Mountain Bikes: The Complete Guide to Classic and Vintage MTB Culture
From the fire roads of Marin County to the singletrack of Moab, mountain biking has evolved from rebellious 1970s klunkers to the diverse world of trail, enduro, and cross-country machines we know today.
Here at The Spoken, we celebrate the rich history, innovative engineering, and cultural impact of mountain bikes – from legendary steel frames to modern carbon masterpieces.
The Golden Era: 1980s-1990s Mountain Bike Revolution
The mountain bike revolution began with modified beach cruisers bombing down Mount Tamalpais, but quickly evolved into purpose-built machines that changed cycling forever.
Classic brands like Specialized Stumpjumper, Trek 850, Cannondale SM series, and Klein Attitude defined what mountain bikes could be. These vintage MTBs featured innovative frame materials – from Reynolds 531 steel to groundbreaking aluminum alloys – that set the foundation for modern trail riding.
Frame Materials That Made History
Steel MTBs dominated the early scene with their unmatched ride quality and repairability. Columbus, Reynolds, and Tange tubing created bikes that riders still seek out today for their legendary compliance and durability.
Aluminum pioneers like Cannondale and Klein pushed lightweight performance, while titanium masterpieces from Merlin and Moots offered the ultimate in exotic materials.
Classic Mountain Bike Categories
– Hardtail Legends: Single-speed simplicity meets technical terrain
– Early Full-Suspension: From Manitou FS to early Santa Cruz designs
– Cross-Country Racers: Lightweight climbers built for competition
– Freeride Pioneers: The bikes that launched modern gravity riding
– Klunkers & Cruisers: Beach cruiser DNA meets mountain trails
Why Vintage Mountain Bikes Matter Today
Classic MTBs aren’t just museum pieces – they’re being transformed into bikepacking rigs, drop-bar mountain bikes, and urban adventure machines.
The steel frame revival has riders rediscovering the magic of vintage geometry, while collectors seek out pristine examples of mountain biking’s most innovative period.
Whether you’re hunting for a 1990s Trek, researching Specialized Stumpjumper history, or building up a vintage steel hardtail, our mountain bike coverage spans the technical, cultural, and aesthetic elements that make these machines timeless.
Explore our latest mountain bike features below, from restoration guides to brand histories to the modern bikes carrying forward MTB’s innovative spirit.
You gotta hand it to both partners in this collaboration: State Bicycle Co. and The Grateful Dead smashed it out of the Golden Gate Park with this smokin’ klunker and a psychedelic range of accessories.
The latest installment in the annual collaboration between Paul Components and the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. really makes it look like a consistent collection of green hoppy radness and, like the previous iterations, it’s up for grabs in a giveaway.
On this day, the tenth anniversary of The Spoken, we present one of the most interesting custom mountain bikes we’ve seen: a lugged 29er MTB…
Like the track bike, the BMX is pure simplicity. The modern dual-suspension MTB, however, is way down the other end of the spectrum — but…
We first featured the work of Minnesota’s’ Alex Cook and his A-Train Cycles back in 2013, when he exhibited on the New Builders Table at…
There would be nary a mountain biker in the UK who hasn’t heard of the Muddy Fox brand. Although if you appreciate fine bicycles, turn…
If there was ever an Australian marathon MTB/gravel race you should add to your bucket list, it would be Western Australia’s Seven. Circle Custom’s Matthew…
Back in 2014, we featured a monstrously innovative downhill MTB: Paul Brodie’s 69er. After a fresh restoration, it debuted at the 2020 BC Bike Show…
We finished 2019 featuring a Utah frame builder. And coincidentally, the first bike of 2020 also hails from the Beehive State. Jon Hanson and his…
One of the most interesting aspects of Grinduro is the opportunity offered to a selection of custom frame builders to create their vision of the…
Ibis Cycles has a 30-plus year history yet continues to offer a contemporary catalog of products that reveal their dedication to the original MTB pursuit.…
The klunker blazed the trail for modern mountain bike design and subsequent bikes were more purpose-designed and built, yet handmade in steel. After a few…
Today, ‘bespoke’ can refer to anything from cars to software, although it’s originally derived from the British tailoring profession. It’s bandied about in the bicycle…
The Scottish round of this year’s Grinduro event was held a few weeks ago on the Isle of Arran, and it was a complete success,…
Situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado city of Durango is called a mountain bikers paradise. One local frame builder, Eric Tomczak,…
