Hello Vital MTB Visitor,
We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!
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Thanks in advance,
The Vital MTB Crew
3 dh bikes, 2 xc bikes, 3 aggressive steel hardtails, 4 enduro bikes, 1 fat bike, 1 road, 1 gravel, and 1 e-enduro. I still own 5 of them and will never sell 2 of them. The dh bike I hope to never sell and the other 2 aren’t safe LOL
From first to last, MTBs that I have owned through purchasing them myself or collected from friends not wanting them anymore,
2006 Jamis Dakar XLT 1.0
2017 Trek Remedy 8
2018 Trek Remedy 9.8
2019 Trex Xcaliber 7
2021 Niner Rip 9 RDO
2021 Kona Process X
2023 Norco Sight A3 (heavily upgraded)
2016 Ghost SLAMR
2007 S-works epic ht
2003 Schwinn Rocket 88
2026 Scott Gambler.
I still have the Norco, Ghost, Xcaliber, S-works, schwinn, Kona, and Scott. The Kona and Ghost are in pieces right now and the schwinn isn't rideable yet.
Outside of MTB I've owned
2016 Motobecane LeChampion CF
2012 Pinarello Paris (dura Ace, carbon wheels, I really regret selling this one)
2021 Ibis Hakka MX (primarily CX racing set up, selling it right now if anyone's interested)
2009 Giant TCR Advanced
Diamondback BMX don't remember the model
Hoffman Condor BMX
Intense ProXL BMX race
1970 something Schwinn Suburban that was mint, all original parts.
Started my real MTB career in late 2017, so the list are:
Oct 2017-Sept 2018:
2017 Trek Remedy 8, M
First real MTB, it was dual 27,5, easy going and really fun in general. The brakes was quite awful, and as the speed and skills improved, the brakes was a big minus.
Sept 2018 - July 2019
2019 Trek Slash 9.8, M
A step up from the previous bike. But i never got along with the geo. Can't point out what is was, but i never felt comfortable. Then the paint start literally falling off the frame, and a long and not so smooth warranty to get a new frame ended my relationship with Trek.
July 2019 - June 2021
2019 Specialized Enduro Elite, M
The last gen of the X frame. An easy bike to ride in most of the terrain, but Rhythm fork and DPX2 shock held it back. Changed to a Öhlins STX22 and oh boy, a new world!
July 2021- Nov 2022
2021 Propain Hugene, M
Cutom build with RS Ultimate suspension. Went down in travel, and possibly my favorite bike on the list. Really balanced, solid, and very capable even with just 140/150mm travel. Sold it because i planned to do moren enduro racing, and a longer bike with a little more travel would be nice.
Nov 2022 - Feb 2026
2023 Canyon Strive CFR Underdog, M
Much longer than the Hugene, and i really liked the ShapeShifter. I never got the suspension to feel good, both the shock (X2) and fork (38 Performance Elite) both needed to be rebuilt several time, but always felt really harsh, or soft as a wet noodle. But when the speed was high, and suspension was as god as i could adjust is, the bike was really fast!
Feb 2026 and current
Propian Hugene 2026, L
RS Ultimate, MT7 and XT drivetrain.
Had the first ride today, and it was great fun. I had some difficulties adapting to much quicker steering than the previous bike, and a lot of "ring rust".
Had never heard of Velouria, really cool looking bikes !
Hmmm. This might be tough, but...
1983-87: Huffy pro Thunder, SE Quadangle, Dyno, Haro Team Master (with a GT, another Quad and a PK Ripper thrown-in). This was from working all summer trimming Xmas trees up to a bike shop job.
'87-96: Diamond Back Apex, smoke gray. Mongoose IBOC, GT Avalanche. Yeti FRO (steel, numbered in the 1000s), Fat Chance (borrowed from a friend), Yakota, Caloi. (worked in a bike shop, and did cross-country races for a regional team, and sponsorship from Caloi). Cannondale road bike, Giant carbon road bike.
2006-present. Mongoose dual suspension (cracked frame). Gen 2 Santa Cruz Nomad, then 4 more Nomads up until Nomad 4. Yeti 303 (2x, never liked this bike, but was available), Specialized Demo 26", Scott Genius (early model, only rode it for a few weeks, then sold: too light and gimicky), Nukeproof Mega, Santa Cruz 5010, Cannondale Motterra, Norco Shore. Couple of craigslist townie bikes. Enduro and downhill focus. Spec. P2, Airbourne DJ. Raced between 2010 and 2017 for a good shop sponsor--thus the multiple Nomads.
I'm on about 35 bikes in my lifetime! One thing I can say: bikes are better now than they've ever been. In my early BMX days, it was very common to crack frames, and the components worked for shit. This is the main reason I switched to MTB, actually. When I got my first Nomad, in 2007, it was definitely the most capable / durable "all-mountain" bike out there. It stood up to sooooo many flat-landed rock drops, and once up-to-speed: chef's kiss. I tried many other brands in the early 2000-teens, and other than the Spec. Enduro, nothing was capable. I got my first non Nomad around 2021, and boy have all the other brands leveled the playing field. Ya still can't do better than a Santa Cruz for resale, though.
Raleigh Mount Kinetic
Marin Bear Valley SE
Scott Octane maybe? Don’t remember the model exactly
GT STS DH
Intense M1
Iron Horse again can’t remember the model
Santa Cruz VP Free
Trek Slash
YT Capra
Specialized S Works Stumpjumper
Pivot Shuttle
Propain Ekano
Propain Ekano 2
Trek slash
Trek superfly ss
Santa Cruz Hightower
Transition throttle
Transition spire
Transition tr11 carbon
Be easier to only list bikes I currently have:
Forbidden Druid V1
Forbidden Dreadnought V1
2023 Norco Torrent S1
2011 Rocky Mountain Flatline
2013 Devinci Wilson DGR (Stevie Smith's backup bike)
2006 Rocky Mountain RMX Crossfire
2007 Rocky Mountain RMX Stealth
2005 Rocky Mountain Switch S3
2006 Rocky Mountain Switch 2.0
2005 Kona Stinky
2001 Norco 250cc
2005 Norco Torrent
2004 Banshee Scream
2008 Kona Cowan DS
2002 Rocky Mountain RM7-FR
2007 Cannondale Gemini 900
2003 Norco 4BY
2008 Kona Stab Supreme
2007 Giant Faith 1
2007 Norco A-line
2009 Cove Shocker
1st to current started MTB in 2010.
1. 2005 Banshee Scream
2. 2008 Rocky Mountain flatline had the mavic wheels Andreau lacondeguy won rampage on.
3. 2012 Kona Operator snapped at the head tube
4. 2009 Gary fisher Mullet
5. 2005 Specialized Big Hit
6.traded back to the same 2008 flatline I had previously but now it was anodized green
7.2012 GT Ruckus
8.KHS prototype DH Bike Logan Bignelli rode at rampage.( the year he snapped his femur) I also anodized this bike green.
9. 2014 GT Ruckus
10. 1993 specialized Rockhopper
11. 2017 Trek Remedy 9.8
12. 2020 Nukeproof Mega mullet
13. 2021 Framed 22” BMX
14. 2022 Yt Capra 29
15. 2023 eminent Drive
16. Eminent Haste
17. 2025 YT Decoy Core 4
18. 2025 YT Capra mx
19. 2026 Zink Vacay
20. 2026 Amflow PL
I currently only own the Amflow and the 93’ Specialized Rock Hopper.
What a trip down memory lane. Thanks to everyone for sharing it’s really cool to see what people have been up to and owned.
would simply kill for that Sunday. so, so rad
if we're doin photos...
scott aspect
atrozity
Salsa Rangefinder
Vitus Mythique, also when I first discovered proper MTBing gear... Can you tell??
polygon T7
Verde Radix
2016 Kona Process
YT Jeffsy MX
didnt find a photo of the newer Kona which says a lot lol. didnt include Norton and 2 newer dirt jumpers...
Love this, I've been thinking about making a coffee table book of bikes through the years
I'll start once I transitioned to my first 26, not including gravel, DJ:
Specialized Hardrock, Specialized Enduro (hardtail), Ironhorse Yakuza Chimpira, Ironhorse Yakuza Kumicho, Ironhorse Sunday Team K2 Brass Monkey, Kona Dawg Deluxe, Trek Remedy, Rocky Mountain Altitude Rally (first 27.5), Devinci Spartan, Devinci Troy, Specialized Enduro (first 29), Devinci Hendrix, Specialized Stumpjumper Coil, Specialized Stumpjumper, Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Pro, Rocky Mountain Instinct, Deviate Highlander II, Pipedream Sirius, Kona Honzo ESD, Surly Krampus
What is old, is new. I posted a similar thread in 2018 (!!) and updated my list. https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/Little-Black-Book-of-bikes-Ca…
2000-2010
*Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo (probably 1998)
*Gary Fisher Sugar 3 did my first race on this bike at the age of 14
*Schwinn Homegrown (the blue one - might have been my lightest mountain bike)
*Gary Fisher Sugar 1
*Haro slalom hardtail met Spomer riding this bike at the Thunder Valley Slalom Series
*Santa Cruz Bullet 5th element, Super T, first bike I raced DH on; my wheels looked like stop signs after Moab
*Giant DH bike after realizing the bullet wasn't going to cut it I built up this bike.
*BCD Inedible (!!!) Alex Morgan was way ahead of his time
*Giant A/C Air
*Specialized SX
*Giant STP
*Cannondale Gemini DH
*Azonic DH bike (the FSR one) with Avalanche shock - maybe the best bump eater I've ever owned
*Iron Horse DH bike (pre-sunday)
*Specialized Demo 9
*Cannondale Prophet
*Giant Reign
*Gary Fisher Rig stolen
2010-2020
*Ibis Mojo HD one of the best all around 26" wheeled bikes of the time
*Niner WFO Ahead of its time
*Ibis Ripley: I wore the seat stays thin from cornering. Was not designed for me.
*TJ Sharp Custom Steel Hardtail: low, long, slack 29" hardtail. It was awesome.
*Transition Covert 27.5
*Transition Patrol (V1)
*Transition Smuggler (V1)
*Transition Patrol Carbon (V1)
*Yeti SB55c
*Santa Cruz Hightower LT
*Niner RIP (V2)
*Santa Cruz Jackal
*GT Sanction Pro
*Trek Slash
*Canyon Torque
*Specialized Stumpjumper EVO (V1)
*Transition Sentinel Alloy
*Transition Sentinel Carbon
*Trek Top Fuel
2020-Now
*Marin E MTB
*Transition Spur
*Specialized Enduro
*Transition Smuggler
*BMC Gravel Bike
*Specialized Enduro (another one)
*Specialized Stumpjumper EVO (V2)
*Specialized Epic 8 Evo
*Transition Spire
*Transition Spur (v2)
Total: 47
This thread reminds me I've been riding MTBs for the better part of the last 20 years.
It also serves as a reminder of why my retirement fund isn't maxed out yet.😅
2005 Giant STP1
2008 Specialized Big Hit 2
2009 Specialized Big Hit 1
2011 Rocky Mountain Altitude 50
2013 Devinci Wilson Carbon
2013 Pivot Phoenix DH (started working for their Canadian distro, swapped everything over from the Wilson)
2013 Pivot Point
2014 Pivot Cycles Mach 5.7 Carbon
2014 Specialized Demo 8 I Carbon
2015 Kona Process 153
2016 Kona Process 153 DL
2017 Specialized Enduro Comp
2018 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Carbon
2019 Santa Cruz Megatower X01 CC
2020 Santa Cruz Hightower S C
2021 Rocky Mountain Instinct Carbon (swapped over all the parts from the Hightower)
2022 Rocky Mountain Altitude C70 Coil
2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay A70
2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C90
2024 Rocky Mountain Blizzard Powerplay A50
2024 Rocky Mountain Altitude Alloy (custom max-min build)
2024 Rocky Mountain Flow
2025 Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL C90
2025 Rocky Mountain Instinct C90
*I've worked for RM since 2021 to last november, hence the large volume.
Just like I thought; many of you guys have had a LOT more bikes than I have!
Almost 40 years!
1988 Raleigh Matterhorn (Tomac eventually signed with them to be like me)
1991 Specialized Rockhopper Comp (with classic Profile bars)
1991 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp
1992 Rocky Mountain Vertex
1995 S-Works Steel (best frame... really miss this one)
2005 Gary Fisher X-Caliber (finally into the world of suspension forks)
DMR Sidekick 2
2015 Giant Anthem SX
2016 Santa Cruz Hightower
2020 Santa Cruz Hightower 2
2014 Transition Klunker
2023 Transition Patrol
How's the Instinct C90? Are you still riding it and enjoying it or are you looking for something else?
I don't really have a need for a bike of that travel range but I've always thought it would be really sick. For some reason, even before I had an mtb and I started to consider getting a bike, I thought the Rocky Mountain stuff looked really sick.
I'm sort of a one bike guy so it's got to tend to what I ride and most of what I ride is XC trails (with an enduro attitude - less efficiency more "how fast can I do this part of the trail?"). I think an Element would be a good choice for me if I were in the market for a new bike...but the Instinct just looks sick!
Well lets see.....
early 90s Univega Rover 302
1996 Cannondale F600
1998 Cannondale F2000SX
2001 Rocky Mountain Pipeline
2005 Trek Session 77
2006 Iron Horse Azure
2005 Transition Vagrant
2006(?) Trek Bruiser SS
2008 Transition TransAM
2009(?) Yeti 303 RDH
2010(?) Santa Cruz Butcher
2010(?) Trek Farley
2013 Transition TransAM 29er (current)
2015 Santa Cruz Hightower
2017 Seven Mudhoney
2019 Santa Cruz Hightower
2021 RSD Mayor (current)
2022 Canfield Nimble 9
2023 Revel Rover
2023 Santa Cruz Hightower (current)
That is a pretty epic run of bikes.
I have a question about the Instinct line: I know it's not listed anymore, but the C99 spec was listed as making 150 mms travel from a 55 mm stroke, whereas the other models are listed as making 145 mms from the same stroke. Did it have a unique link? If so, can RM dealers purchase it?
As someone who already owns a 210-55 EXT Storia, it would be nice to find a frame that can be set up 160/150 with a 210-55 and 450 mm chainstays. It also doesn't hurt that they're Canadian.
I am an outlier in this thread. I had a number of CCMs and Supercycles and what have you as a kid, but I set them all aside for a skateboard in 1995 and didn't step on a bike again until July of 2023.
My comparatively meager stable consists of:
1) MK2 YT Jeffsy Core Four 29er with a Mezzer and a Storia, and
2) Trek Farley fatty, which gets lots of use because I live in the Yukon.
For better or worse, I've spent a lot of time looking at the numbers but have no real knowledge of the bikes beyond what is on their website...
Their website is really good, though, and you might be able to find your answers in the Bike Archives page.
A quick look says that for a medium through XL sized bike, the Instinct C70 has a 210x52.5mm and the Instinct C99 has a 210x55mm. Interesting to note that the XS and small have a 190x45mm shock.
I didn't see a different link mentioned but that's not necessarily something they'd mention on a spec page anyway.
That's interesting. Their archive listing from 2025 and their active listing show different specs in that regard. Perhaps the discrepancy is explained as easily as a simple typo.
Could be!
The Instinct Manual says 52.5mm but I didn't see it mention the C99 spec.
Also been riding for a long time but a lot less bikes than most people it seems.
Late 90s I started on a Trek 4500.
2001 Santa Cruz Superlight with a gold RS psylo race (bought all the parts and built it and was probably my favorite to this day. Still have the frame laying around.)
2006 Specialized Enduro Expert - lots of iterations of builds on this through college and not riding as much)
2016 Devinci Troy Carbon
2016 Norco Aurum
2018 Devinic Django (Still have and wife rides it on occasion)
2024 Santa Cruz Megatower V2 (Current)
Early 2000s I had a few DJ bikes but cant remember exact years.
Azonic Steelhead
Diamondback DJ
Blk Mrkt Mob
Pivot Point (current)
Early 90s Pacific Toys-r-us
1998 Giant ATX 970
2001 Kona Muni Mula
Diverted to road bikes for a while
Back to dirt
2007 Kona Fire Mountain
2011 Kona Kula
2013 Yeti sb66 a
2014 Yeti sb66 c
2017 Yeti sb5
2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy cc
2023 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO
2025 Specialized Chisel (super light gravel bike)
I'm really enjoying the Instinct to be honest, I wanted something lighter and more efficient uphill than the Altitude, but that can still handle some proper rougher stuff. It's setup 150/160, and I've swapped out the rear shock for a Float X2 since day one. I'm also debating on swapping out the 36 for a 160mm 38 to fully go into mini-enduro territory.
As for the Element, I've ridden the latest one a handful of times and it's really a fun bike. Definitely on the lighter side of trail, but way more capable than a race-oriented XC bike. It's punching above it's weight for sure. I've gone the more burly route with my Instinct, but it's definitely aimed to bridge a lot of different kind of riding, so you could go the opposite direction of mine and keep it on the lighter side.
Thanks! When I was writing it up it kind of hit me that I definitely got to ride a lot of fun bikes haha.
As for your question regarding the difference in travel between the C99 and the other models, it's simply a change in shock stroke, no special link or chips involved. All of the 2024-2025 Instinct models can be bumped up to 150mm of travel by removing the spacer and increasing the stroke from 52.5 to 55mm. 2026 all come with the extra 10mm of travel out of the box.
1996 kona lava dome
1997 norco rampage
1993? Specialized allez - carbon tubes aluminum lugs, 3rd or 4th owner flexy af
1999 kona hei hei - still have most of it
2001 kona stinky - deep cove edition - stolen
2004 kona stink primo
2005 giant team dh team
2003 Norco torrent
2010 Rocky Mountain solo
2012 chromag samauri
2015 giant reign advanced
2016 chromag root down ba
2017 chromag root down ba
2018 chromag primer
2018kona process 153 broke
Kona rove Ltd
2020 forbidden druid v1 broke
2022 chromag Darco Ltd broke
2024 specialized stumpjumper 15
Been lucky enough to have some good loaners along the way. Can’t remember all the years but
Rocky Mountain slayer - weird suspension layout
Devinci spartan
Devinci Troy
Devinci Django
Evil wreckoning
Norco arum
Intense m16
Forbidden Druid v2
Forbidden Reya
Giant reign
Norco optic not high pivot
Pivot switchblade
Probably a few more mixed in there
Forgotten
2017 Kona Unit SS
Oh boy, I've had a few.
Costco Special Mongoose - this was my first "mountain bike" I ended up upgrading almost everything on this bike with "real" parts. Despite it being a department store bike it got me into mountain biking
Haro DSR - This was my first legit mountain bike. Funny enough, it only came with a front disc brake and Vee brake on the rear (strange times). I also upgraded almost everything on this bike, including the period-correct THE fender, Red Michilen tires and lizard skin fork boots.
Azonic DS1 - I broke the Haro and transfered the parts over to the Azonic
KHS Witchdocter - Perhaps the ugliest bike ever made
Trek 8000
Diamond back XTS - Crappy "freeride" bike
DMR Dirt Jumper
Iron Horse SGS - This was the first bike I took on "real mountains". I have a vivid memory of doing the rock drop on Bennett Gap back in college on this bike
Evil Imperial - My 1st Evil, did everthing on this bike including a few DH races and park days.
Morewood Shova LT - Me and a few friends in College picked up a Morewood sponsorship, this was my bike with a "gucci" build. It was the time where a lot of brands had "mini DH" bikes.
Azonic DS1 - I picked up my 2nd DS1 to build up as a Slalom bike for collegiate racing
Specialized Enduro with the crazy Dual Crown fork
Fuji Carbon Road bike
Morewood Ndiza
Commencal Mini DH
2009 Specialized Stumpjumper HT 29 - This was my first 29er
Mongoose EC-D DH bike
Azonic DS1 - Yes, I got another DS1, this one I built up as a trail bike
2012 Specialized Stumpjumper HT 29er - My first trail/xc bike I built as a 1x, I don't think I ever had a bike with a Front Derailleur after this
Morewood Izumi DH - I worked at a shop at the time so I dumped a stupid amount of money into this bike, including those CB wheels that were made of butter
Santa Cruz Blur 4x - I wanted one of these for years, I built it up for trail riding
Yeti ASR5 - I'm fairly certain this was my first Carbon bike
GT fury
Santa Cruz Chameleon
Specialized Sx
Diamond Back Mason 29
Evil Imperial - my 2nd
Felt Fixie
Surly Straggler
Kona Process 111
Evil The Following V1
SE bikes - City bike
Jamis Dirt Jump bike
Trek Stache (the 29+ version)
Iron Horse hardtail Grocery Getter
Evil The Following MB
Kona Honzo CR Trail - Setup SS with a Magic gear
Evil Offering V1 with a Push 11.6 - My favorite bike of all time
Trek Sawyer
Transition Spur
Charge Cooker Fat Bike
2022 Specialized Endruo
2023 Specialized Epic Evo
Current Bikes:
Fat Bike
2023 Specialized Stumpjumer (non-evo) setup Mullet with a 150mm Lyrik
Neuhaus Metalworks Hummingbird - Full custom frame, currently setup SS. I'll keep this one forever
Evil Imperial - My 3rd, setup for slalom/DJ. I will also keep this bike forever
I'm sure I missed a few bikes.
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