Retro Bikes of Quality

[dbmtb]

Am reluctant to participate as one man's quality is another man's nightmare.

I lke the Pace. Sure - the build on this one is superb. And many design innovations too. But real quality would have meant them being heat treated.... and using a superior seat clamp.

But technical innovation aside - the Manitou is by the owner's admission, not something they dare to ride for fear of it cracking. Where does quality come into this?

There is too much subjectivity involved for this thread to have a chance of succeeding.

Also the whole "rare" as a criteria for quality.... I don't buy it.

 

[pete_mcc]

I think the quality come from the fact that it is a beautiful bike, rides beautifully and was made exceptionally well. Considering that it was one of the first full susers out there and is now 20 years old, as most of the cracked Manitous are, I don't reckon thats too bad. Remember that these guys are using technology and materials that didn't have the same level of testing or research and were often considered 1 season race bikes. Add to that, just look at what their technology has spawned. Similarly look at the world of cars, there are many that would be considered classic but that break down or fail all the time-alfa's spring to mind, or fiats that were rusting before they left the factory.

But, to drag the car analogy one step further, it doesn't have to be rare to be a bike of distinction. Minis are the mos influential cars of British history' as are Austin 7s or landrover defenders. None of them are rare, all of them a influential!

Duke, thanks for the words, it was a dream come true!

 

[tintin40]

Am reluctant to participate as one man's quality is another man's nightmare.

+2nd that view.

 

[legrandefromage]

 

[pete_mcc]

Quality British frame, another pioneer of the sloping tt in the uk, also pushed sensible design for our climate (like large mudroom, slightly higher bb, twitchier angles for our fast moving singletrack and woodland trails.). Overburies were also heavily involved in the British race scene for day one and, iirc, the first British mountain bike champ (Mike Newton, 1986) rode for overbury. Nice bike lgf.

 

[pete_mcc]

Am reluctant to participate as one man's quality is another man's nightmare.

+2nd that view.

But isn't that the point, you post up a bike and give a reason why it's a bike of distinction, argue the case, be active participants in a thread. The bike doesn't have to be yours, it can be any random bike that you feel is a bike of distinction. First stumpjumper, first Merlin, first e stay, first bike made out of fibreglass, or carbon fibre, first full sus...

I suppose this does demand that you have a tiny amount of knowledge of the history of mountain bikes and an ounce of self belief or ability to string an argument together, so it may not be for everyone but maybe those who have a passion for retro MTBs might want to post, rather those who's only contribution is to say 'don't know, dont want to play'.

 

[MCsanandreas]

Why not post up a picture of a San Andreas then - the worlds first monocoque, full suspension, fully disked bike?

dont have a first gen SanAn yet when i get one i will.

negative comment? maybe,but i was just saying what i thought.

 

[pete_mcc]

Doesn't have to be yours:

First gen mountain cycles San Andreas. Introduced the world to single pivot swing arms, motorbike monocoque building that has be subsequently copied by thousands, used upside-down forks and a form of bolt through axle with the extra large clamp together front hub. Also had full hydraulic, floating disks a decade before others caught up. They introduced the bolt on subframe which has been copied by many other-specialized, amp, intense and so on

Almost all Orange free ride and downhill bikes of the last 10 years appear to be absolute rip offs of this. Lester Noble owes these guys his pension.

 

[MCsanandreas]

Doesn't have to be yours:

First gen mountain cycles San Andreas. Introduced the world to single pivot swing arms, motorbike monocoque building that has be subsequently copied by thousands, used upside-down forks and a form of bolt through axle with the extra large clamp together front hub. Also had full hydraulic, floating disks a decade before others caught up. They introduced the bolt on subframe which has been copied by many other-specialized, amp, intense and so on

Almost all Orange free ride and downhill bikes of the last 10 years appear to be absolute rip offs of this. Lester Noble owes these guys his pension.

nice! i will have one oneday,mine are a bit later with different subframes even got one of the very last ones.

 

[doctor-bond]

When I logged off last night I fully suspected this thread to perish without trace, so am well pleased there are some lovers of Q Bikes out there.

Almost an embarrassment of richess so far, so perhaps we should theme it a bit: how about sticking to the theme of innovations this week and then trying something else next? The San Andreas and Overburys fit that bill.

Pete - thanks for adding that info on the Manitou and Pace - I for one love words as well as pics.

If we're talking Pioneers, these are sweet examples:

Felixdelrio's:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... &highlight


Mr K's:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... =overbury*


The Pioneer stands out as it just looks right. Not sure what was going on in the UK at the time to produce the shape: I suspect trial and error and feed back from the race scene rather than a step change in materials and design. That high head tube again ....