10 Bikes That Promised To Transform MTB - But Failed

Every year, we see new tech that bike companies claim will change the world. Sometimes, they do, and sometimes, the tech is forgotten. Martyn Ashton and Rich Payne explore some of the long-forgotten designs and tech that promised to change the world. We look at out-there ideas, such as cable downtubes and linkage-driven front suspension!

⏱ Timestamps ⏱
00:00 - Welcome!
00:13 - Pole Bicycles
01:34 - Cannondale Raven
02:25 - Whyte PRST-1
04:07 - Slingshot
05:19 - Honda RN 01
06:47 - Structure Cycleworks
08:04 - Variangle
09:15 - Klein Mantra
10:13 - Black Math Bikes
11:26 - Allsop Softride

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Have we missed a bike or component that deserves to be on this list? What tech did you think was going to change the world? Let us know in the comments! 👇

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Have we missed a bike or component that deserves to be on this list? What tech did you think was going to change the world? Let us know in the comments! 👇

[BryceLovesTech]

I would love to have a copy of every single one of these bikes. Life goals.
I think some big ones are Amp Research, San Andreas, Trek Y bike, GT LTS, Canondale EST

[theonlynafester]

holy sh** I remember seeing that Honda from the thumbail in Dirt Magazine, I think it was gunmetal or unpainted, looked absolutely sick
.. yeah _that_ photo, I'm _sure_ that's from Dirt Mag shoot. Honestly that bike has a lot to answer for in terms of how I looked at what a bike really is

[fredEVOIX]

you can see the Whyte front shock linkage rub on the tire at 3min50 did no one catch that during prototyping ?

[alankeith]

Whyte PRST-1 (preston iirc?) - i had the very similar Whyte JW-2, which looked great but was terrible felt so unstable- i ended up over the bars twice unexpectedly on easy terrain & flipped it backwards doing a little wheelie off a kerb- not manoeuvres i am prone to doing 😀

[mikebillett]

How about the Proflex 5500 carbon bike Martin, two halves sandwiched on a carbon spine, cost a fortune to build and proflex lost money on every one they sold, before K2 stepped in and discontinued it.
Ps. You tested mine when you had a spare evening in Sweden many years ago. (You didn't really like it) 😀