Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

What Are The Most "Prestigious" MTB Brands?

Jump to Latest

The Most Prestigious MTB Brands

  • Canyon

    Votes: 2 1.7%

  • Commencal

    Votes: 2 1.7%

  • Diamondback

    Votes: 3 2.6%

  • Evil

    Votes: 22 19%

  • Fezzari

    Votes: 4 3.5%

  • Giant

    Votes: 5 4.3%

  • GT

    Votes: 3 2.6%

  • Guerilla Gravity

    Votes: 9 7.8%

  • Ibis

    Votes: 51 44%

  • Intense

    Votes: 16 14%

  • Motobecane

    Votes: 4 3.5%

  • Pivot

    Votes: 37 32%

  • Rocky Mountain

    Votes: 10 8.7%

  • Santa Cruz

    Votes: 45 39%

  • Specialized

    Votes: 15 13%

  • Trek

    Votes: 8 7%

  • Yeti

    Votes: 58 50%

  • YT

    Votes: 2 1.7%

  • Cannondale

    Votes: 5 4.3%

  • Other, specify in comments

    Votes: 14 12%
  • Total voters
    115
  • Poll closed .
61 - 80 of 120 Posts
#61 ·
MOJO K said:
So, I think it might be time to add an Pashley or Gazelle cruiser to your collection. All this Spooky-Evil-Sinister-Wraith in your life is fine...just so long as you have some "happy bikes" too. I'm looking at a Robin Hood this week if you're interested.

edit....you need a powder blue Rivendell! ….dripping with prestige, I hasten to add.
Click to expand...
I know - what's up with the northeast bike builders?
Bunch of satan worshipers or something.

I do have a garish yellow and green MB-2, a couple of stingray-styled rigs from the '60s and a sweet '80s pink-n-white Hutch kicking around too. :)
 
Discussion starter · #63 ·
nauc said:
we all know its Yeti ;)
Click to expand...
They're leading in the poll, but there are a group of 4 which are clearly in highest esteem among the companies listed.

Which is curious, since in Bike Magazine's latest reviews, the yeti's are receiving somewhat mixed reviews.

The ripmo on the other hand, is receiving unanimous praise from almost everyone. Perhaps their new Ripley and ripmo will be enough to take over the lead in the next few years?
 
#64 ·
slapheadmofo said:
I know - what's up with the northeast bike builders?
Bunch of satan worshipers or something.

I do have a garish yellow and green MB-2, a couple of stingray-styled rigs from the '60s and a sweet '80s pink-n-white Hutch kicking around too. :)
Click to expand...
I'm not one to deal out a lot of rep., but the MB-2/ Rivendell connection deserves a little something. And, yes, you can undo a lot of evil with a collection of old muscle bikes. My gem is a '68 Hawthorne in gold.

No matter how much prestige a bike has., is it ever better than Reynolds 853?
 
Discussion starter · #65 ·
What's strange is that Grant Petersen has disavowed his previous Bridgetone designs! He says they don't ride well in hindsight. Back in the day, he swore by short chain stays, steep head and seat angles, shorter wheelbases and considered component integration anathema.

Now, his rivendells have extra long wheelbases and extremely long chain stays so he has basically swerved 180 degrees. He even thinks highly of brifters as well.

Some niggles aside, such as GP's fondness for suntour drivetrains and dia compe brakes, I thought the Bridgestones were rad. They were also surprisingly affordable, across the board. Even the zip didn't cost very much considering its ritchey (spell corrected to ratchet) prestige frame and light weight.

Rivendells are just astronomically expensive and quite frankly, I am just saddened by their appearance. They look like rusted out old bikes from the '70's that just happen to cost $3,000.

I still have a $10 store credit with Rivendell though from one of their recent bailouts. I swear I'm gonna redeem that for an inner tube if I'm ever in Walnut Creek.
 
#66 ·
MOJO K said:
I'm not one to deal out a lot of rep., but the MB-2/ Rivendell connection deserves a little something. And, yes, you can undo a lot of evil with a collection of old muscle bikes. My gem is a '68 Hawthorne in gold.
Click to expand...
Nice! I have a buddy with a sick collection of ballooners.
He actually the one who hooked me up with a couple Columbia Playbikes.

My MB is an '87, so it predates Rivendell by a handful of years. Dorky rig, but you gotta dig the old lugged frames. :)
 
#68 ·
slapheadmofo said:
My MB is an '87, so it predates Rivendell by a handful of years. Dorky rig, but you gotta dig the old lugged frames. :)
Click to expand...
I really wanted an '87 MB-1 with the dirt drops and Suntour group when they blew them out cheap in the middle of 1988, but I had just bought my new 1988 MB-1 and couldn't afford both. Since I worked for a Bridgestone dealer, I went on to own two different 1989 MB-1 and a 1990 MB-1 that I built up new with MB-Zip components. That last bike was the best of both worlds with the light Zip components and the more durable lugged MB-1 frame. I saw too many failed Zips to have faith in that disposable race frame.

MOJO K said:
I'm not one to deal out a lot of rep., but the MB-2/ Rivendell connection deserves a little something. And, yes, you can undo a lot of evil with a collection of old muscle bikes. My gem is a '68 Hawthorne in gold.

No matter how much prestige a bike has., is it ever better than Reynolds 853?
Click to expand...
I love my Jamis Dragon with the 853 frame, but I don't know if I'd call it prestigious. I don't know if the ride of my Dragon is much different from any of the Tange Prestige (and Ritchey Logic Prestige, and Ultimate Prestige) frames I've had over the years (4 MB-1, Marin Team, Paramount Team). I guess all of those were prestigious since they said Prestige right on the frame.
 
#75 ·
slapheadmofo said:
Yeah, I kinda feel the same about my '95 DBR Axis. It's one of 500, handbuilt, Logic tubing, etc. Cool bike, but doesn't tick the prestige meter to me.
Click to expand...
Yep, I am in the same boat with my '93 Paramount Team: #200 of 500, hand built, lugged frame with Logic Prestige tubing, 1st gen XTR, and not prestigious.
 
#76 · (Edited)
What Are The Most "Prestigious" MTB Brands?

I love my lowly Kona Honzo for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is #37 of 201 frames made. Wouldn't call it prestigious in the slightest, but I think it's the nicest bike I have owned over 25 years of some pretty serious bikes in the quiver.
 
#77 ·
I find this thread funny in that so many are so clueless on the history of mountain biking and how we’ve come so far in 40 plus years of companies. The top half of what’s listed in the poll aren’t even in the game. Some others on that list are so new to the game they played off companies before them. To me a prestigious company is one that was in early on and pioneered and changed the sport for things to come later on. Some of which have survived the 30 plus years in the game.
 
#78 ·
DIRTJUNKIE said:
I find this thread funny in that so many are so clueless on the history of mountain biking and how we've come so far in 40 plus years of companies. The top half of what's listed in the poll aren't even in the game. Some others on that list are so new to the game they played off companies before them. To me a prestigious company is one that was in early on and pioneered and changed the sport for things to come later on. Some of which have survived the 30 plus years in the game.
Click to expand...
So Trek, Specialized, Giant, Ritchey, Breezer, Fuji, etc. Got it. Ford was a pioneering company but I don't know anyone who considers Fords to be prestigious.
 
#80 ·
westernmtb said:
They're leading in the poll, but there are a group of 4 which are clearly in highest esteem among the companies listed.

Which is curious, since in Bike Magazine's latest reviews, the yeti's are receiving somewhat mixed reviews.

The ripmo on the other hand, is receiving unanimous praise from almost everyone. Perhaps their new Ripley and ripmo will be enough to take over the lead in the next few years?
Click to expand...
shhhhhhhhhh :p;)

Image
 
61 - 80 of 120 Posts
About this Discussion
119 Replies
55 Participants
Last post:
shekky
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion