equipment hall of fame

surreyxc

Curious as to what kit people own that has really impressed them and stood the test of time.

If it last under a 1yr its rubbish
If it last under a 2yr its fair
If it last 3yr pretty good
If it last 4yr onwards pretty good.

Similarly any over priced tat which has disintergrated in months.

njee20

I don't think I've kept any MTB kit for more than 4 years, but DT 240 hubs are great, far better than King, for less money!

Look Quartz pedals are the worst product ever, utter toss.

surreyxc

Interesting. I have WTB Rocket Ti Saddle that has been well used, and has many years left, about 8yrs old.

XT Thumbshifters that were pulled from a steel hardrock found in skip well over 10yr

Timbuk 2 Courier bag near a decade and going strong.

All have a had good use but these are counter balanced with some right duds like a Crank Bros pump 6months, Zound Air Horn under a 1year

paul.skibum

I am still using and enjoying my 2003 Marz MXComp ETA's - still work well, dont lose pressure and have never been serviced in any way. They are attached to a worn Cove Handjob of a similar age.

That bike is also still on its original FSA DH Pig headset which runs smooth to this day with only a bi-annual wipe and regrease of the cartridge bearings.

I am still using a 2004 LX rear mech too.

Most of my ride clobber is a few years old - notably a pair of RF DH shorts that I got in 2005, they are faded and wearing but still solid in all seams. Spesh Tahoe shoes from 2006 summer are just about dead but have survived the trials very well.

I should buy some new kit!

Stoo61

I would say that my SDG Bel Air RL is as good as new after about 4 years.

2 years into my X9 rear mech it is still flawless.

DMR V8's paint is bad but still work well after about 4 years on 2 bikes.

joshtp

XT shadow R. mech... had it for a few years now. Works well, light, showing no signs of dying.

Magura Thor's.

Well over due a service ( 2 years with nothing but the occasional stantion wipe) But still going better than ever. Awsome.

Monkeypump

XT thumbies.

Bought brand new (for a bargain price at a bike show) in their last year of production, whenever that was. Still going strong today...

cooldad

Have a 1988 Specialised Rockhopper with original mechs, crankset (including rings), block, shifters (thumbies), BB, wheels and hubs. All Shimano Mountain Exage.
Only bits changed have been headset and chain.
So over 20 years old.
Needless to say I am a Shimano fan.

supersonic

DiaCompe loose ball headset. 1996 vintage. Keep em greased, they last.

surreyxc

Somewhat reassuring to hear some kit stands the test time, you sometimes wonder when you go through a spell of replacing expensive kit.

j_l

Crank Bros Mallet's.

though now they are getting near to needing a bearing kit they have been going strong since 2002

MacAndCheese

I don't have that much kit that's that old but the following items stand out:

4 year old Hope Mini Monos -great brakes still excellent stopping power and a doddle to bleed, look a little dated now but have never needed anything more than bleeding or pad change.

4 year old shimano XT crankset - only just had to replace the BB after riding in truely awful conditions, rings still shift perfectly.

5 year old shimano cheap SPDs (not sure what model OEM on a cheap Kona) Bearings only just packed up after many, many miles.

3 year old Spesh' BG shoes - ridden almost every day or the last 2 years, rain or shine, look a bit worse for wear, but still perfectly functional.

MuddyFunster

XT Thumbies: bought as an upgrade for my Marin in the early '90s and still on active duty on rigid cannondale. And Time ATAC pedals; thoroughly abused for a couple of years but still going strong.

jonnyc2420

DMR v12's must be over 10 yrs old by now, only serviced once, and Pearl Izumi shorts, about the same sort of age. Both in better condition than thier owner.............

jonnyc2420

Oh, forgot to mention my Hope X2 brake handlebar bracket bolts that have lost thier black coating after only two rides

cat_with_no_tail

Not had them long yet, but I love the hubs on my EX1750s. The easiest thing on the entire bike to service or swap about, very solid feel, fantastic engagement, don't sound like a bag of spanners, absolutely perfect.

I'm also massively impressed with the Bender fender. Very Cheap, very simple, but very effective.

njee20

I guess Chris King headsets should get a nod too, about the only headset I'd bother to transfer from bike to bike!

Anonymous

Hope Bulb rear hub, still going strong after more years than I even remember. I think it's about 13-14 years old now.
Oh, and Hope C2 brakes. Built like a tank, and twice as durable.

Raymondavalon

WTB Rocket Race saddle! My '96 Kona came with one as standard and I use these on all my bikes now. It's never frayed, torn and the rails are are as solid as the day I bought them.

singlespeedexplosif

XT thumbies
UN72 BBs
Project 2 forks.
Selle Italia Flite saddles.

Steve_F

Interesting thing is most stuff mentioned sounds like it would be fairly high up the range and expensive when new.

Maybe none of my stuff lasts coz I buy cheap all the time!

Next time I have to buy the expensive gear, awesome!

P-Jay

My '06 Enduro frame had been [/img]almost faultless.

4 years old last month, hitting the trail centres every weekend of it's life, commuted to work, pub, countless crashes all piloted by a cack-handed 16st rider.

Did get a tiny hairline crack in the subframe after a crash last year meaning I had to replace the lower swing-arm, but it was a big crash that left me in Hospital for 3 weeks and arms full of metal so I can't complain too much..

Second set of bearings, but still zero play anywhere, lots of paint missing though ha ha.

Chris McG

i have some road cranks used for cross that are 16 years old
and some xero tarmac xbr-1 wheels that are around 6 years old!!!

Anonymous

Ooh, Shimano Hollowtech II cranksets!

paul.skibum

Steve_F wrote:

Interesting thing is most stuff mentioned sounds like it would be fairly high up the range and expensive when new.

Maybe none of my stuff lasts coz I buy cheap all the time!

Next time I have to buy the expensive gear, awesome!

All my stuff is pretty old and definitely not high end! I suppose the 2001 era Fox Vanilla rear shock on my Heckler was high end then.

I have a Hope M4 from 2006 which works fine, a Magura Julie rear brake from 03 which is a peach (its front version failed in the Alps which is why I have an M4 on there instead!). My Crossrides were 2008 - the rear rim is pretty much done in but its been ridden a fair bit and quite hard including two alps trips and a lot of miles although only summer riding so maybe thats not too good.

Got some deore shifters from 2003 as well - one lost its underside cover last summer but is still working.

My HT is basically all from 2003 or 4 other than its wheels and cranks! and it looks it!

Steve_b77

My first Charge Spoon is now 3 years old and on it's 3rd bike.

Lizard Skinz Peatty's just don't wear out.

Oh yeah my Nicolai Helius CC frame, nearly 4 years old, and just had a bearing service for the first time, awesome bit of engineering that'll live for a good while yet

weescott

Hope suspension/Ti Glide hubs. Lasted 8 years with no servicing....could well still be running now. 8)

All Hope stuff is solid and will last years. Apart from the Head doctor which is tat.

newclearbomb

I,ve got some NEMA crown jewel shorts that are at least 8 Years old :shock:
I cant find anything that even comes close ! worn out a pair of Humvee's in 4 Months

Race Face Diabolous Cranks, from about 2002 lost some colour but they are going strong.

SDG Bel Air seat ! many many miles covered and again still lasting.

Steve_F

paul.skibum wrote:

Steve_F wrote:

Interesting thing is most stuff mentioned sounds like it would be fairly high up the range and expensive when new.

Maybe none of my stuff lasts coz I buy cheap all the time!

Next time I have to buy the expensive gear, awesome!

All my stuff is pretty old and definitely not high end! I suppose the 2001 era Fox Vanilla rear shock on my Heckler was high end then.

Sorry but I'm refusing to read it that way, this thread is my excuse to buy the best gear so don't go spoiling is saying cheap stuff can last well too!

benpinnick

Hope Ti front hub. Bought in 1995 probably? Still runs perfectly smooth on the original bearings.

_HENDO_

My entire kona, only just started breaking things after 9 years