usually the pioneers (Cunningham, Breeze, Bradbury and hell, even Pace to a certain extent,) who truly produce something noteworthy and more than just a blip on the historical/performance radar.

As a rule, though, if a bike is equipped with Deore (DX) or lower, its odds of truly "belonging" in this thread are extremely limited. Bikes that make concessions in design or performance in order the meet a price point simply cannot truly be noteworthy or revolutionary. It's counter-intuitive.

 

[bushpig]

Sorry for the crap pic. This neat little bike is made from 753 with hand made lugs. The "lugs" are cut and brazed and then the 753 tubes are silver soldered. I dig it!

 

[andrewl]

Some interesting comments so far but not that many bikes/frames given we're up to 10 pages.

So here is a frame that I believe definitely deserves a mention as a quality frame in both design, construction and performance.

The 1994 Turner Full Time Function (dubbed the Turner Burner by MBA in their 1994 test article).

While not many people here like full suspension frames they definitely have a place in retro mountain biking and this frame is the first one to really do it properly. When they first came out they were a revelation particularly in DH, and as such many were painted in other many manufacturers colours.

This is my late 94 Turner FTF which was welded by Frank the Welder (FTW) - the first 150 frames were welded by Ventana who also did a version of the frame with their decals. I've been searching for a FOX ALPS shock so I can build this up, but to date haven't found one.

Comment on its appropriateness as you see fit

 

[andrewl]

A terrible scan (from First Flight) of the Ritchey painted Turner.

 

[Elev12k]

I would be interesting to know how the industry and our bikes would have looked like if the mountainbike wasn't an American invention and the US market wasn't as dominant. Unfortunataly we can only philosphize about that.

 

[legrandefromage]

I would be interesting to know how the industry and our bikes would have looked like if the mountainbike wasn't an American invention and the US market wasn't as dominant. Unfortunataly we can only philosphize about that.

exactly my badly put point.