The Structure Cycleworks bike is an assault on the eyes and the mind.
Over the years, we’ve been subject to quite a few freaky bikes. With the advent of full suspension, mountain bikes in particular have been the canvas of scientists around the globe. One would think that as suspension and geometries normalize, the flow of ‘creative’ bikes would stop. But one constant with the bike industry is it will always attract the most innovative minds and the craziest scientists.
For Halloween, GMBN goes through their Top 9 freaky bikes.
And with the presence of crowdfunding arenas like Kickstarter, there’s no end in sight. All is well though as thinking outside the box usually leads to a good idea or two.
Do you have any favorites or least favorites in this list? Any bikes missed? Two-wheel drive bikes are a favorite of Mtbr since we started. We always sought them out in the outskirts of the tradeshows. It’s the type of problem that was very difficult to solve. And when you solved it, you realized it’s not that good anyway.
Photo Thumbnails (click to enlarge)
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- The Structure Cycleworks bike is an assault on the eyes and the mind.
RAM bikes URT, Klein Mantra, Jamis Diablo, Crosstrack Sonoma, Scurra Hard Enduro, Slingshot, Arantix truss frame bike, Nicolai Nucleon (several iterations), and there is one I’m kicking myself for not remembering the name of, very early carbon fiber suspension frame, had a cantelever swingarm connected to an articulated top-tube via a linkage to change the suspension leverage when sitting instead of standing. The ‘Long travel’ version replaced the push rod on the linkage with a second fox alps shock. Anyone remember the name of that company/bike? They made a carbon hardtail, too, and were around for a while.
kestrel rubicon YRW
It was a Kestrel Rubicon SX
https://cdn3.volusion.com/em4z7.2revg/v/vspfiles/photos/08120170-2.jpg?1352194449
The Raven was 1999, not ’94.
And Proflex
Gah! *shudders*
I think the bike Shawn can’t remember is a Kestrel with the twin rear Alps shocks….
Yes, Kestrel Rubicon, thanks! That was driving me nuts.
Brooklyn Machine Works TMX bikes, too. looks a lot like this Supercoast Silencer, but they were production, and made completely of steel, and weighed upward of 50 lbs.
That Honda gearbox contained sprockets and chains and a internal 7 speed derailleur in its final version that they raced. Initial prototypes had some weird ratcheting drive system of gears, but was scrapped for the lighter and more efficient internal chain system. A really cool idea since it reduced un-sprung weight and had the protection of an enclosed drive system but the efficiently of a chain and sprocket derailleur drive system. Too bad the technology was never pursued further after Honda got out of mountain bike racing.