Impossible Quiz: Can You Guess These Weird & Wonderful Bikes From Their Silhouettes?

Nov 20, 2019 at 7:46
by James Smurthwaite  
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Loads of you guys attempted the Silhouette Quiz last time, so today we're taking it up a notch and making it even harder. This time the bikes are all more than five years old and are a bit more obscure. We've titled it the impossible quiz and if anyone gets a full house they will definitely earn a huge slab of our respect. You know the format by now, so get stuck in.


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PB's Even Harder Name That Bike Challenge



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Member since Nov 14, 2018
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111 Comments
  • 54 1
 Here's a challenge:

silhouette answer... well that was easy

Example of the noises the bike made.

How long it took to mount a MRP chain guide

Which one took a Razor rock rear hub upgrade.

Which one has a Rock shocks disk brake

What bike had a rear end that flexed side to side more then a spawning salmon.

Which ones needed a 800 pound plus spring rate to even be ridable.

Which rear shocks blew in the parking lot in a test ride.

Now I'm just old and ranting on about the best days in mountain biking
  • 13 0
 Well I can answer the third to last.. rm7. We used to joke that it had as much travel side to side as it does vertical
  • 1 0
 Nailed it
  • 3 0
 @ssteve: flexy but sexy! For the time it rode pretty well too.
  • 3 0
 @freeinpg: 2020, flexy is sexy
  • 3 0
 "What bike had a rear end that flexed side to side more then a spawning salmon,"
Obviously the Spagyeti absolutely not a Schwinn Straight Eight.
  • 2 0
 Yeti. Sb100. Oops old bikes.......
Forget the name but treks very first single bar undamped suspension bikes. It was modelled after a motocross bike with a bi linear spring rate. That’s linear up and down and side to side.

@Fix-the-Spade:
  • 1 0
 @ssteve: Thats weird cause my RM7 you could use as a bridge if you laid it flat across a ditch and it would not bend at all. The only time the rear was loose was when the suspension bushings wore out(which was a semi annual repair ).

This actually made me walk down to the basement to check as i thought maybe nostalgia made my memory wrong and yup still no side to side play. I can stand on the BB and it flexes way less than my 2018 Giant Anthem Advanced 1.
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard: Because this is not how they flex.

Stand behind your bike, rear wheel clenched between the legs, now grab your saddle and try to move your bike side to side.
  • 1 0
 @kuejku: would there be a difference in the wade Simmons edition?

It does twist but I need to use a fair amount of force.

And the tires deflect way before any frame twist.
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard: I don't think there is any difference in stiffness, iirc Wade Simmons edition used 100% the same frame. Of course you have to use some force, but imagine what twisting forces occur when you are pinning it down a trail and cornering hard :-) Even back in 2003 everyone knew that those frames are not very stiff... but they were and still are very, very cool :-)
  • 1 0
 @dldewar: Trek 9500! Had a stack of doughnuts instead of a shock. Friend had one, it had more travel laterally than vertically ...
  • 23 0
 24 Sessions, easy.
  • 26 5
 Here is my answer. None of these appear to be the 2019 field test downcountry or enduro bikes. Where are the tests?
  • 5 0
 Sit tight, it appears we're on a 16 week rollout schedule.
  • 21 0
 @UtahBrent: But by then the axle and bottom bracket standards will be obsolete!
  • 17 0
 Some of the newest bikes (since 2009) look absurdly in some way. Damn, and I still think 2002 is modern times and it was 18 years ago....how time flies....those bikes looked like space ships to me once, now they look unrideable.
  • 17 1
 cant tolerate a seat tube that doesn’t connect to the bb. Don’t know why, just sets my teeth on edge.
  • 2 1
 You must be having an even harder time nowadays with these big wheeled suspension bikes.
  • 3 0
 @vinay: Most of the modern bikes do connect the seat tube and the bb, no ? I think its mostly department store bikes that still have a big gap like bike number 13, the specialized enduro.
  • 3 0
 @Floho: yup mostly department store bikes
  • 1 0
 @simonusedtoskate Better steer clear of Knolly or your dentist will be able to buy one after he’s done fixing your teeth.
  • 6 0
 I think that was actually a problem during one of the field tests. It was originally connected then was not.
  • 2 0
 @Floho: Ah sorry, I thought he meant to say he doesn't like it when the seattube doesn't end at the bb, but just in front of it. Like that Pornking. But yeah indeed I read that wrong and he as about the interrupted seattube. My bad!
  • 9 0
 Damnit- thought the Marin Attack Trail was an Ellsworth Joker... very similar.
  • 2 0
 Ditto, that one caught me out!
  • 1 0
 We made the front triangles all the same.
  • 4 0
 I had the GT LTS 2000 DS in ball burnished aluminum with the upgraded needle bearing for the top pivot. The Horst link design worked very well, albeit it had considerable pedal kickback. There was virtually zero play in the rear suspension though. Loved that bike.
  • 5 0
 For an old fart (relativly speaking) this was a piece of cake. Hell, I have had more than 5 of these myself at one time or another.
  • 1 0
 I agree.I did get stumped on 3 of them.
  • 3 0
 @nug12182: me too, and 2 of them were Giants
  • 4 4
 @likehell: That Iron Horse is identical to my old Bullit.
  • 1 0
 No. No it wasn’t @nug12182:
  • 2 0
 @nug12182: The Iron horse got me too... lol
  • 1 0
 @nug12182: yeah, that one caught me out too!!
  • 8 0
 That DHR looks lush!
  • 2 0
 The DHR and the Commencal V2 occupy spots 1 and 2 in the list of sexiest DH bikes ever
  • 2 1
 @mnorris122: nah , Q Bikes Empire or that ancillotti any day
  • 3 0
 To all those that state they are old & it easy I’m up in the years with ya & I got only 2 & at that it was the brand not the specific model my hat is off to you all, gotta go get the bike ready for tomorrow’s ride.

C’ya on the trail
  • 4 0
 I just realized. Can anyone find a bike in these ones that have a seat angle steeper than the head angle. How times have changed.
  • 4 0
 18 years worth of cycling love has resulting in me knowing alot more than I'm comfortable with. Back to my cave I go!
  • 5 0
 You got No, 7 wrong it is a Schwinn Straight 8 with Yeti stickers on it !
  • 2 0
 Absolutely!!!! I had a pull shock Straight 8 and was horrified to get the answer technically wrong.
  • 2 0
 @veero: Yes Cant trust these newbe Pinkbike staff!
  • 1 0
 Didn't get the zesty, for some reason thought the imperial was a 24 pornking and wasn't sure what Marin that was since they had a few different models that had a similar look. Aka, what happens when you've been on pinkbike since 2000. Good list guys. Some good classics there
  • 3 0
 That shock on the Foes is freaking huuuuuuuuuge! It looks like it came from a trophy truck.
  • 4 0
 2:1 leverage ratio with 10 inches of travel.
  • 2 0
 I got to ride one of the factory bikes around Vegas at inter bike 2005 or 2006. The amount of plush travel was unreal. Felt like someone put cranks on a yz85. Always wanted to take on for a day on a ski hill.
  • 1 0
 @inked-up-metalhead: I still have these 10'': 2 air shocks, another one with ti spring and the fourth one inox iron.
2 bikes (med and small) and 2 forks (8'') and the first one as piece of museum. So I deserve my name!
But it's not the only bikes I have so...
Didn't see Tomac Magnum 204 I guess.
  • 1 0
 @missfoesquebec: I would love to have your collection would be honored to ride them
  • 3 0
 The Norco isn't really fair. That could just as easily be a team she or a-line
  • 2 0
 same frame... it's rigged, if you guessed Norco, I say full points..
  • 1 0
 I was expecting it at once and finally came the ugliest mountain bike ever created : the Cannondale Raven.
It`s even worse when I think about all the supermarket sub-brands who copied it afterwards. Totally frightening...
  • 1 0
 No bike can out-ugly the mighty Redalp with the shock mounted above the top tube.
  • 1 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: Ah yes! the Redalp, I forgot this one. The day I saw it, not such a long time ago actually, I thought it was a joke. But still, it wasn`t as ugly as the Raven, in term of global design. The Raven is the only bike that can properly make me puke :-)
  • 1 0
 @softsteel: Try riding one with a 140mm lefty max with 2016 internals, A custom made shock, a Thomson dropper, proper 1x drivetrain, hope brakes etc. it’s actually a quite capable trail bike, and I’ve even raced rounds of the ESC on it. I think it’s a beautiful old bike.
  • 1 0
 @fattyheadshok: Hum... ``Tastes and colours``, like we say...
  • 3 1
 From Nicolai to 24 bicycle (the last 2), man you needed to be an old guy like me to know all those bikes Wink
  • 1 0
 Damn it´s really been a while since i´ve seen some of those bikes!
They´ve been burnt into my memory from drooling over bike magazines like they were a playboy or something, haha.
  • 1 0
 For the protocol - guessed only the specialized and the banshee. A friend bought a frame in 2006 and made a bike he still uses Big Grin
  • 1 0
 LOL! What are the odds that my only two DH bikes are on this list? And what does that say about me? LOL!
#1 and #18 (Atomik and DHR).
  • 3 0
 Surprised not to see a Karpiel or Mountain Cycle
  • 1 0
 Yup. Expected to see an Army. Have to look at mine instead.
  • 3 0
 Well proud to say i own and still ride a 24 porn king
  • 1 2
 I’m glad everyone finally figured out they should start copying intense. There were some ugly looking bikes until people gave up and started blatantly copying. Apparently you CAN learn a lot by emulating a master like Jeff Steber.
  • 1 0
 I really enjoy these especially the era of bikes. I grew up in the prime free ride movement with vps and stinky’s. Thanks Pinkbike
  • 1 0
 This was cool, I got all the brands right except the YT, never seen that bike before. I couldn't quite get all the model names right though. cheers
  • 1 0
 Thank you for doing these, its a blast from the past. Flashbacks to lusting hard over some of these, and some memories I thought were long forgotten. Stoked!
  • 2 0
 i was waiting for a canfield big fat fatty fat in there
  • 2 0
 Feeling even older now. Thanks.
  • 2 0
 No Racelink? What's the world coming to, i do see Faith though.
  • 4 0
 I think the younger generation pinkbikers think I’m some kind of Old Testament religious nut.
  • 1 0
 Not gonna lie, I still wish I owned an evil imperial with a super t on it...
  • 1 0
 If you click the answer there is a comment of a guy selling one imperial
  • 2 0
 I was having Mountain Bike Action Flashbacks!
  • 2 0
 F**k I passed the test. I feel Old now.
  • 2 0
 Everything with a single-pivot rocker arm — 2020 Orange.
  • 1 0
 Thanks Specialized..
  • 1 0
 You have to have been in the mtb game long enough to know these bikes. This test was more historical than anything.
  • 3 0
 Us old farts love these nostalgic posts... lol
  • 2 0
 24 pornking was nice touch
  • 2 0
 I clicked just to see if the C-dale Fulcrum was actually part of the quiz!
  • 2 0
 I'm still riding Giant AC. Maybe it's ancient but gives me a lot o fun Smile
  • 1 0
 The quiz could have used a pro-flex 856. I had one in titanium colour with a Manitou Mach 5. Nice looking silhouette!
  • 2 0
 next quiz with hardtail frame wkwkwkw
  • 1 0
 Never thought I would see a Iron Horse Yakuza in there, was my first real Bike, loved it
  • 1 1
 Forget silhouette it couldn't have been any harder even if they were invisible
  • 1 0
 MBA 97 onwards for sale....lol
  • 1 0
 I really enjoyed that. Cheers!
  • 11 11
 Make a proper quiz platform if you’re going to post them every other day. These are crap
  • 1 0
 Come on. That lapierre shouldn't be inthere. Ruining my perfect score!
  • 1 0
 Depends for who... I`ve recognized it in 1 second, but I`ve seen so much of them here in France, it`s not fair I admit ;-)
  • 1 0
 What?! An Evil on Pinkbike????
  • 2 0
 shoutout to Foes!
  • 1 0
 That was definitely the best era for Foes. I would have killed for one then.
  • 1 0
 I got to meet Brent Foes in Vegas, he was as awesome to meet and his bikes were to ride. expect the $3600US price tag for that frame/shock/fork back then... ouch
  • 1 0
 Was hoping to see a Gary Fisher Level Betty FH1
  • 1 0
 Good except 2! I must be damn old, holy F.
  • 1 0
 Include the Brooklyn Machine Works bikes! Those frames are freaky.
  • 1 0
 How was mountain biking enjoyable on those 90degree HTA beasts? yeesh.
  • 1 0
 No RMX weak sauce!!
  • 1 0
 RM7 was way better ;-)
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard: hell yas the rm7 was better 7" of side to side travel and 7inches real... Lol... Intill the shoxk tower cracked or the pivot mounts snaped off.... But with mybold monster t ... It was the one bike inwush i still had.
  • 1 0
 @fabwizard: i wasn't a fan of the front triangle
  • 1 0
 @orangeracer: I didn't have that problem at all someone else posted same thing.

Wonder if the wade Simmons edition was different.

I totally abused that bike and other than shearing off the rear suspension bushings and bolt when I over did clown shoes drop in Whistler I had no issues
  • 2 3
 The bottom brackets on those things are higher than Remy Morton on Fest after party
  • 1 0
 Holy throwback Batman.
  • 1 0
 The
  • 1 0
 Balfa, facile/easy!
  • 1 0
 No Ironhorse Sunday :C
  • 1 2
 This was much more difficult than the last lmao







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