The top 10 Retro Mtbs of all time ...according to GMBN

[jimi911]

I'm not sure who's seen this or if it's been posted. Likely good for a discussion.

http://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-vi ... ain-bikes/

1. GARY FISHER KLUNKER
2. JOHN TOMAC DROP BAR YETI
3. GT XIZANG
4. FAT CHANCE YO EDDY
5. SHAUN PALMER’S INTENSE M1
6. CANNONDALE SUPER V
7. MOUNTAIN CYCLE SAN ANDREAS
8. RITCHEY P21/P22
9. YETI ARC
10. MANITOU FS

I've listened to it a few times ... Not really a theme to it. Some sentimental selections, historical, innovation, etc.

 

[sheard]

I'd have to disagree with their list.
Mine:
1. Klein Attitude
2. Klein Mantra Pro
3. Klein Mountain Klein
4. Klein Adroit
5. Klein Pinnacle
6. Klein Rascal
7. Klein Adept (original)
8. Yeti ARC
9. Fat Chance Yo Eddy
10. Specialized Stumpjumper

 

[k-rod]

Re:

I disagree as well ...

for me - first: my Brodie Romax

and then: all the rest.

 

[SEANSTEPHENS]

Re:

Yep, me too. Number 10 cracks if you look at it too hard and number 7 weighs about five tons, how can that make for two of the greatest mtbs ever?

Its always going to be a thing of opinion though rather than anything else, like the poster above who rates every klein under then sun

 

[jimi911]

I think the criteria probably matters a bit which isn't clear with this poll.

Very few could rate the "best" retrobike assuming we are talking about how they rode.

Probably more sensible to go with most influential or most innovative or best looking etc.

 

[pete_mcc]

1. GARY FISHER KLUNKER

So he'd choose some hippy-shit Frankenstein bike that was poorly designed for the job in hand using compromise parts and poor quality frame over Joe Breeze's #1 bike that truly started the mountain bike revolution? No one was desperate to copy fishers clunker, everyone wanted to copy Breeze's Series I, II and III bikes and most hard tails are still copies of them today.

Second, who would put a cannondale super v in any list where you also have a San Andreas. A super V is basically a low rent copy of the San Andreas, and it's a cannondale, and as for putting a GT titanium in that list, Jesus...it's nice enough but why put that on a list but not the Zaskar as a GT or an early Helfrich/Auspurger made Fat or Merlin as a titanium bike?

That list looks like little thought or knowledge went into it, it's just a rehash of countless other U.S. published lists except with key bikes left out and shite bikes left in.

The writer should rename it '10 bikes I fancied as a 12 year old' as that's all these lists ever are.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

The writer should rename it '10 bikes I fancied as a 12 year old' as that's all these lists ever are.

I LOL'ed but then I went "yeah, that's about right".

1. GARY FISHER KLUNKER
I'd replace that with one of the original Breezers.

2. JOHN TOMAC DROP BAR YETI
It's a Yeti, with drop bars. Tomac made it what it is. I'd love the Yeti, but not the drop bars. I'm not Tomac. Tomac could outride me with one leg in plaster and me on my best day ever. Tomac.

3. GT XIZANG
Damn nice bike. Interchangeable with the Kona Hei Hei or King Kahuna or DBR Axis TT or Merlin or Litespeed or.....

4. FAT CHANCE YO EDDY
Again, damn nice bike and it would make my top 10.

5. SHAUN PALMER’S INTENSE M1
That would be cool to have if it was available, just like any famous rider's bike. But not top 10.

6. CANNONDALE SUPER V
I'd prefer the Cannondale EST just for curio value.

7. MOUNTAIN CYCLE SAN ANDREAS
I have one of those. They were an innovative bike at the time. If you want, you can swap that out on your list for a Foes LTS. And while we're talking LTS, the GT LTS was a great riding bike.

8. RITCHEY P21/P22
Yep. I'd go there.

9. YETI ARC
Yeah, I'd have one though I wouldn't ride it. I have a thing about ancient aluminium.

10. MANITOU FS
As above.

Differing points of view make the world go around I guess.

Grumps

 

[jimi911]

1. GARY FISHER KLUNKER

So he'd choose some hippy-shit Frankenstein bike that was poorly designed for the job in hand using compromise parts and poor quality frame over Joe Breeze's #1 bike that truly started the mountain bike revolution? No one was desperate to copy fishers clunker, everyone wanted to copy Breeze's Series I, II and III bikes and most hard tails are still copies of them today.

Second, who would put a cannondale super v in any list where you also have a San Andreas. A super V is basically a low rent copy of the San Andreas, and it's a cannondale, and as for putting a GT titanium in that list, Jesus...it's nice enough but why put that on a list but not the Zaskar as a GT or an early Helfrich/Auspurger made Fat or Merlin as a titanium bike?

That list looks like little thought or knowledge went into it, it's just a rehash of countless other U.S. published lists except with key bikes left out and shite bikes left in.

The writer should rename it '10 bikes I fancied as a 12 year old' as that's all these lists ever are.

I'm with you on most of that. The only way the klunker makes the list is if we are saying most important, and even than I wouldn't put it in the top ten. At any rate, if it's number 1 on this list than the rest of the choices just to make any sense less #4 which I think would find its was into most top ten lists somewhere.

I'd say (from a NA perspective)
1a - Breezer I - the first true mtb
1b - Ritchey's 1981 bikes - beginning of bringing quality Mtbs to the masses
1c - the Stumpjumper - if the model T is a top 10 most important car than this needs to be there for MTBs however you feel about it or the brand it's attached to.
1d. Cunningham Indian - an equal of the above or better and the most valuable retros around. WTB.

After that its more subjective ...

- Fat Chance Yo Eddy - well marketed and great bike.
- Yeti ARC or Ultimate - pick your dream bike.
- Klein Attitude and Adroit - Dream Bikes and innovative
- _______ Mantis - probably could be 1e if I could just narrow it to one model.
- Specialized M2 - that iconic image of Ned on a red M2 is pretty important to MTB. Pretty darn good bikes to.

Not 10 and I just woke up so that's the best I can do before a cup of coffee.

 

[k-rod]

Re:

One thing it does show, is how much power the media has to influence the minds of the 'unwashed masses'.

 

[greencat]

Yes, it's a strange list. The Cannondale in particular is a fugly pos.

For me, any list would have to include:

A Ritchey
One of the early 90s Pace (huge amounts of forward thinking innovation)
Specialised Stumpjumper or Rockhopper (consistently very good)
Muddy Fox Courier (for bringing MTB to the UK masses)
Something titanium (perhaps Merlin or Kona)
A Kona if not already included (near ubiquitous in the mid 90s and great rides)
An 80s Saracen (Crane Brothers).