Remember These? 11 Classic Mountain Bikes - Crankworx Whistler 2017

Aug 18, 2017 at 22:32
by Mike Kazimer  
When Crankworx rolls into town, the lift queues at the Whistler Bike Park swell to capacity, nearly bursting at the seams with riders and their high-end downhill bikes. Pro racers are rolling around on one-of-a-kind prototypes, and it seems like every other rider has a shiny new carbon whip. But interspersed between all that fanciness are true classics, bikes that have lived long and storied lives since they rolled off the showroom floor. We caught up with ten riders and their vintage steeds as they joined the masses that have converged in Whistler for all things mountain biking.

Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
Quinn Tyhy has been the proud owner of this classic Cove Peeler for the last two years. It's his first 'real' mountain bike, although he's starting to consider upgrading to something a little more modern.




Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
Dan Frank is originally from New York, where he grew up dreaming of owning one of Brooklyn Machine Works' steel creations. When he saw this '06 Race Link on Pinkbike's Buy and Sell he lept at the chance to own his dream machine.




Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
There aren't many mountain near George Cator's home in the U.K., but he was getting his fill at Whistler aboard his '10 Commencal Supreme.


Vintage DH bikes
Matt Tipton was running his 2008 Scott Gambler chainless, but he wasn't having any less fun.

Vintage DH bikes
Check out all those shock mounting options.



Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
Zach Jacobs was also in the chainless club aboard his '07 Specialized SX.



Norco Shore
There was no owner in sight, but this '06 Norco Shore was worthy of inclusion. It sure looks like it's had some hard miles put on it over the last 11 years.



Intense SS2 Dirk Koschoreck with his daughter Lilly owner of the Intense

Intense SS2
Intense SS2
It might not be quite old enough to qualify as 'vintage', but Lilly Koschoreck was glad to get this 2010 Intense SS as a hand-me-down from her dad.



Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
Finley Kirschenmann scored this FTW (Frank the Welder) F10 from a family friend. It'd been collecting dust in a garage, but now it's back in action as the 10-year-old shredder's park bike.



Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
Kyle Cochlyn mainly rides motocross, but he's been enjoying mixing things up on this '05 Giant DH team he purchased a year ago.




Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
Ok, so maybe it's not technically a downhill or a freeride bike, but this 2002 Rocky Mountain is a classic. Jeff Eng is the original owner, and he's somehow still rolling on the original tires. Admittedly, he's more of a road cyclist, but he does ride Whistler at least once a year.




Vintage DH bikes

Vintage DH bikes
Vintage DH bikes
This 2006 Santa Cruz Bullit has been serving Victor Vasylkiv well for 6 years.


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250 Comments
  • 440 3
 This is one of the best posts I’ve seen on PB. Just awesome. When I was stationed in Germany, I was in the process of playing the upgrade game on a 2008 Enduro: X0 shifters, XT cranks, carbon handlebar, etc. I thought it, and by extension I, was pretty cool.
Then I made a trip to Morzine for a weekend trip of mud, slop and epic riding. One thing I noticed though was there were so many people there with older, beat-up, ridden hard and put away wet bikes with all sorts of replacement parts hanging off their frankenstein steeds. I surmised they were more concerned with paying what money they had to ride there for weeks at a time rather than color-coordinating exotic parts. It was clearly all about the riding and the bikes and parts were a distant second. Maybe third after the beer. I felt way less cool and more of a wannabe than the people on bikes that cost less and were in far worse shape than mine.

I love seeing people on bikes where they mostly care about riding - not boost, not pedaling efficiency, not frame material, not anything but the lift ticket price. It’s refreshing. These riders should be championed at every chance and congratulated on getting a bike...any bike...if for no other reason than increasing our numbers and strength for trail access. Plus it’s just plain cool to see these old bikes! Now if only there were a Klein Rascal or Top Gun...
  • 45 0
 Your comments just convinced me to hang in to my 2004 Keewee Cromo 8 and it's actually still a blast to ride. These old bikes tell stories and have lived.
  • 9 1
 @fartymarty: That’s awesome and thanks for the comment! My only response is that the only reason one HAS to part from a bike is frame fatigue. That’s a case by case basis and who knows how long a bike will really last but a headtube separating from the frame is a bad day.
  • 11 2
 @Jeremiahwas: Thank you for your service! Badass you got to ride on your tours.
  • 14 1
 @therealtylerdurden: Thanks for the appreciation - I always say my brother did the real service (11Bravo - 15 months in Afghanistan) I got to live and ride in Germany/Alps for a 5 years. I’ll take it.
  • 6 0
 @jeremiahwas: it's steel so will probably be around longer than me as it can always be repaired.
  • 13 1
 I remember my trip to Morzine too. As young guys from Eastern Europe, our bikes were top notch crap. I unfortunately lost legendary photo where my friend in fishing suit (because of cheap rain protection) and ski helmet was repairing his prehistoric Haro with a big stone. In the background was parked some Empire DH bike worth of like 10 000 poundsSmile
  • 5 0
 @jeremiahwas I was also stationed in Germany (Illisheim) for 5 years. This is where I really got into MTB and stated racing. I raced in the MWR MTB race series back then, as well as some local races around Germany. Got my first real MTB in Ansbach, as Stevens hardtail with Magura hydro rim brakes. Then I graduated from the HT to a Jamis Dakar, Wish I still had it, Wife made me get rid of the frame. I even took my bike with me on my deployments 9 mths in Afghan, and 15 in Balad Iraq. I got some riding pics from over there too in my profile, What great times. Where and when were in Germany? I was there from 2004 to 2009.
  • 5 1
 Driving to Morzine today with my Frankenstein Single Speed Speci Status haha
  • 7 0
 @colincolin: just been to morzine again, 2002 dark cycles scarab, singlepeeded too as no need for gears.. We go for lunch or beer and people start taking photos of the old girl lol
www.pinkbike.com/photo/15045610
  • 9 0
 I love that so many of these old steeds are still rocking Marzocchi, the fork that doesn't die (if you got the right generation).

Just wish that there had been a banshee in the mix, maybe I should have thrown in my old Wildcard and gone there for the celebration
  • 2 0
 @bat-fastard: yup, was at champery, a few weeks before, on my ´06 Slayer. Just avoided the gnarly and big stuff, because i don´t wanna hurt the bike, not because lack of courage ; )
  • 5 0
 @schlockinz: I had the 2010 for 7 years with the avalanche cartridge, just got the 380ti on now Smile think the 2008/9 where bad years when production went from italy. Old 888's are going on son's build.
  • 2 0
 @rms195: I just lap pleney all day long Smile not into the bigger stuff now as too old, the medium drops n gaps does me lol
  • 2 0
 @bat-fastard: at champery they made a red "colored" track next to the WC course, wow
  • 2 0
 @rms195: didnt get over to it this year as was bit windy for mossetts lift was closed few days, fingers crossed for next year booking atm Smile
  • 4 0
 @moutnbiker I was stationed in Heidelberg/Schwetzingen with USAREUR from '07-'11. Rode mostly the local trails there within a 50 mile or so radius but also some of the parks including Winterberg and Bad Wildbad. Got down to Morzine and Davos as well.
  • 1 0
 Perfect! @fartymarty:
  • 2 0
 @jeremiahwas: It takes all types to keep the military strong and capable! Beer

@moutnbiker: Thank you as well, brotha!
  • 5 0
 Omg, reading this comment while brushing my teeth in the centre of Morzine. 100% true!
  • 3 0
 My experience with DH is somewhere in between. My bike has mostly budget parts except for some suspension upgrades, but in just 2 seasons of intermittent DH riding it's already on its second derailleur (first was destroyed almost instantly), second set of pivot hardware, and is in need of a second der. hanger. If you actually ride DH at all, any fancy parts are going to get sheared off the bike after a few good shenanigans have been had.
  • 4 0
 @jeremiahwas: I had a huge crash at Winterberg, knocked myself out cold with a nice concussion. Bad Wildbad was a awesome place, only went one but Ill never forget going down then main DH race course. never really knew what a rock garden was till I went down that on a 5 inch travel trail bike. I was in for a BIG surprise. Great times!!
  • 2 0
 Brilliant post, I agree 100%.
  • 1 0
 @schlockinz: The old 888 35mm it's a bit outdated and damping was horrible but still it's one of the smoothest chassis I've tested.
  • 3 0
 Stationed at Fort Carson and got really into MTB. Never want to leave this place...
  • 2 0
 @paul-bee: HA, I'm stationed at Drum, This place BLOWS for MTB. I hate it here
  • 2 0
 @bd4e1: You Eastern Europe guys are great people! One my my best friends from Germany was a Polish bike mechanic that escaped communist Poland when he was a kid. I’ve also been fortunate to tour Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine and Moscow.
  • 2 0
 @colincolin: Viel spaß!
  • 2 0
 @SaschaLancashire: Cheers!
  • 1 0
 @rms195 We call that one "Chevreuil"
  • 1 0
 @moutnbiker: Nice! I raced the civ class of the MWR series on and off in 2006 and 2007. I'll never forget this guy named Jim Sharp who would stomp everyone on his 90s Cannondale Vee frame. I'm back in Europe for a while... just in Switzerland.
  • 1 0
 @Chadimac22: Oh yeah, I remember that guy. Jim Sharp. that guy was crazy fast. LOL. old Cannondale with that old Fox air shock and the head tube shock. Always on semi-slick too. I left germany in 2009.i sure miss that place.
  • 3 0
 This comment should be introduced to the Comment Hall of Fame!
  • 1 0
 Undeniably cool bikes, and vintage as far as DH goes, but I was hoping to see some weird shit like elevated chainstays, Pro-Flex suspension or even a Softride bike...remember those? Or maybe a Fat City!
  • 66 0
 Brooklyn machine works is my fav
  • 20 1
 Same here until the Rocky Mountain Slayer with the original tires. That was the first true all mountain bike. You could pedal it and it could handle anything you threw at it. This is an awesome idea, haha.
  • 2 1
 I still love that bike. It was ahead if its ti.e. Shame they stopped making them.
  • 7 0
 @scott-townes: Nice! It's a 2001 though, not a 2002.

'Twas my first real mtb. The rear end flexed so hard you couldn't pedal on descents, and on large drops the linkage plates folded past the rear stays and stuck there semi permanently.

Loved every minute on that bike Big Grin
  • 1 0
 @scott-townes: I was talking to a bloke the other day who had owned two of the old Slayers, he showed me photos of them both - he'd managed to snap the seat tube on both! He stilled loved them as bikes though.
  • 7 0
 @twelvemonths: two bikes I always wanted was a K2 proflex animal & and a Rocky Mountain Pipeline in purple with z1 Bams. Mmmmmmmm
  • 1 0
 Never look old
  • 2 0
 @cunning-linguist: My father still has that exact Rocky Mountain Pipeline. It's been welded up a couple of times.
  • 2 0
 Brooklyn Machine Works, FTW!!
  • 2 0
 @twelvemonths: haha holy crap. I guess we were a bit younger/smaller at the time so we couldn't punish it like your bud.
  • 2 0
 That ss is still a pretty sick bike too
  • 1 0
 @BryceBorlick: My bro in law has one and I really struggled with it. I think it was too small and the bars were too high. I kept washing the front out. Maybe the right sized one would be good tho.
  • 1 0
 @teebeeess: photos please!!! :-) it'd make my day! So cool! Remember seeing it in a photo, on a drop in Canada in MBUK back in the day. Loved it!

The days when 100mm travel triple crown Judy / Sids were the nuts! Also remember the carbon UD Marzocchis, wibble....
  • 1 0
 @scott-townes: I worked at a shop that was a Rocky dealer, and during a factory tour one day we caught wind of a Reaper FS. I said "When you have one, call me, and I'll buy it." Had so much fun on that bike - it was a replacement for a broken Pipeline.
  • 2 0
 I have the exact same bike, 2001 slayer with the same tires I rolled out of the store with 16 freakin years ago. Still use the bike but want to put bigger forks on er, the small ones flex too much @scott-townes:
  • 1 0
 @mickhedley: I could see that for sure, it was perfect when we were much smaller.
  • 48 0
 Proof that it doesn't matter what you ride as long as your having fu.
  • 56 0
 having fu is the best.
  • 37 1
 I love Fu... especially when you add a little Kung in there...
  • 6 0
 Egg Fu Young is good too
  • 7 0
 Aww for fu
  • 4 0
 I love fu but I don't know what to do with the soup left in the bowl when I'm done with the noodles.
  • 6 1
 I was just riding my 2009 Gambler yesterday, today in PB a 2008 is now "vintage". Getting old sucks but riding bikes is a blast.
  • 1 0
 @Ron-C: I think you must be confusing fu with fa.
  • 3 0
 @kwl1: Pho*
  • 1 0
 Yum!
  • 34 0
 Yeehaw, that's my Brooklyn and it still slays!
  • 1 0
 I bet it does. Fantastic Brooklyn...you just never see them anymore.
  • 1 0
 Ya not wrong, got a Racelink myself and would love to ride it at Whistler. Slay hard mate.
  • 1 0
 That is awesome man, a Brooklyn was alwas a dream machine of mine too. Good to see you treating it the way it wants!
  • 23 0
 Those bikes are so far off the current crop they almost look like prototypes of some sort. Super cool to see. I had an V1 Nomad until not long ago and I kinda wish I never sold it. Props to those who are not chasing the latest and greatest and just having fun.
  • 1 0
 I still have my nomad first gen on my 3rd front triangle but love that camel hump.
  • 26 0
 Love the amount of Marzocchi forks on the older bikes. They were making some of the best products back then.
  • 5 2
 DVO successor!!! i'm getting an Emerald soon!
  • 3 0
 Because those old Zoke's keep on rocking. They were the best back then, proof is right there in the pictures.
  • 11 0
 Ill bet at least a couple of those forks are running on original oil. Open bath was pretty durable
  • 16 0
 Great article but outside of the microcosm that is Pinkbike and other armchair websites, the reality is that these are the sort of bikes that the vast majority of mountain bikers the world over are riding!
  • 2 0
 Ha yeah. Even driving down from Squamish to North Vancouver (North Shore) yesterday I was surprised to see bikes more than a year old! It's such a bubble here.
  • 16 2
 The Cove, the Brooklyn and the FTW are the only ones I'd call classic or vintage, and MAYBE the original Rocky Slayer... the rest are just too new still. All the ones from 06-07 or newer.... not even remotely classic or vintage.
  • 1 0
 Totally agree! Based on the article, my good old Giant Anthem 2008 would be a vintage bike. It is not vintage to me. Maybe in 10 years! Wink
  • 2 0
 Completely agree ..for once. A bike from 2008 isn't a classii..its plain old.
  • 2 0
 Yeah, I agree. I've still got three moubpntain bikes from '08, '09 and they are still in very good shape as life got in the way of riding regularily for the last few years. My brother still rides my old Da Bomb Bouncing Betty from '07 (iirc.) these bikes are a generation old, pre ridiculous geometry, but not vintage. For me, vintage is 20 years old.
  • 14 0
 26'' sure ain't dead for these people.
  • 11 0
 just recently set up longer travel for this1999 gt lobo . . still having fun on it m.pinkbike.com/video/464169
  • 7 0
 That's my old FTW FB-10! Shock, stickering, and blue undercoat give it away. Sold it back in 2013-ish. This post just made my day, seeing the very same bike I got so much enjoyment out of being ridden be a lil' ripper 40 years my junior. At Whistler no less!
  • 1 0
 That is awesome! feels good man.
  • 9 0
 I'm still riding an '09 SX Trail. With a 180mm fork on the front it's such a fun bike I haven't felt the need to get something newer.
  • 2 0
 Agreed. The bike pictured here is exactly like my 07. Lots of upgraded parts, but it's still a wicked bike. Was years ahead of its time!
  • 2 0
 Those were awesome bikes, keep rocking it, man.
  • 2 0
 @SeanC1, that's a great bike. Sold mine about 2 years ago but for park riding it's as good as a lot of new bikes today I reckon.
  • 2 0
 I've owned probably 10 different higher end mountain bikes over the years and my 2007 SX Trail II is the only bike I miss. I regret selling it to go to school. Had a Totem air 2-step, man that was a fun bike.
  • 8 0
 I'm so poor that by the time I finish building my bikes they are classics. Plus my parts tastes are dated. My 07 I bought in 06 looked like an 03 in 09.
  • 6 0
 I see a lot of oldie freeride- and DH-bikes here at my home spots in Winterberg and Willingen and I still ride my 2003 Bike: nsmb.com/articles/3597-readers-rides-18 - ride on, Marc
  • 5 0
 This is an extremely cool post, Pinkbike. Usually when I see an older bike on trails, the rider also shreds 10x harder than carbonomads with all things carbon. Gotta love the things that were built to last and not thrown away because the headtube is 1 degree too steep.
  • 5 0
 I'm riding an '06 Giant AC, and i'm lovin' it! I'm so used to oldschool geometry bikes, that riding new bikes is a really strange feeling to me. Besides what I do with this bike, I will not throw it in the trash. My heart will be broken!
  • 10 0
 You haven't lived until you have snapped a giant AC
  • 1 0
 I had an AC with a Shiver... First proper bike I ever had... Had to weld up that head tube twice before I figured out what was wrong ... But damn that Shiver turned rocks into silk! Big Grin Bring back the Shiver! Change nothing!
  • 2 0
 @browner: bought a new one in 2005 but went through so many pivot bearings I actually converted back to a hardtail for a couple of years after.
  • 6 0
 You could drop a lot of cash on a new bike and have no money to take it anywhere, or you keep the old bike/buy an old bike and spend the left over cash taking it places to ride. Which is the logical decision?
  • 3 0
 Yup...pro tip kids: it's best not to go into massive amounts of debt just to appease the bike industry.
  • 1 0
 @gamblor: I concur
  • 8 4
 What's that FTW??? I've never seen it and it looks god damn sexy. Maybe some company could revive this. This article is awesome, the problem with current state of the industry is that if you will make an article like this in 10 years about todays bijes, most of them will look fkng the same...
  • 36 1
 Ftw- Frank the welder, of Yeti and Spooky fame, still building amazing frames in New England. If you haven't heard of him, your status as #1 Pinkbike keyboard commando is revoked.
  • 12 3
 @Glendmcc: I have never aspired to or claimed to be a wikipedia of cycling, for that go to @deeeight.
  • 5 0
 Don't forget he welded for Sinister, too! I'm sure several others as well.
  • 4 0
 Frank Wadelton.

www.frankthewelder.com

www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/The-Welder-The-Story-of-Frank-Wadelton,27321/LeeDevelopment,27698
  • 7 0
 Hell yeah my kind of people! Big Grin
  • 6 0
 15 year old tires? Man, I wish I could get 15 riding days out of mine, nowadays.
  • 6 1
 So refreshing to see other riders with average bikes. Makes me feel a bit more normal for not riding a $10,000 carbon fibre, 29", boost spaced, kashima coated rig!
  • 6 0
 This really drives home the massive issue the bike industry has created for itself. If someone feels less than "normal" for not having the latest and greatest gear that is mostly unattainable for 99% of the population, how on earth can we expect to grow participation numbers?

@gurnzilla you and everyone in this post are the badasses of the sport, riding whatever you've got because you just want to ride.
  • 3 0
 And props to that little kid on the full size dh rig... those bikes were so unforgiving when you were on an adult small and 80 lbs. Knuckle a jump? Over the bars. Brakes in the steep? No weight for traction so you go faster into a tree. 50lbs of bike, enough suspension for 150 lbs of rider, and only 80lbs of actual rider.
  • 6 0
 06 Bullit. All the memories come rushing back
  • 13 0
 I bought the first model Bullit that came out. Saw a photo of one and knew I had to make it mine. I rode it for about 9 years before I ovalised the head tube and had to put it into retirement. Some years later I turned it into this:
www.pinkbike.com/photo/15068049
  • 4 0
 @teebeeess: that's an awesome conversion there, hope he enjoys your old steed!
  • 1 0
 @teebeeess:
  • 1 0
 That Bullit is more like an '02/03. The BMW for the win though.
  • 1 0
 @teebeeess: That Bullit in Kawasaki green was my original lust and bought one the following year. Transformative. Your conversion is awesome and inspirational for all the right reasons. Top notch!
  • 3 0
 I loved my Giant DH. First downhill bike I ever had. Still reminisce of the days I had slayin dh runs on that 50lb beast. I think to this day it was the best jumping dh rig ive ever ridden.
  • 1 0
 My 45lb 2005 giant faith was arguably the best handling and jumping bike I've ever ridden(too bad it was just a bit small for me)
  • 2 0
 I've still got my Foes Fab The Fly (circa 2004 - Dave Watson TDF jump bike). Just a couple of years ago, I put $2k in to it with a new Boxxer with Charger damper (goodbye 888Cool , direct mount stem, wide bars, replaced the Hayes brakes with Zees, Magic Mary front, Minion rear - and hated the changes. The direct mount stem made it too short. I just had the Curnutt shock serviced, so it was ready to rip!

That bike still works well. I could ride anything on that that I can on my Maiden now, it's just that the top tube is so short compared to current geometry. The frame itself is still competitive. Heavier, yes. Not as comfortable rider positioning, but the damn thing just works. Mine is still in perfect condition too! I was thinking of posting it on the buy/sell, but could probably only get the $2000 I put in to it, if that. I'd rather keep it in the shed.
  • 2 0
 I'd buy you a beer bro if we ever met! Smile Fellow Foes Fly owner here. Except I'm still riding mine as my main bike! Razz Still in top condition too. As you say it just works - Curnutt is a beast, although over here there's only one place that can service them. I put a longer fork on it last year (8" Boxxer WC) - BB's a bit high, but the slacker HA feels so much better. Just need to get lower wider bars now.

PS Not sure tho about it being the Dave Watson TDF bike, pretty sure he was on a Kona for that?
  • 1 0
 @bmbracing: yeah, you're right, it was a Kona. He was on The Fly in the previous NWD movie, that's what I remembered. He wouldn't have crashed on the Foes!
  • 2 0
 Now I feel old at 29... I still want a FTW and a sinister..need some Nicolai action and can someone pimp up an old giant atx DH. Was shocked not to see an m1 in here or a early Feb v10. How about a post of dh bike of the year for the last 20 years? Education for all!
  • 2 0
 Ive pimped out a atx with modern parts check my profile, it performs well, but doesn't compare to a modern rig
  • 1 0
 I've got a Sinister for sale, bud. Smile
  • 2 0
 Man this makes me think of my old 05' Transition DirtBag. Sold it to my buddy, he was getting into DH and some freeride stuff. I was moving to long backcountry rides. He really took to the DH thing on that bike, now he is incredible. He has retired the DirtBag now, still has it. I try to buy it back every now and again, but he keeps it at his parents house in his old room so he will never sell it. I do hope he will ride it again someday.
  • 2 0
 The guys always saying bikes have a limited service life are probably fuming. I say ride until it breaks, i have an '89 Cannondale and a '00 Gary Fisher that still get ridden. Seeing older bikes out and about is always so awesome!!!!
  • 2 0
 Worthy of note that the Slayer is not only rocking the original tires but I think those are also the original Magura brakes, and square-taper RF cranks. No disrespect but that's a garage queen if I've ever seen one - those brakes and cranks didn't hold up too well for most customers who bought that bike from the shop I worked at!
  • 2 0
 I rode and raced a 2005 Giant DH Team for almost ten years and loved it to death. I was crazy fast on that bike. But I think the one pictured above is a 2004 or earlier model. The 2005 has a curved top tube and a 150mm rear wheel spacing. And the other years have a straight top tube and 135mm rear wheel spacing. Also, the Manitou 6-way swinger has a remote shock resy mounted to the down tube. Either way, awesome bikes and an awesome article.
  • 4 0
 this would shock me out of wanting a new bike, but seriously if i don't get off my old '03 xc soon, I wil probably die on it
  • 2 0
 Was contemplating doing up my old kona stinky but was kinda worried that it might not be worth it, after seeing this post im super keen to get the thing painted and pimped out!
  • 1 0
 I always wondered about a race series or category that allowed only 10+ year old bikes and components, just to see what kinds of crazy garage tech upgrades people would come up with. Loved this post btw! I used to dream of these bikes few years back.
  • 1 0
 Still riding my '06 Trek Session 10 even though the only things that are still stock are the chainguard and frame... Even had that replaced once though for a warranty issue! Going to have to upgrade though once the Sender is available in the US...
  • 1 0
 As Someone who grew up in the Rigid Era of Mountain Biking these bikes are hardly classics. With the exception of a few most of these bikes are of the burly downhill bike phase in the first decade of the millennium. Lets see some hard tails and rigid bikes those are classics. Anyone remember the Nishiki Ailen and the Raised Chainstay Rigid bikes that imitated this short lived bike craze or the Old Konas with the Neon Design or the Early Aluminum and Cromoly Steel Frames. Remember when titatanium bikes where the highest standard in Bikes.
  • 1 0
 I ride a 97 foes weasel with a monster t and wife rides a 99 super 8 with a white brothers dh 2 and a razor rock rear end. Been shelved with us having kids but I take mine out for urban occasionally. Used to ride with some of the BMW guys back in the early 2000 once in a while as I have buddy in the industry and he knew them well. Joys of growing up around NYC. Always loves that rig but fully kitted it could push 65 pounds.
  • 5 0
 no old carbon bikes...... what the??
  • 3 0
 Hmmmmm a profile DHR in steel or an Elan would be nice! :-) also a cortina was another seriously nice looking machine.

Or a Rotec, Schwinn Straight 8, the list goes on!
  • 2 0
 @cunning-linguist: I'm a fan of the Straight 8's ! Big Grin
  • 3 0
 carbon bikes die at 5 years
  • 1 0
 @shwinn8: yeah man! Cool to see you have one!! Ace!

The other thing I always wanted was a friends Haro DH in electric blue with carbon Manitou DH forks, original hope brakes, big uns and Atomlab DHR rims & full XTR with an MRP guard. The best looking thing!
  • 1 0
 @cunning-linguist: unfortunately it has been retired.. I currently have a Canfield Jedi but eyeballing the straight 8's successor.. the newest version of Rotec RL9, keeping the lawwill suspension alive!
  • 1 0
 @gastu: a good one will last that long, me brother had two go, one at 25 hrs, the other a little over 30.... my nearly 10 year old alu bike is stlll going very strong.
  • 1 0
 @cunning-linguist: Props for remembering Elan Smile A kid in my town used to ride dh-pro last year, hope he still has it. And I remember seeing one able-4 in Chatel a couple of years ago. What is actually even cooler is the NASA bikes, custom made carbon frames from the same guy who was then hired to make carbon Elan's, I saw one in the local bike park earlier this year, probably one of the last that are still alive.
Damn, its even hard to find a picture online, here is one if anyone is interested:
  • 1 0
 @winko: I know the guy who has this bike. And my dad also has a carbon one from NASA. There is still a lotof them alive honestly. The guy who made them, Gorazd Strazisar, used to go camping to same place as my familyso i have seen a lot of his work, like windsurfing boards aswell and a lot of bikes Big Grin
  • 3 0
 Great to see i am not an lonely wierdo riding a '08 Orange Patriot and be perfectly happy with it... there are others like me out there... Big Grin great article
  • 1 0
 I love the old bikes. As someone who doesn't do proper DH it's not worth me buying anything new, but I do lust after a cheap old DH bike for the odd couple of days a year I'd have the opportunity to ride it.

People have mentioned stress on the frames - it's there anything to look out for our is it simply going over the frame with a keen eye, looking for cracks, and a bit of blind luck? (Obviously paying attention to headtube and bb areas the most...)
  • 3 0
 The problem with DH bikes is it can be a lottery regarding condition - he good thing is lots of people buy DH bikes and realise it's not for them so there are some great bargains around too - Nukeproof Pulse / Scalp are plenty sturdy for example.

I wouldn't buy anything ex pro as they have the crap beat out of them, nothing repainted as that can hide cracks and nothing covered in dents / scratches from a million uplifts.

It's hard to find very small cracks sometimes, shock / pivot mounts are the usual areas.

Pretty easy to buy a DH bike for £700 that isn't a mess though if you keep your eyes out for them.
  • 1 0
 @Racer951: Thanks buddy - I think that's the general plan. I'm getting too old now (!) so I'll not be that hard on it but I was thinking something that wasn't more than 5 or 6 years old, plus from somewhere without too many DH tracks to increase the chance it is a second bike and low use... Perhaps in a couple of years when the wife forgets I've already got 2 bikes!
  • 1 0
 Last summer while in Whistler I was amazed at the old bikes locked up. Saw a vintage Bontrager hardtail (almost wanted to leave a note and see if they'd sell it) and a bunch of old Brodies and DeKerfs. Nice stuff and nice article.
  • 1 0
 Really cool article. I had a 2005 SC Bullit a few years back after my DH bike was stolen and it was great. I ended up turning it into a lighter trail/enduro style bike after I got a new DH bike and that's what started my bike building obsession and riding more trails that didn't require a shuttle or chair lift.
  • 1 0
 Sweet, what a rad article, i would buy every one of those guys a beer if i was there (not Finley though) hell, if i was there and rolling in coin i would buy everyone on the mountain a beer, whistler on a good day is MTB nirvana.
  • 1 0
 This post is so cool. Some of those bike were wrongly considered vintage too soon. And some of those perform as good as some modern bikes. That brooklyn is so nice. Also like a lot the peeller. I have a vp free getting build up again.
  • 1 0
 I wonder how many eye-rolls this handful of people have caused at shops for replacement parts. "HI, DO YOU HAVE SEALS FOR A SHIVER DUAL CROWN." "I NEED A PIVOT KIT FOR A BROOKLYN"

The real poll should be which one of these guys is running a cracked frame or attempted to re-weld something.

Cromo cranks FTW
  • 5 0
 My park bike is a 2006 Ironhorse Sunday, chainsay professionally welded in 2013, still going strong. This year it got an angleset and a 66rc3 ti.
  • 1 0
 Reading about people still riding their Sunday makes me so much more excited about building mine up!
  • 1 0
 My kind of folks! I ride an '07 Giant Glory that's been stripped down and rebuilt more times than most people would admit. But that 40lb chunk of aluminum and oil is my bike, and I plan to keep riding it like I stole it until it dies. I have a guy $350 and a pellet gun for it a few years ago. Other than being a beast to put back on top of my car after every day of riding, that thing is hellaciously fun. All these shiny new DH bikes that are 10lbs lighter are sexy, but I can't cheat on my baby.
  • 1 0
 That Brooklyn is sick! High pivot bikes with an idler pulley are back too! Still have my 2000 Brooklyn hardtail. It's now frightening to ride. Super tall BB, short top tube. Can't believe all the s#^t I used to ride in that thing.
  • 2 0
 Want those Marz forks to feel just like new?
Just change the oil every second year.
Open bath damping is heavier but its superior for longevity and performance.
Cavitation is never an issue with open bath.
  • 1 0
 PB is around so much modern bike bling, anything with 26" wheels probably looks like a classic to them! Big Grin Not sure I would count the Commencal and the Scott Gambler, they're only a couple of design iterations removed from today's models - hardly classic yet!

The Cove with it's awesome Shiver and the BMW, on the other hand... (Anyone remember the TMX - the definitive huck-to-flat bike? Razz ) I'd be happy to run one of those Shivers or early 888s now - the HSCV damping, plushness and live-forever reliability is that good. Sadly other folk know that too and the used prices are pretty high!

Some of the old-skool geometry is painful to look at!

Nice to see that there are more than a few of us who can't afford or don't feel the need to get the latest mass-produced marketing jobs and are happy plugging away on such characterful machines! Smile
  • 1 0
 I'm on the same page, I'd probably still have my 08 Commencal if the frame didn't crack. I was hoping to see some real vintage. I still see a lot of those bikes come through my shop
  • 1 0
 Running a Shiver on my Devinci, and have done it at whistler for a couple of years. Gets a lot of comments and thumbs up, that's for sure. Works great too.
  • 1 0
 God I miss my BMW racelink... best DH rig ever, even considering the weight, which is unnoticeable the second you start pedalling it. And that Giant DH Team is not an 05' but somewhere between 02'-04'. I've had an 04' and an 05' and the 05' had a curved top tube. One of the best cornering bikes I've ever ridden.
  • 1 0
 Yes! 100% correct. I owned a 2005 DH Team too. It was amazing. It was funny how they changed the 2005 DH Team from all the earlier models with the curved top tube and the 150 rear wheel spacing just to scrap it all for the Glory model in 2006. Still, the DH Team was fantastic.
  • 2 0
 I was still riding my 2005 bighit at Whistler until last year. There is a surprisingly large amount of vintage iron there if you keep your eyes open.
  • 1 0
 I'm still riding my 2003 bighit with boxxers! Still works great and is tons of fun!
  • 1 0
 Boy when I started I had a Rotec 9 with a Super Monster fork...hahahaha that thing handled like shit but it handles road gaps of 30 ft like a dream. How come I didn't see my favorite? Intense M1 or even M3
  • 4 0
 I'm waiting to see one of those Zzyzx forks before I get excited.
  • 1 0
 I had one of those and loved it, a friend of mine says he's got one in the back of his shed I can have if he ever digs it out. Put that on the 98 mongoose DH I have hanging on the wall, would be rad.
  • 4 0
 Wow 6 of the bikes have marzos up front!
  • 4 0
 I still ride my 1996 Heckler in park today! V Brakes and all!
  • 2 0
 That takes balls
  • 1 0
 I find this just as fascinating, if not more so, than posts about the latest & greatest - I can actually hope to afford some of these bikes! I have a Splinter MX, and BMW bikes have always been high on my lust list.
  • 1 0
 MX and a soul cycle! You've done well. How does the matador go?
  • 1 1
 All I have is old bikes! Wife has a pretty 2016 CC Bronson. I've got a couple of really tricked out old Bedford era C-Dales. Currently building up an 06 Intense 5.5 EVP for my 11 YO. Lamborghini orange he wants it shot in. Put all high end components on it and he'll go and shred on it. No problem.
  • 1 0
 The good ol' days! Love seeing these older rides. Wish I had kept all my previous bikes, like this Karpiel Disco Volante: www.pinkbike.com/photo/5249613
  • 3 0
 Can't wait to get up there on my recently restored 2000 balfa bb7!
  • 1 0
 Still one of my favorite bikes of all time
  • 1 0
 I don't need a freeride bike locally,but still ride a '98 Voodoo Zobop with a Tioga DH saddle (the extra long black padded one) .
  • 3 0
 Awesome to see these bikes. Built to last
  • 2 0
 I had one of those 2002 Rocky Mountain Slayers with the "rainbow trout" paint job. What a classic!
  • 1 0
 Oh man, most of my bikes are from 2009 except that Bullit from 2007 and a 2014 both of which Im trying to sell. I might hang on to the Bullit a little bit more.
  • 1 0
 As there is the trend on new bikes there should be a trend/movement of the older stuff. There were so many nice machines in the last decade.
  • 1 0
 Good to see that there is still riders riding their 'old' bikes, just having fun and not about having the latest standard ... Wrle just love riding, not upgrading! Ride on!
  • 1 0
 My 2010 IH Sunday WC just got broken down. It had play in 3 planes of movement, survived a Rampage trip, and YEARS of Whistler #RIP
  • 1 0
 Yours got broken down and I'm about to start building one up! Can't wait to shred everything on it! Those frames are just amazing (looks and handling-wise)!
  • 1 0
 @kurzbach: grab an angle set and you're in there like swimwear! Have fun! Loved mine and it never snapped. I tried!!
  • 1 0
 @dirtbagluvin: Definitely getting an angleset, gotta have that slack HA! Thanks, will definitely have A LOT of fun! Good to hear that it can go through so much punishment and still hold up! I expected no less from a frame that's been a dream for over 10 years!
  • 1 0
 @kurzbach: hit up works components, they can make you a 2.5 degree angleset like they did for mine. Combine that with a large front triangle and you've got pretty up to date geometry and a bike that rips.

Only real weakness for the sunday is its finicky pivots(I had to replace the pivot axle on the rear arm to fix chronic play caused by a seized bearing). This was caused by the driveside lower bearing seizing up and causing the pivot axle itself to wear. Make sure to grease the upper shock pin aswell as it likes to wear down and cause vertical play.

There's a lot of tension from pedal kickback on that driveside lower bearing, so it tends to go to shit before the rest of them. I do believe this is what has owned many a Sundays linkage over the years. Its also why these bikes are so quick when pumping through stuff. Give and take.
  • 1 0
 03' Santa Cruz Bullit in rootbeer color. Many a sketchy drop went down on that beauty. I love brake jack. Hahaha thanks for the memories Pink Bike!
  • 1 0
 I've been riding with Jeff who has the Slayer and he's been killing it!! From Ninja Cougar to ALine he's right up to our pace. Mad skills and ballz of steel!!
  • 1 0
 Oh man, I remember seeing brooklyns with avy setups at mtn Creek bike park when it was still Diablo freeride park...$10k 55+lbs builds.
  • 3 0
 Surprised not to see a box framed turner dhr.
  • 3 0
 I can hear their brakes howling from here!

#factoryoriginalDOT
  • 4 0
 Run what you brung.
  • 1 0
 I still ride my '03 RM7 at Mammoth and my '03 Ellsworth Id is my primary ride. Still wish I would have never sold my purple and green pipeline.
  • 1 0
 Browsing DH bikes for sale at a max of like $600 sometimes yields some cool rides. Probably what I will do when I buy my first DH bike.
  • 2 0
 the bullit Smile , will never give mine away
  • 1 0
 I remember riding bikes like these and compared to todays bikes it is absolutely terrifying LMAO
  • 3 0
 Missing a Chumba F5
  • 1 0
 I've got a 1999 psycle werks wild hare in my attic. I was thinking about one day have a vintage bike riding day.
  • 1 0
 I'm with the others, I love my old bb7. Maybe more than my brand spankin new Wilson..
  • 3 0
 Classics!!!!
  • 3 0
 Memories
  • 2 0
 Retired my atx this year, miss taking it to the bike park
  • 1 0
 I'm still riding a 2011 Scott Voltage albeit with modern parts. Gets me up the hills, just and down them.
  • 2 0
 No Balfas or Ancillotti?? Epic fail
  • 2 0
 What
...no Mountain Cycle pics of the Sin or 9.5?
  • 1 0
 the bullits taken on the rampage. solid old school that's still badass today
  • 1 0
 '02 Cannondale Gemini here, in bits right now but it's had two summers in the Alps and did me proud.
  • 1 0
 Hmm haven't seen one for years! Always wondered how they'd go as a furnished all mountain rug!
  • 1 0
 @sethius: I'll rebuild it this winter, then let you know! Smile
  • 1 1
 I bought a 2000 b17 with stratos superstar 8 forks, felt crap, swapped the forks for some 2002 dj2 (which felt more like z1s, 130mm travel) so much fun
  • 1 0
 when i saw this article i was hoping there will be a an Bullit!! and there it was! great bike!!!
  • 2 0
 Bottom brackets so high you might need a step ladder to get onboard!
  • 2 0
 @DrJean, this BMW ...
  • 1 0
 nothing beats an old 26er !
  • 1 0
 Nothing beats an old 26er!
  • 1 0
 Those were probably 11 of the coolest people at Whistler.
  • 1 0
 Oh comon, where is Legendary Cannondale Perp???
  • 1 0
 Personally still riding a 2001 Super V
  • 2 0
 FTW!!!!
  • 4 3
 mostly very cool but I'm scared for some of those people
  • 2 0
 As long as they are well taken care of they aren't too bad. My 2000 balfa bb7 is going strong
  • 2 1
 26" ftw
26" ain't dead
Ride Ye bike don't stroke Ye bike or smoke Ye bike
  • 5 3
 3rd line of your exposé conflicts with lines 1 & 2.
  • 2 0
 What, no Super 8?!
  • 4 0
 They all cracked!
  • 1 0
 @Themaninthenorth:
Saw one at silver star last week
  • 1 0
 Good article about the past
  • 1 0
 Making my jr.t equipped ds1 look good!
  • 1 0
 Cool stuff, give us more!
  • 2 0
 Just rideeeeeeee
  • 1 0
 Man that intense SS is so sick, they look so fun to ride!
  • 1 0
 yeah lindsay lohan rocking the orange intense
  • 1 0
 Great article!!! Is also good to see how the geometries have changed.
  • 1 0
 Damn! I didn't even know I rode a classic !
  • 1 0
 My 2004 Norco Team DH was the best Whistler bike I ever owned.
  • 1 0
 Still running my '06 Enduro for xc, trail, park & enduro!
  • 1 0
 More posts like this, PB!
  • 1 0
 Real mountain bikes , 26" for life ;-D
  • 1 0
 great article; but damned makes me feel old!
  • 1 0
 2004's GT Ruckus Flowta user here!
  • 1 0
 My Mk1 nomad would look great in this post! Old School Rulz.
  • 1 0
 Bikes got some serious"WU".
  • 1 0
 Better lock up that Norco before someone steals it such a hot item.
  • 1 0
 That Brooklyn looks rad, spesh looks quite modern
  • 1 0
 Doesn't look like a session.
  • 1 0
 No where near classic. Mid century more like!!
  • 1 0
 Awesome classics tup I remember owning a few of those oldies Smile
  • 1 0
 Fave blog.
  • 1 0
 nice
  • 1 0
 Wheres my '11 Enduro?
  • 2 0
 reallly...we're considering '10 vintage?:O my '10 enduro doesn't seem that "vintage"
  • 1 0
 so much marzocchi!
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