[Jozz]

I say.
View attachment 210023
But unless you plan on riding gravel or commuting or just want something ugly enough it won't be stolen from outside the pub don't buy any XL size 26er. Find a small.
For razzing about on and not taking anything too seriously hardtails like the old late 90s chameleons in small with a short stem, 100mm fork and risers were a bazillion times more direct than modern hardtails are. Modern long reach, longer wheelbase, longer fork travel and slacker H/As combined with bigger wheels makes them a lot more stable at speed but the downside is they become an absolute chore to pop the front and bunny hop. If your hardtail riding back in the 90s was anything like mine I'd guess those are probably the traits you'd have liked most about your old Chameleon.
S'pose it also depends what your definition of "fun" is now tho.

Exactly that.
Do it.

 

[sethimus]

bikes with 29" wheels and bikes with 700c wheels

whats the difference?

 

[jonKranked]

whats the difference?

Freedom™

 

[Gary]

whats the difference?

One is a metric standard which replaced 27x1 1/4" in the mid 70s still used by road cyclists to this day. The other was introduced sometime around 2000 by a prick with edgy facial hair mainly to sell the exact same thing to other pricks!

Feel free to use this historic lesson in your sales patter

 

[SylentK]

Well...Proof that a good thing doesn't die? not sure. But here is my SC Chameleon. I forget what year. What year is it nao?

As you can see, it's my indoor roller machine. Then pump track machine. Then DJ machine. Err actually BMX machine before DJ. Then my local neighborhood jam machine. I recently added the brakes, cuz who needs them? Ha. Oh yeah, I golf too. Yeah, ya, make fun of the "putting green", but it works. Amongst other things.

 

[sethimus]

One is a metric standard which replaced 27x1 1/4" in the mid 70s still used by road cyclists to this day. The other was introduced sometime around 2000 by a prick with edgy facial hair mainly to sell the exact same thing to other pricks!

Feel free to use this historic lesson in your sales patter

ertro says they are the same

 

[Gary]

That's because they are. Well nerded. But now you also know the super interesting history of their differing terminology. I only listed both to separate the type of wheel.

 

[toodles]

That's because they are. Well nerded. But now you also know the super interesting history of their differing terminology. I only listed both to separate the type of wheel.

I only recently learnt that there is both 650B and 650C. What the crap.

 

[Gary]

Then it might just blow your mind to hear that there are also three different 26" rim sizes.
the older 26x1 3/8 and 26x1-1/4"x1 3/8 sizes don't signify different widths but completely different diameters. Both larger than 650b nevermind the 26" size MTBers would think of

#5594LYFyo

 

[sethimus]

20“ wheels are also wild

20"	54-400	20 x 2 x 1 ¾
	23-406	20 x 0.90
	25-406	20 x 1.00
	28-406	20 x 1.10
		20 x 1 1⁄8
	32-406	20 x 1.25
	35-406	20 x 1.35
	37-406	20 x 1.40
		20 x 1 3⁄8
	40-406	20 x 1.50
	42-406	20 x 1.60
	44-406	20 x 1.50
	44-406	20 x 1.625
	47-406	20 x 1.75
	47-406	20 x 1.90
	50-406	20 x 2.00
	54-406	20 x 2.10
		20 x 2.00
	55-406	20 x 2.15
	57-406	20 x 2.25
		20 x 2.125
	60-406	20 x 2.35
	54-428	20 x 2.00
	40-432	20 x 1 ½
	37-438	20 x 1 3⁄8
	40-438	20 x 1 3⁄8 x 1 ½
	28-440
	37-440
	40-440	20 x 1 ½ NL
	23-451	20 x 0.90
		20 x 7⁄8
	25-451	20 x 1.00
	28-451	20 x 1 1⁄8
	37-451	20 x 1 3⁄8 B.S.

 

[englertracing]

I mean i think its reasonable to build up your childhood dream bike if you think thats fun.

Or...

You could go custom on a new bike get custom with decals and such to make it look like your old dream bike

 

[Gary]

What's wilder is that those larger diameter 20" rims are what's used for kids BMX race bikes. There are 5 different categories of frame size for kids race bikes (micro mini, mini, junior, expert and expert XL) and none of them use the standard 406mm adult BMX rim size. ( the smaller frames use narrower tyres on bigger rims)

it's not just mtb where wheels are getting bigger and wheelbases longer for teh #gainz

 

[Gary]

You could go custom on a new bike get custom with decals and such to make it look like your old dream bike

I'd definitely like to see the outcome on his $200 budget.
@buckoW you're excluded from this challenge!

 

[toodles]

You could go custom on a new bike get custom with decals and such to make it look like your old dream bike

Thats a cool idea if the dream bike had a super distinct look to it. Didn't Giant do that for Warner and make a bike in the old ATX colours for him?

I remember my old dream bikes looking way, way cooler than they look when I see pictures of them now. Probably best kept as memories.

 

[trib]

I'd definitely like to see the outcome on his $200 budget.
@buckoW you're excluded from this challenge!

Yeah I don’t think I can even email a custom builder with what my budget is

 

[buckoW]

Yeah I don’t think I can even email a custom builder with what my budget is

Custom Built Steel Hardtail MTB Frame - MarinoBike

A full custom geometry TIG welded hard tail frame. Worldwide Shipping: US$145 Shipping price adjustment notice In Peru, all export agencies have made a slight adjustment to the shipping price. For this reason we have found it necessary to adjust shipping prices on all our products. Your...

www.marinobike.com

This is probably your cheapest option if you could triple your budget. 375 +145 shipping.

 

[sethimus]

Thats a cool idea if the dream bike had a super distinct look to it. Didn't Giant do that for Warner and make a bike in the old ATX colours for him?

I remember my old dream bikes looking way, way cooler than they look when I see pictures of them now. Probably best kept as memories.

i like video games and i always remember them. but i never try to play them again because i would rate them with modern games and they will never be as good as they are in my memory.

 

[englertracing]

i like video games and i always remember them. but i never try to play them again because i would rate them with modern games and they will never be as good as they are in my memory.

pfffftttt,
007 goldeneye on N64 > everything.

 

[englertracing]

I'd definitely like to see the outcome on his $200 budget.
@buckoW you're excluded from this challenge!

oh yeah that part,
well 200 might do okay to order the stickers from slik lol

 

[canadmos]

pfffftttt,
007 goldeneye on N64 > everything.

Proximity mines in the facility or the bunker. My friends hated me.

Did you ever get a GameShark and go exploring?

 

[Lelandjt]

pfffftttt,
007 goldeneye on N64 > everything.

Last year my wife bought me a N64 with Golden Eye and 4 controllers. I think it cost a pretty penny off ebay. It was pretty fun with friends. Gone in the Lahaina fire.

 

[bullcrew]

Joking aside, not everything is crap just because it's old. I have a mid 00s yeti arc hardtail that is just a fun little xc bike. Using modern components makes a huge difference, especially a stem that isn't as long as the cranks and a modern width handlebar. I recently sourced an RS sid that is 26" with a thru axle and 1-1/8 steerer to put on it.

Nope you are WRONG!!!!!!!!

IT IS ALL SHIIIIIIT!!! Not even crap it's just straight to the big "S" word...

Square taper = SHIT
Isis = shit
1 1/8 steer = shit
25.4bars = worse than shit
Stems on that era = super scary shit
Suspension= um whatever is worse than the word shitt..

Just saying...lol
And busting your balls
@jonKranked

Breakdance pants with zippers on the knees = shit and whoever thought that was good placement well they are shit too..

Dinosaurs will eat you and turn you to shit

Point is let the past stay there...

 

[trib]

For anyone wondering whether I grabbed it or not I decided the XL was just too big and it wouldn’t do what I’m hoping.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled on the classifieds and who knows what heap of junk I’ll land on.

 

[bullcrew]

For anyone wondering whether I grabbed it or not I decided the XL was just too big and it wouldn’t do what I’m hoping.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled on the classifieds and who knows what heap of junk I’ll land on.

There's plenty....lately some of the stuff Ive been seeing I actually had to click and look ..don't want but fun to look at..

I just finished throwing out tld shorts, fox ranger shorts and various gear that was older cause it's in my way..
Throwing my wife's bikes away or donating em this week while she's at work ..she can keep her brosnan but her road bike and old specialized are making their way to the garbage can.. (shits in my way)
Hell she won't notice it for a while and that will give me time to forget I threw them out ..by the time she figures it out Ill have forgotten and blame it on them being stolen .
So win win

 

[Gary]

Divorce material right there

 

[Jozz]

For anyone wondering whether I grabbed it or not I decided the XL was just too big and it wouldn’t do what I’m hoping.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled on the classifieds and who knows what heap of junk I’ll land on.

Not necessarily junk nor that old, but I'd like to try a steel Meta HT. 2017ish

 

[sethimus]

Divorce material right there

bullcrew or yourself?

 

[jonKranked]

bullcrew or yourself?

he's speaking from experience

 

[bullcrew]

Divorce material right there

Right!! How I put up with her keeping old bikes and clutter around I'll never know..must be the nice side of me....man she's lucky to have me...

 

[norbar]

I used to ride a 1999 model Santa Cruz chameleon, it was my first “real mountain bike”. I loved it.

I rode the small size because all the cool guys rode tiny bikes, there’s an xl on Craigslist right now and I’m getting a very dumb itch that I want to scratch.

the 24” top tube and 20” seat tube aren’t going to be fun are they(I’m 5’10”). The 24 year old frame and Sid 100 will break won’t they (I’m 200lbs).

Having said all that, a stiff alu frame, single speed and v brake set up feels like it’s still be a lot of fun….

talk me out of this mess please.

I did what you did. It hurt my back. It was not fun to ride. It made me feel good to own but it was more like owning a sculpture than a bike. Do you need a sculpture?

 

[trib]

I did what you did. It hurt my back. It was not fun to ride. It made me feel good to own but it was more like owning a sculpture than a bike. Do you need a sculpture?

I need a bike and don’t want to spend a fortune on it. I’ve owned several mountain bikes over the years. But money gets tighter, bikes get more expensive and time available to go play on expensive toys gets harder to find.

I was merely looking to find a bike that’d bring a little spark of nostalgic joy to riding with my kids

 

[bullcrew]

I was merely looking to find a bike that’d bring a little spark of nostalgic joy to riding with my kids

That's any bike, just tire tap em and chase em till they ride out of control and crash... You can have that nostalgic feeling all the time...
My boys will vouge that it's just like when they were young...plus now it's more fun they stand more of a chance and I have to put our more effort..

This has been passed down, my dad was motorcycle tag on MX...I got good real quick lol..God I miss that man and those days...we laughed so hard...

 

[FlipSide]

I was merely looking to find a bike that’d bring a little spark of nostalgic joy to riding with my kids

IMO, a modern hardtail with good geometry, good suspension and parts that are compatible with your other bike(s) will be a better choice. I always ride my Honzo ESD when I go for a ride with my wife and my son. That way, I have a great bike to ride when I do an extra lap while they have a drink in the parking lot.

 

[boostindoubles]

I can hook you up this baby...

I'll even throw in the OG carbon monkeylite bars.

Both ends of the squishy have been PUSHed.

Cheers

 

[Westy]

Don't attempt to rekindle youth. Accept your future and get an e-bike, or perhaps go coffin shopping.

 

[boogenman]

I have a 2007 Giant Reign and it is damn near impossible to keep the thing rideable.
I would also buy a 2002-2003 Intense M1 without hesitation if the price was right

 

[trib]

Don't attempt to rekindle youth. Accept your future and get an e-bike, or perhaps go coffin shopping.

hits too close to the bone. My other bike is a child/cargo carrying ebike and I’m currently writing up my will. Aging is fun

 

[SkaredShtles]

I can hook you up this baby...

I'll even throw in the OG carbon monkeylite bars.

Both ends of the squishy have been PUSHed.

Cheers

View attachment 210194

What's the travel on that fork?

Asking for a friend...

 

[trib]

I can hook you up this baby...

I'll even throw in the OG carbon monkeylite bars.

Both ends of the squishy have been PUSHed.

Cheers

View attachment 210194

Well in a turn of events a completely unused, prime condition 2017 size L chameleon went up on craigslist this morning. Last year where they were 650b only I think.

so it’s a kind offer but after a week of back and forth and analysing budgets I bit the bullet and am now the proud owner of a tidy little hardtail.

 

[SylentK]

I can hook you up this baby...

I'll even throw in the OG carbon monkeylite bars.

Both ends of the squishy have been PUSHed.

Cheers

View attachment 210194

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Forget the handlebar, I want that giant ass stem! Lucky for me it goes with the seat post.