is it just me?

[jeffhop]

now that ive finally got the bike i lusted after all those years ago (oz) i look at new bikes and think `will that look as good as an oz or a polished 957 when its the same age?` is it just me that thinks that owning a proflex/k2 is a bit like owning a classic car, a dream when your younger and an appreciation when your older?

[Frankd3000]

No, actually Jeff, I can totally relate to what you're saying.

Way back when in the very early '90's when things "really" started up with suspension of ANY kind in mounting biking I remembered 2 things VERY clearly - Rock Shox's Mag 21 (THE penultimate fork in it's era) and ProFlex frames.

Being able to put sus. forks on a bike was "wow wiked, you are waaaay too cool!" and then topping that off with having it in the rear too? Well, that was the cats meow. It didn't matter that it was a small amount of travel - that fact that it was happening right before our eyes... that was the special thing.

Nowadays I clearly remember the day I actually bought my Mag 21's, bringing them home, sleeping with them the first night... oh, sorry, TMI!

Ummm, oh yeah, and I also remember bring Frank home... in the hatch of my Capri back in late '98. That was THE most memorable bike purchase of my life. All clean and shinny, 24 speed, something that actually FIT me (i'm 6'4", eh) and my first full sus'er. Ooooh, JOY! Don't worry, I won't mention sleeping with it, too.

I look now at all this stuff and kinda regret not being into it through the years, being distracted by cars, but I certainly remember it all..... EVERY time I ride.

Kinda neat what maturity does to ya, huh?

Okay, well, maybe it's not maturity in MY case, but it's always remembered and appreciated. Even now with enough cash to buy any frame (within reason) I want i'm still not anxious to get anything else. It just seems pointless. I have what I always wanted... and NEED. [smiley=laughing.gif]

If I found another Way Big 3000 i'd hit it.

okayi'llshutupnow [smiley=blankstare.gif]

[will]

Jeff,

Being "of an age" my short list includes a '69 Camaro, a Ruger Deerfield in .44, an old Bultaco 125, a WoodWinds giant slalom windsurfer, and a few other fun tidbits.

The problem with these "antiques" is they have been left behind by modern technology and their value is mostly sentimental.

But the difference with a ProFlex - even an 856 - is with a proper spring kit, it's still a technically competitive machine. All the newest and coolest bikes like the Trance, Prophet, Santa Cruz VPP stuff are great in their own way. BUT, when it comes to riding, reliability, and weight I'll go with ProFlex.
An 856 w/ an SPV air shock, updated forks, and disk brakes is still one heckuva bike.
These bikes were truly ten years ahead of their time.
(Perhaps not something to sleep with, but pretty good lookin'...)

[shovelon]

You got that right!

Back in the days when reading articles about Proflexes, I thought of Bob Girvin as a genious. For a while I was a bit annoyed by those yellow marshmellow bikes, while riding my shiny Diamondback hardtail.

But as I improved as a rider my bike did not. I truly developed a paranoia of road rash, which was happening all too often.

Then the 957 came out. $#&^%(*^$%%$!!!  It all became clear. I had to have it. I understood the technology. I settled for a 97 red and black beast. And boy was I right!

Well years passed and the carbon series came out. I still could not find a 957, even used, and the carbons, well I might as well cut my wrists. Then the stars aligned, and Proflex was taken over by K2. In thier infinite wisdom, they trashed the product line and opened thier warehouses. Ozzy arrived.

You are right in saying that recent advances in shocks and forks.has sprung our dream bikes to the head of the pack. Bob Girvin truly designed bikes ahead of thier time. And in 5 years when the new bikes are fallling apart, ours will be light and strong, and fast.

Almost every time I go riding, I get stares or kudos on my Oz or 957.

Terry

[Simon]

Have to agree with you all,
BUT I'm still mightly tempted with the latest offering
from Whyte (E-5 & 46 models) to the point that one
(of the 3 Proflexes eventually may go) probabaly the 856 project, the lusting I had for my first 856 and then the 4500 has reappeared only this time for the Whyte,
Jeff didn't I read your responce on Bkemagic praising
Marin/Whyte bikes and maybe one day you may get one again [smiley=laughing.gif]
Simon.

[jeffhop]

yes that was me, my first ever full suss was a marin, i had it at the same time my mate had a 957 but it was the 957 i really wanted. its quite a funny story how i got the marin, id been out the previous day on my hardtail in the rain and totally knackered the brake pads so i went to the lbs for some new ones and came out £600 lighter with a shiny new marin! but i was single at the time so impulsive buying was ok  [smiley=laughing.gif]

[Matno]

my short list includes ... a Ruger Deerfield in .44

Dang, I've always wanted one of those too! What a sweet little gun. I'll bet it wouldn't have hurt near as much to shoot as the Win Model '94 .30-30 I always hunted with as a kid! (A non-padded butt-plate on a 10 year old shoulder can be rough. Not that I ever complained - always too excited!)

The problem with these "antiques" is they have been left behind by modern technology and their value is mostly sentimental.

But the difference with a ProFlex is with a proper spring kit, it's still a technically competitive machine. All the newest and coolest bikes like the Trance, Prophet, Santa Cruz VPP stuff are great in their own way. BUT, when it comes to riding, reliability, and weight I'll go with ProFlex.
w/ an SPV air shock, updated forks, and disk brakes it's still one heckuva bike.
These bikes were truly ten years ahead of their time.

The simplicity of the design is beautiful. Now that shocks make up for most of the "shortcomings" of suspension, other manufacturers are turning back to the same single-pivot location more and more anyway. I just wish that my carbon swingarms weren't so dang flexy. ("Sideways suspension" I call it...)

[colinv]

They are one of the all time greats in bike design, must admit they were down the order of my wantings though, I did get my Klein Attitude,Pace RC200, Orange alu elite and for some reason I even bought a Mt vision, the last one was a huge mistake and was sold very shortly afterwards.  I only came by it due to the wife going on a shopping spree so I put my foot down and bought it, they will never be as valuable as they were new(£4000 un the UK for a 5500)but I could never sell mine.  We are a few of the lucky riders in this world and others want what we have, but they 'aint getting mine. [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

[jeffhop]

i agrree with you colin but i still wouldnt mind an original klein adroit!

[jazclrint]

I have to agree with the first post.  I used to dream about owning a 5500c when I was first going to college.  And then, right before I left for deployment in '02 (and shortly after, my long time racing companion, my 2000 was stolen on base) I found a 5500 framset for sale, by sheer luck.  $600 for the frame/fork and Smart and NR-2 shocks and $200 worth of SRP Ti bolts.  Then I got home and part of my postwar theropy was to build it myself.  It is definately my '69 Z28.  The guy I bought it from was not so inthusiatic to sell it where the 5500 climbed better than the brand new XC Elsworth he just bought.  I bet he'd like to ride it now woth the Fox Floats on it.

[jinder]

You got that right!


Well years passed and the carbon series came out. I still could not find a 957, even used, and the carbons, well I might as well cut my wrists. Then the stars aligned, and Proflex was taken over by K2. In thier infinite wisdom, they trashed the product line and opened thier warehouses. Ozzy arrived.


Terry

This is the same story as mine!  I always wanted the 957... finally got mine.  We both are lucky Terry, and most likey the proudest 957 owners on the Planet!