Why do you collect retro bikes?

[Roasted]

Just wondering what drives everyone to collect the retro bikes that they do? Are they from a particular era, frame material, discipline, nostalgia or you like a bit of everything

I like dirt jump/4x/DS bikes from the late nineties and early noughties. At this time there was a lot of exciting development with disc brakes coming mainstream, 9 speed and some well built CNC components. I mainly get the bikes I lusted over in the magazines, so a huge part of it is nostalgia. I have a soft spot for Kona, Orange, and Curtis but not fussy about frame material.

So why do you collect?

 

[Stressed]

F#*kers on here keep putting stuff I like up for sale...

 

[widowmaker]

I had my addition in check until I joined here just to get advice on a GT Timberline freehub, now I'm up to my eyeballs in debt, rear mechs and inner tubes.

And to make matters worse I ride less now

 

[jonnyboy666]

why???!! why??!! if you're gonna start applying logic to this then we're all f*****!

 

[Mod-Master]

I’ve always liked old things, and I like cycling

So I put them together and BOOM! An empty wallet and less square meters to work with.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

I like them. I think they look nice and assuming they ride ok I keep them. It's a problem.

 

[d8mok]

I collect hardtails mainly. 93-99. I’m partial to a GT as I’ve owned them since 95. I’m not 100% sure why , but I think I like Zaskars the most.

It’s also cheaper than collecting cars / motorbikes or watches.

 

[hawkhill97]

I'm mostly into slightly more modern retro bikes with disc brakes and functional suspension, and for me:

There's a charm and character to many 90s/00s bikes that I find lacking in most modern MTBs.

It's a way to enjoy MTB without excessive consumerism, low cost and low environmental impact.

I very much enjoy being able to keep up with (and sometimes even outdo) riders of modern bikes, despite the MTB media/marketing saying retro bikes are borderline unrideable (what a massive load of capitalism driven bollocks!).

I love rebuilding and restoring old neglected things, and find bikes particularly rewarding as it's relatively easy to turn them from skip fodder into a nice ride.

They are arguably more fun to ride on most UK trails than a modern LLS 29er enduro type bike.

Pre 1997 bikes, the above all still applies, (perhaps even more so), but I do find they restrict the rising you can do considerably compared to a modern bike, whereas a 2000s bike can generally hold it's own against a modern one. So performance on the trails is a big priority for me.

 

[longun]

I am therefore I do



And cos they're cool

 

[Roasted]

I very much enjoy being able to keep up with (and sometimes even outdo) riders of modern bikes, despite the MTB media/marketing saying retro bikes are borderline unrideable (what a massive load of capitalism driven bollocks!).

I've noticed that. They really aren't complimentary towards older bikes, apparently the geo was rubbish, suspension rubbish, brakes rubbish and drivetrain was rubbish. And when they test them they don't set them up properly for the rider. Jordan Boostmaster seems to be doing a good job flying the flag for older DH bikes with his Super Monster T equipped Norco A-Line.