The good old days

[jaaki]

Back when I started mountain biking, let me think, it was back in '94, I rode my bike everyday. I washed it once a week, polished it up to a shine, lubed the chain and off I went. Maybe once a year I'd put new brake pads and tyres on.

 

Every two years or so I'd get a brand new steed, my pride and joy.

 

You know what is strange, I don't recall ever having broken components, broken frames or broken spokes, not even worn out cassettes.

 

At some point I stopped riding when other sports took my interest, but have since returned to the 'trusty' old bike.

 

Problem is, these days the bikes don't seem as reliable as they use to?

It's a good week if I can get through five days of riding without braking something.

[DIPSLICK]

MY STEED GOES FOR MANY KMS BEFORE SERVICES ARE NEEDED, BUT I HEAR YOU YEARS AGO THINGS DEF. LASTED LONGER, THEN AGAIN SO DID I

[Super Sywurm]

It seems that the cheaper bikes last longer than the more expensive ones.

[MrJacques]

It seems that the cheaper bikes last longer than the more expensive ones.

 

A friend of mine works at a bike shop. He prefers to use the 2nd from the top level parts e.g. xt instead of xtr because from his experience it lasts longer and gives less trouble. I guess in the effort to make things lighter sometimes it sacrifices durability.

[SwissVan]

Agree with you jaaki

 

Bikes now days are more complicated i.e. more stuff and less weight

Less component weight + more stuff + more haste = less reliability...something like that anyway...

 

I think people on average worry about checking / fiddling with to much stuff

[MrJacques]

Makes you wonder how reliable bikes with electronic suspension (e.g. Lapierre) will be...

[NotSoBigBen]

How does that saying go .... light, cheap, strong - choose 2!

[HowardSteele]

The catchword is weight... more expensive Less weight ,flimsier and wear quicker,

Over the 15 years I've been actively mountain biking I've moved from 2x6-speed to 3x9 speed..through Raligh, Giant, Scott, trek and specialised. In my humble opinion , I think the benefits of the lighter equipment , despite quicker wear and tear definitely warrant the change. I've been using lx and xt components for years with pleasing run life.

and In my experience Disk brakes are certainly less hastle than centepull or V-brakes.

The two biggest improvements over those years are definitely drive train( Crank and BB) and cartridge bearings in hubs.

For all purpose riding Chrome alloy frame, mid range Shimano components with cartridge bearing hubs will last pretty well.

[jaaki]

Funny that my '96 DiamondBack Topanga rigid weighed in at 13kg and my everyday bike now weighs in at 12kg, albeit with a bouncy front end... (two broken forks in a year )

 

I don't think I buy the whole weight issue. I honestly think things were built to last as long as possible, not as long as to make it to upgrade time....

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

my Scott entry level bike was bought in 2005 wth Tiagra components, I still ride it, it has the same chain, cranks and rear cassette. and everything else for that matter. the only thing changed was the rear deraillurer due to a fall, by then the bike was 7 years old already.

 

so i tend to believe there was a bit more reliability back then..

 

I commute with the bike, so it does pile up the km's. i wanted to service it before Argus, but everything working fine, scared they will screw it up at the LBS , definitely will give it a full monty next month

[HeyYou]

I started mountain biking about 87/88. My first MTB was a YAKOTA, not much to break. No front suspension, no back suspension, probably 36 spoke wheels and Deore, I'm not sure there were any other groupos.

 

My first full suser was an OFFROAD. Garvin (I think) flexi stem and another polymer at the back, probably gave 2cm travel. All steel, Tange I think, so probably weighed 15kg. Not much to break, had until a couple of years ago, then gave it away, sadly.

[Loose cog]

Purple Marin Palisade Trail with orange fork. It had V brakes and granny gears (triple front, 6 at the back). No front shock but oversized tubing. Used to throw a mean wheelie and once went around the block on the back wheel.

 

Stolen Dar es Salaam in mid 90's and probably going strong.

[gtr1]

I agree. My first mtb was. Kona Hahana with rigid fork. Still in garage with all original equipment. Gets used by kids of friends and family who visit. 2nd bike was a Kona Cindercone. Also still have with original equipment and works perfectly. Gets used at holiday house. They have definitely outlived newer bikes and components. I think the 2nd Kona has been serviced once and the 1st never.

[BarHugger]

'97 Nishiki Nebraska........replaced only tyres, grips and brake blocks......no problems (and still have it....consider pitching up at races with it and try out the UltraNoobLook)

Edited March 6, 2014 by BarHugger

[MaXiMuM]

I raced a top end BMX for many years, never changed the chain once.

Tyres, brakes and other consumables, yes.

Service the bearings, greased the chain, kept it clean and sparkly...

Rod it like I stole it every day. 25 years ago.

Then had a cruiser, same story, then roadie, then mtb.

All the same.

Any way, I get the tighter tolerances and stuff.

[Guest 247mayhem]

Look up planned obsolescence; companies know that they have to answer to their shareholders more than their customers and they arent going to do that by building parts that the user won't need to replace or maintain with their products every couple of years. It's part of the modern business model.