I remember back when I was a starter and brought my entry level xc hardtail to everything I ride I did 29 front and 27.5 back ,a short stem, long handle bar and stock everything, and a coil budget fork with 100mm travel . It was fun and I was aggressive, the only thing was that every week I never once tried to go home without a light bruises or a few injuries ranging from a skinned elbow to dislocated bones. But none the less just a few days and bunch of painkillers later I'm back. And every part of my bike was either 2nd hand or simply the cheapest I could find. So as long as you're happy doesn't matter how cheap or expensive your bike is. Just don't try to copy the pro's and try what they do on the big stage on a budget fork and parts.
Would LOVE to see more videos like this!! Have you thought about carrying it on and having a budget equal to the bikes cost to upgrade it and repeat the challenges? You could get gmbn tech involved and everyone!
Such a good video! I grew up watching Top Gear with my dad so to see some of favourite riders do their own Mountain Bike version was amazing! I'd love to see some more videos like this! Neil really has some insane bike skills.
I'm exactly the same. I grew up watching top gear and to this day still go back and watch the challenges. Loved this video and would love to see more like it.
Thanks, Dan! Yeah, it's great to see 3 riders just chilling out and sending some gnarly jumps! What's better than that? We'll have more content like this coming your way! Cheers for the support! 👍👊
I bought a 2011 Demo8 for $500 and it has been a blast to ride! I've slowly been rebuilding and upgrading it as I go. New brakes, replaced all the bearings, and just repainted it. Still, my all in cost is way cheaper than buying a new DH bike. These old bikes have life in them, jump on one and send it!
Heck yea, totally agree. People are sleeping on older bikes these days. I'm all about semi older freeride, Dh, and DJ bikes. I recently just got back into riding last year, picked me up a 2014 Scott Voltage fr10, all original mint condition(literally only looked rode a few times), has 180mm fox van r rear shock, 200mm rockshox domain, 65° head angle. It still holds it down at the bike park, and for 1k for a bike that was over 3k when new, couldnt find a better more capable bike for the price in this day and age.
@@motov8-garage832makes me confused as to why mtb peeps tend to not like older bikes, however it's the other way around in the motorcycle world, it's not like a 2005 cbr 600rr is suddenly bad since there's a newer 2023 one lol.
Love these videos, keep em coming. Like to see a spot on everyday riders who can't do much with their bikes and you guys show what can be done on them in the right hands. I have always wondered what a good skilled rider could do on my bike.
We're glad you loved this video! We have a huge portfolio of videos that include shredding on different bikes, that are both expensive and cheap. Thanks for the support! 🤘
The Devinci Wilson is hands down the best of those bikes, regardless of who was riding it... I might be a bit biased though as a Devinci owner and also it's was and is my dream bike! But the Wilson won an overall downhill Corld Cup. RIP chainsaw!
I first full suspension bike was a 2001 Kona Stinky. I rode that bike hard and it held up fine. Had a z150 fork on it, making the total weight around 44lbs. Going up was impossible. It was fun at DH parks.
@@crisprapper Yep, then people watching cross-country riders wondering why they aren't going as fast as possible on the downhills, the energy literally doesn't exist. Only worth it when you're switching with buddies after every 1-2 laps.
Always entertaining to see a cheap bike run but it would also be awesome to see the boys upgrade a cheap bike and see if it really improves the bike and their times on the same challenges.
Awesome video guys, as always! I still ride my 2004 Devinci Ollie. An angled headset, wide handle bar, and a Fox 40 make that bike so much fun. I have no plans to upgrade until I can't get parts anymore.
My first runs down Fromme on the north shore in the 90s were on a 98 Gary Fisher HKEK, 90mm elastomer Manitou, riser bars and 2.3 Panaracer DH tires. That said, the trails rode more like trials stages down a mountain than actual DH racing at that time! We still sent everything, though.
Great video! So much fun, and given how much interesting details are in those older bikes, there was so much meat on the bone to talk about. On that note, it would have been nice to have a bit more chat about each bike at the start. Talk about the history of each design, which parts were of particular interest, what was the reasoning behind each design decision, why some of these designs fell out of favour (there’s good reason why Trek and Klein dropped the Unified Rear Triangle), and what parts would make the bike more “modern” and rideable. All this would have given the bikes (and the decision to pick them) more context, and given viewers more to think about when watching each challenge. Man, I felt so sorry for Rich on the DH full run, riding that URT. Ouch… never ridden one myself, but couldn’t have been much better than riding a hardtail on that course. And why so much love for Mongooses over in the UK? I’m sure the desirability challenge would have gone VERY differently if held in Vancouver or Whistler.
Had so much fun watching this. You guys are an amazing trio, true Top Gear vibes. Neils full run just felt like a 2008 flashback all over. As someone who raced a bit in late 00s and early 10s, beeing 6'6, i'm so glad about the big and long sized bikes of today. But aesthetics of the Wilson era bikes just hit different. Bikes like the Sunday, Jedi F1, Intense M6 or 951, the old Demos or even the Hondas were stuff dreams are made of.
It was obvious Neil was going to win the downhill run and Blake the whip. Sorry Rich… For the next challenge I reckon it should be hardtail 29er trails for £500 max. I love these vids because for the likes of me who doesn’t have a lot of money but loves mtb they’re actually also helpful, as well as being just pure fun.
Awesome video Blake,Rich and Neil 🤘 Now we know that you are all fast but Neil still has it doesn't he,the DH race at the end showed it and he's said in other videos he's not as fast as he used to be 😲 Some great retro rigs you purchased Top stuff #GMBN
You guys bring classic Top Gear energy to mind. When you brush your teeth every day, I hope you look in the mirror, giggle, and say "I have one of the best jobs on earth".
🤣 The 80's Arcade fx Some people have to work to enjoy. But these guys are enjoying at work. 🤣💪. It's amazing how you guys did all those runs with inner tubes.
One of my buddies STILL rides a stinky. His is an XL with Ohlins shock and fork, halo wheels, i machined him some WAY better link beams out of 7076 billet aluminium, its actually such a fantastic bike i cant believe it holds up the way it does cuz my buddy is a ripper for real.
@@crisprapper in Reno Nevada brother. Northstar, Hacksaws trails, Geyger Grade, thats pretty much it i think. Were mid 30s man were lucky just to get time to ride much less film it.
Neil was absolutely feken flapping down fifty shades !!! You could see he was going to smash them ....he's an absolute weapon no matter the bike he's on !
I feel like you could have put Neil on a stiffy and he still would have won the race. He was so smoth with his lines and techniques, you definitely see the DH background. Fun vid regardless.
Really surprised people picked the mongoose for desirability... kona is a classic and the devinci looks pretty good and is rare, with those classic red boxxers 😍
![[FREE SPEED] Can A World Cup Mechanic Make Me Faster? ⏱](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YuCuJP-mQe8/mqdefault.jpg)
The difference in line choice and speed that Neil had over Rich and Blake was really noticeable even before the results on the full DH run
Not hard to tell which one of them rode Pro DH
Very true
As I watched it - before the times were revealed - I caught myself thinking: "wonder if Neils footage is sped up?".
Neil has always been the speed demon of the group! 🤘
@@gmbn Neil’s got the password to the YT account I reckon ;)
Holy hell, Neil on that full DH run. That's was some insane riding! The Don shreds so hard.
Like wow! he was going so hard, so smooth, awesome!
neil is really at home on a downhill bike
Hey Dennis! Neil was on full send mode! 😅
he trusted his Davinci more than the other guys too
Absolutely loving the Top Gear format and you guys are killing it with the chemistry.
I remember back when I was a starter and brought my entry level xc hardtail to everything I ride I did 29 front and 27.5 back ,a short stem, long handle bar and stock everything, and a coil budget fork with 100mm travel . It was fun and I was aggressive, the only thing was that every week I never once tried to go home without a light bruises or a few injuries ranging from a skinned elbow to dislocated bones. But none the less just a few days and bunch of painkillers later I'm back. And every part of my bike was either 2nd hand or simply the cheapest I could find. So as long as you're happy doesn't matter how cheap or expensive your bike is. Just don't try to copy the pro's and try what they do on the big stage on a budget fork and parts.
Would LOVE to see more videos like this!!
Have you thought about carrying it on and having a budget equal to the bikes cost to upgrade it and repeat the challenges? You could get gmbn tech involved and everyone!
Hey Sam! We'd love do to more retro/cheap bike videos! That's a good idea! Thanks for the suggestion! 👊
@@gmbn it would be good to see one rider per challenge for all bikes so it is based on bike not person
Neil's DH run legit looked like an old edit, absolutely ripping!
The way he leaned into the corners. His angles were so much steeper than the other two.
I think it was the musical choice. Had to have helped.
Love the personality differences. Neil has that determined must win. Blake wants to just have fun riding. Rich just wants to goof off.
Such a good video! I grew up watching Top Gear with my dad so to see some of favourite riders do their own Mountain Bike version was amazing! I'd love to see some more videos like this!
Neil really has some insane bike skills.
I'm exactly the same. I grew up watching top gear and to this day still go back and watch the challenges. Loved this video and would love to see more like it.
Please more of this. It is hilarious.
Thanks, Dan! Yeah, it's great to see 3 riders just chilling out and sending some gnarly jumps! What's better than that? We'll have more content like this coming your way! Cheers for the support! 👍👊
These guys have great chemistry, too. Love watching them pal around.
Agree. Getting some Clarkson, Hammond, and Capn Slow vibes. Next challenge make a bike from other bikes they find online.
DAMN Neil set the trail on fire 🔥🚒
Such an enjoyable episode. Please do more of these challenges.
Best video for a long time GMBN, totally nailed the Top Gear vibe. More of this please, perhaps a different MTB discipline each time.
Best GMBN vid I've seen for a while!! More of the same please!! 👍
This is the kind of videos everyone would like to see more of!
Would of been good to have another presenter on a current DH bike to see how much of a difference there would be with speed and times
Not much tbh. A few seconds
Would have*
@@FirstnameLastname-pe5ib yeah not expecting massive differences but just to Compare
There is not, cause they cannot show that there is no difference... or the difference is barely noticable
ua-cam.com/video/JOlc0a2eVTo/v-deo.html the answer is here, and surprsingly it's only a modern enduro bike. Imagine a modern DH bike's advantage then.
Blake is my favourite GMBN presenter but I was super impressed with Neil's downhill run the difference between Neil and Blake/Rich was night and day!
I love the cheap bike series
Thanks! Making cheap bike videos is really fun! We'll make any excuse to ride an older bike! 😂
I bought a 2011 Demo8 for $500 and it has been a blast to ride! I've slowly been rebuilding and upgrading it as I go. New brakes, replaced all the bearings, and just repainted it. Still, my all in cost is way cheaper than buying a new DH bike. These old bikes have life in them, jump on one and send it!
Heck yea, totally agree. People are sleeping on older bikes these days. I'm all about semi older freeride, Dh, and DJ bikes. I recently just got back into riding last year, picked me up a 2014 Scott Voltage fr10, all original mint condition(literally only looked rode a few times), has 180mm fox van r rear shock, 200mm rockshox domain, 65° head angle. It still holds it down at the bike park, and for 1k for a bike that was over 3k when new, couldnt find a better more capable bike for the price in this day and age.
@@motov8-garage832makes me confused as to why mtb peeps tend to not like older bikes, however it's the other way around in the motorcycle world, it's not like a 2005 cbr 600rr is suddenly bad since there's a newer 2023 one lol.
I love how both on GCN and GMBN the presenters get more excited for their cheap bikes then their superbikes.
These presenter challenges are always the best. More please!
Great concept - love these budget challenges. Lots of fun for affordable £££
Love these videos, keep em coming. Like to see a spot on everyday riders who can't do much with their bikes and you guys show what can be done on them in the right hands. I have always wondered what a good skilled rider could do on my bike.
We're glad you loved this video! We have a huge portfolio of videos that include shredding on different bikes, that are both expensive and cheap. Thanks for the support! 🤘
@@gmbn Thanks I was thinking on a section like "ride my bike" Keep up the cool videos.
@@CGDreamsTutorials This would be epic!
The Devinci Wilson is hands down the best of those bikes, regardless of who was riding it... I might be a bit biased though as a Devinci owner and also it's was and is my dream bike! But the Wilson won an overall downhill Corld Cup.
RIP chainsaw!
The name is good tbh.
@@core-i7413 haha I agree
what wilson model is the devinci in the vid?
YES!!! Its been a while since the last cheap bike challenge!! I love these!!
I first full suspension bike was a 2001 Kona Stinky. I rode that bike hard and it held up fine. Had a z150 fork on it, making the total weight around 44lbs. Going up was impossible. It was fun at DH parks.
I rode xc in the lake district on a Stinky with 888s. By the time I'd gotten to the downhills I was too tired to do anything other than just hold on 😓
@@crisprapper Yep, then people watching cross-country riders wondering why they aren't going as fast as possible on the downhills, the energy literally doesn't exist. Only worth it when you're switching with buddies after every 1-2 laps.
I could watch Neil ride all day. His smooth style is like Jorge Lorenzo on a mtb track.
Watching this again, a year after originally watching it! One of the best mini series gmbn boys have done 👍🏻
The fact that Neil went all the way from the bottom to the top is insane. Respect
The comeback kid!
Great video guys! You could see Neil was flying compared to Blake and Rich in the race run 👍
Cheers! 🙌 Neil is definitely the speed demon of the group! 😅
We need more of these!!! 🤩
Always entertaining to see a cheap bike run but it would also be awesome to see the boys upgrade a cheap bike and see if it really improves the bike and their times on the same challenges.
Can we all agree that big man was the star of this video? Awesome challenge! 🔥
Agreed! 🤔😅 Thanks for the support! 👊
It looked like you three had an absolute blast making this video on your cheap old school downhill bikes😊👍
It was such a great throwback riding some cheap retro bikes! The presenters enjoyed it so much! Thanks for watching!
Awesome video guys, as always! I still ride my 2004 Devinci Ollie. An angled headset, wide handle bar, and a Fox 40 make that bike so much fun. I have no plans to upgrade until I can't get parts anymore.
The presenter challenges are just the best this is like Top Gear but for MTB please do more of these!!!
Love this trio and format. It’s like watching The Grand Tour, but with bikes. Hilarious and fun.
Dang Neil always-the-racer smoked 'em on that last one! Well done guys. Super fun vid.
Stunning run from Neil. Proper flashbacks I imagine.
Would be awesome to get some of the original elastomer ‘suspension’ bikes and see just how much they could do!
with v brakes only...
@@seanhutton7155 oh yes!!🤙
My first runs down Fromme on the north shore in the 90s were on a 98 Gary Fisher HKEK, 90mm elastomer Manitou, riser bars and 2.3 Panaracer DH tires. That said, the trails rode more like trials stages down a mountain than actual DH racing at that time! We still sent everything, though.
These guys seem like the best guys to ride with , then have a beer at the end of the day , awsome !
That was fun, please show more of this stuff. Kudos for all !
Love how the chain slap and rattle fit with the last race's song 😂
Great video! So much fun, and given how much interesting details are in those older bikes, there was so much meat on the bone to talk about.
On that note, it would have been nice to have a bit more chat about each bike at the start. Talk about the history of each design, which parts were of particular interest, what was the reasoning behind each design decision, why some of these designs fell out of favour (there’s good reason why Trek and Klein dropped the Unified Rear Triangle), and what parts would make the bike more “modern” and rideable. All this would have given the bikes (and the decision to pick them) more context, and given viewers more to think about when watching each challenge.
Man, I felt so sorry for Rich on the DH full run, riding that URT. Ouch… never ridden one myself, but couldn’t have been much better than riding a hardtail on that course.
And why so much love for Mongooses over in the UK? I’m sure the desirability challenge would have gone VERY differently if held in Vancouver or Whistler.
Love this video format. Looking forward to seeing more!
That looked like fun! My favorite part was the sound lol, I miss that old toolbox rattle
Ah I love these kind of challenges nice one lads
Neil is just savage downhill. Also loving all the Kona's that have been on recently!
Great job on the DH race Neil! Love the music they put over your DH segment! really felt that 😀
This trio makes for a laughter filled video 😂
Really nice runs :-) Like it. And You could really see at Neil's speed he were to take the leed. But a half minute, incredible :-)
Wow sick!!Love you Guys🤟🏼🔥🙏🏼
Neil was flying🚀 Doesnt look like retired DH racer, he was all in!! Ive got to replay that part!!
Blake made me remember the Kranked mtb films when the MZ monster T's were like wider than the handlebars
Really good video! Neil is a downhill beast.
Had so much fun watching this. You guys are an amazing trio, true Top Gear vibes. Neils full run just felt like a 2008 flashback all over.
As someone who raced a bit in late 00s and early 10s, beeing 6'6, i'm so glad about the big and long sized bikes of today.
But aesthetics of the Wilson era bikes just hit different. Bikes like the Sunday, Jedi F1, Intense M6 or 951, the old Demos or even the Hondas were stuff dreams are made of.
Excellent fun as always guy's 👌
Is it just me or does Blake absolutely crack you up.
🤣🤣 Love the video boys! Blake! We need a close out episode on your van!
Top Gear on bikes, THIS is what we need more of!
It was obvious Neil was going to win the downhill run and Blake the whip. Sorry Rich… For the next challenge I reckon it should be hardtail 29er trails for £500 max. I love these vids because for the likes of me who doesn’t have a lot of money but loves mtb they’re actually also helpful, as well as being just pure fun.
Great riding guys, looked a fun day out 🙌
Love the music for Neil's final DH ride!
Awesome video Blake,Rich and Neil 🤘
Now we know that you are all fast but Neil still has it doesn't he,the DH race at the end showed it and he's said in other videos he's not as fast as he used to be 😲
Some great retro rigs you purchased
Top stuff #GMBN
I love this Top Gear style. You are the perfect mtb trio!👊🏻
That last challenge man, Neil was flying!
You guys bring classic Top Gear energy to mind. When you brush your teeth every day, I hope you look in the mirror, giggle, and say "I have one of the best jobs on earth".
15:02 I can't imagine going over stuff like that at nearly 30mph, that is mad!
Downhill Challenge? With Neil?
There's a reason why he's The Don 👑
😅 what a spin back to the old days! We've come a long way!
That's so true, Joel! It's crazy how much bikes have developed! 🤯
@@gmbn yes, its insane!
Neil smashed it! 😊 You can't race against downhill (ex) racer. Congrats to Rich and Blake Love you guys 🙂
This is my favorite content. Well done boys
I love videos with old school freerides/dh rig!
This was a blast to watch
Definitely a fun video. Nice work gentleman and BigMan 🤣
Would be interested to see a video of a rider doing the same run starting on a DH bike, then enduro, trail and hard tail.
Neil’s bike must have been channeling the “need more cowbell” SNL sketch on that downhill run!!🔔
🤣 The 80's Arcade fx
Some people have to work to enjoy. But these guys are enjoying at work. 🤣💪.
It's amazing how you guys did all those runs with inner tubes.
Yesss! I am so excited to see an old wilson. Was my first proper mountin bike.
Next time, could you bring along a 'control' of a modern DH bike? to see how far the tech has come
Jordan Boostmaster and Stevie smith showed the potential of the wilson 👌👌
love that Neil decided to keep his 👍
Holy shit! It’s MTB Top Gear show :)
Blake is an absolute mad man and I love it
I love these types of videos
One of my buddies STILL rides a stinky. His is an XL with Ohlins shock and fork, halo wheels, i machined him some WAY better link beams out of 7076 billet aluminium, its actually such a fantastic bike i cant believe it holds up the way it does cuz my buddy is a ripper for real.
Where can we see this marvellous steed?
@@crisprapper in Reno Nevada brother. Northstar, Hacksaws trails, Geyger Grade, thats pretty much it i think. Were mid 30s man were lucky just to get time to ride much less film it.
Dude, when I saw that freakin Kona Stink Dee, that’s a fine level of stoke right there 🤙
Neil was absolutely feken flapping down fifty shades !!! You could see he was going to smash them ....he's an absolute weapon no matter the bike he's on !
Proper song choice Neil's DH run.
Neil did well getting those bars between the trees 😆
Cheap bike challenges are the BEST
Very entertaining, we need more
My favorite type of video 😍😍
Loved this video! Inspired me to pick up a Kona stinky frameset and build it up and been loving riding it
Blake‘s front tire is mounted backwards 😂
Nice one lads another top show thanks enjoyed see the old dh bikes 🤙
This video was awesome, more of this!
I feel like you could have put Neil on a stiffy and he still would have won the race. He was so smoth with his lines and techniques, you definitely see the DH background. Fun vid regardless.
Cheap bike but really good all of them , oh, The marzochi SUPERMONSTER!!! Awesome!!
Nice to see you boys riding bikes that sound like mine on the trails. I call mine the rattlesnake
Love how this challenge is just like old top gear live it
You don't need a stopwatch to work out who won that DH run do you 🤣🤘🔥
Really surprised people picked the mongoose for desirability... kona is a classic and the devinci looks pretty good and is rare, with those classic red boxxers 😍