I mulleted my 26” 160mm travel Pace (RC506). 27.5 up front (paired with a 150mm fork) and it’s given a 10-12 yrs old bike a new lease of life. It’s great fun riding it.
I'm a "rip the tag off and ride" kind of person. It's hard even deciding what to buy because I just don't have very strong opinions about specs and hardware. I love that you just see a cool bike and even if it's the wrong size, old as hell, or wonk for specs, you just take it in and enjoy the perspective it gives you.
Great coincidence. I still have my Sam Hill era 2014 Demo8, that bike is a keeper with its dual swing arm. Still looks cool till this day! And yeah, its a mullet 27.5/26.
This is awesome to see more people keeping these rides out of the landfill! I just finished redoing a 2008 stinky and have been having an absolute blast letting that thing fish tail on the steeps
The thing I would be concerned with is material fatigue. Simply the aluminum tubing failing. Do your due diligence and inspect for cracks every ride and not just at the welds but even mid tube. This goes for all older aluminum frames. Being raw only makes it easier.
Still have my 2007 Specialized Enduro w the E150 dually fork and a front derailleur... and everything is mint. Want to buy it? Lol. It has been collecting dust for about 6 years except some local skate park stuff. I have a 2023 Rocky Instinct and it dwarfs the Enduro and my 2013 Stumpy 29er.
No way, that was my first full sus 2 and 1/2 years ago (15 yr hardtail). My 07 Enduro kept cracking the aluminum nipples and had to rebuild the front wheel because of the proprietary hub with the E150. Made a slight change beginning of this year to a 2020 Nukeproof Mega 😁
@@petedog9581to be fair to specialized, they lead the pack in a majority of cases for development. Look at all the brands copying the current enduro/ demo linkage.
I had a 2008 Sunday Factory in size L with K9 -2° head cups, and it was an excellent bike in terms of suspension performance with a Fox RC4 shock absorber. The only downside to the newer bike was the size of the wheels and the length of the bike itself, which didn't stop me from happily riding it until 2018. Dave Weagle made a great platform and geometry that was head and shoulders ahead of anything else at the time
Really nice review, gives a bit of a perspective for those who always chase the latest and the greatest. Just one small thing - based on the looks of a DW-link rocker, this is more like 2005 model year. It has 0.5 steeper HA, and maybe other slight differences in geo. From 2006 till 2009 (last model year) rocker was more narrow near the shock eyelet.
Makes me wonder how much sprung weight has to do with that traction you mention. Looking at Maxxis, tires alone save you between 400 and 500 grams. Are we missing out by not having a slight high pivot 26/29 mullet? The high pivot would help with the impact angle on the rear, and then the lower mass of the rear wheel would help keep the wheel stuck to the ground. No idea. Would love oodles of cash to build a bike frame to try it out! Keep having fun trying this stuff Brian! we'll all live vicariously though your videos!!!
I’m still riding my 2007 Norco Bigfoot hard tail and really enjoy it, there just seems to be something about hard tails from that era that they were well over engineered and so long as you keep the rest of the components in decent shape the frame will just keep going 🚲😀👍🏼
Really enjoy the channel dude. I had a thought today of starting my own channel but seeing as how you’ve got a solid POV on things I’ll just give you my idea for content if you’re taking requests lol. I was thinking of doing “bike interviews” so to speak to discuss with people unique builds and spec choices on say new builds to restomods to classics such as this iron horse. It’s always interesting understanding not just a bike’s history but the design intention at its inception and how it may have aged over time or how some new tech may feel applied to an already interesting build. You do that well with your own bikes but would be interesting to expand it more broadly across the west coast mtb community. I’m sure there are some wildly interesting builds out there. Plus you’re a far superior rider than me so if they let you ride their bike you have a great opinion on ride characteristics that’s always interesting to hear. If you make that content I’m here for it.
And while I’m at it, just to expand on it, you know there are countless bikes out there between 2005-2016 that are absolute beauties that are sitting in garages bc owners are too sentimental or bike nerd to part with but they would be absolutely stoked at the opportunity to talk about it with someone who can speak to bike history well. That’s you bro.
@@thedirtyPIE Always appreciate input/ideas. Definitely would be interested in interviewing people with unique rides. I'll be passing through Bellingham later this fall. What you got?
@@briancahal I have an Evil Epocalypse that’s pretty dialed but tbh I think my aggressive hardtail is more interesting. It’s a chromed Canfield nimble 9 with all chrome parts and certainly has an interesting ride characteristic. It was designed to a call back to my first real bike, a ‘94 gt mach one that started my bmx racing, ten year me never saw anymore more beautiful, reminder to stay as kid lol
Agreed. 27.5 DH bikes ripped pretty hard. My Tr500 and Scott gambler are some of my favorite bikes. Probably not as competitive as a modern race bike but plenty good enough to progress on and have fun at a bike park.
iwas riding a 2009 devinci frantic for a year, medium size, 420 reach. bikes are much bigger now. that bike was fun , but its more of a balancing act when you are taller
That fork looks like a 2015 model and much more modern than the rest. A Marzocchi 888 would be more correct for this bike in terms of damper technology.
What's your thought on leverage ratio? I feel like the current crop of "progressive" bikes are to suit the general "medium" tune OEM spec shocks, which are too light on compression in my opinion.
I mulleted my 26” 160mm travel Pace (RC506). 27.5 up front (paired with a 150mm fork) and it’s given a 10-12 yrs old bike a new lease of life. It’s great fun riding it.
I'm a "rip the tag off and ride" kind of person. It's hard even deciding what to buy because I just don't have very strong opinions about specs and hardware. I love that you just see a cool bike and even if it's the wrong size, old as hell, or wonk for specs, you just take it in and enjoy the perspective it gives you.
Great coincidence. I still have my Sam Hill era 2014 Demo8, that bike is a keeper with its dual swing arm. Still looks cool till this day! And yeah, its a mullet 27.5/26.
Brings back memories to see this vid! I had a ironhorse sunday in the gold color about 13-14 years ago :)
Sweet manual line at 12:00 or so! Looks like north star? Oh the manuals that bike has seen 😂 fun to see what you’re up to on that thing!
You blessed the bike with some good manual energy haha
This is awesome to see more people keeping these rides out of the landfill! I just finished redoing a 2008 stinky and have been having an absolute blast letting that thing fish tail on the steeps
Nice! bet that thing rips.
The thing I would be concerned with is material fatigue. Simply the aluminum tubing failing. Do your due diligence and inspect for cracks every ride and not just at the welds but even mid tube. This goes for all older aluminum frames. Being raw only makes it easier.
Still have my 2007 Specialized Enduro w the E150 dually fork and a front derailleur... and everything is mint. Want to buy it? Lol. It has been collecting dust for about 6 years except some local skate park stuff. I have a 2023 Rocky Instinct and it dwarfs the Enduro and my 2013 Stumpy 29er.
Funny enough I've actually ridden that bike. I have pictures of it somewhere haha
No way, that was my first full sus 2 and 1/2 years ago (15 yr hardtail).
My 07 Enduro kept cracking the aluminum nipples and had to rebuild the front wheel because of the proprietary hub with the E150.
Made a slight change beginning of this year to a 2020 Nukeproof Mega 😁
@@stephenhill9427 The thru axle is huge. Spesh is the king failed proprietary stuff, and they are at it again w the new Stumpy.
@@petedog9581to be fair to specialized, they lead the pack in a majority of cases for development. Look at all the brands copying the current enduro/ demo linkage.
I def rode with a spring that was 50lbs stiffer and gave me the support to smash through anything! Such an iconic bike!
I had a 2008 Sunday Factory in size L with K9 -2° head cups, and it was an excellent bike in terms of suspension performance with a Fox RC4 shock absorber. The only downside to the newer bike was the size of the wheels and the length of the bike itself, which didn't stop me from happily riding it until 2018. Dave Weagle made a great platform and geometry that was head and shoulders ahead of anything else at the time
Your channel manages titillating all the fun bits of mountain biking.
Go on... 🎉😂
The coolest time in DH racing! I built an iron horse 7point5 bec I just thought it was so cool back then.
Still riding my 2009 Santa Cruz Nomad as my regular trail bike. I also have a modernish Transition TR500 as my DH bike. Running it with 27.5 wheels
Nice man! It is wild how small it looks compared to modern geo. Enjoyed the video 🤘
Cheers for upload mate, interesting point of view which makes me keeping my 26 inch dirt
Really nice review, gives a bit of a perspective for those who always chase the latest and the greatest. Just one small thing - based on the looks of a DW-link rocker, this is more like 2005 model year. It has 0.5 steeper HA, and maybe other slight differences in geo. From 2006 till 2009 (last model year) rocker was more narrow near the shock eyelet.
Ok good to know, been going off of what I was told when I bought it but wouldn't be surprised if it was incorrect.
Makes me wonder how much sprung weight has to do with that traction you mention. Looking at Maxxis, tires alone save you between 400 and 500 grams. Are we missing out by not having a slight high pivot 26/29 mullet? The high pivot would help with the impact angle on the rear, and then the lower mass of the rear wheel would help keep the wheel stuck to the ground. No idea. Would love oodles of cash to build a bike frame to try it out! Keep having fun trying this stuff Brian! we'll all live vicariously though your videos!!!
I love riding old dh rigs. It just transports you to another time. I got an old canfield f1 if ever race in socal
I’m still riding my 2007 Norco Bigfoot hard tail and really enjoy it, there just seems to be something about hard tails from that era that they were well over engineered and so long as you keep the rest of the components in decent shape the frame will just keep going 🚲😀👍🏼
Thanks for another interesting video and I’d like to see another old school bike review on the Knolly you used to ride
looks fresh still!
Really enjoy the channel dude. I had a thought today of starting my own channel but seeing as how you’ve got a solid POV on things I’ll just give you my idea for content if you’re taking requests lol. I was thinking of doing “bike interviews” so to speak to discuss with people unique builds and spec choices on say new builds to restomods to classics such as this iron horse. It’s always interesting understanding not just a bike’s history but the design intention at its inception and how it may have aged over time or how some new tech may feel applied to an already interesting build. You do that well with your own bikes but would be interesting to expand it more broadly across the west coast mtb community. I’m sure there are some wildly interesting builds out there. Plus you’re a far superior rider than me so if they let you ride their bike you have a great opinion on ride characteristics that’s always interesting to hear. If you make that content I’m here for it.
And if you’re ever up in Bham I’ve got three builds that I think are interesting so I wouldn’t mind being interviewed lol
And while I’m at it, just to expand on it, you know there are countless bikes out there between 2005-2016 that are absolute beauties that are sitting in garages bc owners are too sentimental or bike nerd to part with but they would be absolutely stoked at the opportunity to talk about it with someone who can speak to bike history well. That’s you bro.
@@thedirtyPIE Always appreciate input/ideas. Definitely would be interested in interviewing people with unique rides. I'll be passing through Bellingham later this fall. What you got?
@@briancahal I have an Evil Epocalypse that’s pretty dialed but tbh I think my aggressive hardtail is more interesting. It’s a chromed Canfield nimble 9 with all chrome parts and certainly has an interesting ride characteristic. It was designed to a call back to my first real bike, a ‘94 gt mach one that started my bmx racing, ten year me never saw anymore more beautiful, reminder to stay as kid lol
I feel like when you buy a 10 year old bike now a size up one or two sizes you get your self such a great deal
Agreed. 27.5 DH bikes ripped pretty hard. My Tr500 and Scott gambler are some of my favorite bikes. Probably not as competitive as a modern race bike but plenty good enough to progress on and have fun at a bike park.
The OG highroller and I-beam saddle are really the cherry on top
I mini mulleted my 2011 Wilson. Great
Bro got the front rotor on backwards.
Gotta hit it from both directions to keep the wear even dude
@@JeremyFacer that's why I often install my tires backwards. Word
Haha I have one! But back 2016 I upgraded everything. Still love it
Now that was a bike! Do giant glory next.
Magic Mary still available in 26" sticky compound and near ideal tread design.
im sittin with a 2012 transition covert, cant afford new school bikes but happy mine can still shred gannonball.
Was ripping crabapple all week on my 06 bottlerocket!
iwas riding a 2009 devinci frantic for a year, medium size, 420 reach. bikes are much bigger now. that bike was fun , but its more of a balancing act when you are taller
That’s is really cool! I gotta stunning Mountain Cycle San Andreas that you need to ride.
Damn what a ride! I'd be keen, I've never ridden a bike from that era.
@@briancahal Well, where you at? How do I get a hold of you?
I've got a 26" voltage fr20 that's a lot of fun, but have recently found some very large cracks throughout the frame. fun bike though!
Wow memories arise hahaaha I had one some years ago, first bike i bought with my own money and i enjoyed a lot, bad decision to sell it i made
And dude’s been racing his with rotor on backwards! Skeeeetchy AF!
Where is your secret stash of small hill bars. I need more!
haha keeping these things. It's a shame the Sam Hill signature line is no more
Such a sick bike.
That fork looks like a 2015 model and much more modern than the rest. A Marzocchi 888 would be more correct for this bike in terms of damper technology.
it looks so cool
I beam saddle is steeze too bro
What's your thought on leverage ratio? I feel like the current crop of "progressive" bikes are to suit the general "medium" tune OEM spec shocks, which are too light on compression in my opinion.
Cool, curious to know what spring rates you are running?
Would be interest
same build engineering but remade in to modern 29er
same ALUM design but in 29er and longer slacker
How much did you spend in the bike bro? Also that bike is so awesome 🤟
I originally bought the frame and shock for $350 I think. Then built it up after a while with parts I was able to gather.
I just dont get why the didnt notice earlier that bikes at a time where just to small?
norco a line my beater.
m1 review when
When someone lends me their m1
How the fuck do you get 26 inch downhill tires. Here in Colombia is impossible.
Have to special order them. They are getting harder and harder to find here too.