[narlus]

in relation to bikes, and frames at that. would you consider yrself tied to a single MFG, or do you not really care that much and pick what you feel is the best bike for the particular situation?

sponsored riders need not vote.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Best bike for the particular situation.

 

[Angus]

Once upon a time yes, but today I go for the best deal for the need or desire....

 

[Slugman]

Best bike for the particular situation.

and if the price is right...

 

[narlus]

i voted no, and i can't think of one instance where i've owned different frames of the same mfg (that weren't warranty-related).

over the years:

cannondale
ted wojcik
spooky
schwinn
ellsworth
kona
voodoo
GT
giant
evil
specialized

 

[Changleen]

i voted no, and i can't think of one instance where i've owned different frames of the same mfg (that weren't warranty-related).

over the years:

cannondale
ted wojcik
spooky
schwinn
ellsworth
kona
voodoo
GT
giant
evil
specialized

Never had no crappy crank'n'fail though.

 

[jacksonpt]

some of both... I love my yeti and have had such good luck with Victor (@ Trailblazers LBS) and Yeti that I would buy another in a heartbeat. But if Yeti didn't offer a bike that matched what I was looking for, or if I couldn't afford it, I'd have no problem looking at other reputable brands.

 

[jimmydean]

No. I buy what fits the situation. That goes for verything, not just bikes. I'm a cheap bastard that likes nice things, so I get the best deal I can on the nicest stuff for the job.

 

[PatBranch]

I've had (in order)

-Schwin 20" (first bike)
-Gary Fisher Tyro 24" ridgid mtb
-Redline 360 bmx
-Gary Fisher level betty (cracked 3 places)
-Azonic Evolution (current)
-SC bullit (hopefully near future)

I like a bike that is right with the right price.

 

[narlus]

Never had no crappy crank'n'fail though.

hey, it was my first bike, and i was taken in by the neon-green splatter on black look.

 

[stinkyboy]

Cannondale
Trek
Specialized
Klein
Kona
Santa Cruz
Kona
Surly
Kona
Kona

About to buy another Kona...

 

[Ciaran]

I buy what I can afford.

I would buy another Yeti in a heart beat though. And a Cove too... they rock.

 

[BikeGeek]

I've been riding the same hardtail since '98. When it's time for another, I'd be more inclined to go with a familiar geometry than the same brand. On the other hand, the fact that I've been riding the same bike for so long with zero problems says a lot about the quality of the brand, and I would probably look at their latest offereings before looking elsewhere.

 

[Jayridesacove]

So many great bikes out there. Unless you're sponsored, why bother limiting yourself to one brand? You gotta go for a good tested design that fits your budget and if that means leaving one brand for another, then so be it.

Over the years I've ridden on:
Norco
Specialized
Cove
Cannondale
Santa Cruz
GT

 

[Westy]

I've owned:

Ross
Mongoose
Rocky Mountain
Litespeed
Santa Cruz
Specialized
Cannondale
Yeti
Fuji
Giant

I will avoid certain brands if I don't think they have good customer support. I'm currently looking at buying a new XC frame and have emailed some manufacturers some questions. Companies that don't reply basically get taken of the list of possible choices.

 

[skinny mike]

well im not a brand whore, but i am a bike whore. if im going to build up a bike, it better be the best it can be. my next bike is looking to run me probably close to $4000 and the frame alone is going to run me around $2000. im kind of kicking myself for only wanting the best because 4 grand is alot for a rigid singlespeed. :mumble:

 

[MMcG]

My first bike was a Marin but that was when I didn't know much about mountain bikes. Still the Nail Trail got me started and I'd consider another Marin again if I could afford one of their full suspension bikes.

I still wish that Procycle didn't pull the plug on Balfa because if they didn't I'd probably be riding a refined version of a Belair or a 2Step or something along those lines from Balfa. While repping for them I owned a Belair and had a 2Step DH as a demo rig (fun bike, but the bb was too low).

But since they did dump Balfa, I've been on numerous different brands of bikes including,

A Snipes 30-06 Hardtail
A Ted Wojcik FS bike
A Cheeta Prowler (fun bike!)
An Iron Horse Hollowpoint (their medium fit like a large and that's why I dumped it)
A very brief stint on a Soul cycles hardline (super stiff riding bike)
And then a short but fun stint on a Surly Instigator
I short stint on a DMR Rhythm
Oh yeah and I've also had a C-Dale Chase frame in my possession but never built it up or rode it
And I also had a Kona Stinky Five in my possession and never built it up and rode it

All of these aside from the DMR were built from the frame up.

So I guess I'm just a bike whore - but not a brand whore.

 

[urbaindk]

unknown 16" 1975
Huffy with banana seat 20" circa 1978 (snapped headtube 1980ish)
Schwinn BMX 20" circa 1980
Marin MTB circa 1991
Cygnal 1994 (stolen 1996)
Trek Y bike 1996 (broken 2004)

quit riding around 2000-2003. Many WW playboats bought and sold durning this period (much cheaper than bikes)

Giant for wife 2003
Converted old Marin to ss 2004.
Soul Cycles 2005
Soul Cycles for wife 2006

 

[wingman24]

I buy whatever bike I like at the moment, and if I just happen to be a dealer for that same manufacturer thats always a plus (free trail avertising). as far as parts and kit, I buy what works the best, it could be cheap, expesive, or have whoevers name on it, if it works the best I buy it.

 

[syadasti]

Brand loyalty sucks

I've owned all of the following bikes:
1990 Trek 830
1992 Specialized Stumpjumper
1993 Specialized M2 Sworks HT
1995 Marin Indian Firetrail HT
1997 Specialized Enduro Expert
1998 Caloi Team (road bike)*
2001 Cannondale Jekyll 2000
2001 Schwinn Rocket 88 Disc**
2002 Balfa 2step**
2002.5 Ironhorse Hollowpoint
2002 Ventana El Salty
2003 Ironhorse SGS Expert
2003 Balfa 2Step DH**
2003 .243racing HT
2003 Giant VT1
2003 Azonic Saber
2003 Ironhorse SGS Team**
2003 Cortina Triton DS 4130**
2004 Titus Locomoto
2004 Prototype Corinta Triton DS 4130**
2004 Giant STP1
2004 Canfield F1 DH
2004 Evil Imperial SL
2004.5 Ellsworth Moment
2005 Specialized Enduro Pro*
2005 Evil Sovereign*

*Still own these bikes
**Bikes I had issues with

I might be forgetting one or two, heh. Owned the Marin for the longest, 6 years - my sister's ex-boyfriend stores it at my house and I rode in the 2005 new year last year on it in Upstate NY.

 

[JRB]

No - but when buying production bikes in the future, if Giant has something like I want, I will buy them. I can't be more please with their tech support for silly little questions and thoughts on geometry and such.

 

[McGRP01]

Miyata
Bianchi
Trek
Kona
Giant
Azonic

 

[ghettorigged]

ross
c'dale
azonic
intense

still have all of them

 

[narlus]

Brand loyalty sucks

I've owned all of the following bikes:
1990 Trek 830
1992 Specialized Stumpjumper
1993 Specialized M2 Sworks HT
1995 Marin Indian Firetrail HT
1997 Specialized Enduro Expert
1998 Caloi Team (road bike)*
2001 Cannondale Jekyll 2000
2001 Schwinn Rocket 88 Disc**
2002 Balfa 2step**
2002.5 Ironhorse Hollowpoint
2002 Ventana El Salty
2003 Ironhorse SGS Expert
2003 Balfa 2Step DH**
2003 .243racing HT
2003 Giant VT1
2003 Azonic Saber
2003 Ironhorse SGS Team**
2004 Titus Locomoto
2003 Cortina Triton DS 4130**
2004 Prototype Corinta Triton DS 4130**
2004 Giant STP1
2004 Canfield F1 DH
2004 Evil Imperial SL
2004.5 Ellsworth Moment
2005 Specialized Enduro Pro*
2005 Evil Sovereign*

*Still own these bikes
**Bikes I had issues with

I might be forgetting one or two, heh. Owned the Marin for the longest, 6 years - my sister's ex-boyfriend stores it at my house and I rode in the 2005 new year last year on it in Upstate NY.

you had 8 bikes which were either '04 or '05? damn. are you an octopus?

 

[sanjuro]

Scapin road
IF mtn
Surly mtn
Elite road
Norco mtn
Seven road
Kona mtn
Santa Cruz mtn

 

[N8 v2.0]

A real poll would have a "loco sucks" option...

 

[JRB]

Here's a list -

00 GF Marlin
01 Access
98 Specialized FSR Ground Control
01 Giant XTC
02 Giant NRS
03 Salsa Caballero
04 Jamis Dakar XC
04 Haro X2
00 Dean Jester

02 Specialized Allez Sport
02 Giant OCR 3
03 Tommaso S1
04 Interloc Impala
03 Redline Conquest

 

[syadasti]

you had 8 bikes which were either '04 or '05? damn. are you an octopus?

Buy and sell bikes and/or frames. The only way you really know whats out there is to try them for a while. I think I'll actually keep my current bikes for a few years

Most likely I'll check out the Type 6 in a few years

 

[narlus]

A real poll would have a "loco sucks" option...

this isn't a real poll, it's actually bike-related. now scoot along.

 

[kidwoo]

I've owned a lot of specialized bikes but it's almost always been because of geometry.

I'm kind of loyal to turner I guess. There are two dh bikes out right now that I would be more inclined to buy if they were made by someone else. The designs are good but both companies have a history of half assing things in my opinion.

I'm only that way with my dh stuff though. I have no real loyalty in other realms. I go with what rides/lasts the best for the most part.

 

[JRB]

this isn't a real poll, it's actually bike-related. now scoot along.

No kidding - doesn't he have some plywood to stain, or some mortar to grind down???

 

[Toshi]

i voted no, and i can't think of one instance where i've owned different frames of the same mfg (that weren't warranty-related).

ditto:

proflex (!)
cannondale
specialized
gt
kona
intense
klein
evil
diamondback
canfield

10 frames from 10 companies in about 13 years of riding.

 

[DHS]

yes and no. i'll keep my bmw's for life. but i'll always need a XC/road bike.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Mmm...I guess you could call me a brand whore...But it comes from necessity rather than vanity...

Being my size ain't exactly easy on components...I'm plenty smooth but that doesn't fix everything when the p.s.i. hits the weakest link. So I buy parts until I find something that doesn't break every 2 months and go with that across my line-up...Like Hadley hubs, Magura brakes, etc.

Hmmm...I have to think what frames I've owned...

'94 Giant Yukon (First bike with a suspension fork...1" = Stylin' now!)
'00 GT i-Drive 3.0 (Catastrophic failure in the BB area among others)
'02 GT i-Drive 3.0 (Warranty - also subject to failure)
'02 Giant Rainier (Catastrophic failure of chainstay)
'03 GT i-Drive 3.0 (Warranty - Couple of rides then hung it up on the wall before I busted it...)
'03 Giant AC 2 (Catastrophic failure of chainstay...notice a pattern??)
'03 Giant AC 1 (Warranty - Traded for Brodie 8-ball)
'02 Brodie 8-ball (Good frame...cracked though...hangin' on wall of shame)
'03 Brodie Demon (Catastrophic failure of downtube-BB junction = concussion and massive soreness)
'04 Brodie Demon (Warranty - Traded...never built by me...)
'02 Rotec DH (Cracked the headtube-downtube junction cause I was running a Monster on a non-retro fitted bike...Me=dumb...)
'02 Rotec DH (New front triangle, my race bike for this season! Goooo Rotec or go home!!)*
'03 Cove G-Spot (Built as Enduro/FR bike, works awesome!)*
'04 Woodman Elite (Sitting half built in garage waiting for money...)*

* = Current stable...

That's 'bout it...I think...

 

[CrabJoe StretchPants]

how 'bout brand loyalty as far as your current stable? when i had my scream, i would have died for a morphine. now i have a DHR, and plan on building up a 5 spot over the summer (if i had the $$$ jeremy's would be mine by now)


so in short, although i cant afford more than one bike, i am a brand whore

EDIT - and overall ive had 5 bikes - haro -> norco -> banshee/243 -> turner

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

I am a total brand whore and not only in the biking industry:

Red Bull
Oakley
Crank Bros
Evil
E.13
Puma
Swatch
Canon...
All make primo stuff

 

[Echo]

I've always loved Yeti and Kona bikes but currently I only own one Kona and zero Yeti's.

 

[Toshi]

I am a total brand whore and not only in the biking industry:

Red Bull
Oakley
Crank Bros
Evil
E.13
Puma
Swatch
Canon...
All make primo stuff

what makes you so sure these companies' products are the best? (and if they're not the best why are you a brand whore for them?)

there are a few companies that i have an apparent loyalty to (apple and canon come to mind) but in reality these "loyalties" simply stem from lock-in: i own a bunch of mac software and canon lenses so am unlikely to jump ship and abandon ship.

 

[Atomic Dog]

I guess I could be considered a brand whore since I have two Santa Cruz bikes. That was somewhat out of necessity, though. There just aren't that many companies making XL frames. I bought both my frames (Heckler and Bullit) used, and for the most part SC bikes are the only used frames that big for sale on a somewhat regular basis.

I've been looking for a bike to replace the aging Bullit, but I haven't had much luck finding Freeride frames in a 21" size. I'd love to try something besides another SC bike if I can find one.

 

[Skookum]

i steer towards what i think will suit me best, but if i can afford it i go towards an American manufacturer.

Trek Antelope
GT RTS
GT LTS
GT STS
Diamondback
GT I-drive
Santa Cruz Bullit
Giant VT
Specialized Enduro
Specialized Enduro S-Works

Santa Cruz Blur on order
i'll soon be riding SC exclusively, i suppose i'm in transition into being one, as i was fairly loyal to GT before they went to Pacific.