Biggest Mountain Bike Tech Flops Of All Time

What is the biggest mountain bike tech fail ever? No, it’s not the ever-increasing cost of bikes. But it is one of these five innovations that promised the world and crashed spectacularly.

From linkage forks and suspension stems through to planetary geared front derailleur killers, these flops cover the weird, not so wonderful – and just downright ugly and dangerous in some cases.

What do you think is the biggest mountain bike flop of all time? Let us know in the comments!

#MTB #Flops #WTF

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:22 Shimano Dual Control
01:45 Girvin Flexstem
03:00 URT Suspension Frames
04:49 Truvativ HammerSchmidt
06:43 Linkage Forks
08:22 Outro

Image Credit:
Mylesmerckel

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[bikeradar]

what is the biggest MTB flop of all time?

[MrQuestful]

To me, the biggest flop is cycling is that we have prioritized racing performance over utility. It’s been 10yrs since I sold my car and bought a couple bikes, and while it was initially challenging for me, it’s now second nature for me to ride everywhere, including across the US. I think we are doing ourselves a disservice by manufacturing so many race spec bikes with eye-gauging prices, as opposed to seeing them as affordable vehicles for mobility.

[MrStonedraider]

I feel like the flexistem gets a bad rap, while it isn't a replacement for modern day forks, it did a great job of reducing chatter on rigid forks, build quality could definitely have been better though

[marekbabal]

The suspension stem had a comback a few years ago. I have been using the Redshift on my gravel bike for some time, it works great. Absorbs a lot of vibrations - reducing fatigue and I feel noticeably less shaken out after rides than before. For bikes with rigid forks, suspension stems do have a future!

[ingravitylife]

You can add grip shift to that list. I had them on a mtb years ago. They would bump shift on rough trails. The accuracy of the shift left much to be desired and you also had to loosen your grip on the bar to turn shifter.

[Matandwch]

Riding since 1986.
Straight gauge aluminum tubing in frames.
Conversely, butted carbon frames. It’s going to take hits, make sure it’s engineered to survive them for more than a handful of rides.
Cable actuated hydraulic disc brakes (Rock Shox and AMP). They had so little modulation.
K2/Noreen electronic “brain” shocks. A great idea that was ahead of available tech. You’ll see it again in a few years when batteries get small enough to power magnetorheological fluid for more than two rides before needing to be recharged.
“Pivotless” steel/aluminum rear suspension frames (“softail”) Metal fatigue = failure.

Some of the tech you dismiss helped push bike tech to where we are or was useful at the time. It also helped make tech accessible. Girvin/Noleen forks actually performed well and were well engineered for xc riding. URTs addressed the “bob” issues that were baked in to 4-bar designs before the advent of DW links and VPPs. Trek “Y” bikes pushed carbon layup technology.

[ryancycle]

It’s easy to point out the obvious flops of the past but harder to look at, with honest scrutiny, some of the errors of modern bikes. PF30 bottoms brackets come to mind and the overuse of carbon in virtually every aspect of the bike. The needless push to internalize every cable on the bike.

[Zyzzyx]

Loved the old Girvin Flexstem. Back in early-mid 90s I used it on a Proflex bike with the Rock Shox RS1 fork. Made a great combo. That fork had zero small bump compliance, but the stem took care of that. And anything big the stem couldn't handle, the RS1 took over.

[davidcoghill]

The dual control shifters were at least very easy and intuive to use, really the main reason they flopped was only because people wanted to be able to mix and match brakes and derailleurs. Very different to these other 4 products that flopped mainly due to not delivering a good experience on the bike.

[jackiegshop]

I run a red shift stem on my gravel bike it's been an absolute game changer. I charge descents on that thing like i'm on my MTB now haha. love it.

[cedricgrandseigne]

I still have dual control levers on one o my bike, and after amost 20 years they still work flawlessly. I wouldn't class them as a flop to be fair.

[oreocarlton]

Hammerschmidt need to get a comeback, its a great idea

[lacuna]

I think the issues are being quite significantly overstated here! URT suspension wasn't as good as modern designs but they were still a commercial success at the time

[kokongjava]

Those Shimano XTR brake and Shifter combo for MTB are perfect for Surly Cornerbars. Bring them back!

[FhargaZ]

Blade Samson watching nervously because of hid wireless brakes:"i hope i am not in the list" 😂

[kieronward]

If you weren't there you wouldn't understand. Flexstems were popular back in the 90s because suspension forks were expensive and rubbish. This is also why linkage forks started because they actually worked better than telescopic forks at the time (and you can tune wheel path). As for additional linkages most bikes in the 90s were designed in California and didn't even have good mud clearance for the UK.

[dennisdose]

I had a Girvin linkage fork and quite liked it. The elastomers did crap out though. I actually have always liked how the AMP and Girvan designs looked (met Bob Girvan once).
I now find myself working on a linkage front suspension of my own. I just might have found a way to reduce the complexity. We'll see.

[iffy_too]

7:27 That exact same question has been posed with respect to motorbike adoption of these suspension designs. The answer is the same as the one you have given.

[savagepro]

The expression "Gone the way of the Dodo" itself should go the way of the Dodo! Don't you think?

[unicorn_catcher]

Linkage forks are awesome, some people are just mentally inflexible. Just like 29” wheels are still somehow controversial. Ridiculous. And the Motion fork is gorgeous btw.