Simply the best?
supersonic
Posts: 82,708 Lives Here
So what are your favourite components from the last say 20 years, or ones you consider to be the 'best': not maybe as good as the latest kit, but defining parts and iconic equipment?
Fork: Z1 Bomber. I think this got hold of the front sus world and showed them how it is done. And some are still going strong today!
Plenty more to come, that just to get the ball rolling!
Fork: Z1 Bomber. I think this got hold of the front sus world and showed them how it is done. And some are still going strong today!
Plenty more to come, that just to get the ball rolling!
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I also like Ritchey components - I've had a few seatposts, stems, bars etc and all have been faultless.
Panaracer's smoke/dart combo, the first really modern offroad tyre design, which still performs as well as modern tyre designs.
VOODOO CANZO
Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
I remember when STI shifters came out thought WOW at the time.
Not sure if it counts as such but cable ties are also great.
My 2012 Remedy
for me it is adjustable geometry, cant believe there are bikes about without it.
My 2012 Remedy
Once I had brakes that worked, I could do all manner of stupid things that were just too dangerous beforehand.
Whadda ya mean I dont believe in god?
I talk to him everyday....
First decent budget disc brake - proved that good cable discs could be done and basically paved the way for cheaper hydros to work their way down.
Specialized "Stout" hubs - on my 1997 Stumpy, my 2007 Stumpy and the 2008 Rockhopper - they just work without any complaining.
The Rigida rims on my 1994 British Eagle - taken SO much abuse yet still true as the day I got them - they are a raised "triangular" profile - they should still use this type.
My XT rear mech (1997 Stumpy) - just refuses to break.
My Fox 90RL forks - first intro to "proper" forks and work an absolute treat.
I ran the same set from 1997 to 2006, on the same bike. They were cheap and powerful enough for the riding I was doing for most of that time.
And they were just soooo much better than the proceding cantilever brakes - the performance leap seemed greater than the jump from Vs to discs!
Some might say they are a bit too bling but mine never let me down in 8 years and three successive wheel builds. Sit in the garage now but the bearings still run smooth.
edit: doh, took me so long to type this someone got in before me. ^^^^
SketchyMTB
My Pics
So easy to look after too - Disks are great but definitely more of a faff to keep in tune.
Carbon 456
456 lefty
Pompino
White Inbred
Thumbshifters may have looked better, but having to release most of your grip from the handlebar to change gear was a bit awkward and dangerous.
They haven't changed much since, so it must have been a good piece of design.
Remember even that being pretty revolutionary!
I thought early "piano" (STI type) shifters were a bit iffy but they soon sorted them out.
Used to ride it off-road then just like a real mountain bike. Sort-of
SketchyMTB
My Pics
Carbon 456
456 lefty
Pompino
White Inbred
I think the quick release wheels were a fine idea as well.
My 2012 Remedy
Don't even start... :roll:
HT are coming back anyway...
i'll admit my post is a bit tongue in cheek and HT will always have a massive following, especially with the quality available for the money but i hope the days of "if you have a grand you should buy a hardtail cause FS is censored ..." are long gone.
RapidFire Shifters...
I only just replaced some XT Thumbies on my mates old P7.
Also going to also nominate the Crud Catcher, before those were about I was getting loads of $hit all over my face. I can't remember a decent mud guard before these.
I've got a couple of them that came free with mags and I've been meaning to try them out for years.
One has "Mountain Biker International" on it I think, I've had it that long.
Matt - My first MTB (Raleigh Montage) had a friction shifter I think. The jump to indexed Deore on my second bike was brilliant.
Other things are DMR V8s and V12s - these are awesome pedals and personally I dont think any other pedals have come close. I know they are based on the original shimano bmx pedals but I think the DMR pedals really are the best ones.
We just just dint have the same control or power with cantis of old which i spose is why we all now ride harder and get ourselves in trouble cause we know we can rely on vastly superior brakes.
Merida
Austria 2012
back on topic
best thing in the last 20 years
co2 pumps. as you no longer have to kill your self to sort out a flat.
456
I remember when i first got rapidfire shifters, with TWO buttons! One of the local kids asked me what the two buttons did, so I told him the big one was the clutch, and the little one was the gear-change!
Hmm, now I think about it, has anyone else noticed that the new shimano dual-release shifters (I know SRAM have had this for a while) echo the first rapidfire pods, with a push-push action, where you'd use your thumb for up and downshifts?