Innovations in MTB frame building

zingel · Dec 26, 2008

What are the innovations in MTB frame building?

I listed some examples:

1978/79 First MTB specific Bikes (Breezer I, Ritchey, Pro Cruiser)

1979 First Aluminium MTB (Cunningham)

1984/85 First Aluminium serial MTB's (Cannondale, Klein, American)

1986 First Titanium MTB's (Merlin founders)

1988 First Monocoque MTB's (Trimble, Kestrel)

feel free to add some more...

top_ring · Dec 26, 2008

Kestrel's MXZ carbon fiber.

SoftRide "beam" MTB

chefmiguel · Dec 28, 2008

First production full suspension OffRoad 91

Inigo Montoya · Dec 28, 2008

were elevated chain stays introduced with the yeti ultimate or was someone else responsible for it?

zingel · Dec 28, 2008

Inigo Montoya said:
were elevated chain stays introduced with the yeti ultimate or was someone else responsible for it?

I think 1988 with Trimble and Kestrel MXZ ...but not shure.

chefmiguel · Dec 28, 2008

Yeti Ultimate started out as a project bike by Mountain Bike Action and fabricated by Yeti. Then JP took the idea and put Yeti touches on it and then the Ultimate was born. Iirc they raffled that bike away anyone know what ever happened to it? That would be one fantastic bike to own.

banks · Dec 28, 2008

Fat Chance for revolutionizing light weight external butted Lathe turned Ti tubing. :idea: :skep:

jeffgothro · Dec 28, 2008

zingel said:
What are the innovations in MTB frame building?

1978/79 First MTB specific Bikes (Breezer I, Ritchey, Pro Cruiser)

Erm...Cooks bros was making cruisers back in 77-78, and while they were considerd "bmx" bikes the geometry was certainly more mountain bike friendly then most anything being produced back in the day. There were other cruisers as well, Champion, Gary LittleJohn, S&S, and SE.

Cooks

Craig Cook first learned about materials and design from his perfectionist/inventor father, and after graduating from college with an Industrial Arts degree in 1972, began Cook Bros. Racing. The company pioneered. the sport of Bicycle Moto-Cross in Southern California with their Alpine Mountain Bike, which was one of the first mountain bikes in the world. (It is on display in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in Crested Butte, Colorado.) Other innovative Cook Bros. Products included sealed bearing BMX hubs and the 7075 billet aluminum crank arm. The company is still a holder of two United States Patents for component designs. Continuing the tradition, in 1987 Craig started a new company called C.D. Products producing a line of mountain bike frame sets.

23mag.com

In fact, the first "mountain bike" may have been way earlyer.

Maybe it was John Finley Scott, who was probably the first mountain bike enthusiast in the United States. In 1953 he built what he called a " Woodsie Bike", using a Schwinn World diamond frame, balloon tires, flat handlebars, derailleur gears, and cantilever brakes. John was more than twenty years ahead of his time, and while he remained an off-road cycling enthusiast, at the time there were not many others who shared his passion.

mountainbikehalloffame.com

Fillet-brazed · Dec 28, 2008

chefmiguel said:
Yeti Ultimate started out as a project bike by Mountain Bike Action and fabricated by Yeti. Then JP took the idea and put Yeti touches on it and then the Ultimate was born. Iirc they raffled that bike away anyone know what ever happened to it? That would be one fantastic bike to own.

I think it was painted yellow and Davis Phinney owned it at one point. Maybe he still does.

Not sure though if EC bikes fit in this thread.

sgltrak · Dec 28, 2008

Was MOOTS the first to utilize the soft tail pivotless rear suspension design in a MTB frame? Sometime around 1988 or 1989?

zingel · Dec 28, 2008

sgltrak said:
Was MOOTS the first to utilize the soft tail pivotless rear suspension design in a MTB frame? Sometime around 1988 or 1989?

do you have pics?

zingel · Dec 28, 2008

what manufacturer was behind the 1988 Specialized Epic? or developed Specialized the lugged carbon tubes?

timbercomp · Dec 28, 2008

sgltrak said:
Was MOOTS the first to utilize the soft tail pivotless rear suspension design in a MTB frame? Sometime around 1988 or 1989?

Even if they did, I would not count it since lots and lots of companies made soft tails in the early 1900's

GonaSovereign · Dec 28, 2008

zingel said:
what manufacturer was behind the 1988 Specialized Epic? or developed Specialized the lugged carbon tubes?

Well, dozens did it before Specialized, and the most famous modern would be Alan.

datenschwanz · Dec 28, 2008

'screwed and glued'!

colker1 · Dec 28, 2008

Horst Leitner and his AMP designs. Rock Shox forks count? ok, the Maverick then. santa Cruz Tazmon. MOuntain Cycles duallie.

richieb · Dec 29, 2008

I think Richard Cunningham was one of the first to experiment with geometries away from the old Marin Tam-style bomber/Breezer style fireroad geometries. I have an old Mountain Bike magazine from 85 that talks about it...I;'ll see if I can find it.

Also, I think form a non-XC oriented discussion, many of the builders, like Klein, Raleigh, EWR, Grove, Ibis etc... who recognized the need for purpose-built "technical trail bikes" should get a nod because these were among the first bikes built for what has become a VERY segmented specialization market for riders.

For better or worse, these machines were the first step towards the splintering of the mountain bike market/scene into all the sub-categories we see today. It used to be you had one bike to ride every trail. That just can't happen anymore, and it all started with, what I see, as the Technical trail/mountain/trials bikes of the mid-to late 80's.

-Richard

colker1 · Dec 29, 2008

richieb said:
I think Richard Cunningham was one of the first to experiment with geometries away from the old Marin Tam-style bomber/Breezer style fireroad geometries. I have an old Mountain Bike magazine from 85 that talks about it...I;'ll see if I can find it.

Also, I think form a non-XC oriented discussion, many of the builders, like Klein, Raleigh, EWR, Grove, Ibis etc... who recognized the need for purpose-built "technical trail bikes" should get a nod because these were among the first bikes built for what has become a VERY segmented specialization market for riders.

For better or worse, these machines were the first step towards the splintering of the mountain bike market/scene into all the sub-categories we see today. It used to be you had one bike to ride every trail. That just can't happen anymore, and it all started with, what I see, as the Technical trail/mountain/trials bikes of the mid-to late 80's.

-Richard

good post. yup... that's when the frame became the thing.

Fillet-brazed · Dec 29, 2008

richieb said:
I think Richard Cunningham was one of the first to experiment with geometries away from the old Marin Tam-style bomber/Breezer style fireroad geometries. I have an old Mountain Bike magazine from 85 that talks about it...I;'ll see if I can find it.

Also, I think form a non-XC oriented discussion, many of the builders, like Klein, Raleigh, EWR, Grove, Ibis etc... who recognized the need for purpose-built "technical trail bikes" should get a nod because these were among the first bikes built for what has become a VERY segmented specialization market for riders.

For better or worse, these machines were the first step towards the splintering of the mountain bike market/scene into all the sub-categories we see today. It used to be you had one bike to ride every trail. That just can't happen anymore, and it all started with, what I see, as the Technical trail/mountain/trials bikes of the mid-to late 80's.

-Richard

Maybe you forgot about the other Cunningham. Ross Shafer was pretty early with his steep angles too.

chefmiguel · Dec 29, 2008

I think the Cupertino guys deserve some mention on this thread.

Innovations in MTB frame building

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