[azjeff]

Anyone remember what years they made the extruded MAX Backbone frame? At least 1 year they used chameleon paint on it. A friend had one of the welded tubing FSR frames that cracked, he got a MAX frame and rode the wheels off of it, I've got it now for when he comes to ride and it still rides great. Got a chance to pick one up, trying to ID it. Can't ride rigid in the rocks ALL the time.

thanks
Jeff

 

[MendonCycleSmith]

I remember those! A guy at the shop I used to work got one of those. We waited and waited, finally showed up, that paint was so cool. I too rode the crap out of it. Enjoy!

 

[backpedal]

Pretty sure it was 1997

They offered an FSR Pro in a color called Cosmic, which was mostly black, but had mica or a prism in the paint or clear coat that gave it a rainbow reflection. There was also a fire engine red FSR Elite and a gloss black FSR LTD. All Max Backbones, all with USA built front ends, (probably from Anodizing Inc in Oregon) and most with USA built rear ends.

The USA rear ends were grey instead of the Taiwan black, and used a larger OD tube for at least the seat stays. MRP used to make a brake mount that bolted to the outside of the OS seatstays and we used them in later years to upgrade these overbuilt frames. MRP also had a needle bearing kit and a long travel kit that came with a Stratos coil shock.

With these upgrades, these frames remained trail performance-competitive until the into of the monocoque Enduro in 2001. From then on, the older Max bikes were merely competitive in terms of durability and craftsmanship.

Anyone remember the C3, and the ensuing recall?

 

[pimpbot]

Nice!

Dude, you gotta post pics of that thing. I just google searched it and came up with nothing.

PS, I just found this cool smiley!

 

[MendonCycleSmith]

Anyone remember the C3, and the ensuing recall?

Oh yeah, we had 2 customers waiting for those, had been for a while, then the plug got pulled.... Unhappy guys, they were :madman: Anyone have pics of the C3?

 

[azjeff]

Thanks for the info! Yeah, the C3. I was selling Specialized back in those days but nobody tried to order one. I found reference to a 98 FSR Comp with "eggplant colored" changing paint in an old review. Anyone know if the bearing kits are still available?

 

[milehi]

Anyone remember what years they made the extruded MAX Backbone frame? At least 1 year they used chameleon paint on it. A friend had one of the welded tubing FSR frames that cracked, he got a MAX frame and rode the wheels off of it, I've got it now for when he comes to ride and it still rides great. Got a chance to pick one up, trying to ID it. Can't ride rigid in the rocks ALL the time.

thanks
Jeff

The Max Backbone frames did come out in 97. They were extruded and welded at Anodizing Inc in Portland, Oregon, right up the street from Kinesis. The Mountainspeed guys were a mile or so south, on 1st St if I remember correctly. I would go to their small upstairs office for spings n things and to see what goodies they had. They had a couple of the red Elite series with the 6 inch MRP rear link and and gold Stratos dual crown forks. Those were some good times, DH racing at Mt Hood. And that reminds me of another bike from that time. A TiCycles URT DH bike.

 

[backpedal]

Garners Pro Bikes in Palo Alto California

We got a few of the C3's, and even sold a couple of them. When they were recalled, we had to get the two back, give the customers a refund, and then offer them their original parts, reinstalled on a Cosmic Max FSR frame at a discounted price.

When Specialized got the recalled C3's back in house, both new and used, they were stripped for parts, and the parts were sold, first to employees, then to dealers that knew about them, then the rest at "garage sales" held at the Morgan Hill office. Garners got quite a few parts kits on several occasions, and we built up a bunch of FSR LTD's and Cosmics with the high end parts kits.

 

[Wode]

Thanks for the info! Yeah, the C3. I was selling Specialized back in those days but nobody tried to order one. I found reference to a 98 FSR Comp with "eggplant colored" changing paint in an old review. Anyone know if the bearing kits are still available?

I've got a '98 FSR Ground Control that is still getting the crap beaten out of it in Pisgah a couple times a week. As of a year ago you could still get bushing and bolt kits.



Wode

 

[azjeff]

I've got a '98 FSR Ground Control that is still getting the crap beaten out of it in Pisgah a couple times a week. As of a year ago you could still get bushing and bolt kits.



Wode

Funny you brought this back to the top. I just checked with a Specialized dealer and was told Specialized no longer stocks the bushing kits. Bikes too old. I passed on a MAX frame FSR because of it. You may want to troll your dealer to see if you can snag a kit that's in stock.

 

[BloorwestSiR]

I still have my '97 FSR in Cosmic hanging on the wall in my office. The bushings went south so I replaced it with a '04 Epic Marathon. The paint has held up really well. It's partly stripped but still gets a lot of looks from people, especially when you explain that it's an extruded frame.

Between the great colour shifting paint and all the fond memories of riding it, I just can't part with it. That, and my Flying V.

As for the C3, I may have an old bike mag somewhere with an ad for it. I'll see if I can find it. And the C3 was definitely one sexy bike to look at.

 

[doctorino]

yes '98 it was. I got one from my buddy its green looking one angle and eggplant the other. I have seen 2, both were from specialized employee deals.

 

[40mtns]

My FSR MAX backbone - pics

Here's my main ride. Still riding it today.

Checkout the second pic (view from head-tube). It shows the 2 steel braces that runs the length of the inner frame. What makes the frame super stiff.

It's a GREAT ride. Stable flying down the hills

 

[azjeff]

Funny this came back to the top. Last weekend I was unloading my temporary FS ride at the trailhead and what should cruise by on the street but a CHERRY FSR Pro max backbone bike. I chased the guy down in city park. Of Latino descent, he told me he bought the bike last year in Mexico City new. It had a Psylo fork, Avid mech disc, and different wheel out front but otherwise stock and like new, not a scratch. Before I could ask if he'd sell it he offered it up for $3200 DOLLARS. Seeing that bike being ridden around with the seat all the way down like any other homey on a WalMart BMX bike about made me cry.

 

[DeeEight]

I've had a couple, a stumpjumper and a rockhopper version myself.

 

[azjeff]

I've had a couple, a stumpjumper and a rockhopper version myself.

D8, we're talking about the extruded frame model. They made them late 90s and were only called FSRs. The main boom starts at the headset as one piece is split and bent further back. Neat manipulation and strong. Never knew about the steel inside.

 

[mxer]

there was a max on ebay recently.i would have bid but need to sell a few things myself at the moment.for bushings,needle bearing upgrades and long travel kits check betd.co.uk.he has nice stuff.had a lt kit on an old fsr years ago.high quality a good guy to deal with.no problem shipping to the states.

 

[40mtns]

models yrs of Max Backbone - PICS

Jeff -

To answer your original question. The Max Backbone was made for 3 years.

1997 - simply called Ground Control FSR (red, cosmic green/purple)

1998 - the moniker Ground Control was dropped. Came in Elite/Red, Pro/Black, LTD/Black).
the LTD had an air shock and to lighten the bike

1999 - Elite & Pro versions. The frames were silver annodized w/ stickers.

Misc other variations used the frame.

Hope this helps and raises the enthusiasm for this frame.

 

[DeeEight]

So is this one of them or not ?

<img src="https://yoda.densan.ca/kmr/bikes/enduro1.jpg">

And THIS looked pretty much like an extruded main tube also...

<img src="https://yoda.densan.ca/kmr/bikes/rockfsr1.jpg">

 

[azjeff]

The blue bike isn't. The main tube is rectangular and 2 round tubes are welded into it. The black bike looks like one of the Rockhopper FSR frames, I thought it was 2 formed sides welded together but not sure. Never really looked at them. Look at the other pics. The tube starts as one piece at the headset and is split and bent apart and some gussets are welded in. The extrusion is 2 rectangular boxes stacked that are split at the back. The top of the extrusion is concave, the underside is convex. I've got a red Elite in the garage, belongs to a friend.