I wouldn’t ride it, as I’m kinda fond of my teeth.
It’s also not a great base for any of the kind of custom tinkering coming to this sub, BUT it’s a rare enough old beast and certainly a statement in a collection. $550 is very much a deal for the right buyer.
Any_Painting584 on
That is a time capsule back to the late 90s / early 2ks. Like some others say it will be hard to customize – maybe new wheels but you are dealing with a fork that needs a rebuild w/ parts that may be hard to find and your typical old carbon frame concerns – sub surface cracks and delamination.
If I had the space and free cash flow I would clean it up and hang it on my garage wall as art. It is cool.
tommyorwhatever85 on
90s carbon full sus? Nah
Zndwych on
More special than any Specialized
AmputatedOtto on
for 550 I’d get a bike that looks and rides nice but to each their own
johnmflores on
You’re going to have to die your hair orange and get an “EXTREME” tattoo.
Whether or not to buy it depends upon what you want to do with it. Bask in its gnarly glow? Sure. Hit some trails with it? Hmmmm….
BarnacleSea9077 on
XTR? Yes! Carbon-fiber deathtrap frame and wheels? Not so much.
drbatman03 on
If you have 550 for a bike that’s too dangerous to ride.
ScheduleExpress on
Never buy a used helmet, a used condom, or a used carbon fiber bicycle.
MantraProAttitude on
If it had an entire mint XTR groupo I’d get it just for the parts. Supposedly that Smart fork had problems. I’d wall hang the frame,fork, and wheels.
1994univega on
Would buy for sure
DRMLLMRD on
That’s a parts-only, sits indoors type of purchase. Could t pay me to ride those wheels.
Useless_or_inept on
Love the retro vibes. Spent the prime of my life wishing I could afford Spinergy wheels.
But it’s probably going to be more of a casual weekend ride that spends 99.9% of the time hung up? If it’s not for hardcore daily training rides, then you don’t need to worry *so* much about imminent injury…
double___a on
It’s a lovely bike from the “we’re still figuring shit out” era of the ‘90s.
But for collectors only at this point.
randomhero1980 on
I bought a 98 Specialized FSR Comp to scratch a nostalgia itch I had. I had romanticized that bike for the last 20 years and how it rode just as good as anything built today. I was wrong; although okay, it is not the plush ride that I remembered. This is a special bike for a special buyer. I don’t believe I would be comfortable riding this on actual trails and the suspension design is not that efficient and would drain your bank account to try and get it rebuilt to it’s functional glory days. That’s a hang it on the wall and have a cool conversation piece bike….not something you actually use IMO.
kinboyatuwo on
I would buy to keep as a cool bike and light rides but not really trail riding.
I owned those wheels road and mtb and loved them.
Mtb_Bmx_guy on
absolutely!
If you’re not a fan of the carbon wheels look at the sold comps on ebay. Collectors are dying to have them and they’re willing to pay as much as they’re asking for the full bike. The pro flex frames with the linkage fork could probably sell for around 500 by it selfs because again they’re pretty rare. Groupset maybe 280 for if it’s all xtr. Can’t really tell the brand of the stem bars etc so don’t really have a clue on the price. Some of those old Selle Italia saddles are expensive maybe 50+ for it. I would say It’s a great deal for 550 if you take all of this in account.
Cantaloupsareswell on
I mean parted out its worth a lot more than $550, but I definitely wouldn’t ride it hahaha.
A508332 on
This would be $550 wall art somewhere in my house.
realismcalf on
Its extremely cool, but only as part of a collection.
I would not ride it just because, as other have pointed out, old carbon, and sketchy tech from almost 30 years ago.
Also, its very niche, with weird standards that could be hard to get parts for, cos you sure as hell won’t get replacement identical parts without spending a fortune and searching/waiting a while. For example, shock bushes will wear out if they haven’t already, and replacements will be unobtainium so you’ve gotta have some custom machined, or ride a bike that is flexing and wobbling and also damaging itself.
It would also be a travesty to put fit an 11 speed Microshift 1x groupset.
Riding this regularly would be like trying to daily a Ford Model T car.
braintransplants on
A rolling museum of questionable design choices
catedoge1 on
deal if ur gonna clean and flip the parts on the vintage market. i wouldnt ride it though
Boxofbikeparts on
I would consider buying that bike. Of course, I’m not real sentimental over period correct stuff, so I’d turn it into a rigid drop bar gravel bike. It would certainly be a curiosity to see at a gravel race.
Aggressive-Oil795 on
Hard Pass. Just because it is XTR doesn’t mean it’s good and 20yo parts are just that. People around here need to start understanding what can happen with “vintage” part failure AND cheap Chinese knock off parts DO NOT endure the stress tests put forth by the hard working machinists they rip off.
49thDipper on
I paid $175 for a titanium frame covered in XT.
$550 is dreaming
JamesDReddit on
My dream bike back in the day. I’d buy it to hang on a wall for 550.
tharealspinelli on
More like 55.
corbin6173 on
Riding or collecting?
Riding, no.
Collecting, maybe?
Serpentinit on
This bike is like 26 years old, I wouldn’t trust carbon this old
ServusSeppi on
Do it! But don‘t ride it. Nice deco or rare to somebody
ThadsBerads on
This is a very unique bike. I would inspect the hell out of it to ensure there are no structural issues with the frame and forks. Then I would make a badass Gravel Grinder or commuter out of her. It will definitely be a head turner, and a conversation piece.
I personally love it. I would not use it for anything more than a gravel bike though.
happy_hawking on
If I’d be as much into historic bikes as I am into historic consumer electronics, I’d by it for my collection. But definitely not for riding it. It has the weirdest of all geometries and I wouldn’t trust an old carbon frame. But it has definitely a story about engineering and innovation to tell.
thatsrightR2 on
crankset doesn’t appear to be XTR
DE884 on
Probably Wörth it as a collectable, but not for riding
Tosssauceinmybag on
Hard pass for real money
YoSupWeirdos on
I’m not sending 30 year old carbon down trails but you do you
39 Comments
I would scoop that up in a heartbeat
Hard pass
You don’t have to pay $550 to die.
I wouldn’t ride it, as I’m kinda fond of my teeth.
It’s also not a great base for any of the kind of custom tinkering coming to this sub, BUT it’s a rare enough old beast and certainly a statement in a collection. $550 is very much a deal for the right buyer.
That is a time capsule back to the late 90s / early 2ks. Like some others say it will be hard to customize – maybe new wheels but you are dealing with a fork that needs a rebuild w/ parts that may be hard to find and your typical old carbon frame concerns – sub surface cracks and delamination.
If I had the space and free cash flow I would clean it up and hang it on my garage wall as art. It is cool.
90s carbon full sus? Nah
More special than any Specialized
for 550 I’d get a bike that looks and rides nice but to each their own
You’re going to have to die your hair orange and get an “EXTREME” tattoo.
Whether or not to buy it depends upon what you want to do with it. Bask in its gnarly glow? Sure. Hit some trails with it? Hmmmm….
XTR? Yes! Carbon-fiber deathtrap frame and wheels? Not so much.
If you have 550 for a bike that’s too dangerous to ride.
Never buy a used helmet, a used condom, or a used carbon fiber bicycle.
If it had an entire mint XTR groupo I’d get it just for the parts. Supposedly that Smart fork had problems. I’d wall hang the frame,fork, and wheels.
Would buy for sure
That’s a parts-only, sits indoors type of purchase. Could t pay me to ride those wheels.
Love the retro vibes. Spent the prime of my life wishing I could afford Spinergy wheels.
But it’s probably going to be more of a casual weekend ride that spends 99.9% of the time hung up? If it’s not for hardcore daily training rides, then you don’t need to worry *so* much about imminent injury…
It’s a lovely bike from the “we’re still figuring shit out” era of the ‘90s.
But for collectors only at this point.
I bought a 98 Specialized FSR Comp to scratch a nostalgia itch I had. I had romanticized that bike for the last 20 years and how it rode just as good as anything built today. I was wrong; although okay, it is not the plush ride that I remembered. This is a special bike for a special buyer. I don’t believe I would be comfortable riding this on actual trails and the suspension design is not that efficient and would drain your bank account to try and get it rebuilt to it’s functional glory days. That’s a hang it on the wall and have a cool conversation piece bike….not something you actually use IMO.
I would buy to keep as a cool bike and light rides but not really trail riding.
I owned those wheels road and mtb and loved them.
absolutely!
If you’re not a fan of the carbon wheels look at the sold comps on ebay. Collectors are dying to have them and they’re willing to pay as much as they’re asking for the full bike. The pro flex frames with the linkage fork could probably sell for around 500 by it selfs because again they’re pretty rare. Groupset maybe 280 for if it’s all xtr. Can’t really tell the brand of the stem bars etc so don’t really have a clue on the price. Some of those old Selle Italia saddles are expensive maybe 50+ for it. I would say It’s a great deal for 550 if you take all of this in account.
I mean parted out its worth a lot more than $550, but I definitely wouldn’t ride it hahaha.
This would be $550 wall art somewhere in my house.
Its extremely cool, but only as part of a collection.
I would not ride it just because, as other have pointed out, old carbon, and sketchy tech from almost 30 years ago.
Also, its very niche, with weird standards that could be hard to get parts for, cos you sure as hell won’t get replacement identical parts without spending a fortune and searching/waiting a while. For example, shock bushes will wear out if they haven’t already, and replacements will be unobtainium so you’ve gotta have some custom machined, or ride a bike that is flexing and wobbling and also damaging itself.
It would also be a travesty to put fit an 11 speed Microshift 1x groupset.
Riding this regularly would be like trying to daily a Ford Model T car.
A rolling museum of questionable design choices
deal if ur gonna clean and flip the parts on the vintage market. i wouldnt ride it though
I would consider buying that bike. Of course, I’m not real sentimental over period correct stuff, so I’d turn it into a rigid drop bar gravel bike. It would certainly be a curiosity to see at a gravel race.
Hard Pass. Just because it is XTR doesn’t mean it’s good and 20yo parts are just that. People around here need to start understanding what can happen with “vintage” part failure AND cheap Chinese knock off parts DO NOT endure the stress tests put forth by the hard working machinists they rip off.
I paid $175 for a titanium frame covered in XT.
$550 is dreaming
My dream bike back in the day. I’d buy it to hang on a wall for 550.
More like 55.
Riding or collecting?
Riding, no.
Collecting, maybe?
This bike is like 26 years old, I wouldn’t trust carbon this old
Do it! But don‘t ride it. Nice deco or rare to somebody
This is a very unique bike. I would inspect the hell out of it to ensure there are no structural issues with the frame and forks. Then I would make a badass Gravel Grinder or commuter out of her. It will definitely be a head turner, and a conversation piece.
I personally love it. I would not use it for anything more than a gravel bike though.
If I’d be as much into historic bikes as I am into historic consumer electronics, I’d by it for my collection. But definitely not for riding it. It has the weirdest of all geometries and I wouldn’t trust an old carbon frame. But it has definitely a story about engineering and innovation to tell.
crankset doesn’t appear to be XTR
Probably Wörth it as a collectable, but not for riding
Hard pass for real money
I’m not sending 30 year old carbon down trails but you do you