What Mountain Bike Retro v Modern Test - 1995 FSR

[mrkawasaki]

In a fairly comprehensive 6 page feature, a 1995 Specialized FSR is reviewed against the current 2011 model - doesn't do bad at all!

The indexed cost of and FSR then/now was calculated to be £7000.... :shock:

Worth a nose at the newstand!



... gratuitous shot of son's inheritance...

 

[jamabikes]

the coolest bike on the site?

 

[DoctorRad]

The frames are not really that expensive any more, I got my second two for an average of less than £100 each.

Original shocks in working order are getting much harder to find as they are prone to cracking, leaking and spares are pretty scarce now. Cannondale Scalpel shocks will fit though, and there are some old 145mm Fox /Cannondale shocks which will fit. Of you can find one, the BETD long travel kit takes a 165mm shock.

FSX forks are pretty pricey now, and really not that good. Air Englund cartridges improve things, but not as much as a nice carbon coil sprung Pace, say.

 

[jamabikes]

bet the one in th op's post would fetch a bit more

 

[DoctorRad]

If it's JMC's, fair point, but only to the right buyer. The JMC bike I would really like to un-earth is the '96 prototype with the pivot in front of the seat tube. Made a German '96 catalogue but was replaced by the Ground Controls for some reason. Would like to know the story behind that.

 

[mrkawasaki]

No-one's saying they're worth £7k used - the article pointed out that the showroom price of an FSR Team then would be more expensive than the equivalent top end FSR now ie. £6-7k.

I'd expect to pay £75-175 for a reasonable FSR frameset, with FSXs being sought for other brands - they'd be up to £200 I'd guess.

One would have to be patient mind... I wouldn't call early FSRs common.

 

[DoctorRad]

The price they were then, I guess they were a superbike of their day; the price they are today makes them a total bargain if you are patient or want to adapt them to work with more modern replacement parts.

 

[Epoch]

Tis an interesting article indeed.

Cracking bike spec too

Although a vertable sin around these parts I have a 97 Explosif frame with 2010 parts on, a principle they pose in the mag as an interesting proposition.

 

[shogun]

Won't see the magazine for months, which two specific models did they compare?

 

[mrkawasaki]

1994 S Works Stumpjumper FSR with FSX front end vs. 2011 Stumpjumper FSR

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Specialized-S-Wor ... 45f93cb658